We're heading to Japan next year March, and we're starting to look at booking accommodation. This is our first time, and we're going to the usual touristy spots in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kanazawa. Can anybody recommend hotels chains or even individual hotels in these cities? The main priorities for us are comfortable beds and quiet rooms. I've read that a lot of Japanese hotels have very firm/hard mattresses. We don't care too much about size of rooms (as long as it's not capsules) or other facilities. Budget around $150/night. Thanks
Recommend Hotel Chains in Japan
LoungeLizard on 13/12/2023 - 13:12
Last edited 13/12/2023 - 13:53
Last edited 13/12/2023 - 13:53
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and location if you have tight schedule.
i recommend capsule hotels!
Not for us (various reasons)
I find that capsule hotels don't make too much sense if you're not travelling alone. Cost proportionally increases with the number of travelers and it really isn't very private.
TripAdvisor?
I'd be happy to stay again at a Via Inn chain. Rooms aren't huge, but I would go back just for the free included breakfast buffet. Prices reasonable service great.
My last stay was pre-COVID though, don't know if things have changed.
Thanks, will have a look at them. Prices & reviews (spot check in Tokyo) seems reasonable
Stayed in a couple APA hotels and was pretty happy with them. Expect teeny tiny rooms wherever you go.
The owners do have a dubious political manifesto (far right, revisionist), so if you prefer not to reward such beliefs, look elsewhere.
mimaru
hotel roynetI did a from Tokyo up to Aomori for 4 or 5 days, all at Daiwa Roynets. At first because they were cheap, then because they were cheap and great value.
Don't think I paid over $100 a night, and the rooms were quite comfy.
No real frills but the beds and amenities were above the usual business hotels I've stayed at before.Back in Tokyo I think they were around $200 though. I'd been staying in tiny cities
Daiwa Roynet seems to be recommended often on forums. They are pretty expensive in Tokyo as you said. Will check them in other cities
we stay the one in ginza often, and the price fluctuates. i've paid AUD$93, AUD$120 and AUD$160 and in between,
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2025_business_hotels.html - keep in mind business hotels are small, basic but cheap and usually pretty well located. Stay away from APA hotels though, they are at the bottom of the quality barrel.
can also add Mimaru, Candeo, Tokyu Excel, Nest and Hotel Gracery which tend to be slightly more upmarket. Hotel Androoms also worth a look
Then you get the Hyatts, Hiltons etc
Plus, of course, 1000s of single or non chain hotels
In Tokyo - depends where you want to stay, so wont recommend anything. but suggest dont bother with Shinjuku, its ok but there are better locations. Try Asakasa, Takadanobaba (uni student hangout), Ikebukuro or Asakusa for better value and more interesting.
Kanazawa - I stayed at the Hotel Trusty Kanazawa Korinbo; it was pretty good and worth looking at
Hakone - try for a ryokan, a good experience. There are plenty, depends if you want private bath or happy with public baths
Kyoto - stay somewhere around Kawaramachi station, thats the best mix of value and location. Kyoto is good for air bnb because there are some fantastic options
To play devils advocate, I loved staying in Shinjuku (Sunroute Shinjuku) as it was just outside hustle and bustle but very close to the action as well as the Shinjuku station.
Its 2023 and people asking how to search for hotels?
It's 2023 and people assume you should take only the advice of Booking aggregators and not people who have real experience?
There are so many hotels based on price, bed arrangement, location, facilities, discount rates, and conditions. The hotel chain that I recommended doesn't mean much to others based on those variables. People need to do their research. This is just as bad as saying, recommend me a car or insurance policy.
I've been looking at heaps of reviews, but (a) not sure how many are real or not "promoted" (b) many of these would be from local (as in Japan) residents who have different ideas about comfort. What prompted the query is a family member that came back recently and had a few bad nights in "well reviewed" hotels.
I’d recommend these places we stayed at in May. All clean, comfortable and in convenient-enough locations to travel easily by public transport. Rooms are small (but probably the case in most of Japan).
- Tokyo: Via Inn Prime Akasaka. Free onsen facilities.
- Kyoto: Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo. City tax is an extra 200Y/person/night though.
- Osaka: Bespoke Hotel Shinsaibashi. Free basic breakfast (muffins and donuts).
I can highly recommend Dormy Inn who have hotels all over the country. The main selling point is that they all have hot spring onsens if you're into that. The one I stayed at most recently had free ice cream, free soft drinks and free ramen at night. This was at the standard Dormy Inn and not their premium hotels.
I found the Mitsui Garden Hotels to be decent.
I would just let budget and google reviews guide you.