iki Travels’ hotels in Japan

Your trip’s pleasure is directly proportional to the hotel you chose to stay. All our accommodations have been carefully selected for their comfort and amenities, charm, location and of course price.

Our hotels in Japan are divided in three different price categories. That is the reason why all our sample itineraries mention three different prices. You can of course combine these different price categories. We can very well imagine that in Tokyo you prefer to stay at a decent, but simple and centrally located hotel, however at Mt. Fuji you want to pamper yourself with a luxurious ryokan with a view of Mt Fuji from your onsen. At all our hotels breakfast is included in the room rate. At a traditional ryokan or minshuku, breakfast as well as dinner, is included. 

Rent a house in Kyoto

In Kyoto you have the option of staying at a traditional rental house. This is like a vacation rental house, so no meals are being served, but you can cook your own food at the private kitchen. For more information: Huisje Kyoto

Minshuku

Minshuku are Japanese bed & breakfasts. Minshuku tend to be small with just a few guest rooms and are mostly family operated. In-room amenities tend to be basic and rooms are traditional Japanese-style with tatami mats on the floor. You sleep on a futon, that is spread out on the tatami floor during the night. The temples may also offer communal, gender-segregated baths, which are shared between the guests. In a Japanese hotel, it’s unusual to have a toilet inside the room.

The main difference with a normal hotel is that upon arrival dinner and in the morning breakfast is included in the room rate. Five nights in a minshuku means five dinners and five breakfasts. Minshuku offer visitors a good opportunity to meet local families and experience traditional Japanese lifestyle.

Temple lodgings (Shukubo)

A night at a temple lodging is a memorable experience. Many of these ancient temple complexes are located in magnificent nature reserves, such as Mount Koya. Often these temples are surrounded by beautiful gardens. Bedding is provided in the form of futons, which are spread out on the tatami floor during the night. Toilets are usually shared among guests and sometimes temples may also offer communal, gender-segregated baths. The temple is eerily quiet at night and dimly lit by numerous traditional Japanese lanterns, Buddhist morning prayers usually start early in the morning (at sunrise) and often you are invited by the monks to participate. One of the highlights is the vegetarian meal served by the monks. Dinner as well as breakfast is included in the price.

Ryokan

Unlike a minshuku, a ryokan is often much larger and has more amenities. Minshuku are the budget version of a ryokan. Ryokan are more luxurious, but similar to a minshuku, rooms are traditional Japanese style. The room of a high-end ryokan often has a bathroom and a toilet inside the room and a view onto a landscaped garden, nice scenery or a river.

Almost all ryokan feature common bathing areas, usually segregated by gender using the water from a hot spring (onsen). Ryokan are typically located in scenic areas, such as the mountains (such as Mt Fuji or nearby the sea). Most ryokan offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Some ryokan have a communal dining area, but most serve meals in the guests’ rooms.  Be aware that a traditional ryokan are not cheap and are often more expensive than a Western five star hotel.