Hotels

Many hotels in Japan feature Western style rooms and facilities. They are generally costlier than the other accommodation types, and are frequently found in the major cities around the country.

• Price range: from 10,000 yen to 50,000 yen per room per night
• Facilities: private rooms, beds (single, double, queen, king), private bathrooms, room service, tour assistance, concierge, airport transfer, currency exchange

City Hotels:

Tokyo HotelsWhere to stay across Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa and the station districts, and what each area suits.Kyoto HotelsMachiya townhouses, ryokan and modern hotels near the temples and the station.Osaka HotelsNamba, Umeda and the bay area, with easy Shinkansen and airport access.Hiroshima HotelsStays near the Peace Memorial Park and the ferry across to Miyajima.Yokohama HotelsHarbour-front rooms and easy access back into central Tokyo.Sapporo HotelsBase yourself for Hokkaido, the winter festival and the ski fields beyond.Fukuoka HotelsHakata and Tenjin stays, handy for Kyushu travel and the famous yatai food stalls.Hakuba HotelsSki-in lodges and village stays in the Northern Alps.Naha HotelsOkinawa beach resorts and city hotels along the monorail.Kobe HotelsHarbour views, hillside onsen and the Sannomiya dining district.Japan HotelsAn overview of accommodation across Japan, from capsule hotels to traditional ryokan.

Reservation and bookings

The easiest way to book accommodations in Japan is online through websites such as Hotelscombined, Japanican, Agoda, Booking.com, Hostelworld, and JapaneseGuestHouses.com.

By using these booking and reservation sites, you will be able to find a wide variety of options for lodging, factoring in your budget, preferred vicinity, room type, and other things. Oftentimes, you may be able to snag discounted rates and promotions, especially if you book early or reserve dates during off-peak seasons.

Alternatively, you can search for the accommodations’ official websites and make a booking there. Sometimes, booking directly with the hotel can be less of a hassle and may even cost cheaper.

Payment

There are two common ways to pay for accommodations:

Credit card

Usually, when booking online, you will need a valid credit card to complete the transaction, and the full amount of your stay is immediately charged to your card. But, there are times when your credit card is only used as a guarantee, no charge is made, and you just directly pay the hotel the full amount when you get to Japan.

Cash

Other times, particularly when you directly book with the hotel, you just have to provide them your personal and travel information and they will hold your reservation for you and only pay them in full once you arrive on your check-in date.