I stayed in traditional Japanese hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, & Osaka

There are thousands of hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, so naturally, I felt overwhelmed trying to choose the perfect spot for my first trip to Japan. 

I like to dive deep with my hotel research, but it was difficult to choose between hotels that were all so different from one another. However, after furiously scrolling through Booking.com and favoriting any hotel that stood out, I realized a pattern. 

The majority of the hotels that piqued my interest weren’t the budget-friendly capsule hotels. Nor were they the futuristic robot-run hotels or even ones with outrageous themes. 

The hotels I really liked were the traditional ones. These are hotels that highlight Japanese details over Western ones, offering some interesting cultural aspects that make them more than a “standard” hotel. 

I leaned into that interest and ended up booking three kinds of traditional hotels: an onsen hotel, a ryokan, and a shukubo.

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How to Find Traditional Hotels in Japan

I settled on booking traditional-styled hotels in Japan for several reasons. 

The first was practical — I was able to find these sorts of hotels in a range of price points. Having plenty of options that could work within my budget made it easier to decide to book one. 

Second, I like to get to feel fully immersed in the culture of the places I’m traveling to, and this seemed like an ideal way to do it. 

Finally, I loved that these hotels felt unique to Japan. Each has aspects that are wholly Japanese and unlike other hotels I’ve stayed in. I figured I could stay in a Western-style hotel at any point, so going with something different than the usual appealed to me. 

So, how exactly did I find them? 

I prefer to book my hotels on Booking.com, primarily because of the number of great options (and the generous cancellation policy). I also love its robust search features, which were key to helping me find the hotels.

I’ll overview the hotels I chose and give you a few options later in this article. However, if you’re staying somewhere outside of Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, here’s how I recommend finding some traditional hotels.

First, enter the city and dates you want to travel. Once you do that, scroll down to the “Property Type” filter. Select the “Ryokan” option.

After you’ve made your selection, most of the work will be done for you. This feature works especially well if you’re searching for ryokans, which are the most classic Japanese hotels.

Search for an onsen hotel with the “Public Bath” filter. However, you may need to search carefully. Some Western-style hotels also have public baths but otherwise aren’t as traditional.

Sometimes, onsen hotels and ryokans are folded into one another because many ryokans also have onsens. It’s a bit harder to find shukubo because there is no official search feature for it. 

However, just searching “shukubo” brings up some options in Koyasan, which has a high concentration of them. Sometimes, shukubo are folded into the ryokan search feature as well. 

Alright, now you know how to find these. Let’s get into what each hotel we booked was like.

Traditional Hotels in Tokyo

Where I stayed: Onyado Nono Asakusa Natural Hot Spring

An onsen hotel in the heart of Asakusa close to delicious eateries and one of Tokyo’s top attractions.

What I Loved

• 📍 Location – The hotel is in the heart of Asakusa, a historic and old-school Tokyo neighborhood. It’s close to Senso-ji Temple and hundreds of izakayas.
• 🍜 Food – The breakfast buffet is massive, full of Japanese options (pickles, dried fish, miso soup, natto, etc.) and a few Western selections (cereal, yogurt, waffles, etc). The hotel serves free soba in the evening and ice pop and yogurt drinks post hot spring. 
• 🧦 Cozy Vibes – The entire hotel is covered in tatami mats. You don’t wear shoes inside (you store them in a shoe locker at the entrance), and you can walk around in the provided pajamas and tabi socks.
• ♨️ Hot Springs – The bottom floor has hot springs. They’re the best way to end a long day. 

Check out my full review of Onyado Nono Asakusa Natural Hot Spring.

My Experience

We decided to begin our Japan trip at Onyado Nono Asakusa Natural Hot Spring. We thought the hot springs would help with our jet lag and any soreness that came with suddenly getting 25,000 steps in daily. It worked! 

My husband and I used the hotel’s hot spring every day (and on a few occasions, twice a day). In the evenings, families would gather in the public baths and everyone would unwind, chat, soak in pools, or relax in the steam room and sauna. 

We would have tried an onsen when staying in Japan regardless, but we loved the convenience of having it just a few floors below us.

This hotel was downright comfortable. As soon as you enter, you hear soothing music, remove your shoes, and are walked through all of the hotel’s amenities and offerings. It was normal to walk around the hotel in the provided pajamas, making it feel even cozier. 

We pushed ourselves hard while taking in all the sights and sounds of Tokyo, and coming back here felt like returning home each time.

Our main gripe was that the hot springs could feel a bit overcrowded in the early mornings or late evenings, and this was in mid-January. I imagine it would be more of an issue in peak season, but we discovered that going midday, right when the onsen re-opened after cleaning, was the best way to avoid the crowds.

Other traditional options in Tokyo 

☸️ Best near Senso-Ji: Onyado Nono Asakusa Annex – Natural Hot Spring
🛎️ Best Tokyo Ryokan: Cyashitsu ryokan asakusa

Want more options and ideas for where to stay? Check out our full guide to where to stay in Tokyo!

Traditional Hotels in Kyoto

Where I Stayed: Ryokan Motonago

A small Japanese inn (ryokan) with fantastic meals, a peaceful atmosphere, and top-notch hospitality.

What I Loved

• 🙋 Hospitality – The staff are exceptionally kind and great at anticipating your every need.
• 🧘Peaceful Atmosphere – The entire ryokan is designed to be relaxing, from the minimalist decor and courtyard views to the quiet hallways and thoughtful amenities. 
• 👘 Comfort – The rooms are clean, spacious, and well-heated. The yukata is comfortable, the futons are cushiony, and the private baths are delightfully hot. 
• 🍣Food – Breakfast and dinner are elaborate and multi-course (kaiseki), made by expert chefs and delivered directly to your room.

Check out my full review of Ryokan Motonago.

My Experience

Booking a ryokan was a no-brainer when my husband and I decided to spend a few days in Kyoto. Ryokan Motonago was as serene as we hoped it would be. 

Ryokans are one of the best ways to experience traditional Japanese hospitality. We were treated to it from the moment we stepped inside.

Upon arrival, we were served fresh mochi, steaming green tea, and cold water and presented with yukata, robes, and hand warmers. All of our meals were brought to our room and everything was fresh, beautifully plated, and surprisingly filling. 

In the evening, the staff laid out our futons, where we had some of the best sleep of our entire visit. We had an hour to soak in the private baths and were treated to sparkling water, sake, and beer afterward. Our hosts told us to ask for anything we needed, but we never had to. They seemed to anticipate our needs before we did. 

The care we received here felt like that of a family member versus a typical hotel. Staying in a ryokan was a worthwhile cultural experience that gave us a chance to slow down and relax. But we also loved having a firsthand glimpse into this historic Japanese accommodation.

We loved our stay at the ryokan, but I do think they’re better for short stays. I think we would have gotten antsy had we stayed any longer than two nights. Having scheduled breakfasts, dinners, and bath reservations was convenient but limited our ability to explore at our own pace.

Other traditional options in Kyoto

👪 Best for Families: Seikoro Ryokan
💏 Best for Couples: Yuzuya Ryokan
💎 Best for Luxury: Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo

Interested in other Kyoto accommodations? Check out our full guide to where to stay in Kyoto.

Traditional Hotels in Osaka

Where I stayed: Waqoo Shitaderamachi

This Buddhist temple lodging (shukubo) offers unique experiences and excellent service at an affordable price.

What I loved

• ☸️ Buddhist experiences – You can try several Buddhist experiences, including meditating with a monk.
• 🛏️ Comfortable, spacious rooms – The rooms are spacious and well-equipped even though this is a budget hotel.
• 🎁 Gift shop – You can help support the temple by purchasing Buddhist goods and other gifts as souvenirs.
• 😊 Helpful staff – Staff are kind, polite and happy to help with everything from calling a taxi to assisting you with booking the Buddhist experiences.

Check out my full review of Waqoo Shitaderamachi.

My Experience

I’m so glad I came across Waqoo Shitaderamachi in my search because it’s another type of traditional lodging that wasn’t on my radar. Waqoo Shitaderamachi is a shukubo, which is a Buddhist temple lodging. These accommodations were originally for monks, but many now accept tourists and non-Buddhists.

There is a range of different shukubo, though they can be similar in style to ryokans. This one was a budget pick, but we didn’t feel like its low price meant it was low quality. If anything, we were surprised by how good of a value it was.

The rooms were more spacious and comfortable, with all the standard amenities. The location, while not super pretty, was safe and quiet in the evening. What we loved most, though, were the Buddhist experiences visitors were allowed to try.

Two days of the week, a monk comes to the hotel to lead a zazen meditation. On other days, you can watch a recorded meditation in the Zen room, where a monk will lead you through the practice. Shojin ryori, a traditionally Buddhist vegetarian meal, is also offered (and it’s much better than I thought it would be!). Finally, guests can try sutra copying, a meditative practice. 

Waqoo Shitaderamachi is a true budget option, so don’t expect anything very fancy — no public bath or luxurious views. The soundproofing also left something to be desired. But for the price, we felt the value more than made up for it. 

Other traditional options in and around Osaka

🛎️ Best Osaka Ryokan: Yamatoya Honten Ryokan Osaka
🙏 Best for Buddhist Services: Koyasan Shukubo Saizenin

Looking for other options? Check out our full guide to where to stay in Osaka.

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I hope I’ve convinced you to stay in a traditional hotel when traveling to Japan. I promise they’ll only enhance your experience!

Feel free to ask me a question in the comments if you want to know more about the hotels I stayed in. Otherwise, check out this article on what to include on your Japan packing list once you finish booking your hotels!