▤ Accommodation in Japan

Where to stay in Japan: the hotels from my trip

During my route through Japan I stayed in very different places: large city hotels, elegant hotels and a traditional Japanese experience in Gero.

The five places I stayed

This is not a generic list: these are the places I personally stayed during my trip, described from my own experience and with my own photographs.

Tokyo · Kyoto · Kanazawa · Gero · Osaka

♡ 〰 ✈

My hotel-by-hotel route

City	Hotel	Type of stay	Best feature	Would I return?
⌖ Tokyo	Hotel New Otani Tokyo	Premium	Gardens and facilities	Yes
⌖ Kyoto	Kyoto Tokyu Hotel	City hotel	Peace and comfort	Yes
⌖ Kanazawa	Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel	City hotel	Convenient location	Yes
⌖ Gero	Suimeikan	Ryokan with onsen	Traditional experience	Yes
⌖ Osaka	Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka	Superior	Comfort and transport links	Yes

This selection is based exclusively on the hotels where I stayed.

Which of my hotels suits you best?

I want gardens and peace

Hotel New Otani Tokyo

A complete hotel combining the city, excellent facilities and Japanese gardens.

I want comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

A peaceful and comfortable base for exploring Kyoto.

I want something special

Suimeikan · Gero

The most traditional stay, with a ryokan and onsen.

INTERESTING DETAILS ABOUT HOTELS IN JAPAN

The detail I found in every hotel on my trip

From city hotels to a traditional ryokan: every room had comfortable clothing prepared for the stay.

5de5Every hotel provided
pyjamas or a yukata

I was surprised by the number of thoughtful details offered to guests. Every hotel provided pyjamas or comfortable clothing for the stay, which is very common in Japan. Depending on the accommodation, it could be conventional pyjamas or a yukata, especially common in ryokan and hot-spring accommodation.

Complimentary slippers, toiletries, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a kettle and tea are also common. Every hotel had smart toilets and I was particularly impressed by the mirrors with anti-fog function. Overall, the cleanliness, attention to detail and kindness were excellent.

Pyjamas or yukataComfortable clothing prepared for your stay.

Smart toiletsHeated seat, washing functions and adjustable intensity.

Complete amenitiesToothbrush, toothpaste, toiletries, tea and kettle.

Anti-fog mirrorsPart of the mirror remains clear after a shower.

TokyoPremium hotel

Hotel New Otani Tokyo

During my stay in Tokyo I chose the Hotel New Otani Tokyo, a large hotel with extensive facilities, restaurants and beautiful Japanese gardens. It is an especially good option for travellers looking for comfort and a complete hotel experience in the capital.

Japanese gardensFull-service hotelSleepwear includedTokyo

Red bridge and gardens at Hotel New Otani Tokyo — Hotel gardens

Waterfall and façade at Hotel New Otani Tokyo — Waterfall and façade

Sleepwear provided by Hotel New Otani Tokyo — Hotel sleepwear

Amenities at Hotel New Otani Tokyo — Amenities

KyotoCity hotel

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

In Kyoto I stayed at the Kyoto Tokyu Hotel. Its décor combines modern elements with details inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics.

Interior garden at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel in Kyoto — Hotel courtyard garden

Room bathroom at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel — Room bathroom

Complimentary slippers at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel — Complimentary slippers

Room at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel in Kyoto — Room at Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Sleepwear provided by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel — Hotel sleepwear

The atmosphere is elegant and peaceful, which is especially welcome after a day visiting temples, shrines and some of Kyoto’s best-known neighbourhoods.

ElegantPeacefulGood base for temples

KanazawaConvenient location

Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

For my stay in Kanazawa I chose the Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel, located in the Korinbo area and ideally positioned for exploring the centre, traditional districts, Omicho Market and Kenroku-en Garden. If you are deciding where to stay in Kanazawa, it is a comfortable option for sightseeing without giving up an elegant hotel.

The shared areas felt spacious and impressive, with thoughtful décor and wonderfully peaceful spaces. The room was also very well equipped, with sleepwear, slippers, a kettle, refrigerator, smart toilet and drinkable tap water.

The attention paid to the bathroom particularly impressed me. In addition to the usual items, we found cleansing oil, facial cleansing milk, gel lotion and moisturiser, together with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, toothbrushes, towels and other practical details. The hotel’s official website also confirms that it provides nightwear, slippers, toiletries, a hairdryer, refrigerator and washlet toilet.

Our room overlooked a nearby museum; from the window we could see the enormous blue feet installed on its roof, a very distinctive Kanazawa sight. Breakfast was also included and was served at the Marais D’or restaurant, in a spacious, elegant dining room with a buffet featuring products and specialities from Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture.

Central KanazawaRoom equipadaBreakfast includedNear Kenroku-en

Entrance to Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel

Spacious shared areas at Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Shared areas

Three-bed room at Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Our room

Sleepwear included in the room at Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Hotel sleepwear

Well-equipped bathroom at Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Room bathroom

Cleansing oil, facial milk and lotion at the hotel — Facial products

View from the room towards a museum with blue feet — Museum views

Breakfast dining room at Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel — Breakfast dining room

GeroRyokan with onsen

Suimeikan: staying in a ryokan in Gero

In Gero I had one of the most memorable accommodation experiences of our trip to Japan. We stayed at Suimeikan, a ryokan with onsen in one of the country’s most famous hot-spring towns. Although we chose a traditional Japanese room, the property also offers Western-style rooms for guests who prefer conventional beds.

Our room had tatami flooring, sliding doors and a low seating area where we could relax. At night, the staff prepared futons on the tatami flooring. We also had a private tea room with a teapot, cups and everything needed to prepare tea slowly and enjoy a small ceremony in the privacy of our own sitting room.

Futons on tatami flooring in a traditional room at Suimeikan ryokan in Gero — Futons prepared on the tatami flooring

Japanese sitting room with tatami flooring and low table at Suimeikan in Gero — Traditional tatami flooring sitting room

Private tea room with tatami flooring at Suimeikan — Our private tea room

Japanese teapot and tea set available in the ryokan room — Everything needed to prepare tea

Yukatas and accessories prepared in the room at Suimeikan — Yukatas prepared in the room

Yukata experience in a Japanese tatami room in Gero — Enjoying the traditional room

Traditional Japanese yukata in a room with shoji doors and tatami flooring — Yukata in the Japanese room

Room tradicional japonesa of Suimeikan con suelo of tatami flooring — A thoroughly Japanese stay

The ryokan provides yukatas in many sizes: garments were organised by height, from small options to larger sizes, so every guest could choose the right one. We wore them around the property and to dinner, making the experience feel even more authentic.

Yukatas in different sizes available for Suimeikan guests — Yukatas available in different sizes

Yukata provided by Suimeikan ryokan in Gero — The yukata chosen for the stay

Group wearing yukatas during a traditional Japanese dinner at Suimeikan — Group dinner wearing yukata

Traditional tatami room prepared for the group Japanese dinner — The traditional dining room

Traditional Japanese dinner dishes served at Suimeikan ryokan — Traditional Japanese dinner

For dinner, the whole group gathered wearing yukata in a large traditional tatami flooring room. We were served a carefully prepared Japanese dinner made up of numerous dishes, presented in small pieces of tableware. Sharing the evening this way was one of the most memorable moments of the stay.

Our private bathroom followed a Japanese layout and was divided into three separate areas: a vanity with basin and mirror, a separate toilet room with its own dedicated slippers, and a Japanese wet-room. The latter had a hand shower, small stool, washing bucket and a deep bathtub for relaxing after washing.

Japanese shower area with bucket, stool and bathtub in a Suimeikan room — Japanese shower and private bathtub

Low washing bucket and toiletries in the Japanese shower — Japanese washing bucket and stool

Entrance to the women’s onsen at Suimeikan ryokan in Gero — Entrance to the women’s onsen

Sign for the women’s public hot-spring baths at Suimeikan — Gender-separated onsen

Waterfall and pond in the Japanese garden at Suimeikan ryokan — Waterfall beside the ryokan

Illuminated Japanese garden with pond and stone lantern at Suimeikan — The garden illuminated at night

Suimeikan waterfall garden during the stay in Gero — A beautiful setting beside the water

Views of Gero and its mountains from a room at Suimeikan — Views of Gero from the room

Lobby and shared areas at Suimeikan ryokan in Gero — Elegant shared areas

From the room we could admire Gero’s hot-spring setting and the waterfall in the ryokan garden. At night, the pond, stone lanterns and illuminated vegetation created a beautiful scene.

Suimeikan also has public gender-separated onsen baths. As is customary in Japan, guests enter completely naked, without swimwear. Before bathing, you must wash thoroughly in the shower area, and the small towel must not enter the water. It can feel daunting the first time, but knowing these rules helps you enjoy one of Gero’s most traditional experiences naturally and respectfully.

Tatami and futonYukatas in several sizesJapanese dinnerOnsenJapanese bathroomWaterfall views

OsakaSpacious luxury hotel

Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka: our experience

In Osaka we stayed at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, an elegant, very spacious hotel with a luxurious atmosphere from the moment you enter. The lobby and shared areas were generous and carefully maintained, making it a very comfortable place to rest during our trip through Japan.

The location was also very convenient for visiting Universal Studios Japan from Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka. The park is well connected by public transport and the journey was easy, so staying here was a practical choice for reaching Universal Studios and making the most of the day.

The strong>room at Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka was also very large, which was especially welcome when travelling with luggage. It had several beds, a bathroom with bathtub, a hairdryer and a complete selection of amenities: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, toothbrush, comb, razor and other toiletries. As in other Japanese hotels, we also found a one-piece nightgown laid out on the bed; it was white, made from lightweight fabric and featured orange Sheraton details and emblem.

One of our favourite features was the window. From the room we had incredible views over Osaka: a cityscape of streets, buildings and skyscrapers stretching to the horizon and changing completely with the daylight.

We also really liked the dining room where the breakfast buffet. It was a beautiful, elegant space with modern décor, warm lighting and a central service area that made breakfast even more enjoyable.

One practical detail we had not seen before was a label reading «This is trash». It is used to identify large objects that do not fit in the bin and that the guest wants to discard, such as a suitcase, clothing or shoes. Once attached, staff know the items may be removed as waste rather than mistaking them for belongings accidentally left behind.