Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
With an idyllic location in the historic Bukeyashiki area, Tamachi is a surprisingly modern hotel, blending Japanese and Western aesthetics. All rooms…
Must-see hotels in Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Massive Japanese- or Western-style rooms, many with mountain views, are the selling point of this fastidious ski hotel, with a wonderful outdoor onsen and…
Sendai
Accessible from the pedestrian walkway attached to Sendai Station, the Metropolitan is the clear winner among the station business hotels. At the top end,…
Niigata Prefecture
The full onsen hotel experience is accessible at Futaba, which also provides a free shuttle service to Gala Yuzawa. The common areas are a little…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
'Crab' Onsen is a delightfully unpretentious affair with a gorgeous mixed-gender onsen tucked back in the forest and superb Japanese cuisine. The rooms…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Right in the heart of the picturesque village, Notoya is a classical ryokan originally constructed in 1922, with three storeys complete with balconies,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A symbol of the reconstruction effort, the Capital Hotel 1000 was reborn in 2013 and is now a grey rectangular building in an industrial style with…
Iwate Prefecture
The two rooms in this charming guesthouse are regularly booked out, for good reason. The friendly older couple in charge present their home in exquisite…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
A super-central location and a friendly communal atmosphere make this newly built guesthouse the pick of the bunch for budget travellers in Matsushima…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The pretty onsen village of Onogawa, 10km from Yonezawa, attracts local travellers for its 'soft' water and its association with the poet Ono Komachi. The…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
In a prime position near Senshū-kōen, Akita Castle Hotel is the most distinguished option in the city. Service is measured and thorough; ask for one of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Exceptional hospitality, delicious meals and elegant decor are the hallmarks of this traditional ryokan, located a few blocks' walk from the city centre…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This lovely campsite is nestled amongst pine trees a short walk from the beach and has excellent facilities for both campers and caravanners.
Iwate Prefecture
If you're after a gentle rural experience, then this hostel, set inside a converted farmhouse, is a worthy choice. The communal library and dining hall …
Niigata Prefecture
On the central plains outside Ryōtsu is this isolated minshuku where you can ride horses and receive salt therapy in a roasting sauna. The tatami-lined…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Blissfully (or painfully) quiet, this renovated rural property is a good budget option, though it’s a little like a school camp in layout. There is an on…
Aizu Wakamatsu Washington Hotel
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The Washington is arguably the sharpest hotel in town, but that’s not saying much, although the views from the restaurant (where a breakfast feast is…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
At the eighth station on Gas-san, this mountain hut is a convenient place to break up the long three-mountain hike. Futons are laid out in one big…
Niigata Prefecture
From the outside this small guesthouse wouldn't be out of place in the English countryside, though it has Japanese hospitality at its heart. Accommodation…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Hotel Ubudo is a regal, old-world affair that has lost a little of its charm, but its rotemburo (outdoor bath) overlooking the bay is still fabulous…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This airy mountain lodge at the bottom of Yudono-san has a hot bath and is full of jovial pilgrims celebrating the completion of their multiday circuit…
Aomori Prefecture
The best reason to stay here is for the on-site onsen complex, complete with faux rocks and steaming hot baths. Rooms in the bekkan (annexe) are far nicer…
Aomori Prefecture
Great for powder hounds in winter and hikers in summer, this mountain lodge appeals to muscle-sore adrenaline junkies, who like to dump their gear and…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Conveniently located opposite the bus terminal, this small hotel's friendly staff will do their best to ensure you have a wonderful stay. Handsome tatami…
Aomori Prefecture
This is a very unassuming hostel with a terrific communal atmosphere and hearty, simple meals. Shared facilities are clean and spacious, while the…
Niigata Prefecture
Oosado is still hanging in there, literally, on a clifftop overlooking the Sea of Japan. Its best years might be behind it, like Aikawa itself, but it's…
Niigata Prefecture
This family- and foreigner-friendly resort has its own backyard ski park that is particularly suited to beginners and small children. Rooms are Western…
Aomori Prefecture
Friendly management who aim to please welcome solo travellers and couples to the minuscule, but ever-so-slightly hip rooms. Communal areas offer a little…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This is a large, fairly impersonal hotel with comparatively spacious, stylish rooms and a rooftop sauna and rotemburo (outdoor bath), perfect for a post…
Niigata Prefecture
This welcoming ryokan in quiet Mano suits solo travellers. Rooms and common areas are full of handicrafts from across the island, and evening dishes…
Sendai
Within walking distance of the centre, this hostel has snug Japanese-style rooms in a residential area north of the train station. From the east exit,…
Niigata Prefecture
Tucked away in a tiny fishing hamlet, this cosy hostel will appeal to those looking for the quiet life. It's in a traditional Sado house, complete with…
Niigata Prefecture
All of the ski action in Naeba centres on this monolithic resort at the base of the mountain. On offer are a wide range of Western-style rooms and suites…
Toyoko Inn Akita-eki Higashi-guchi
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Toyoko's Akita hotel connects to the station, so there's no danger of getting lost if you're arriving by train. It can feel a little like rush hour at…
Niigata Prefecture
Fishing, hiking and hanging out by the windswept sea are the activities of choice at this established hostel, which immerses guests in Japanese village…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This is a skiers' lodge through and through, from the posters on the wall of the sociable dining room to the prime location right in front of a…
Aomori Prefecture
You can't miss this giant pink building just near the train station. Rooms are large by Japanese standards and higher floors afford stunning views of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Minshuku Takaku is fairly modest, but the tatami rooms are adequate, and there’s a pleasant o-furo (bath) and an elegant communal dining area. It's…
Niigata Prefecture
Right across the road from a tempting stretch of sand and only 6km from Ogi, this attractive campground reaches peak popularity during Earth Celebration,…
Iwate Prefecture
This hotel was renovated in 2017 and is pretty stylish, despite having some of the pokiest rooms known to travel writers! The lobby and bathrooms are very…
