Japan Makes Checking In Cool
Some places treat a hotel as the boring part between sightseeing and breakfast. Japan, on the other hand, refuses to be that predictable. Across the country, you can sleep in lodgings tied to temples, old merchant districts, hot spring towns, and even wonderfully compact city spaces. The trick is to know where to look, which is why we’ve rounded up five spots you ought to book your next stay at!
Shukubo Temple Lodgings
A shukubo lets you spend the night at a Buddhist temple, which is about as far from a standard hotel lobby as you can get. Depending on the temple, you might wake up to morning prayers, eat vegetarian meals, and sleep in a simple tatami room. It’s peaceful, but more importantly, it’s memorable.
Ryokan Inns
For those unfamiliar, ryokan are traditional Japanese inns where the whole experience feels carefully arranged, from the tatami floors to the futon bedding. Many serve elaborate seasonal meals, too, and offer access to hot spring baths, so you’re far from stressed. Not to mention the views they offer.
Capsule Hotels
If you can stomach a little bit of claustrophobia, capsule hotels are the affordable spot for you. Instead of a full room, you get a compact sleeping pod with shared facilities nearby. They’re affordable and oddly fun, especially if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sleep in a tidy little spaceship.
Gassho-Zukuri Farmhouses
In places like Shirakawa-go, some traditional thatched-roof farmhouses welcome overnight guests. It doesn’t hurt to look around, and if you find one, you’ll be greeted by steep-roofed buildings designed for snowy mountain life. Staying in one feels like entering a storybook!
Machiya Townhouses
Kyoto’s machiya are narrow wooden townhouses that once belonged to merchants and craftspeople. Today, some have been restored as atmospheric guesthouses with sliding doors, inner gardens, and a beautiful sense of quiet. They’re perfect if you want history around you, and they’re not a bad deal, either.
