Nagano Region
About 10km north of Karuizawa Station, deep in the forest (there's a free shuttle bus!), this beautifully designed hotel blends gracefully into its…
Must-see hotels in Japan
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…
Central Honshū
In business for more than 220 years, this charming, family-run ryokan is one of a kind. With only two guest rooms, Echigo-ya provides an opportunity to…
Izu Peninsula
Long beloved by Japanese artists and writers, this gem of an inn was founded in 1872 and has kept its traditional, wood-crafted heritage. The main bath…
Southern Higashiyama
Looking out over the Shirakawa Canal in Shimbashi, a lovely street in Gion, this ryokan offers excellent location, atmosphere and service. The decor is…
Shikoku
Kōchi's top business hotel has the spotless, modern rooms and professional service expected for accommodation of this class, plus it's located just off…
Nagano Region
This innovative, centrally located boutique property occupies what was a traditional inn. The new owners have created a space combining Japanese and…
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…
Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps
Eric and Fumi's place is an extremely friendly spot to stay, away from the rush of resort-town Hakuba and north of most of the in-town action, near the…
Takayama
The kind owners of this delightfully antiquey inn, set in a Meiji-era merchant's house, have been welcoming guests from abroad for years. Some rooms have…
Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps
This marvellously secluded place is in a wooded dell 7km northeast of Kappa-bashi. It's both a campground (¥700 per person) and a lodge, and has capsule…
Tokushima & the Anan Coast
This clean, laid-back Ikumi beachfront hotel has Japanese- and Western-style rooms more or less right on the beach. Fall out the door and into the waves…
Beppu
In a former Meiji-period curative spa, this intimate, dark-wood ryokan makes great use of Beppu's healing waters. Rooms (some with beds, others with…
Kyoto Station & South Kyoto
LE9 is a design-savvy hostel in a quiet spot south of Kyoto Station. Dorms come with thoughtful details, while the private twin rooms are a little pricey…
Earthworks Guesthouse & Gallery
Nagano Region
Run by Roberto and Rumi in a renovated old farmhouse behind their sensational Earthworks Gallery, this is a wonderful place to stay if you don't mind a…
Niigata Prefecture
If you make it this far, you'll need to find somewhere worthwhile to rest your weary head. Luckily this 150-year-old former farmhouse has been relocated…
Ehime Prefecture
This lovely spot in a totally refurbished building right on Uchiko's Yōkaichi main street provides the town's cheapest accommodation with both mixed and…
Matsumoto
It's hard to fault this impressive hotel, occupying a prime spot near the castle. Reasonably priced rooms are refreshingly stylish and comfortable. Deluxe…
Niseko
Not for the budget minded, the AYA Niseko is there when you need to splurge and pamper yourself. Parents will love the kiddie playroom, and heck, they'll…
Shikoku
If you've got the funds, this is the place to stay. Extremely foreigner-friendly with a multilingual website, a mix of tatami and Western-style rooms,…
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…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
While the beloved original 1962 hotel has been demolished to make way for a new building (set to open in September 2019), the Ōkura's elegant South Wing…
Shimanto-no-yado Iyashi-no-sato
Shikoku
Describing itself as a 'resort-type ecology hotel', this lovely spot out on a hill near Shimoda Port at the mouth of Shimanto-gawa features beautiful,…
New Tomakomai Prince Hotel "Wa~Nagomi~"
Hokkaidō
With a Zen-inspired entry and a breakfast that is worthy of spots several times the price, the Prince Nagomi is a true find. Though it has business hotel…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This classy seaside ryokan has inimitable, understated Japanese style. Elegant rooms are furnished sparingly with high-quality art and homewares. The…
Matsumoto
Few inns have more heart than this simple, traditional charmer, meticulously kept by its friendly owner. The spotless lodgings have shiny dark-wood floors…
Kanazawa & the Hokuriku Coast
This opulent ryokan along the scenic Kakusenkei Gorge has only 10 rooms, centred on a delicate garden courtyard. Some rooms have views over the gorge and…
Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps
This friendly lodge, west of Kappa-bashi, dates from the early 20th century. The main-building rooms are a mix of Japanese and Western styles. The dorm…
Nagano Region
On Chūō-dōri a few blocks south of Zenkō-ji, this ryokan has been in the family for 130 years and offers a friendly welcome to foreigners. The rustic,…
Ehime Prefecture
Uchiko has some gorgeous traditional places to stay and the Nakahaga Residence on Yōkaichi tops the list. This stylish, remodelled storehouse is a classic…
Around Tokyo
A few steps south of Motomachi port, this hip hang-out has sunny capsule dorms with partial sea views, and smart private rooms with a fridge, safe and TV …
Ginza & Tsukiji
Kudos to the Park Hotel for commissioning 31 artists to decorate 31 of its 31st-floor rooms. The results are very impressive with all-Japanese themes…
Seaside Hotel Taimaru Kaigetsu
Tokushima & the Anan Coast
Just south of Naruto Park, this ryokan has spotless Japanese- and Western-style rooms, most with a view of the sea and Naruto Bridge. There's an excellent…
Takayama
You'll be impressed by the friendly, professional staff at this wonderful hybrid of a boutique hotel and a traditional ryokan, whose all-tatami rooms are…
Tokushima & the Anan Coast
Part of Tokushima Station building, the luxurious Hotel Clement boasts 18 floors and 250 comfortable, spacious, Western-style rooms. Although it's more…
Nagano Region
Delightful, original, stylish and enchanting: all describe this gem in the heart of Obuse. Twelve rooms – huge by Japanese standards – beautifully…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
A standout among Tokyo's new breed of flashpacker digs, Unplan offers comfy dorms in Scandinavian wood tones. The private rooms are very pleasant, and a…
Ehime Prefecture
Run by English-speaking Shimpei, this place is a joy for backpackers happy to stay in a cheap capsule-style mixed or women-only dorm. There is also a four…
Kagawa Prefecture
This welcoming ryokan, which has comfortable tatami rooms and warm hospitality, is conveniently situated by the riverside, only a few minutes' walk from…
Ehime Prefecture
Nicely situated in the old town, this friendly guesthouse makes a good space for exploring Ōzu at leisure. There are male and female dorm rooms plus a…
