Must-see hotels in Western Honshū

  • Benesse House

    Naoshima

    A stay at this unique Ando-designed hotel-museum is a treat for art and architecture enthusiasts. Accommodation is in four different wings – Museum, Oval,…

  • Hattōji International Villa

    Western Honshū

    This restored farmhouse in the Okayama countryside offers four large tatami rooms, a shared bathroom and kitchen, and bicycles that are free to use. In…

  • Hotel Cycle

    Hiroshima Region

    Hotel Cycle, within the large U2 complex right on the waterfront boardwalk, is aimed at both the cycling crowd and those with an eye for design. The dark,…

  • Iwasō Ryokan

    Miyajima

    The Iwasō, open since 1854, offers a grand ryokan experience amid exquisite gardens. There are three wings; a stay in a lovely 'Hanare' cottage will set…

  • Onomichi Guesthouse Anago no Nedoko

    Hiroshima Region

    Within a traditional old wooden house restored as part of an NPO project to give life to vacant dwellings, Anago is a budget option with character. As…

  • Ōmi-shima Ikoi-no-Ie

    Hiroshima Region

    As young people abandoned the island, an Ōmi-shima family converted a deserted schoolhouse into this boutique guesthouse under the guidance of famous…

  • Minamikan

    Western Honshū

    A refined inn on the edge of the lake, Minamikan has a choice of 'modern', 'retro' and 'classic' rooms, all with broad views across the water. The top-end…

  • Ryokan Kurashiki

    Western Honshū

    By the canal in the heart of the historic district, this is the best ryokan in town, incorporating several beautifully restored Edo-period buildings. The…

  • Hiroshima Inn Aioi

    Hiroshima

    At this fine traditional inn, kick back in a yukata (light cotton kimono) and enjoy city and park views from your tatami room, or while lazing in the…

  • Hagi no Yado Tomoe

    Western Honshū

    The finest inn in Hagi, the historic Tomoe offers gorgeous Japanese rooms with garden views and luxurious baths, and beautifully prepared cuisine. Prices…

  • Hinoyama Youth Hostel

    Western Honshū

    Amazing views of the straits and welcoming service make this one of the best youth hostels in western Honshū. You can take a bus from the station to the…

  • Santora

    Western Honshū

    At this waterfront ryokan, you can laze about in the outdoor saltwater bath while watching boats sail by. The rooms are spacious, the shared indoor…

  • Kōraku Hotel

    Western Honshū

    Kōraku has classy touches such as local museum pieces displayed on each floor, and pampering extras such as complimentary aroma pots for your room. Beds…

  • K's House Hiroshima

    Hiroshima

    K's House has a great location not far from the station. There are small dorms and comfortable tatami rooms with shared shower rooms, or you can pay a…

  • Kuniga-sō

    Western Honshū

    Operated by a friendly family, Nishino-shima's best lodging features rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bay and a communal bath sharing…

  • Hotel Active Hiroshima

    Hiroshima

    With its satiny coverlets and backlit headboards, Hotel Active tries for a little more style than the average business hotel. It's right in the heart of…

  • Tsutsuji-sō

    Naoshima

    Perfectly placed on the beachfront, not far from the Benesse Art Site area, is this encampment of Mongolian-style pao (yurt) tents. Cosy tents sleep up to…

  • Hostel KAG

    Western Honshū

    The black facade suggests you've arrived at an art-house cinema, but this is KAG, shaking things up in the Kurashiki hostel scene by offering designer…

  • Hotel Knut

    Western Honshū

    Although the single hotel-style rooms all have shared toilets and bathrooms, you might just love this fresh, young conversion of a business hotel, next to…

  • Matsudaya Hotel

    Western Honshū

    At this centuries-old, now-modernised ryokan, you can bathe in history – right in the tub where once dipped the plotters of the Meiji Restoration. The…

  • Hagi Kankō Hotel

    Western Honshū

    At the base of Kasa-yama, this solid tourist hotel has wonderfully friendly yet formal staff who'll do anything to assist, even if English is a challenge…

  • Hoshi Ryokan

    Western Honshū

    You'll get a warm, family welcome at this big, creaky minshuku located a minute from the station. The tatami rooms are spacious and there's a shared…

  • KAI Izumo

    Western Honshū

    Whilst not in Izumo at all, this modern ryokan in Tamatsukuri Onsen, about 9km southwest of downtown Matsue, has a minimalist but traditional aesthetic…

  • Hana Hostel

    Hiroshima

    Hana has a choice of Japanese- or Western-style private rooms, some with a private toilet or full (if very small) en suite. Cosy lamp lighting and…

  • Guest House Kikugawa

    Miyajima

    This charming good-value inn is built in traditional style with wooden interiors. There are both tatami rooms with futons and rooms with beds, all…

  • Drop Inn Tottori

    Western Honshū

    Tottori's only hostel has smart male- and female-only capsules with thick mattresses, flat-screen TVs, safes and, instead of bunks, cavernous personal…

  • Ryokan Terazuya

    Western Honshū

    You'll find a warm welcome and simple tatami rooms at this family-run inn, opposite a shrine. The owners speak a little English and can collect you from…

  • Matsue Urban Hotel

    Western Honshū

    Opposite Matsue Station, Urban Hotel is a total ugly duckling, resembling a tenement from the outside, but transforming into a sleek, modern hotel inside,…

  • Hagi Royal Intelligent Hotel

    Western Honshū

    Walk out of Higashi-Hagi Station and straight into this modern hotel. The large rooms have some quirky features – the magnetic dartboard and puzzles will…

  • Shokudō Minshuku Satoyama

    Western Honshū

    Satoyama has a spectacular countryside setting. The Japanese-style rooms have mountain views and strong wi-fi, though neglected shared bathrooms. The…

  • Matsuya-sō

    Western Honshū

    This minshuku-style lodging has no wi-fi or mod cons, but offers large, clean tatami rooms with washbasins and shared bathrooms. From Tottori Station's…

  • Candeo

    Hiroshima

    Stylish Candeo has good-sized carpeted rooms with plush beds, impressive smart TVs, spacious desks, and small bathrooms with tech touches such as anti-fog…

  • Onyado Nono

    Western Honshū

    New in 2016, this towering 195-room, all-tatami (take off your shoes in the lobby) hotel looks like it has been plopped in the middle of nowhere. Popular…

  • Guesthouse Hagi Akatsukiya

    Western Honshū

    This polished-up Japanese house, just two minutes from the beach, has a cute garden and soft bunk beds for a tranquil rest. The well-travelled owner…

  • Hibari House

    Western Honshū

    The Hibari building boasts a gallery, bookstore and coworking space, and the dorms are suitably attractive in dark wood with cream privacy blinds and USB…

  • Santiago Guesthouse

    Hiroshima

    Its carpeted halls make Santiago feel hotel-like, but the sociable kitchen-lounge space promotes swapping travel tips, while being large enough to keep to…

  • Shiraishi Island International Villa

    Western Honshū

    This great-value villa is a large house atop a hill, with spacious living areas and kitchen, and an outdoor deck with views of the sea. There are four…

  • Hotel Flex

    Hiroshima

    Curves and concrete are the features at this riverside hotel. Standard rooms are small, but there is a more spacious maisonette and high-ceiling room…

  • Cuore Kurashiki

    Western Honshū

    Artistic and quirky touches in the rooms and common areas, which were decorated by staff, and a large lounge-cafe-bar area on the ground floor make this a…

  • Uonobu Ryokan

    Hiroshima Region

    Elegantly old-fashioned Uonobu is a good ryokan experience, but it's probably best if you can speak a little Japanese, although the hosts are welcoming…