20 Best Places to Stay in Japan: Comprehensive Accommodation Guide

Accommodations in Japan span an extraordinary variety of living experiences, ranging from world-famous 5-star ultra-luxury skyscraper hotels and historic imperial properties to traditional Japanese inns (ryokan) with tatami mat floors, natural hot springs (onsen), and futuristic capsule hotels.

What to Expect From Japan Hotels

Japanese hospitality (Omotenashi) ensures exceptional cleanliness, attention to detail, and polite service across all price points. Staying at a traditional ryokan is an absolute must-do cultural experience—guests sleep on plush futons laid out over woven straw tatami mats, wear yukata robes, soak in thermal mineral baths, and enjoy elaborate multi-course kaiseki dinners. Modern western-style hotels offer high-tech amenities, sleek designs, and quiet city sanctuaries.

20 Best Places to Stay in Japan

1. Aman Tokyo

Style: 5-Star Ultra-Luxury Urban Sanctuary
Location: Otemachi, Tokyo
Best For: Architectural Luxury, Panoramic Views & Spa Wellness
About the Place: Occupying the top six floors of the Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo blends minimalist Japanese aesthetics with grandeur, featuring soaring washi paper ceilings, basalt stone baths, and views of Mount Fuji and the Imperial Palace.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Aman Tokyo

2. Hoshinoya Kyoto

Style: 5-Star Luxury Riverside Ryokan Resort
Location: Arashiyama, Kyoto
Best For: Tranquil Nature, River Boat Arrival & Heritage Luxury
About the Place: Accessible exclusively via a scenic 15-minute wooden boat ride down the Oi River, this restored 17th-century riverside estate features traditional cedar wood craftsmanship, moss gardens, and high-end Kaiseki dining.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Hoshinoya Kyoto

3. Park Hyatt Tokyo

Style: 5-Star Iconic Luxury Skyscraper Hotel
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Best For: Iconic Skyline Scenery, Fine Dining & Film Heritage
About the Place: Made famous worldwide by Sofia Coppola's film Lost in Translation, this luxury hotel occupies the top floors of the Shinjuku Park Tower, offering a 52nd-floor New York Bar with live jazz and sweeping skyline views.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Park Hyatt Tokyo

4. Gora Kadan

Style: 5-Star Traditional Onsen Ryokan
Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture
Best For: Hot Spring Thermal Baths, Kaiseki & Relaxation
About the Place: A former summer villa of the Imperial family located in Hakone National Park, Gora Kadan is a member of Relais & Chateaux offering private open-air hot spring baths, manicured gardens, and kaiseki dinners.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Gora Kadan

5. The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

Style: 5-Star Luxury Riverside Hotel
Location: Kamogawa River, Kyoto
Best For: Riverfront Serenity, Design & Central Access
About the Place: Built along the banks of the Kamogawa River overlooking the Higashiyama mountains, combining traditional Japanese design motifs (meigetsu zen garden courts) with contemporary luxury service.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto

6. Hoshinoya Fuji

Style: Luxury Glamping & Nature Resort
Location: Lake Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture
Best For: Mount Fuji Views, Glamping & Outdoor Firepits
About the Place: Nestled in a red pine forest on the slopes overlooking Lake Kawaguchiko, offering minimalist concrete cabin pods with glass walls framing direct, unobstructed views of Mount Fuji.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Hoshinoya Fuji

7. Hiiragiya Ryokan

Style: Historic Traditional Ryokan (Founded 1818)
Location: Kyoto, Kansai
Best For: Authentic Heritage Experience & In-Room Kaiseki
About the Place: One of Kyoto's most prestigious traditional inns, operating for over six generations. Features hand-polished dark wood corridors, private gardens, and legendary seasonal kaiseki meals served in-room.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Hiiragiya Ryokan

8. Imperial Hotel Tokyo

Style: 5-Star Grand Historic Hotel
Location: Hibiya / Ginza, Tokyo
Best For: Imperial History, Location & High-End Service
About the Place: Opened in 1890 at the request of the Japanese aristocracy, the Imperial Hotel has hosted world royalty and heads of state for over a century, located directly adjacent to Hibiya Park and Ginza.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Imperial Hotel Tokyo

9. Benesse House

Style: Contemporary Art Museum & Boutique Resort
Location: Naoshima Art Island, Kagawa Prefecture
Best For: Art Lovers, Architecture & Coastal Vistas
About the Place: Designed by world-famous architect Tadao Ando, Benesse House functions as both a hotel and a contemporary art museum, where guests sleep surrounded by original artworks overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Benesse House

10. The Tokyo Station Hotel

Style: 5-Star Historic European-Heritage Hotel
Location: Tokyo Station, Tokyo
Best For: Rail Convenience, History & Classic Charm
About the Place: Set inside the iconic red-brick Marunouchi Tokyo Station building (a designated Important Cultural Property), combining 1915 European architecture with modern luxury conveniences.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Tokyo Station Hotel

11. Asaba Ryokan

Style: Historic Relais & Chateaux Onsen Inn
Location: Shuzenji Onsen, Shizuoka Prefecture
Best For: Thermal Hot Springs, Noh Theatre & Tranquility
About the Place: Dating back over 500 years in the historic hot spring town of Shuzenji, featuring an authentic outdoor Noh drama stage set across a bamboo-framed koi pond.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Asaba Ryokan

12. Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Style: 5-Star Contemporary Luxury Resort
Location: Higashiyama, Kyoto
Best For: Historic Pond Gardens & Resort Amenities
About the Place: Centered around Shakusui-en, an 800-year-old historic Japanese pond garden, featuring modern glass architecture, private tea houses, and full-service spas.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

13. Trunk (Hotel) Cat Street

Style: Boutique Social & Design Hotel
Location: Harajuku / Shibuya, Tokyo
Best For: Creative Travelers, Nightlife & Design
About the Place: Located on trendy Cat Street between Shibuya and Harajuku, this eco-conscious boutique hotel features custom recycled artwork, an active lounge bar, and outdoor terrace dining.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Trunk Hotel

14. Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Style: 5-Star Luxury Boutique Resort
Location: Arashiyama, Kyoto
Best For: River Scenery, Private Onsen & Serenity
About the Place: Located along the Katsura River steps from the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, combining traditional Japanese garden pavilions with private open-air mineral baths.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Suiran Kyoto

15. Hoshinoya Tokyo

Style: 5-Star Luxury Skyscraper Ryokan
Location: Otemachi / Tokyo Station, Tokyo
Best For: Modern Ryokan Experience & Geothermal Onsen
About the Place: A 17-story modern tower reinterpreting the traditional ryokan experience, complete with tatami floor hallways, yukata robes, and a top-floor hot spring bath pumped from 1,500 meters underground.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Hoshinoya Tokyo

16. InterContinental Osaka

Style: 5-Star Contemporary Luxury City Hotel
Location: Umeda, Osaka
Best For: Shopping Access, Rail Hub & Executive Comfort
About the Place: Situated in the Grand Front Osaka complex at Osaka/Umeda Station, featuring high-floor contemporary rooms, Michelin-starred French dining (Pierre), and traditional bathhouses.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to InterContinental Osaka

17. Kuramitsu / Iwaso Ryokan

Style: Historic Island Onsen Ryokan
Location: Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Prefecture
Best Time to Visit: Year-round
Best For: Sacred Island Tranquility & Nature Walks
About the Place: Operating since 1854 at the foot of Mount Misen near Itsukushima Shrine, surrounded by maple trees, wild deer, and natural mineral hot spring baths.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Iwaso Ryokan

18. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

Style: 5-Star Luxury Hotel
Location: Akasaka, Tokyo
Best For: Kengo Kuma Design & Central Location
About the Place: Designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma adjacent to the Hie Shrine, featuring traditional wood screen interiors, indoor pools, and tranquil garden views.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to The Capitol Hotel Tokyu

19. Zaborin Ryokan

Style: Ultra-Luxury Alpine Onsen Villa Resort
Location: Niseko, Hokkaido
Best For: Winter Powder Snow, Private Onsen & Solitude
About the Place: A secluded villa resort in Hanazono Niseko, where each private suite features both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths fed directly from a private volcanic spring source.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Zaborin Ryokan

20. Nine Hours Capsule Hotel (9h)

Style: Ultra-Futuristic Designer Capsule Hotel
Location: Shinjuku / Akasaka, Tokyo
Best For: Solo Travelers, Budget Efficiency & Unique Experience
About the Place: A sleek, minimalist capsule hotel concept offering comfortable sleep pods, high-speed amenities, and futuristic pod design for modern urban travelers.
Book & Explore: Read our full guide to Nine Hours Capsule Hotel

20 Best Places to Stay in Japan: Comprehensive Accommodation Guide

What to Expect From Japan Hotels