Where to Stay in Japan

Don't know where to stay in Japan? No problem, this guide has got you covered.

AirBNB, Hotel or Ryōkan? We breakdown the three common types of accommodations and maybe one you didn't know about in the article below.

With tourism at an all time high and at the time this article was written Japan has seen a massive unprecedented amount of travelers. To compare, in just the last few years JTB reports an increase of 11 million from 24 million to 36 million travelers from 2023-2024. In March of 2025 they've seen over 10% of that in a single month, over 3 million visitors. With that many people in town many of the accommodations are usually booked. While this is not a secret hack to finding an empty room, but after reading this article hopefully you will have a better understanding of what's available so you can make a better choice of where to stay.

Hotel

Let's start with the obvious, many travel websites are dedicated to hotel rooms alone so it's no secret that it's where you will start looking. These agencies are well compensated for their advertising dollar and by harnessing powerful connections and website programming can help you find the perfect accommodation. Websites like Agoda, Expedia and Hotwire are designed to show you the room and make reservations for you, but what it doesn't say is what to expect.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel

In Japan, hotels were typically reserved for business travelers. If you have ever visited a hotel in Japan, this much is obvious. Many of the Standard Rooms are 15-17sqm, which is barely even a closet to Americans, so make sure to do your research before picking a room. You might be thinking that, 'this is enough room, all I'll be doing is sleeping here,' and to that end you would not be wrong, however, if you are getting all those souvenirs and trying to repack them in a large suitcase you may run into issues of space. The 17.5sqm room is taken up by what's called a Single Bed measuring 97cm x 195cm and a typically a desk or chair measuring about 27cm x 90 cm. This would leave you about 20-30cm to pass by. I've already seen so many posts on social media about how little room people have after a day's worth of sightseeing and souvenirs.

APA Hotel's Typical Single Room

While the Standard Room may only really accommodate one there are other options and grades of hotels to choose from. The one caveat to keep in mind, Japanese hotel chains will charge you for two main things: People and Space. Unlike American hotel chains where you are charged for the Space in a room and maybe a minor extra roll-away bed charge, Japanese chains tend to charge per occupant. The one tiny exception is a co-sleeping baby under 3 years old. Let's say a couple is traveling, they request a Double Room, the Double indicates the size of the bed (122cm x 195cm) but, being just a 'Double' not a Double Deluxe or similar nomenclature, you still get that 15sqm room with a slightly bigger bed. If you are one person they might charge you, ¥7000/night but once two of you show up the price, regardless of how you booked it becomes ¥8500-9000/night. Being the highly structured society that they are there will be no escape from this and for those of you who prepay the hotel, well, good luck on getting your money back.

Hotels are not all rain clouds and thunderstorms, the service is unparalleled and facilities are immaculately clean. Amenities like, razors, toothbrushes and even makeup remover cloths are not only included but refreshed daily. Turn down service is sharp and quick plus Japanese Laws have heavy penalties (up to 10 years in prison and ¥500k in fines) for theft so you can leave most of your belongs out with incredible peace of mind. You can even find some that include breakfast as a part of your stay. The facilities can even include a public bath on top of your private shower in your room. 9 times out of 10 if they list an amenity it will not cost you extra. All of this however, comes with a price and like with everything it will come with some compromises.

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel's Beauty and the Beast Room

Hotels are also in some of the most sought after destinations making your life easier. What we mean by that is that some of the larger chains such as JR (yes, Japan Railways), APA, Hilton and Hen'na Hotels are everywhere you want to be such as, Downtown Shibuya, Odaiba, yes, even Maihama where Tokyo Disneyland is. You will be hard pressed to find a Ryokan or AirBNB remotely close to those locations. The corporations own a lot of the land surrounding the Theme Parks like Odaiba and Disneyland. The train companies own a lot of the areas around the main stations their lines are on. So to get some of the very best base of operations Hotels are the way to go. If you don't mind a commute however, you may want to check out AirBNBs.

AirBNB

A late comer to the accommodation game in Japan but certainly not a bench warmer are AirBNBs. In Japan these are a mishmash of boutique hotel and private residences. (We know that many of them are rooms for rent but for the purpose of this article we will only go off the Full Home option that we've experienced.) The main differences between these off the beaten path homes are this: No on site hospitality staff, unless you are getting a room in a home or home stay experiences. This is a person's home or rental property so you must treat it as such, there's no such thing as turn down service and the hosts are sometimes regular people not accustomed to property management. This is a very independent based service and because there's no one to hold your hand, this option can be easily overlooked but is in our opinion the best way to stay in Japan.

Kyoto Resi-Stay Group's Hello Kitty Room

With a family or traveling with a party of three or more AirBNB can be a real life saver. Splitting the bill for these out of the way homes and apartments can be simpler than figuring out booking hotel rooms nearby. A lot of the home owners can accommodate 3x-4x the occupants than a hotel and really do not charge extra for it. While you might be 15-20min walk from a train station not on a main line or have a 7-Eleven inside your lobby these types of accommodations can really have their own charm. Renting a home can give you a much more realistic glimpse into Japanese life. As you may know we travel as a family unit, generally my wife and two kids with sometimes a brother-in-law in tow so being able to make one reservation to fit all of us under one roof is a real convenience.

A typical range would be in the ¥40,000-50,000 range per night in Tokyo but we've seen a lot lower in smaller cities. The pricing seems to be determined by the host but, we have seen it in popular destinations seem to run on sort of a pricing tool. Meaning the average price seems to be dictated by, occupants, size and location. So, be aware when booking the more popular the city, better the location, the nicer the property, the higher the price.

It may not be everyone's dream to wake up and prepare breakfast before heading out on excursion. In truth, you may not use the utilities provided for you and still venture down the road into the hotel with the 7-Eleven, but when you travel with kids a kitchen and private bath can mean more peace of mind than a mildly stocked mini bar. We have stayed in less like hotel styles but that was in the past and in rural areas of Hokkaido. It should be mentioned that many of them have been updated to run more like a house hotel. Some hosts will choose to meet you but with their popularity on the incline many choose to use electronic keypads and email correspondence as their wheel.

Ryōkan

A traveler looking for that Omotenashi or Japanese Hospitality (yes, it is different) experiences look no further than Ryōkan. Usually, we are talking super traditional, stuck to their ways and haven't changed for 500 years type of accommodation, however, nowadays you will find many of their amenities have been updated. While their paper thin walls and tatami laid floors still remain you can find many of the creature comforts like WiFi, TVs and even Karaoke but make no mistake there is no feather bed or fluffy pillows here. In Ryōkan, you will find futon that lay out to cover the rooms floor plan and sliding shoji screen doors to keep out the cold. If you've ever watched a Samurai or Jidai Geki drama, it's kind of like that.

There are modern versions of these but they are more like hotels than their predecessors. They do embody the spirit of the Ryōkan but tend to be a little more up scale. You will get the traditional elements like you see below (images courtesy of Lance Matsunaga @utarochan [IG] ), but it will instead be concrete walls and mini-bars. There is nothing wrong with these types, but they should in fact be differenciated from hotels and stand slightly more elevated than the standard Ryōkan. Prices range from ¥2700 per night up to the ¥100,000s depending on location and class.

This is one of our favorite options because a lot of times they are located around onsen or Hot Springs. This means that if you pick the right one you may have access to a private tub in your room. Having your own means, if you are not ready to bare it all in front of strangers or you have the infamous Japanese taboo: tattoos, you will still be able to enjoy a relaxing soak. Often these private baths come with a price tag so be aware. Also, do your research as some of these baths are just baths and some pump the spring water up to the rooms, you'll want the later.

But Seriously, Where to Stay?

All are great options to consider and where you stay will ultimately depend on your budget, comfort level and the type of experience you want to have on your journey through Japan. Use this little outline to help you if you are having trouble choosing:

Hotels are a familiar option for visitors unaccustomed to traveling Japan and they have amazing creature comforts. They can be on the smaller side if you're used to North American standards but typically they are centrally located where all the action is.

AirBNB is a great option if you have a lot of people traveling with you or if you want to experience the local culture up close and personal. These are usually peoples homes or rental properties in neighborhoods so be aware of your footprint. The Japanese are fond of serenity in their homes and will not hesitate to call the authorities if they feel like it's too noisy.

Ryōkan are fabulous, often historical accommodations and steeped with culture. Be prepared for otherworldly hospitality and aesthetic surroundings. These are sometimes establishments that have been around for centuries and have their own customs so be aware they have paper thin walls and do be more conscientious of the culture when staying here.