Where to Stay in Japan: A Westerners Perspective

Immerse yourself in Japanese hospitality, experience iconic cities, and indulge in cultural treasures. Find your ideal stay and unlock the magic of Japan!

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Stay close to the JR Rail so you can pop on a train to go to your next tourist experience. Grasp this opportunity and deviate from what you are used to. The sleeping involvement will give you a totally new understanding of the people and the country. Western-type hotels are also available allowing a feeling of “home” and luxury you will expect on a vacation.

Read about Japan before you go – to enrich your experience

Reading about Japan before you venture into the country is a must. Learn about the people, history, cities, towns, culture, and beauty. They are an amazing culture that is so different from anywhere else in the world. Japan is filled with wonder and contrasts that blend together to give you truly unusual memories. No wonder it is called “The Land of the Rising Sun”! Especially read my article on the Reasons You Should Visit Japan.

The books I advise are from Amazon. Must-See Japan by Tom Fay and another great one is A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony.

What type of Western Hotels are there

Luxurious first-class hotels to 3-star hotels are available with the Western taste kept in mind. All will entail excellent service, grace, and cleanliness, realise the rooms although spacious are slightly smaller than you would find them in the west. Bed size is standard, international sizes.

An important consideration when booking accommodation in Japan, is that the rate is per person, not per room. Often you will find two beds (twin beds) in a room as it is in Japanese culture that a mother and her small child sleep in one and the partner in the other.

Hotel names such as Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Marriott, and even Holiday Inn are scattered all over the country. This is if you would feel more comfortable staying in familiar named hotels.

Phone the hotel directly

When you are about to make your booking, phone the hotel directly and see what they are charging per night per room. Often they have excellent specials for different types of rooms. These specials are not broadly advertised.

Higher up, the higher the price

The higher you go, the better the views, and the more expensive the rooms will become. Find out the different categories of rooms and what they entail. Once you have chosen your category, ask for the best one in that category. Osaka and Tokyo are where the most expensive hotels are as there is limited land, therefore the property is expensive.

Great platform to book accommodation

Booking.com is a wonderful platform to book your hotel accommodation through. I like booking.com as I have used them for years and find they match prices if I find lower prices than what they are offering. They are also reputable and well-known. If you have to cancel for some reason or other, you generally do not have to pay a cancellation fee. You load the booking.com app on your phone and you can book from anywhere. Additional discounts and benefits are given to you if you book through them continuously. What you pay is what you get and no additional fees are charged.

Booking through JR Hotel Group

Another fabulous way to book your accommodation is through the JR Hotel Group which is part of the JR Rail Group. This way you get a discount on the hotel you will be staying at if you purchase a rail pass. The benefits of this are that you are near rail stations which is imperative if you are traveling from one city to another.

How to plan your trip

The way I would plan the trip is by starting from one end, seeing what attractions you would like to go and see in that area, then moving upwards by train and staying at different hotels belonging to the group. By going onto the group’s location map, you can click on the area you would be starting with, and then search their immaculate hotels. They have an enormous amount of different hotels. Have a look at the JR West Hotel selection.

Confirm your booking

Confirm by looking at the review or phoning the hotel to confirm if they have someone who speaks English. Most of the upmarket hotels are used to catering to guests from all over the world, so they do cater to English tourists.

A Traditional Japanese Ryokan Experience – a true savoir-faire

When in Japan, you just have to do as the Japanese do! You must spend at least one night at a Ryokan. A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, with the majority being incredible! This encounter will be with you forever and the culture of the Japanese you will capture in your soul, even for a night. Experience brings true understanding! Be different and do the non-touristy thing while on vacation.

“In all ten directions of the universe, there is only one truth. When we see clearly, the great teachings are the same. What can ever be lost? What can be attained? If we attain something, it was there from the beginning of time. If we lose something, it is hiding somewhere near us.”
― Ryokan

Out of interest, Ryokan was a Soto Zen Buddhist hermit-monk who lived from 1758-1831. From the age of 40 till his death he became a masterful poet and his works have been translated into numerous languages. He is regarded by the Japanese as the most important Japanese poet of his age. The book The Zen Poems of Ryokan by Nobuyuki Yuasa is a special purchase and quite soul-refreshing.

Communal baths and onsens

Ryokans have communal baths and may have onsens, whereas not all ryokans have onsens. Onsens are Japan’s hot springs which can be outside or inside a ryokan. Japan is known as the No. 1 hot spring country!

What are the rules of an onsen or communal bath found at Ryokans?

• You must be naked to go into an onsen (some ryokans have private onsens). Don’t be shy, many naked bodies of all shapes and sizes have been in onsen or communal pools. Although there are gender-mixed baths, you will also find separate gender baths
• Baths or entrance to onsens has either a blue curtain in from (for men) or a red curtain for women. You can go into the baths a couple of times a day. The curtains are switched which allows the guest to experience the different hot springs or baths.
• Before going into the onsen, you need to take a shower or bath first, especially to wash your lower body. Prior to entering the bathtub or shower, you lightly wash your body first, then go into the bath or shower. (Never wash your clothes inside the bathtub). Also, do not put soap or your towel in a bathtub. Do not drain the water. Your host will run the water for you.
• If you have been drinking before going into an onsen, DON’T GO IN. The temperature is 40 degrees F. Very bad for your health. Also terribly impolite to be drunk in an onsen or communal pool.
• Swimming is not allowed. Nor is running. The floors will be slippery. It is time and space to relax
• No eating allowed
• No glass is allowed in the onsen area
• Before going into the locker area, dry your body well before entering so you do not wet the changing area
• Put on your kimono (Yukata). Know which way to wrap to Yukata as corpses are wrapped the other way. The right side must go over the left. You can wear your kimono inside the ryokan and as sleepwear

What is so different between a hotel as we know it to a Japanese Ryokan

The purpose of a ryokan is to relax, enjoy the beautiful gardens and hot baths, and refill your body with peace and tranquillity. There are approximately 1600 ryokans in Japan. If as a senior, you struggle to get down onto your knees, it is wise not to capture the ryokan moment.

Most ryokans are owned by women and run as a family concern. Whichever one you are staying at, enquire if there is a “curfew”. Although your individual rooms do not have keys or locks, the owner or family member will lock up when she leaves and open up in the morning, so sadly if you are out after curfew, you will stay out.

Furniture within a Ryokan

The Inside furniture is very different and virtually non-existent, with a low table and legless “zaisu” (chairs). When you have your evening meal, your futon bedding will be laid out for you with thick blankets, which are exceedingly comfortable.

Tatami mats cover the floors. (Remember to take your shoes off before you walk through the ryokan.) Today’s ryokans have a television, mini-fridge, and safe.

You will see Shoji which is made up of wooden lattices covered in paper, dividing the room or acting as sliding doors, allowing natural light to filter through.

The cupboard in your room will be Fusuma. These doors are covered with heavy opaque paper. Sometimes they have been painted very simply with a simplistic decoration.

There will be a raised alcove in your room which will be decorated with a flower arrangement, or some pottery, scroll, or small painting. This is a Tokonoma.

In your room, you will also have a Western-styled toilet, bathroom, sink, towel, and pleasures such as a toothbrush and yukata. Bath towels and the yukata are not meant to be taken home.

Dinner at the Ryokan

Dining is the highlight moment of the cuisine experience. It is called Japanese Kaiseki. It traditionally starts around 18.00 and till 19.00. Such pride is taken in preparing your meal, both in taste and presentation. It is actually quite an art. Multiple dishes are served to exaggerate what is in season and local, with the basic menu being soup and three dishes. Have a look at my blog on 10 Protocol tips on how to use Chopsticks, in Reasons Why YOU should Visit Japan.

What entertainment is provided at a Ryokan

The guests can walk around the stunning ryokan gardens after their baths. In the onsen villages, you see the guests walking around in their geta (wooden sandals) and yukata. The larger more commercial ryokans take guests to restaurants, have karaoke evenings, shops on their premises, games rooms, and shows.

Capsule Hotel – is it for you

How futuristic is this? Hotels where you sleep in a capsule! Expand your adventure! They are quite safe. Only the women staying on the floor have a key, so you can lock the floor door and unlock it when you return.

WARNING: If you have tattoos, it is not wise to stay in a capsule hotel. The Japanese associate individuals with tattoos with the mafia.

Capsules are divided between women’s capsule hotels and men’s capsule hotels. The concept originated in Japan and has spread throughout the world. So many people, so many tourists, and so little land!

Japan was clever once again, creating economical accommodation that takes up so little space. What a perfect way to spend the night.

What makes up a capsule

The capsule is fiberglass and built around a single futon mattress. There are two layers of capsules. Inside the capsule, you will have a futon mattress, pillow with a slip, sheets, and blankets. A light and built-in radio, TV, and alarm clock. How cool is that!

What do you share with other guests?

Guests must share the toilets, showers, and washrooms. Numerous capsules have vending machines, lounges, restaurants, games rooms, manga libraries, entertainment rooms, and internet rooms.

Where to find the recommended Capsules

Look at booking.com for the best Capsule Hotels. Always good to look at the reviews. I feel you can experience this at any age. If in a group of women, how divine to share the involvement with others!

Stay at a Buddhist Temple in Japan – Shukubo

How absolutely mindboggling is this! Capture the ineptness of your inner being and fuse with the Japanese as they have this awe-inspiring presence of peace, discipline, kindness, respectfulness, shyness, and intelligence. Staying in a shukubo for a night or two allows you to imprison a small influence that will stay with you forever. Even if you are not looking for this, the occurrence will never be forgotten.

Shukubo means “sleeping with the monks”

Do you need to be a Buddhist?

You do not need to be a Buddhist to go to a Shukubo. In fact, your faith, your gender, and your country of origin make no difference when applying. The attraction for many is attending the liturgical ritual in the early hours of the morning, yet attending these rituals is not compulsory, but can be so rewarding. Expect to get up early as they start at about 5 am. Booking to stay at one of these temples, go through booking.com.

In your room, you will find all the basic comforts, the tatami floors, lamp, futon bed, and blankets. There will be no TV or radio, respecting the culture of quietness, so no playing loud music, phones ringing, or speaking and laughing loudly. Your clothing attire should be simple, please do not wear black, but rather white or lighter colors. Shorts or mini skirts, or tight-fitting clothing are a no-no.

“If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, try it for 8, 16, 32, and so on. Eventually, one discovers that it is not boring, but very interesting.“

Zen Proverb

Time schedule to be adhered to

Adhere to the time schedule, which will include the early morning ritual, bathing in gender bathrooms, and dinner. Even taking photographs is not appreciated, so if you do want some photos, ask first. Some temples in popular areas, such as Mount Koya, have English-speaking monks and are used by tourists.

When is dinner

Dinner is served at a specific time and a set menu is served. You do not have a choice of what you would like to order. The food is vegetarian or vegan, because the Buddhists believe they must not take life or kill any living thing so they follow a diet called “shojin ryori”, which means “food of devotion”. This also applies to certain bulbs, such as garlic or onion. If you eat these, you are killing it.

Business Hotels in Japan – known as “bizunesu hoteru”

If you are purely in Japan for sightseeing purposes, going on the budget route, and just needing a bed to sleep in, why not try a business hotel? Have a browse through Tripadvisor and once you have planned where you would like to go, you can make your bookings at the business hotels you would like to stay at. Read through the reviews and you will soon see which are the best to stay at. Most are affiliated with a Japanese chain. Most rooms in these chains are identical.

They are spotless, rooms are smaller, no-frills attached, but do have wi-fi. Some offer a communal bath in addition to the in-room showers. Breakfasts are very simple and the majority do not have a restaurant on the premises. They do reward repeat customers.

Other Budget Types of Accommodation Found in Japan

Wherever you stay in Japan, make sure you are near the railway, and the JR railway stations so you can use your pass.

• Hostels – very safe, clean, friendly, economical, and a common way to stay
•  Airbnb – there is a huge number all over Japan. What I like about these in Japan, is that they have to be registered and display the listing number. This got rid of all the suspect Airbnbs.
• Apartments and Guesthouses – if you browse through booking.com you will find them. Personally, I am weary to stay in an apartment due to the fact of the language barrier. If there is a problem I feel stuck. I have no one to assist me in Japan.
• Love Hotels – these are all over Japan. Guests can pop in for an hour or two or a night. I assume you are not in Japan for “hanky panky”, but you never know, so now you know they are there.

My advice is to travel to Japan, a foreign country, with a different language, a totally different culture, you should go with an experienced, qualified tour company. Let them know what you are looking for and they will accommodate your needs. Have a look at Travel Stride or Ampersand

Have you stayed in Japan or are planning a visit? Let us know in the comments section what your plans are, as they could assist others who want to visit.