Type of Accommodations

Ryokan (Japanese-style)

Ryokan is the traditional accommodation of Japan featuring age-old interior design and personalized services. A room in a Ryokan is usually a single undivided room floored with traditional rice-straw tatami matting. It functions as a living room during the day and as a bedroom during the night with comfortable futon bedding being laid out.

To enter a Ryokan, guests take their shoes off at the entrance hall and wear slippers while in its hallways. The slippers should be left outside the tatami-matted room.

Bath and toilet facilities are often separate from the room and are shared by staying guests unless otherwise specified. Ryokan usually loans a clean cotton yukata which serve as a bathrobe and as well as a pajama, and provides a small towel which a guest can keep.

The rates at a Ryokan often include two meals but the rates at those listed Hearty Inn do not include meals, giving you some flexibility. Ryokan have a dining room where the guests, if they choose to, take breakfast and dinner.

Minshuku (Japanese-style)

Minshuku are small family-run inns operated within private homes. Originally developed to provide extra accommodations in vacation areas during high travel seasons, minshuku are homey in atmosphere and feature moderate rates. You can enjoy the close-up view of Japanese life that these minshuku offer.

Kokumin Shukusha or People's Lodges

Kokumin Shukusha are moderate-rated lodgings mostly built in National Parks or nearby with the aim of providing the nation with an opportunity to enjoy an inexpensive form of recreation in a select natural environment.

Business Hotel (Western-style)

Business Hotels (Western-style), as their name implies, were originally designed to cater to budget-minded business travelers. They minimize non-essentials so as to make their rooms available at reasonable prices. Their rooms are compact but clean. There is no room service but they provide vending machines for drinks and snacks in addition to one or more restaurants on the premises. Furniture is Western-style with a private bath as a general rule. Yukata cotton robes and towels are provided to their guests.

Pension (Western-style)

Pensions, often called "Western-style minshuku", are small family-run establishments with Western-style facilities. They have been developed essentially to satisfy a demand among Japanese people for good, inexpensive Western-style room and board in scenic areas. Outdoor sporting facilities are usually available nearby. Guests may be asked to take off their shoes at the entrance and use slippers.

Capsule hotels

Capsule hotels are unique and inexpensive accommodations conveniently located in city centers. The guest rooms are capsules. Each capsule is about 2 meters by 1 meter, usually fitting a bed, TV, lighting and an alarm clock. Bathroom and washroom are shared. Sauna is available in some capsule hotels. Yukatas (cotton robes) are usually provided.　Personal belongings are kept in a locker room.