Hotels in Japan

Hotels in Japan: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in Japan cost?

The price depends on the standard, the city and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. The cheapest month is usually July, while March in the cherry blossom season is the priciest. Tokyo and the mountain resorts cost more than smaller cities.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Japan: most popular cities

Japan splits clearly into vast metropolises and cities with a historic character. These are the destinations travellers choose most often:

• Tokyo. The capital and the most chosen city, with the widest choice of hotels from capsules to 5-star properties. An ideal base for a first trip.
• Osaka. The culinary heart of the country, with its castle and Universal Studios park. A good base for western Japan.
• Kyoto. The old capital with temples and traditional inns. The largest choice of atmospheric ryokan.
• Sapporo. The largest city in Hokkaido, popular in winter for snow and ice festivals.
• Fukuoka. The gateway to Kyushu island, known for street food and easy access to hot springs.

Nightly rates vary between cities. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in Japan

The country combines monuments, nature and pop culture, so it is easy to match a trip to your interests.

• The temples of Kyoto. Kiyomizu-dera and dozens of other Buddhist temples with views over the city.
• Osaka Castle. A historic monument with a museum, one of the symbols of western Japan.
• Arashiyama. A district with a bamboo grove, shrines and a park of wild monkeys.
• Tokyo. The Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Palace and Tsukiji Market, the icons of the capital.
• Universal Studios Japan. An amusement park in Osaka with movie-themed rides, popular with families.

How much does a trip to Japan cost

A basic restaurant lunch costs 1,000-1,500 JPY, and a litre of milk in a shop about 200 JPY. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and malls, but cash is still handy in smaller venues and at temples. ATMs in convenience stores usually accept foreign cards.

When is the best time to visit Japan

The most pleasant weather and least rain fall from March to May and from September to November. March is the priciest because of the cherry blossom, and July the cheapest. The autumn red-leaf season is the second peak, with mild temperatures and clearly lower prices than spring.

Getting to and around Japan

Most international flights land at Narita Airport in Tokyo, which also handles domestic flights. You can also arrive by ferry from South Korea, China or Taiwan. The most convenient way to travel within Japan is by high-speed rail, and the Japan Rail Pass gives unlimited rides for 7, 14 or 21 days. Tokyo has an extensive metro, and long-distance buses run too (a Tokyo-Kyoto ticket is about 3,500 JPY). Domestic flights mainly make sense for the far-flung islands. Renting a car needs an International Driving Permit and a minimum age of 18.

Example hotels in Japan

A few recognisable properties from different cities for reference:

• Hotel Gracery Shinjuku and Park Hotel Tokyo in Tokyo (central, upper tier, from approx. 160 USD).
• Hotel New Otani Osaka and Hotel Nikko Osaka in Osaka (from approx. 100 USD).
• Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo in Kyoto, close to the centre (from approx. 90 USD).