Japan

In short

• Kyoto and Osaka, in the Kansai region, are a natural pair: temples in one, food and nightlife in the other.
• Kawaguchiko, on a lake at the foot of Mount Fuji, is the classic Fuji view, reached by bus or train from Tokyo.
• Fukuoka, Okinawa and Hokkaido take you to Kyushu, the subtropical south-west and the snowy north.
• Each hotel guide here lists hotels chosen from public, checkable data, with a price check link for every one.

This guide covers 6 places in Japan, spread over 3 of its 4 main islands plus Okinawa in the far south-west. Kyoto, Osaka and Kawaguchiko are on Honshu, the largest island.

Fukuoka is on Kyushu, Hokkaido is the northern main island itself, and Okinawa is a chain of subtropical islands. Most first trips stay on Honshu, linked by the Shinkansen; the others add a domestic flight, or a long train ride to Fukuoka.

Where to go in Japan

Where to go in Japan depends on the trip: temples and old streets, food and city life, Mount Fuji, beaches or snow. The table sets out the 6 places covered here.

Kyoto, Osaka and Kawaguchiko: the Honshu route

Kyoto, Osaka and Kawaguchiko form the Honshu route most first trips follow. Kyoto, the old imperial capital, has temples, shrines and gardens across the city, from Fushimi Inari to Kiyomizu-dera, the Gion geisha district and the bamboo grove at Arashiyama.

Osaka, a short train ride away, is the food city, with Dotonbori’s neon canal, the Kuromon market and Osaka Castle. Many travellers stay in one and visit the other on a day trip, and Nara is close to both.

Kawaguchiko sits on Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes in Yamanashi. On clear days the lake gives some of the best-known views of Mount Fuji, and many hotels have onsen baths and rooms facing the mountain; cloud often hides it, so a second night improves the odds.

Fukuoka, Okinawa and Hokkaido: beyond the main route

Fukuoka, Okinawa and Hokkaido take a trip beyond the main route. Fukuoka, on Kyushu, is a compact city whose airport is close to the centre; it is known for ramen and the yatai, open-air food stalls along the river at Nakasu.

Okinawa is a chain of islands in the far south-west, with coral reefs, beaches and the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom; Naha is the main city and airport. Hokkaido, the northern main island, is known for powder snow at resorts such as Niseko, for Sapporo’s food, and for open countryside in summer.

Getting into and around Japan

Getting into and around Japan is mostly by train on Honshu and Kyushu, and by air to Okinawa and Hokkaido.

• Visit Japan Web: the Japanese government’s Visit Japan Web service lets you register immigration and customs details before arrival and show a 2D code at the airport.
• You can register on a computer, but the official page says the 2D code must be shown on a smartphone or tablet. Use only the official site.
• Visa rules depend on nationality; check them with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan before booking.
• Japan’s international tourist tax, added to air and ferry tickets when you leave, rose from JPY 1,000 to JPY 3,000 on 1 July 2026, according to JNTO.
• The Shinkansen links Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka; Kawaguchiko is reached by express bus or by train via Otsuki.
• Domestic flights serve Naha, for Okinawa, and New Chitose, for Sapporo and the rest of Hokkaido.

How the hotel guides are made

How the hotel guides are made matters, because we have not stayed at these hotels. Each list is chosen from public, checkable data: the hotel’s own website, its location, the facilities it lists and its guest score on booking sites, with the date checked.

Japan does not publish an open register of official hotel star ratings, so these guides show no star category; the facilities and the guest score do that job. Every hotel has its own price check link, and no hotel pays to be listed. Read the editorial policy and the disclosure for the full method.

When Japan is not the right trip

Japan is not the right trip for every plan. Hotel rooms in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo are often small, and the busiest seasons book up early, so a last-minute trip can mean less choice.

Trying to cover all six places in one trip means many hours in transit; one or two regions work better. For a slower beach trip, the Indonesia guide covers Bali; for Europe, start with Spain or Portugal. Read more about the site.

Hotel guides for Japan

Each list compares hotels by area, price level and guest score, and explains how they were chosen.

• Best Hotels in Fukuoka
• Best Hotels in Hokkaido
• Best Hotels in Kawaguchiko
• Best Hotels in Kyoto
• Best Hotels in Okinawa
• Best Hotels in Osaka

Common questions