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Where to stay in Japan can feel overwhelming because the choices are endless. Here are our practical tips that make the biggest difference for comfort and convenience.

A large, modern brick hotel building with multiple floors and rows of windows stands against a blue sky—an ideal choice for those seeking where to stay in Japan. Cars are parked near the entrance, with small brick structures in the foreground.

Throughout our travels in Japan, we’ve stayed in many different types of accommodations, ranging from simple budget rooms where guests sort their own trash to luxury hotels and taditional ryokan.

With so many options, deciding where to stay can feel overwhelming. Over the years, we’ve developped a simple way to choose places to stay when we travel around Japan.

Table of Contents

Ryokan vs. Hotel: Which One to Choose?

A family of four sits around a low table in a traditional Japanese-style room with tatami mats and shoji screens—an inviting glimpse for anyone wondering where to stay in Japan. They are smiling at the camera, sharing tea together.

Before we get into the details of how we choose hotels and ryokan (traditional inn), let’s answer a question we hear from readers all the time: Should you stay in a ryokan or a hotel on your trip to Japan?

For our family, the answer depends on where we traveling.

In big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo, we almost always stay in a hotel. Hotels keep our schedule flexible and make it much easier to get around.

When we visit scenic areas or well-known onsen towns and regions, such as Hakone, Izu, Oita Prefecture, that’s when we choose a ryokan.

Let me explain a bit further.

A traditional Japanese tatami room is a serene option for where to stay in Japan, featuring a low table, floor cushions, and chairs by a large window. A flower arrangement and books grace the table amid soft lighting and calm ambiance.

What is Ryokan?

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn with tatami rooms, futon bedding, and a relaxing, culturally rich stay. When a ryokan is located in a hot spring area, it usually offers onsen baths, either in shared facilities or as private in-room baths.

Ryokan Stays Are Meant to Be Slow-Paced

The biggest difference between a ryokan and a hotel is the pace.

  • A ryokan stay usually begins in the late afternoon.
  • Check-in is around 3:30 or 4:00 pm.
  • Guests are settled into the room and enjoy a cup of tea with local sweets.
  • Guests are encouraged to enjoy the facitlies, garden, and public onsen to relax, before the dinner.
  • At check-in, guests are usually asked to choose a dinner time, typically between 5:30 and 7:00 pm. Dinner is often a kaiseki-style meal.
  • The rest of the night is about rest and recovery with more soaking in hot spring.

Ryokan stays are meant to be calm and unhurried.

Why Hotels Work So Well in Cities

Hotels are a better fit for busy city travel.

  • Easy, predictable, and comfortable
  • Located near major train stations (this matters most)
  • Flexible check-in and dining options
  • Ideal for early mornings, late nights, and full sightseeing days

This is why we choose hotels in cities and save ryokan stays for quietr, scenic areas.

Our Simple Rule of Thumb

On a first trip to Japan, stay mostly in hotels, with one or two ryokan nights for balance.

We recommend choosing hotels in cities and ryokan in the countryside or onsen towns.

This approach keeps travel easy while still giving you a memorable ryokan experience.

Hotels in Japan

Stay Near a Major Train Station

Shim-bashi Station at night with people walking and gathering—an inviting spot for those exploring where to stay in Japan. An elevated train passes above, surrounded by tall buildings adorned with bright neon signs and trees lining the open area.

Since every family has different needs, we keep our approach simple. In major cities, we prioritize staying close to a train station. It matters more than price, views, or a big-name brand.

This choice matters even more with kids. After a full day out, they hit a wall fast. A long walk back can feel never-ending. We learned that on a jet-lagged night when the hotel felt far away.

Staying near a station saves time every day. It also makes transfers and day trips much easier. For example, in Tokyo, we love staying at the Daiichi Hotel or Blossoms Hibiya near Shimbashi Station. It’s a short walk to Ginza and a 15-minute train ride to Ueno and Shibuya, making exploring Tokyo a breeze.

Select a Hotel Near the Center of Your Trip

Another key point when selecting a hotel is choosing one near the center of your travel plans. If most of the places you want to visit are on the west side of Tokyo, do not book a hotel on the east side near Ueno. You could end up spending 30 minutes each way going back and forth.

This is especially true in Kyoto. Many major sights sit on different sides of the city, and it can take close to an hour to cross town. A centrally located hotel can save you a lot of time getting to different areas during your stay.

Check the Room Size Before You Book

A neatly made bed with white sheets and a red runner sits at the center of a small hotel room—ideal for those searching where to stay in Japan—complete with beige curtains, bedside tables, lamps, and a few handy appliances.

Room size surprises many visitors. Japan’s hotel rooms can be very small. We have stayed in rooms where two carry-on suitcases filled the tiny walkway. After that, there was nowhere to step except onto the bed.

Always check the room size before booking. Booking.com can be helpful for this. We also compare room types within the same hotel. Prices can be similar, but room sizes can vary a lot. We often choose a larger room since we usually stay several nights in one place.

Understand Bed Types and What They Mean

Spacious hotel room—ideal if you're wondering where to stay in Japan—with two twin beds joined together, a single bed near the window, cozy beige and cream bedding, bedside tables with lamps, framed artwork, and stunning city lights outside.

Unlike the US, two queen beds in the same room are rare in Japan. Most rooms are not large enough to fit them. Here are the bed types you will see most often:

  • Single (usually a twin-size bed for one person)
  • Double (meant for two people, often close to a US full; sometimes closer to a queen)
  • Twin (two single beds in one room)
  • Queen (one queen-size bed)
  • King (one king-size bed)
  • Triple / Family Room (sometimes the room fits a third twin-size bed, which is sold as a triple; family rooms are often set up with four twin beds)

If you are traveling as a family, read the bed details closely. Some “double” beds feel small for two adults. Some “twin” rooms have very little space between the beds.

Do Not Rely on Photos Alone

Hotel photos can be outdated. Some properties still use photos from decades ago. We always read recent reviews before booking. We have arrived at hotels where the photos did not match the current condition at all.

We Often Skip Hotel Breakfast

A basket with a slice of thick buttered toast and a hard-boiled egg, next to a cup of black coffee—classic items you’ll find in any Nagoya food guide—all set on a wooden table.

Japanese hotel breakfasts are quite good, but we usually do not add breakfast to the room. Most train stations and neighborhoods have many coffee shops and bakeries nearby. Breakfast becomes a fun way to explore the area. It is also easier to match everyone’s mood.

Two Extra Features We Like

Two front-loading washing machines in a laundry room, each with a sign in English and Japanese reading No laundry net. Ideal for travelers researching where to stay in Japan, the room features instructions above both machines and machine number 2 is slightly open.

Laundry facilities can be a lifesaver, especially on longer trips. We only travel with carry-on suitcases, even for one-month trips, so having laundry on-site makes a big difference.

We also like to stay at hotels with an airport limousine bus stop on site, or at least nearby. It simplifies arrival and departure days. On the way home, it’s nice to leave our bags with the bell desk and head out without having to make an extra stop to pick up luggage later.

Ask About Luggage Storage

Many hotels will store luggage for you if you plan to return to the same hotel on your trip. For example, you might stay in Tokyo first, then go to Hakone for two nights. Instead of bringing your full suitcase, you can leave your larger bag at the hotel and travel light with just what you need for a short stay.

Ryokan in Japan

A multi-story building with balconies and traditional Japanese elements—perfect for those seeking where to stay in Japan. A van is parked in front, while trees and a sidewalk line the street under a cloudy sky.

Ryokans take a different mindset. The stay is part of the experience. Meals and onsen often matter as much as the room.

Start with the Size of the Ryokan

A serene Japanese-style room with tatami mats, two futon beds, sliding shoji doors, a sitting area, and large windows offering lake and mountain views—an ideal choice for those searching where to stay in Japan.

Ryokans come in many sizes. We group them into three general types.

Boutique ryokans often have around 20 rooms. They can feel quiet and personal. Food options may be limited. Some may not handle special diets well. The onsen area may be smaller. Many have nice relaxation spaces. Some rooms offer private outdoor baths.

Mid-size ryokans often have around 50 rooms. They can be a good balance. You may get more amenities. Private baths may be available to rent. Food choices often feel more flexible, too.

Large ryokans often have 100 or more rooms. These can work well for families. You may find game rooms and ping pong. Some have pools. Yukata choices can be wider. Breakfast is often a buffet.

What We Evaluate Before Booking

A buffet setup in a restaurant, perfect for travelers wondering where to stay in Japan, features trays, plates, cutlery, drinks, desserts, and salads neatly organized under bright red signs in Japanese and English. The ambiance is warm with brick walls and patterned carpet.

Beyond the size of the ryokan, we focus on three things in online guest feedback.

  1. Food – We look at whether they feature regional dishes. We also check the dining setup. Some ryokans serve set meals, while others offer a buffet. Buffet is often called “Viking” in Japan.
  2. Onsen – We look at how many soaking areas they have and how clean everything feels. We also check the amenities and changing rooms. Most importantly, we want to know what the outdoor bath is like and what the atmosphere feels like.
  3. Room – We check the room size and overall condition. We also look for comments about noise. If we want a private outdoor bath, we confirm whether the room includes one.

Different travelers want different things, so we focus on what matters most depending on who we are traveling with. If we are traveling with an elderly family member, we always confirm the ryokan has elevators, especially if it has multiple floors.

Many ryokan also have private onsen (kashikiri-buro). These may be free or paid, require an on-site reservation, or run on a first-come, first-served basis. One thing to note: private onsen details are often not listed on the website, so you may only find out after arrival. If this matters to you, check recent reviews or ask the ryokan directly.

A ryokan also doesn’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable. We have stayed at lower-cost ryokans, including APA Resorts, and still had a great time.

Where We Read Ryokan Reviews

A traditional Japanese tatami room with low wooden tables, floor cushions, sliding shoji doors, and garden views—an inviting glimpse of where to stay in Japan for an authentic cultural experience.

For ryokan reviews, we often use Japanican by JTB and Jalan. We find the reviews on both sites helpful. They often match what we experience in person.

We hope our tips for finding places to stay are helpful. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.

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