Choosing a place to stay in Japan

The main types of accommodation

In Japan, places to stay in the same price range can offer completely different experiences. You choose among the types below depending on the trip you want, and many visitors mix them, for example one night at a ryokan and the rest at a hotel near a station.

• Ryokan: traditional inns with tatami rooms, Japanese meals and baths
• Business hotels: small, clean and practical, close to stations
• City hotels: large hotels with spacious rooms, restaurants and lounges
• Capsule hotels: cheap places where you rent a sleeping pod
• Guesthouses and private lodging: shared spaces or a whole home to rent

Ryokan

A ryokan is a traditional inn where you stay in a tatami room and have dinner and breakfast on site. At many, staff lay out futons in your room after dinner or while you are out, and a yukata, a light robe, is provided. Prices are often quoted per person rather than per room, so the total rises with each extra guest. Meal times are usually fixed in advance, so if you are going to arrive late, be sure to let them know. On tatami you take off even your slippers and walk barefoot or in socks, and rolling suitcase wheels across the mats is considered rude.

Business hotels

Business hotels were originally designed for people travelling for work. Rooms are small, and many have a compact unit bathroom with toilet, sink and tub moulded together. In return they are clean, close to stations and well equipped, which suits solo travellers and itineraries with frequent moves. If two people are staying, check whether the room has one shared bed or two. A bed only slightly wider than a single, shared by two, can feel cramped. Many rooms make it hard to open two large suitcases at once, so look at the stated floor area when choosing.

Capsule hotels

At a capsule hotel you rent a bed-sized pod purely for sleeping. Many separate men's and women's floors or accept only one gender, and companions cannot share a pod. Pods often have a curtain rather than a door, so sound carries and you need to keep quiet at night. Large luggage won't fit inside, so it is usually left at the front desk or in a separate locker. Places with a shared bath may have tattoo rules like a hot spring, so check in advance.

Guesthouses and private lodging

Guesthouses have shared kitchens or lounges where you can mix with other travellers. Renting a home or room is convenient for families, but in Japan operating such lodging requires notification or a licence under the law. Checking that the listing shows a registration or licence number helps you avoid unlicensed places. Lodging in residential areas often enforces rules on night-time noise and trash disposal strictly, and breaking them can lead to trouble with neighbours.

What to check when booking

The same property can cost very different amounts and offer different comfort depending on the conditions. Check these before paying.

• Whether the price shown is per person or per room
• The total including taxes, accommodation tax and meals
• The number and size of beds and the real capacity
• Check-in times and how to notify a late arrival
• When cancellation fees start to apply
• Distance to the station and any hills or stairs

Check-in and during your stay

Foreign guests without an address in Japan are asked to show their passport at check-in, and the property taking a copy is a standard procedure required by regulations. Some cities levy an accommodation tax, sometimes collected on the spot; amounts and who pays differ by municipality, so check your booking details and the local government's information. Many places hold luggage before check-in or after check-out, and some let you use a delivery service to send bags to your next accommodation or the airport. Most rooms are non-smoking; if you need a smoking room, choose it when you book.

Common mistakes and cautions

Choosing from photos alone often leads to a room that feels far smaller, so look at the floor area figure too. At a ryokan, missing the set dinner time may mean no meal. Many properties charge a cleaning fee if you smoke in a non-smoking room. When you arrive, check the evacuation map on the back of the door once. Accommodation taxes, cancellation fees and house rules vary by property and region and can change, so rely on the official information at the time you book.