The 10 Types of ‘Hotel’ in Japan: Which is Right For You?

Booking a place to stay for your Japan trip takes a little bit more planning than some other countries. Not only do you have to decide what area to stay in, but you also need to think about what type of accommodation in Japan you want to stay in as there are a few different options.

This post explains the difference between the types of hotels in Japan – and also explores some other accommodation types in Japan that aren’t strictly hotels, but still offer a place to rest your head – so you can decide what type is best for you.

Image Henn na Hotel, used with permission

Types of Hotel in Japan

Hotels are one of the most popular types of accommodation to stay in for tourists traveling to Japan.

Benefits include a choice of room types, lots of availability, and easy booking from English-speaking countries, but there are a few different types of hotels in Japan and some may be a bit different from that which you might be used to – so, here’s what to consider.

1. Capsule Hotels

The archetypal ‘only in Japan’ experience, staying in a capsule hotel is an experience many traveler wants to tick off, but they aren’t like a normal hotel so you do need to be prepared before your stay.

Capsule hotels began in Japan as a place for business travelers to stay overnight. The first ever one was the Capsule Inn in Osaka which was built in 1978 and still takes (male) guests today.

Most capsule hotels consist of two rows of sleeping pods, lined up on top of each other, which contain a futon-style bed, a light, and sometimes extra touches like a TV or air conditioning.

Your pod is closed with a door or a curtain.

Each pod usually sleeps one person and many capsule hotels are either single-gender (so make sure you book into the right one) or, at least divide the sexes into different areas or floors.

Obviously, there’s no bathroom in your ‘room’ and the toilet and shower (or bath) facilities are shared with the other guests. You also store your luggage in a locker outside your pod.

Our Suggested Capsule Hotel

One of the main brands that offer capsules that are more tourist-friendly is Nine Hours. I’d suggest their Hamatsucho location. Hamatsucho is one area where I’m basing myself on my Tokyo trips now. It’s a great little district with excellent transport links to Haneda (and the rest of Tokyo) and a really nice vibe.

For a full list of Pros and Cons of staying in a Capsule Hotel, a few tips if you do decide to stay in one – and, some other suggestions of great ones to book, check out our longer guide to Capsule Hotels.

2. The Business Chains

Business Hotels is a good way to categorize local Japanese chains like APA, Tokyu Inn, or Dormy Inn.

As the name suggests, they tend to aim at Japanese travelers visiting on business, but, because they can be found in many, many locations around Japan, they’re also a good holiday choice.

Rooms and beds can be small (which is common in Japan anyway), but this is also reflected in the price which is usually less than other touristy-style hotels.

I think they’re a great choice for solo travelers, those who are happy with twin beds (and aren’t carrying much luggage!), or a couple who don’t mind getting cozy! I stay in this type of hotel on my own all the time – but, if Mr Japlanease is with me, we need more space and the increase in cost makes me cry.

Another nice thing about business hotels is that they tend to supply lots of little extras like pajamas or a robe, combs, and toothbrushes which is handy if you’re just on a short stay or you’ve sent your luggage ahead via a luggage transport service.

A Great Business Hotel to Check Out

One Tokyo business hotel you might want to check out is the APA Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon. The rooms are tiny, but some of them have a balcony which is a nice touch. It’s also a completely non-smoking hotel – a bonus as some business hotels do still allow smoking. The location is perfect for exploring Asakusa and is near good transport links – and it’s a bargain.

For more tips and tricks about staying in a Business Hotel in Japan- and, some more suggestions of ones I like, check out our guide to staying in a business hotel.

3. Robot Hotels

Another, very Japanese experience, the Henn na chain of Robot Hotels has expanded from the original branch at the Huis Tens Bosch theme park near Nagasaki and now has 19 hotels in major cities around Japan (plus one in New York and one in Seoul).

As the name suggests, their USP is that you’re served by robots.

When you arrive at the hotel you’ll be greeted by your robot check-in assistant, who may look like a human, or, if you’re lucky, will be a dinosaur in a fetching little hat.

You scan in your passport and are then given your room key.

Once in your room, a robot assistant helps you turn on and off the lights! – admittedly, some criticism of the robot hotels is that this fella sometimes doesn’t work quite as well as it should!

They also offer Robohon tour guides in some destinations – and, if you have ever seen James May’s Our Man in Japan, you’ll know this as the ‘Hey Bim’ device (and if you’re anything like me, you’re now already giggling, if not, check out the series on Amazon Prime as it’s great)

There are also human staff on hand if you need them. I stayed at two different robot hotels on my last trip and they are fun – to see a more detailed guide to the Pros and Cons of staying in one – plus, what happened when I got my own ‘Bim’ check out our longer guide to staying in a robot hotel.

Our Favorite Robot Hotels

If you’re looking to find a robot hotel, search for Henn na hotels on Booking.com (note, it’s 3ns, I always spell it with two and it won’t find them). One that’s in a pretty good location is their original Robot Hotel in Ginza which is walking distance from the fantastic Tsukiji Outer Market and the shopping strips of Ginza.

Or in Osaka, try the Hen na Hotel Osaka Namba which is 1300 feet from the famous Glico man bridge with its illuminated signs. This was one of the ones I stayed in on my last trip and it was very convenient. That’s the room above – it was a twin so had two single beds and a bathroom with a bath.

If you’re staying elsewhere in Japan, or, want to stay in a different location in Tokyo or Osaka, you’ll find other robot hotel locations at the Henn na Hotel website.

4. Western Style and Apartment Hotels

Much like any other hotel that you’ll find around the world.

You’ll find a Western-style bed, sometimes a desk and chair – but, because this is Japan, you’ll probably find that even the smallest room will have a bathtub rather than just a shower.

Apartment hotels also usually have a kitchen which can be handy if you’re traveling with picky eaters or someone with allergies as it makes it easy to prepare your own meals.

If you want more space or larger beds, a Western-style or apartment hotel is more likely to offer it than one of the Japanese chains, but do look carefully.

Costs for Western Hotels can vary massively – as with anywhere else you travel, location, season, and local events and the star rating will play a big part in how much you should expect to pay.

Two of my favorite hotels of this hotel type in Japan are the Citadines Shinjuku, in Tokyo, where I’ve now stayed four times. That’s the room above, you can’t see the kitchen in this picture but it has a small kitchen as well – and a desk to work at.

Or in Osaka, look at the Fraser Residence Nankai.

If you’re traveling as a family, Mimaru is the chain to look for as they specialize in family-sized accommodation. They have hotels all over, but this one in Kyoto is close to the area I normally stay in which has fantastic transport links.

5. Love Hotels

Japan is a space-deprived country and so trying to find privacy to erm, do couple things (that aren’t just asking each other what’s for dinner), is limited – and so, Love Hotels were born.

They were a place for couples to spend an evening – or just a few hours – in absolute privacy without worrying that other family members or the neighbors might hear what’s going on.

The first one opened in Osaka (there again) in 1968 but now you’ll find Love Hotel districts in most major cities – you’ll know if you’re in one of these as lots of hotels will be crowded together and there will be a lot of neon!

Traditionally, these establishments were booked in short blocks of a few hours, or just overnight and aimed very much at locals – but, now they’re also appearing on many travel websites as an option for couples wanting a bit more of an adventurous hotel on their holidays too.

If you see a hotel in Japan marked as ‘adults only’ on a website – and it’s not an exclusive ryokan – it’s probably a love hotel especially if it’s a bit gaudy – or fantastically themed – if you’ve ever wanted to stay the night in an alien galaxy or pirate ship this could be your answer.

For more tips on booking a Love Hotel – including an explanation of the different rates you can book, how to pay, and some of the pros and cons, check out our longer post on staying in a Love Hotel in Japan.

Our Recommended Love Hotel

One good option for tourists is the Hotel & Spa J Mex in Tokyo’s Shinjuku which has heaps of fun facilities but also does have staff – and very helpful they are too – which can be handy to bridge the gap between a normal love hotel and a normal hotel.

Other Common Accommodation Types in Japan

As well as the different types of hotels in Japan there are also some other accommodation options that visitors might want to check out depending on budget, or, the type of experience you want to have on your trip. So, let’s explain some of the most common…

1. Ryokan

Ryokans are the traditional style inn that Japan is famous for – and in this section, we’re talking about the smaller personalized style inn that most travelers think of when they say ryokan.

Staying in a ryokan can be a romantic and special part of your Japan trip, and it’s most definitely not like staying in the hotels you’re probably used to.

Traditional ryokans are usually in a small building with a handful of rooms and you’ll be greeted and served by your host, or a room attendant, throughout your stay.

Your room will, usually, be Japanese in style.

That means you’ll enter into a small tiled area, where you leave your shoes and luggage.

The rest of the room will have a tatami mat floor and be minimally furnished – with no bed!

At night, your hostess will come and turn your bed into a bedroom with a futon-style bed.

Evening meals and breakfast are usually included in a ryokan stay and will often be served in your room, or a private dining room. These are generally multi-course meals with very high-quality ingredients.

Many ryokans also have onsens – public baths – on the premises. These might be communal (although usually segregated by gender), private baths might be bookable or, some rooms might have their own private hot tub.

For more details on the pros and cons on staying in a ryokan – and why it’s not my personal choice to pick – check out our longer guide to Staying in a Ryokan (coming soon).

This also suggests some great countryside ryokans you might want to consider – or, to find a list in Kyoto, you might also check out our guide our post on the best things to do in Kyoto which has some other options to consider.

2. Ryokan Hotels aka Hot Springs Hotels

Ryokan are very special, but they do come with some rules and formalities that might not suit your style of travel – in that case, a Ryokan Hotel or Hot Springs Hotel might be the answer you’re looking for.

These combine some of the traditions of a ryokan with the informality and flexibility of a normal hotel. If I want to relax during my Japan trip this is the type of hotel I’ll choose.

So, you might still sleep in a tatami mat room on a futon, but once you’ve checked in you probably won’t see people again.

Formal dinners are available, but, they are often served in a larger dining room and timings are a bit more flexible.

There’s still an onsen, you still go barefoot and you still wear a robe and slippers around the place – but, it’s just less formal.

They’re often bigger than a ryokan, with over a hundred rooms, and combine a mix of Western and Japanese style rooms – and the larger ones even have inbuilt entertainment like karaoke, theatre, or bowling.

See our full post on what it’s like to stay at a Ryokan Hotel here. This explains the pros and cons of this type of hotel – and, why it’s different from a ryokan, and also suggests a few hot springs hotels you might want ot try.

Or, if you know you’re going to Hakone, Tenseien is one of the most popular hot springs hotels in Hakone.

It has 105 rooms that offer Japanese-style rooms, Western rooms, and hybrid rooms where you can sit and relax in a tatami room, but sleep in a full bed.

It has four onsen baths – two indoor, and two outdoor baths which are segregated by gender and you can book your own private onsen as well.

3. Hostels

Japan has a reputation as being very expensive and, while you can find cheap hotel rooms in the Business or Capsule Hotels, if you’re really on a budget then you might be wondering whether Japan has hostels – and it does.

The concept is the same as anywhere else.

Accommodation is no frills and rooms are usually shared with others. Sometimes genders are segregated, other times, dorms are mixed.

Showers and toilets are usually shared.

As in other countries, some ‘flash-packing’ hostels do offer private rooms or rooms with private bathrooms.

Hostels are good if you’re traveling alone and want to connect with other travelers, or simply want to keep the cost down.

To see more about staying in a hostel in Japan – including the big difference between rooms in a traditional hostel and one in Japan that might make them seem more appealing, check out our dedicated post on staying in a hostel in Japan (coming soon). That also includes some of the more fun hostels you might want to check out.

You’ll find a full list of hostels all over Japan on Hostelworld.

Like anywhere, hostels in Japan sell out fairly quickly so you should book in advance – and it’s essential in a busy period like Golden Week (if you don’t know what that is, then check our article on Golden Week in Tokyo here).

4. AirBNB

Airbnb is available in Japan and is particularly good if you want a larger place to stay with your family, and/ or use of a kitchen.

Properties need to be registered with the authorities so there might be less choice than you are used to as many hosts dropped out of the program when this happened.

Rules as to when properties can be rented out are particularly strict in popular areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya

Look at pictures carefully as, even if a place says it sleeps six, that might not be in a configuration you’d want to use – make sure you know exactly how many bedrooms, and actual beds there are if you don’t want to find yourself doubling up on any of these things!

You might find a few more rules than you’re used to when it comes to staying in an Airbnb in Japan, particularly around things like noise and rubbish removal.

This post from Notes for Nomads is very good at explaining what to expect.

Less Common Places to Stay in Japan

The above list covers the most common accommodation types in Japan used by travelers, but, if you’re heading off the beaten path a bit more, you might also want to know about these other choices.

1. Machiya

These are old wooden houses, most commonly found as accommodation in Kyoto.

Originally, the houses would have been used both as a home and a business such as a shop or artisans workshop.

They have a very distinct design and lovers of history or architecture might get a lot out of staying in one.

Machiya Residence Inn is a chain that specializes in restoring Machiya and turning them into accommodation. They have over 40 sites around Japan.

See more about their accommodation here.

It’s also a great site to visit to learn more about the distinguishing features of a Machiya.

2. Sleeper Buses and Overnight Trains

If you’re really trying to keep the costs down, and have the luxury of time on your trip to get from A-B, spending a night on one of Japan’s sleeper buses, or one of the overnight trains like the Sunrise Seto express kills two birds with one stone.

See more about the bus service from Tokyo to Osaka here.

If you’re more interested in the overnight trains, do note that you cannot book them from outside of Japan so, you may find that actual bed berths are not available by the time you can book. But, there is more advice in this piece by JRPass.com.

3. Temple Stays

It’s possible to stay at some Buddhist temples in Japan. The accommodation is known as shukbuko.

You don’t have to be Buddhist to stay at the temple, but you may be invited to take part in prayers or meditation and you will be expected to forgo meat – some temples may also not serve alcohol.

The most common destination that tourists are likely to stay in a temple is Koyasan or Mount Koya.

This is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhism in Japan and the start of a spiritual walk known as the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Temples here are more likely to speak English and some are available on booking.com

Have a look at the options in the area here.

4. Manga Cafes

Okay, this is probably not going to be your ideal holiday experience, but if you get caught out by Japan’s notoriously early-ending trains and need somewhere cheap to crash before the next train, you can sleep in certain manga cafes known as Manga Kissa.

Manga Cafes are coffee shops that have manga comics for their patrons to read and buy – but, some of them also have small sleeping areas where you can catch a nap during the day, or, crash for a few hours at night.

There is a bit of a process involved in staying in a Manga Kissa, especially if you don’t speak Japanese, so, if you are interested in trying in, have a look at this article which explores what you might be asked to do.

5. Glamping Sites

It might not be what you expect to find in Japan, but I’ve noticed a few of these launching in recent years – and, if you’re going to one of the locations in which you’ll find them, you might want to check them out.

Glamping is basically posh camping and so you’l find tents containing actual beds and other home comforts.

Most glamping sites in Japan are in more rural areas, but a few in touristy locations that you might want to investigate include

Sana Mane on the art island of Naoshima which offers bubble-style tents. There are also yurt-style tents on Naoshima.

Inn the Park in Fukuoka and Nuzuma, Shizouka, sees you staying in floating ball-like tents suspended between the trees.

6. Minshuku

These are guesthouses, rather like a B&B in the UK.

Located mostly in rural areas, they are often family-owned with just a few rooms.

You’ll sleep in a Japanese-style room on a futon on the floor, but unlike a ryokan, you’ll make up your own bedding yourself.

Dinner and breakfast are usually included in your room rate.

Mishuku are pretty no frills, but they are a way to meet local people, and give back to the local economy and are often the only choice of accommodation in small towns.

See more in this guide from the JNTO

So there you have it – a guide to all the different types of accommodation in Japan that you might pick to stay in. But if I did forget a type of hotel, or other sleep spot, you’re interested in checking out, let me know in the comments and I’ll investigate.

Sharing is caring!