Heading to Japan? Then you need to check out this list of cool hotels in Japan, updated for 2024! There are so many accommodation options in Japan to choose from, but why not make your trip as memorable as possible by trying out one of these unique and unusual places to stay for the trip of a lifetime?
I remember during my very first visit to Japan back in 2014, I stayed in a traditional ryokan in Nara, where I got to walk around the hotel in a yukata, have a five-course dinner served to me in my room, and take my first dip in a Japanese hot spring.
During my years spent living and traveling in Japan, I’ve also stayed in a temple on Mount Koya and enjoyed traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine, slept in a former sake brewery, and camped in the mountains of the deep Japanese countryside.
All the coolest hotels were very different from any hotel I had stayed in before and made for a truly memorable experience. The best part is that you don’t need a huge budget to experience some of these more unique offerings. Accommodations like capsule hotels are some of the cheapest places to stay in cities like Tokyo, but you do need to plan in advance to avoid disappointment!
Read on to find out more about cool hotels in Japan and unique places to stay including:
- A night in an art museum
- A hotel staffed entirely by robots
- A night in a remote Buddhist temple
- Staying in a cat café overnight
- A night in a capsule hotel
Afterward check out my most popular articles: a 5-day Tokyo itinerary for beginners, 3-day Kyoto itinerary, and my list of unique things to do in Japan for first-time visitors!
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1. Spend The Night Inside A Bookshelf
Book and Bed Hotel
Location: Tokyo and Kyoto
Best for: Budget travelers, book lovers, backpackers
Price: From ¥5,000 per person per night
Booking: Book and Bed Tokyo
If you are on a bit of a budget but want to try something different, consider staying at one of the Book and Bed properties. These accommodation bookshops are the perfect hostel option for book lovers with plenty of bedtime reading options available! Spending the night inside a bookshelf is surely something you won’t forget in a hurry!
2. Night At The Museum: Stay Overnight At An Art Gallery
Benesse House Naoshima
Location: Naoshima island
Best for: Independent travelers, art lovers
Price: From ¥18,000 per person per night
Booking: Benesse House Naoshima
Naoshima Island is situated in the Japan Inland Sea and is known as an art island because of its museums and sculptures installed by the Benesse Corporation. As well as an art museum, Benesse House is also home to a spa, hotel, and restaurants. However, the real fun begins if you are a hotel guest where you can get the whole museum to yourself with exclusive access until 11 pm.
3. Stay In A Hotel Staffed by Robots
Henn na Hotel, Nagasaki and Tokyo
Location: Tokyo and various locations
Best for: Families, couples
Price: From ¥17,000 per night
Booking: Henn na Hotel Tokyo Ginza
The world’s first hotel staffed by robots opened in Nagasaki prefecture in 2015 and since then numerous robot hotels have sprung up in Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo including locations in Ginza, Asakusa, and Hamamatsu Cho. Guests can expect robots to perform a variety of tasks including checking in, taking their luggage, and even mowing the lawns!
4. Experience Japanese ‘Omotenashi’ In A Traditional Ryokan
Location: Nationwide
Best for: Couples
Price: Various depending on meal plan/location
Booking: Ryokan on Booking.com
Omotenashi is the Japanese concept of hospitality and one of the best places to experience this is in a traditional Japanese inn or ryokan. Beds are typically futons on tatami mats, and guests will usually have the option to enjoy kaiseki (fine dining) Japanese cuisine served inside their room and relax in a Japanese natural hot spring bath. You can find good ryokan in virtually every city across Japan where you are sure to experience Japanese hospitality and Japanese culture at its finest.
5. Stay With Buddhist Monks On A Sacred Mountain
Location: Mount Koya
Best for: Independent travelers
Price: From ¥20,000 yen per night
Booking: Temple lodgings on Booking.com
Mount Koya is one of Japan’s most sacred mountains, and this small town is home to over 100 temples, many of which you can stay in overnight. The monks of Mount Koya offer visitors from around the world the opportunity to stay with them at the temple lodgings. Here you can experience truly peaceful surroundings, enjoy traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, and watch the monks in their morning prayer service. You need to book these stays in advance, but this can easily be done online.
6. Stay In One of Kyoto’s Wooden Townhouses
Location: Kyoto
Best for: Couples, families
Price: From ¥16,000 per night
Booking: Machiya in Kyoto
Although many of Kyoto’s traditional townhouses are no longer standing, there are still plenty of opportunities to stay in a restored machiya. These traditional wooden houses date back to the 17th century and once defined the landscape of Kyoto. The narrow-fronted buildings were usually a home combined with some kind of business or shop front. Today many of the remaining machiya buildings have been lovingly restored and updated with modern design and comforts. For example, Kyoto Machiya Fukune has a modern private bathroom, open air bath, air conditioning, flat screen TV, and WIFI access.
7. Experience A Quirky Capsule Hotel
Location: Most major Japanese cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka
Best for: Budget travelers, backpackers
Price: Between ¥2,000 and ¥6,000 per person per night
Booking: Capsule hotels in Tokyo
One to skip if you are claustrophobic, capsule hotels were originally developed in Japan as a cheap but functional type of accommodation, mainly aimed at businessmen who missed the last train home. These days an increasing number of tourists are opting to stay in capsule hotels due to their unique nature and wallet-friendly prices. It’s worth bearing in mind that a lot of capsule accommodation is for men only, but recently more properties have opened that now cater to women too, such as the Nadeshiko Hotel. This capsule hotel near Shibuya in Tokyo opened in 2016 and is exclusively for women.
8. Stay At The World’s Oldest Hotel
Location: Yamanashi Prefecture
Best for: Traditional culture, couples
Price: From ¥57,200 per night
Booking: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi was founded in 705 AD and has officially been declared the world’s oldest hotel by the Guinness Book of World Records. What’s even more incredible is that the hotel has been kept in the same family for 52 generations. The secret of this hotel’s longevity surely lies in the service, scenic mountain location, and flowing natural hot springs.
9. Rest Up At A Manga Cafe
Location: Nationwide
Best for: Backpackers, budget travelers, solo travelers
Price: From ¥3,000 per night
Booking: Try the Nagomi Cafe in Akihabara
Manga cafes are a great overnight option if you find yourself having missed the last train home or are out late and need to get somewhere early the next morning. These small cubicles often consist of a computer and desk, with a mat to sleep on or a reclining chair. There are often all-night packages you can book, and at many manga cafes, you can also order meals and have a shower.
10. Stay Cool At This Ice Hotel In Hokkaido
Location: Hokkaido
Best for: Big budgets, winter getaways
Price: From ¥28,000 per person for one night
Booking: Hoshino Tomamu Resort
This is definitely no ordinary hotel! The Hoshino Tomamu Resort in Hokkaido has an awesome ice village which is usually open from December to March each year. Inside the village, you can sip cocktails at the ice bar, get married in the ice chapel, and stay overnight in the ice hotel. The ice village is only open for a few weeks each year, so be sure to book this one well in advance of your trip.
11. Get Cozy In A Love Hotel
Location: Nationwide
Best for: Couples
Price: Up to ¥20,000 per night
Booking: Love hotels on Booking.com
Love hotels started to appear in Japan during the 1960s, as a way for couples to spend some alone time together, a task that is difficult when several generations of a family live together. Despite their previous seedy image, recently many love hotels have tried to clean up their reputation to attract more foreign guests to stay. Many love hotels have a theme – and you’ll find many interesting kinds of rooms from the seedy to the sublime.
12. Glamping With Majestic Mount Fuji Views
Location: Yamanashi Prefecture
Best for: Nature lovers, luxury camping
Price: From ¥30,000 per person per night
Booking: Hoshinoya Resort Fuji
Japan’s first glamping resort opened a few years back and is part of the upscale Hoshino hotel group. Luxury cabins replace tents here, but it will set you back around ¥30,000 per person to stay. In addition to views of Mount Fuji, hotel guests can enjoy outdoor dining, forest walks, canoeing, and horseback riding. Think I had better start saving for this one!
13. Say ‘Hello Kitty’ At Tokyo’s Keio Plaza Hotel
Location: Tama City
Best for: Hello Kitty enthusiasts
Price: From ¥60,000 per night
Booking: Keio Plaza Tama City
The Keio Plaza Hotel in Tama City features special Hello Kitty rooms plastered from floor to ceiling in Kitty-chan-themed décor from lampshades to cushions. There are also complimentary Kitty-themed amenities, including free toiletries, a doll, a tote bag, a skincare set, and slippers! Serious Kitty fans staying at the hotel can also visit nearby Sanrio Puroland, the home of Hello Kitty which is easily within walking distance.
14. Spend the Night with Godzilla!
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Best for: Couples, independent travelers
Price: From around ¥22,000 per night
Booking: Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Located within the Kabukicho entertainment district of Shinjuku, you’ll find the Hotel Gracery and its famous giant life-sized Godzilla statue which can be seen from the streets below. Location wise this is also one of the best hotels to experience Shinjuku’s lively nightlife which is just a short walk away and where you’ll find restaurants, bars, izakaya, and karaoke rooms! There are a few ways to get up close and personal with Godzilla here. You can enjoy Godzilla head views from the hotel’s coffee shop terrace, stay in a Godzilla view room overlooking the terrace, or for something totally over the top, stay in the special Godzilla-themed room complete with its own Godzilla statue, wall art, and special effects!
15. Settle Into Country Life With A Japanese Farm Stay
Location: Various across Japan
Best for: Independent travelers, nature lovers
Price: From ¥5,000 per person
Booking: Farm stays in Japan at Booking.com
If big cities are not your thing, you can experience a slice of life in rural Japan by staying in a traditional Japanese farmhouse with a local family. There are farmhouse experiences located all over Japan in mountain towns and fishing villages where you also have the option to take part in activities such as vegetable picking, cooking, feeding animals, shepherding, cycling, fishing, and hiking.
16. Stay In The Hotel From The Lost In Translation Movie
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Best for: Luxury travelers
Price: From ¥200,000 per night
Booking: Park Hyatt Tokyo
The chances are that if you have seen the classic Hollywood movie Lost In Translation starring Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, then you already know that much of the filming took place in the Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel. Not only is the Park Hyatt one of the best luxury hotels in the heart of Tokyo, but by staying here you can recreate scenes from the movie for your own Lost In Translation experience! Whether that be sipping cocktails in the New York Bar on the 52nd floor, or going for a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool whilst enjoying panoramic views of the city from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Guest rooms are luxurious and well-appointed and come with views of Shinjuku or Mount Fuji.
17. Sleep Aboard A Japanese Luxury Sightseeing Train
Location: Kyushu
Best for: Luxury travelers, train enthusiasts
Price: From ¥650,000 per person
Booking: Seven Stars
The Seven Stars is a luxury sleeper train that travels around Japan’s Kyushu island in two or four-day sightseeing itineraries, starting and finishing in Fukuoka. A truly opulent travel experience, the train features luxurious décor and suites, fine dining, a Japanese tea room, and a lounge car complete with grand piano and live music. Tickets for this experience are so exclusive that you need to apply via a lottery system through the website.
18. Stay in a Treehouse Eco Resort in Tropical Okinawa
Location: Okinawa
Best for: Nature lovers
Price: From around ¥150,000 per night
Booking: Treeful Treehouse Okinawa
At the Treeful Treehouse sustainable resort in Okinawa, guests can choose to stay in one of three types of beautifully designed treehouses nestled in the Japanese forest. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch far enough for an overnight stay, you can also participate in an off-road adventure tour on the resort’s privately-owned land and enjoy swimming in waterfalls and encountering rare sea turtles. This resort is definitely a contender for the most unique place to stay!
19. Stay Overnight in a Cat Café!
Location: Osaka
Best for: Animal lovers
Price: Approx ¥30,000 per night (for up to 8 people)
Booking: Neco Republic Hostel
The Neco Republic hostel in Osaka opened in 2019 and is the world’s first hostel adjoining a Japanese cat café. Here you can observe the café’s 16 rescue cats whilst relaxing in your room via the observation windows that look directly into the café. The hotel’s décor is inspired by traditional Japanese ryokan with its wooden interiors and tatami flooring. As well as playing with the cats from your room via radio-controlled toys, you can also enjoy a foot spa whilst a cat sits on your lap!
20. Sleep Under the Snow-Covered Houses of Shirakawa-go
Location: Gifu Prefecture
Best for: Off-the-beaten-path explorers
Price: From ¥12,000 per person
Booking: Shirakawa-go guesthouses
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go in Gifu prefecture is one of Japan’s loveliest winter spots thanks to the region’s unique style of thatched farmhouses which have been preserved for hundreds of years. The building’s sloped roofs are designed to cope with heavy snowfall, creating the kind of picture-perfect scene you’d expect to see on a Christmas card! Stay overnight in a minshuku – one of the family-run guesthouses to experience the village after hours when the tourists have left.
21. Stay In A Samurai Village
Location: Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture
Best for: History buffs
Price: From ¥40,000 per night
Booking: Wanoi Kakunodate
Wanoi Kakunodate provides luxurious hotel rooms housed inside renovated historical houses scattered throughout the town of Kakunodate, an area famous for its many samurai residences. The samurai district was once home to 80 families and is still one of the best places in Japan to see samurai architecture, with six samurai houses open to the public for viewing.
22. Meet Your Favorite Disney Characters At The Toy Story Hotel
Location: Tokyo Disney Resort
Best for: Families with young children
Price: From ¥33,000 per night
Booking: Toy Story Hotel
It’s Disney, but with a Japanese twist. Inside the Toy Story hotel at Tokyo’s Disney Resort, you can expect to feel like you stepped inside the movie with life-sized figures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear and themed guest rooms recreated in the style of Andy’s bedroom. Tokyo Disney is also home to the DisneySea park, the only one of its kind in the world!
23. Stay in the World’s First Sake Hotel
Location: Nara
Best for: Couples, sake lovers
Price: From ¥60,000 per night
Booking: NIPPONIA Hotel Naramachi
Located within the ancient city of Nara, NIPPONIA Hotel Naramachi is the world’s first sake-themed hotel. Nara is believed to be the first place in Japan to brew sake using rice, and this comfortable hotel is housed within a renovated old building that was used to brew sake. During your stay, you can get involved with lots of sake-related activities too like sake tastings, sake brewery tours, and even taking a bath with sake lees!
24. Be the Lord of Your Own Japanese Castle for A Night
Location: Nagasaki
Best for: History lovers on a big budget!
Price: From ¥800,000 per night
Booking: Hirado Castle Stay
There is a castle that you can stay in exclusively in Japan, Hirado Castle in Nagasaki, which offers some pretty amazing activities if you choose to stay here. Guests sleep in a private turret within the castle and can experience martial arts, zazen meditation, and dinner cooked by a private chef. The only downside is that all this comes with a hefty price tag!
25. Stay In A Restored Merchant’s House From The Edo Period
Location: Katori, Chiba Prefecture
Best for: Couples, boutique hotels, traditional architecture
Price: From ¥95,000 per night
Booking: NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel
NIPPONIA’s Sawara Merchant Town Hotel is located just a short drive from Tokyo’s Narita international airport but seems like another world away. The small town of Sawara where this hotel is located feels like stepping back in time 200 years ago to an age when merchant’s boats cruised along the narrow canals transporting goods to the traditional storehouses whose buildings remain largely unchanged even today.
The hotel is housed within a beautifully renovated merchant’s house that effortlessly blends traditional Edo-era architecture with modern Japanese minimalist design with its sleek interiors and hinoki wooden bathtubs made by local craftsmen. Most of the spacious rooms are scattered throughout the town and there are rooms where you can have the entire property to yourself for total privacy. The renovated main building features a beautiful restaurant serving French-inspired cuisine and is also where you’ll find the front desk.
26. Stay In A Renovated Boat House In A Traditional Fishing Village
Location: Ine, Kyoto Prefecture
Best for: Rural stays, traditional life
Price: From ¥10,000 per person
Booking: Funuya Accommodation
Ine Bay is home to a small fishing village located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture and designated as one of UNESCO’s “World’s Most Beautiful Bays”. The small village of Ine is home to around 2,000 people who still follow a traditional way of life and make a living in the fishing and agriculture industry. Many of the local people live in renovated funuya, boat houses that were originally constructed as garages used to store fishermen’s wooden boats that overlook the water. Today there are a number of funuya that have been converted into small guesthouses where you can experience staying in one of these unique waterfront properties run by locals.
27. Stay In A Former Kabuki Theater
Location: Chuo Ward, Osaka
Best for: Families, couples
Price: From ¥40,000 per night
Booking: Hotel Royal Classic Osaka
Out of the former Shin-Kabukuza theater in Osaka’s Namba district comes the luxurious Hotel Royal Classic Osaka, a tranquil and luxurious hotel experience that has managed to retain the design and atmosphere of the original classic Japanese theater. The hotel offers a bar, restaurant, 24-hour front desk, 150 rooms, and is located right in the heart of the city within walking distance to Namba station, as well as other sightseeing spots such as Motomachinaka Park, Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, and the popular Glico Man sign.
Have you stayed in any unusual hotels or unique hotels in Japan? Let me know in the comments!
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