Unique Accommodations in Japan - By Prefecture:

Through the centuries Japan has been fortunate to have excellent designers who have created some truly memorable accommodations across the country. In this section we wanted to highlight some of these "unique accommodations" as we feel they would add to your overall cultural experience(s) in Japan. They are not necessarily "unique" just because many of them are "deluxe", but rather they are unique due to their design and/or cultural traditions that recommend themselves to interested travelers looking for great and unique lodging experiences.

These accommodations are organized by prefecture. The hope is that at some stage in your planning process you will look over the list(s) to see if there are any appropriate accommodations near your chosen itinerary(ies). You cannot "book" these accommodations on this website, but with the links provided you can easily search for them online and find the best booking channel for you. As you can see we do not make any money if you choose to stay at any of these accommodations, but we will be pleased that someone else has also been able to experience one of these unique accommodations.

To get started, select the region or prefecture for your proposed trip below and follow the prompts. We hope you are able to experience one or more of these unique accommodations during your next Japan trip.


Regions / Prefectures to Visit

Located in the east central area of the main island of Honshu, it includes 9 prefectures, and the major cities of Nagoya, Nagano, Niigata, and Kanazawa as well as Mt. Fuji. The name means "central region" and it spans the island of Honshu from the Pacific side to the Sea of Japan side, crossing the Japanese Alps in the process. The area encompasses three smaller regions, Hokuriku, Koshinetsu, and Tokai. It has a population of over 20 million inhabitants.
Located in the western end of the main island of Honshu, including the major cities of Okayama, Hiroshima and Shimonoseki. It includes five prefectures. As it also stretches from the Pacific side to the Sea of Japan side of Honshu divided by mountain ranges. The northern side is called "san'in" (山陰) with an agricultural economy, and the southern side is called "san'yo" (山陽) with an industrial economy. It has a population of over 7 million inhabitants.
Includes only the northern main island of Hokkaido which is also a prefecture. It includes the major cities of Sapporo and Hakodate, plus six national parks. It is also home to the Ainu, an indigenouse people. It has a population of over 5 million inhabitants.
Located in the central area of the main island of Honshu along the Sea of Japan, including the major cities of Fukui, Kanazawa, Niigata, and Toyama. All of Hokuriku lies within the larger Chubu Region. The name means "northern region" and it has been described as being in the "northwest part of Honshu" since it lies to the northwest of present day Tokyo, the old Edo. The area is known for preserving many of the "old ways" lost in the more urbanized areas of Japan. It also has the highest volume of snowfall of any inhabited and arable area of the world due to the Siberian air masses crossing the Sea of Japan. It has a population of about 3 million inhabitants.
Also called the Kinki Region. Located in the west central area of the main island of Honshu, including the major cities of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara. Kansai literally means "West of the Barrier", considered to mean the region west of the Hakone checkpoint on the Tokaido Road. The region is the cultural and historic heart of Japan hosting the Imperial capital for over 1,000 years. It is where Buddhism was first introduced to Japan. It is usually contrasted with the Kanto Region around Tokyo as having more historical (Nara), cultural (Kyoto), mercantilist (Osaka), and cosmopolitan (Kobe). It has a population of over 22 million inhabitants.
Located in the north central area of the main island of Honshu, including the capital Tokyo. Kantō literally means "East of the Barrier", considered to mean the region east of the Hakone checkpoint on the Tokaido Road. It has a population of over 42 million inhabitants, approximately one-third of the total population of Japan.
Also called the Kansai Region. Located in the west central area of the main island of Honshu, including the major cities of Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara. Kansai literally means "West of the Barrier", considered to mean the region west of the Hakone checkpoint on the Tokaido Road. The region is the cultural and historic heart of Japan hosting the Imperial capital for over 1,000 years. It is where Buddhism was first introduced to Japan. It is usually contrasted with the Kanto Region around Tokyo as having more historical (Nara), cultural (Kyoto), mercantilist (Osaka), and cosmopolitan (Kobe). It has a population of over 22 million inhabitants.
Located in the central area of the main island of Honshu along the Sea of Japan, including the major city of Niigata, and Mt. Fuji. All of Koshinetsu lies within the larger Chubu Region. The area is known for its heavy snowfall, making it ideal for skiing. It has a population of over 5 million inhabitants.
Includes only the southern main island of Kyushu and the islands of the Satsunan chain. In includes seven prefectures and the major cities of Fukuoka, Kagashima, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki. It has a population of over 13 million inhabitants, representing about 10% of the total Japanese population.
Includes only the Ryuku Islands chain, south of the main islands of Japan, stretching almost to Taiwan. Approximately 75% of the American military personnel in Japan are in Okinawa. It has a population of about 1.5 million inhabitants.
Includes only the central main island of Shikoku. It includes four prefectures and the main cities of Takamatsu and Tokushima. Mountains divide the island into a northern area facing the Inland Sea and a southern area facing the Pacific Ocean. It has a population of about 4 million inhabitants.
Located in the northern end of the main island of Honshu. Tohoku includes six prefectures, including the major city of Sendai. Historically it was provided 20% of Japan's rice. Even today it is considered a remote, scenic region with harsh weather, leading to it's increased tourism today. It has a population of almost 9 million inhabitants.
Located in the east central area of the main island of Honshu, it includes 4 prefectures, and the major cities of Nagoya, and Shizuoka. The region runs along the Pacific Ocean side of Honshu and the name derives from the Tokaido Road that runs through it from Tokyo to Kyoto. It is one of the most industrialized regions of Japan. All of Tokai lies within the larger Chubu Region. It has a population of over 15 million inhabitants.