There are many nuances when booking hotels in Japan—here's your beginner’s guide to Japanese accommodations with insider tips from fellow travelers

Japan is always a popular destination for independent travel, but there are quite a few things to consider when choosing a hotel. What hotels are Taiwanese netizens currently discussing? DailyView’s Online Sentiment Meter categorized hotels by price range: under ¥9,000, ¥9,000–¥15,000, and ¥15,000–¥35,000 per night (approximately NT$2,500, NT$2,500–4,000, and NT$4,000–10,000), and used the KEYPO Big Data Analytics Engine to analyze which hotel chains Taiwanese netizens are most talking about.

%Top choices under ¥9,000

For travelers who don’t have high accommodation expectations, spend all day out exploring and just use the hotel for sleeping, or want to save money for other activities... budget business hotels are a good fit. While rooms are usually small, they come with the essentials, and unlike capsule hotels, you don’t have to share space. These affordable business hotels, originally designed for business travelers staying overnight, are known for having many branches and convenient locations. So, which hotel chains are the most popular within this price range?

No.1 Toyoko Inn

With over 200 branches across Japan, Toyoko Inn caters not only to business travelers but also tourists. But because of the low prices (economy double rooms for less than ¥9,000 per night), convenient transport, and free breakfast, they’re in high demand. Frequent travelers to Japan are advised to join the Toyoko Inn membership program, which allows bookings up to 6 months in advance. For peak seasons like the autumn foliage, cherry blossom, or Chinese New Year holidays, booking 6 months ahead is definitely worth it.

No.2 APA Hotel

APA Hotels are also generally small but include essentials like bathrooms and breakfast. Some branches even feature large public baths, making it a good deal to soak for less than ¥2,000 a night. However, the reason APA Hotel ranked so high in this survey is mainly due to an incident in January this year where the hotel was found to have books denying the Nanjing Massacre, leading to a wave of boycotts by Chinese netizens. Reactions among Taiwanese travelers were mixed—some supported the boycott, while others thought fewer mainland visitors would make it easier to book rooms.

No.3 Super Hotel

Super Hotel, which often appears alongside Toyoko Inn in discussions, differs in that it offers a wide variety of bread for breakfast instead of mainly rice balls. Some branches also provide large public baths. A unique feature is the selection of pillows with different firmness levels, though they are often sold out. Another plus is that Super Hotel offers triple rooms—a rarity in Japan. Booking two rooms can be expensive, so if you don’t mind a little crowding, Super Hotel is highly recommended.

No.4 Hotel Mystays

Hotel Mystays is slightly more expensive than the previous three, but rooms are generally larger. A standout feature is that each room has a mini kitchen, which is a cost-effective choice for travelers who like to buy food and eat in their rooms. Hotel Mystays also has a Chinese-language booking website, making it easy to reserve rooms without knowing Japanese. If you have any questions, you can call their Chinese customer service line. As a result, it’s extremely popular among travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—but you must book early.

No.5 Comfort Hotel

Comfort Hotel is slightly lower in ranking compared to the first four. It has fewer branches than those with hundreds of locations, but it does have its own unique features, such as no extra charge for children under elementary school age sharing a bed, luggage storage, and a rich breakfast menu. One notable advantage is that, unlike other platforms like Agoda or Hotel.com—where you often can’t choose between smoking or non-smoking rooms unless booking directly through the hotel’s official site—Comfort Hotel offers only non-smoking rooms, eliminating that concern.

%Top choices from ¥9,000–¥15,000

You’ve already spent money traveling to Japan, so why not treat yourself a bit? Many opt to splurge a little for better accommodations. Mid-range hotels differ from the budget business hotels mentioned earlier, offering a more traditional hotel experience suitable for those traveling with elderly family members or children, or for travelers who have certain comfort requirements. Interestingly, analysis from the KEYPO Big Data Analytics Engine shows that “price” and “discounts” are among the most searched keywords for hotels in this range. The reason is that while budget business hotels have fixed base rates and you mainly worry about them selling out, traditional hotels’ prices fluctuate significantly between peak and off-peak seasons, so keeping an eye on booking sites for deals is crucial.

No.1 Dormy Inn

A super-luxurious “hearty breakfast” is one of Dormy Inn’s signature features. The hotel adjusts its breakfast offerings based on regional specialties—for example, in Hokkaido, you can enjoy salmon roe and seafood to your heart’s content.<，大阪有大阪烧、东北有仙贝汤等。想“包肥”只有早餐是不够的，Dormy Inn晚上还提供免费的酱油拉面作为宵夜呢！其实Dormy Inn集团旗下还有包括再高一级的PREMIUM系列、传统温泉旅馆等，想住更好的也不是问题！

No.2 Daiwa Roynet Hotel

Competition in Japan’s hotel industry is fierce, so standing out requires something special. For example, DAIWA ROYNET targets female guests by offering women-only rooms equipped with foot massagers, facial steamers, toiletries from the jewelry brand MIKIMOTO, and popular steam eye masks loved by women. Even at a higher price, it’s worthwhile for beauty-conscious female travelers. Additionally, DAIWA ROYNET’s breakfast is quite good—its Naha Kokusai-dori branch, for instance, was once ranked among TripAdvisor’s best hotel breakfasts, impressing visitors with a rich spread of Okinawan local cuisine instead of standard buffet items.

Skiing is practically a national sport in Japan, with even preschool-aged children taking part. The Hoshino Resorts Tomamu in Hokkaido has set up special areas for kids to practice basic skills. (Photo credit: This newspaper’s archives)

%Top choices from ¥15,000–¥35,000

Soak in an open-air hot spring, lounge in an infinity pool, enjoy gourmet meals at starred restaurants... High-end hotels offer enough amenities to keep you entertained all day. Though pricey, many travelers who value quality accommodations flock to them. However, considering that rooms costing over ¥10,000 aren’t easy on the wallet, we’ve capped the upper limit at around NT$10,000. Which hotels are the most popular within this price range?

No.1 Prince Hotels

The main reason Prince Hotels rank higher than others in discussion volume is due to a fan event hosted by Tigerair, which offered free stays at Prince Hotels to attract a large number of participants, thereby boosting their visibility.

But even without that campaign, Prince Hotels are already a well-known high-end chain. Their prime locations near famous attractions give them an edge—for example, Tokyo Royal Park Hotel is right next to Tokyo Tower, Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel overlooks the vast Lake Biwa, and Karuizawa Prince Hotel is a top choice for skiers visiting Karuizawa in winter. Though pricier, the stunning views are something most business hotels can’t offer.

No.2 Hoshino Resorts

Hoshino Resorts operates three series, and the RISONARE series—which made the list—is relatively more affordable compared to the others, catering to family vacations. Especially the RISONARE Tomamu in Hokkaido, which houses the famous “Church on the Water” designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando. Many couples choose to stay here specifically to take wedding photos or hold ceremonies in the church.

Another premium series is Hoshinoya, the brand’s most luxurious collection of resorts, each with its own unique appeal. For example, Hoshinoya Fuji resembles a secret mountain camping spot, while Hoshinoya Taketomi features traditional Okinawan coral-style houses. There’s also the “KAI” series, which focuses on high-end ryokan experiences, where the baths blend almost seamlessly with the natural scenery—offering a truly top-tier soaking experience.