48 Unique Hotels in Japan

The first capsule hotel in the world, Capsule Inn Osaka (New Japan Umeda), opened in 1979 and has been enticing guests ever since. The capsule concept was the brainchild of Kisho Kurokawa. In 1972, he designed a residence called "capsule house K". It was an early conceptualization of a revolutionary …

Concept cars tend to look so futuristic and progressive that they never make it into production in the shape they were showcased at car shows. Shiki-Shima train is the concept car of trains, but somehow it managed to get approved by the East Japan Railway Company, and now anyone can …

Maebashi, the city of water, greenery, and poets, has seen a remarkable transformation from silk manufacturing to pioneer Japan's modernization. Shiroiya Hotel has seen a similar metamorphosis from a Japanese ryokan (inn) with 300 years of history into an inspirational contemporary creation. The original inn's rough concrete walls remind its …

Tokyo Kiba Hotel differs from most capsule hotels because it offers double rooms and couples' accommodation. It also provides the unusual experience of buying fresh underwear from a vending machine… which is a novelty if you are a Westerner. Also uncommon for foreigners is that bathing suits are banned from …

The recently opened Hotel Zen Tokyo has taken the popular capsule-style accommodation from Japan and brought it to a new level. Located in Nihonbashi Ningyocho, or "Doll town" as the locals call it, it's one of the most traditional parts of Tokyo, and it's got a great connection with the …

Park Hyatt Tokyo combines the chain's signature luxury with a local flavor. Despite being in the chaotic Shinjuku district, full of locals and travelers, the hotel offers a soothing, calm atmosphere. The hotel became internationally famous after Sofia Coppola's cult movie Lost in Translation was shown in cinemas in 2003. …

Located in a remote part of Japan's beautiful Ise-Shima National Park, Amanemu is a hidden luxury retreat. The resort overlooks Ago Bay, known as the Bay of Pearls, and is surrounded by lush forests and golf courses. The architecture of Amanemu is a true celebration of minimalism. Inspired by the …

A mere four-minute walk from the Namba Subway Station in Osaka is Japan’s famous spa capsule hotel. Unlike normal hotels where you book a self-contained room, the Capsule Hotel offers brand-new spacious sleeping capsules with a bed and wall-mounted television. You will also get a locker to stow your luggage …

The First Cabin Tsukiji in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese-style pod hotel with an aviation theme that houses 160 people. There are 119 male cabins and 41 female cabins. Tsukiji’s pods are equipped with flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, electric plugs, AC, house slippers, and toiletries. In addition, the hotel offers a …

Japan is known for its unique traditions, state-of-the-art technologies, and sleek architecture. Now, you can experience all of that and more at the Zaborin, located in Niseko, Japan. Niseko is not on mainland Japan; rather, it’s a town on Japan’s northern Hokkaido Island that sits by the dormant Mount Yōtei …

The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan spa hotel was originally opened in 705 AD, and in 2011, it was declared the oldest hotel in the world by Guinness World Records (currently 1319 years old). Since its inception, the hotel has been owned and operated by the same family for 52 generations. The …

Staffed by multilingual robots (yes, robots), travelers are sure to have a memorable stay at the Henn-na Hotel located in Nagasaki, Japan. Robots (one of which is an English-speaking dinosaur robot) serve to check guests in, and porter robots will carry luggage up to the guest rooms. Of course, a …

Book lovers rejoice! A self-proclaimed “accommodation bookshop,” Book and Bed Tokyo is essentially a library that guests can snooze in. This affordable hostel has room for 30 guests and a selection of 1,700 books in both Japanese and English. Those looking for Japanese literature will find English translations of works …

Japan is known for its eccentricities and unique innovations. One such innovation is their use of limited space as seen in the Capsule Hotel Rumor Plaza. It is a male-only hotel with a communal sauna as well as a shared bathroom, lounge, smoking area, and dining area. Rather than booking …

Located on the Houshi River in the Gunma Prefecture, the Houshi Onsen Chojukan is the epitome of a traditional ryokan where weary travelers can experience Japanese hospitality. Built in 1875 at the source of the hot spring, the Chojukan is a secluded mountain getaway that offers majestic views and an …

Legend has it that the great Buddhist teacher, Taicho Daishi, saw a vision while traveling in the local area. In his vision, a great deity made it known to him that nearby was a hot spring flowing with marvelous waters that had the power to heal the souls of all …

This historical building is an example of metabolism, a movement in Japanese architecture that drew inspiration from how living organisms arrange themselves. Metabolists viewed society as an organism, and the Nakagin Tower, built in 1972, is one of the few remaining examples of their work. Recently, there has been a …

Opened in 1890 by Japan's aristocracy, by 1922 a nearly completed second generation Imperial Hotel building reopened with a design by the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It contained a revolutionary floating cantilever design which allowed it to withstand the Samson-shaking earthquake of 1923 on the very day of …

Located in the bustling town of Osaka, Japan this hotel is near to all the town’s popular destinations and has plenty of modern conveniences. The unique entrance is worth a second glance: four pillars each with a massive face of Easter Island proportions carved into them. The faces represent four …

This hotel is eco all over. Set in the thrall of a rocky volcano, the hotel harnesses the sulfuric heat generated below the soil to create geothermal power. It also captures the flow of fast streams and rivers to create hydroelectricity. Unique “onsen” (Japanese hot springs) are available to rejuvenate …