Hotels in Japan: what you need to know before booking
- japansophy
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
If you're reading this and are younger than maybe around 40, you're hardly going to believe this but there was a time, not even that long ago, when to book a hotel in Japan, you would have to either call the front desk and speak to someone (who was unlikely to have more than a basic grasp of any language other than Japanese) or rack up in Tokyo and hope for the best. These days, services such as booking.com, Agoda or trip.com do all the leg-work (and linguistic work) for you. But finding available accommodation in Japan that's right for you isn't just as straight forward as you might be used to in other countries. Read on to learn about some of the quirks of Japanese hotels to avoid any surprises when you check in.
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Non-smokers beware
Japan is still a nation of smokers and business hotels in particular have a large volume of "smoking allowed" rooms, as many as 50%. You've found a great hotel but they only have smoking rooms left: you ask yourself, "How bad could it be?". The answer is "very bad". Japan has a great variety of Fabreze-like, deodorising fabric sprays but, since the windows in Japanese hotel rooms often can't be opened or - in some cases - the rooms are completely windowless, nothing will mask the smell. If you are in any way sensitive to tobacco smoke, book a non-smoking room every time and ask the hotel to confirm the non-smoking room if it's not stated on your reservation.
Semi-double = single
If you're travelling as a couple and have seen a tempting Japanese hotel offer of something called a semi-double room, be aware that - like the name in a sly, roundabout way does indeed suggest - this is in fact a single room with a single (usually 80-120 cm in width) bed that you both are expected to share. The same room might be advertised as a "small double". Families should be careful when booking rooms for four because these might also have only two single beds or one single and one standard double (queen-size, 152 cm), making it a tight squeeze. Some third-party room reservation services might specify bed size on their listings; if in doubt, check room descriptions on the hotel's own website or ask in an email.
Price per guest
You've booked a single room for yourself and at the last minute, a friend decides to join you on your trip to Japan. Do you have to rebook your hotels or can your friend just bunk in with you? Japanese hotels are generally very strict about the number of guests per room. As we explained above, a "semi-double" is basically a single room for two people, so if you booked and paid for a single room for yourself, your friend will have to book a room for themselves or you will at least have to pay a surcharge for your room (i.e. the price of a semi-double rather than the price of a single) to accommodate the extra guest. Make sure you book for the correct number of people in your party.
Travelling with children
In the same vein as above, always count children in as guests when booking your room and don't assume that they can just share your bed for free. Many hotels don't charge for toddlers sharing their parents' beds but, if ultimately only for reasons of the accommodation tax that the hotels are obliged to charge, they still have to be counted as guests. Nor should you assume that the hotel will provide a cot or child's extra bed for free or even for an extra charge (see "Room size" below). Always ask before you book.
Room size
Hotel rooms in Japanese cities are notoriously snug - that's no secret and, after all, you're probably not going to spend much time in the hotel anyway. But, still, just how small the average hotel room is can come as a shock to some: there is often little more than a small manoeuvring space at the bottom and side of the bed, and the bathrooms are strictly one-person-at-a-time. This wouldn't normally be a deal-breaker but when you're travelling with a suitcase or two each, an extra square metre or two is a real bonus. Before you book, see if the hotel has bigger rooms for a small upgrade charge. The hotel websites and even third-party booking services usually give the size of the room in their listings, so you can compare.
Few hotel beds in Japan have sufficient space underneath for suitcases. If your room is on the cosier side and you're sick of tripping over your luggage, we have a tip for you: although Japanese mid-class hotel rooms seldom have wardrobes or drawers, take out of your suitcase what you're likely to need for the next day or two, store that in your room and take your suitcase downstairs to the lobby. Most hotels have a luggage storage service.
And take into consideration when travelling with small children, that most rooms will not have enough space to set up a crib or extra bed. The hotels might point this out on their listing but contact them directly if in doubt.
Mobility issues
If you struggle with mobility issues, there are a few things you should look out for when booking a Japanese hotel room. First of all, the bathroom in Japanese hotel rooms is often a so-called "unit bath". These are bathrooms that are fitted into the room in one piece and are generally very cramped, with a tub/shower, washbasin and toilet sometimes even overlapping! If for whatever reason you need a bit more space in the bathroom, take this into consideration when booking and don't rely on the photos in hotel listings, which are more often than not taken with a very wide-angle lens.
Unit baths pose a couple more issues for those with reduced mobility. First, there is usually a small step up into the bathroom - sometimes just a centimetre or two but sometimes more (we've had bathrooms with a step up of 10-15 centimetres). This can be a tripping hazard for some, especially during those middle-of-the-night trips! Also, Japanese bathtubs are small but quite deep. For those with mobility issues, they can be really quite hard to get in and out of, even if only to shower. If this could be a problem for you, look for a hotel room with a shower cabinet instead of a tub - they are much harder to find but do exist.
Another thing to watch out for are futons. It might be obvious to most but to some (especially those that remember futons being the trend sofa/bed combo of the 90s), futons are beds consisting of a mattress on a wooden frame. In Japan, futons are (relatively) thin mattresses laid out directly on the floor. This isn't to say they aren't comfy, but for those who love a nice soft bed or have difficulty getting out of low beds, futons will ruin your trip! This could be a big issue in ryokans and other traditional accommodation in particular.
Japan capsule hotels: gender separation
Capsule hotels in Japan can be great for the budget traveller and for many are a quintessential Japanese travel experience. But if you are travelling as a mixed-sex couple or group, be aware that in most cases you will be separated by gender into different sections or floors of the hotel. A handful of capsule hotels have mixed-gender floors (UNPLAN Kagurazaka, for example) but you'll generally have to specify at booking whether you want a "female" capsule or a "male" capsule. Some capsule hotels are entirely male-only or female-only.
Japan airbnb-type accommodation
With the boom in tourism in Japan has come a boom in airbnb-type accommodation, i.e. a privately-let room, apartment or even house. If this is your bag, you're in luck. But if it's a hotel you're after, check the listings on reservation sites carefully because, even if you filter for hotel, a lot of privately-let accommodation still makes the list. This can happen because the private landlord has listed their property as a hotel, be it intentionally or not, or because the property calls itself "hotel" (even when it is obvious that it is not). Some reservation services list such properties as "managed by a private host" but many still slip through the net. Check the listing carefully before you book if having a front desk, cleaning service and other amenities that are absent in an airbnb are important to you.
FAQ: Hotels in Japan
What are business hotels in Japan?
Business hotels are a basic, functional type of accommodation, generally in cities and especially near major train stations, business districts or airports, that traditionally catered to out-of-town businesspeople needing a reasonably-priced no-frills room for the night. This is why the rooms in business hotels tend to be on the smaller side, but they are usually very practical for tourists because they are relatively cheap, close to transport and have a lot of amenities.
What are capsule hotels in Japan?
Capsule hotels were also originally designed as a type of emergency accommodation for businessmen (and originally they were indeed exclusively men-only) who had missed the last train home, usually after a raucous night out drinking with colleagues, and needed just the minimum of amenities to sleep it off before the next day. They have shared bathroom facilities and the accommodation comprises pod-like compartments stacked two or three high, with bedding and often nothing more than a curtain at the end for privacy and sound insulation. They are as wide as the narrow mattress and just about high enough to sit up in. They are still just about the cheapest accommodation you can find but have becomes popular as a tourist "gimmick" and prices are on the rise.
How far ahead should I book a hotel in Japan?
Our advice: book as soon as you can. It used to be possible to leave booking accommodation in Japan to the last minute and still find a bargain. With the rise in tourist numbers that Japan has been experiencing over the last years, accommodation - especially in the major cities and especially in the lower price categories - gets booked up very fast. In our experience in the last few years, hotel prices don't come down the longer you wait: in contrast, you can expect to pay more and have less choice. If you aren't quite sure about your plans so far in advance, book with the free cancellation option, so you can cancel and rebook if your plans change.
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