The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Japan

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Japan

Hokkaido, Japan Hokkaido, Japan

If it's your first trip to Japan for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Japan. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Japan. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Japan for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Japan beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Japan for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Ishigaki Sunset Cove

Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture
4-star Resort with prices starting at $156 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Japan
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at Nosoko 106-199, Ishigaki Sunset Cove has great rooms from $156 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and horse riding at this relaxing hotel. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


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Haimurubushi

Taketomi, Okinawa Prefecture
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $334 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Haimurubushi which has nice rooms starting at $334. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also has a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 2930 Kohama. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, laundry services, golf, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. The room service is especially nice after a long day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Infinity pool


Laguna Garden Hotel

Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $82 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

We found Laguna Garden Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $82. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 4-1-1 Mashiki. You'll also find laundry services, a hot tub, a game room, a spa, and an indoor pool which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Iki Retreat by Onko Chishin, a Member of Design Hotels

Iki, Nagasaki Prefecture
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $521 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Japan
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

With terrific rooms from $521, Iki Retreat by Onko Chishin, a Member of Design Hotels, at 119-2 Tateishi Nishifure provides room service, a water park, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. Its terrific guest rating is 9.60 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers snorkeling, a bar, golf, a hot tub, and a spa. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


Kanucha Bay Hotel & Villas

Nago, Okinawa Prefecture
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $134 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.

Kanucha Bay Hotel & Villas has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. The great rooms here start at $134 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at Abu 156-2. Furthermore, it also offers snorkeling, a bar, parking, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. We love an indoor pool because you can enjoy it any time of the year.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hakodate Onuma Tsuruga Resort Epuy

Nanae, Hokkaido Prefecture
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $248 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Japan
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Hakodate Onuma Tsuruga Resort Epuy is 9.30 out of 10. This place has skiing, a restaurant, a bar, a hot tub, and free parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $248, and it's located at Onuma 85-9. We also love the horse riding, bicycle rental, a tour desk, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


Sky Ocean - Ishigaki Eco-Resort - Newly Renovated

Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $201 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is Sky Ocean - Ishigaki Eco-Resort - Newly Renovated because it has great rooms that start at $201. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 337-250 Fukai. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, hiking, a game room, a child pool, and free parking at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Ana Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort By IHG

Onna, Okinawa Prefecture
5-star Resort with prices starting at $179 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Japan
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Ana Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort By IHG offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a water park, and a restaurant which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $179 (before taxes). It's located at Serakaki 2260 and has earned a guest rating of 8.30/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, and parking which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Being able to relax at the pool bar is a great way to spend your time here.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay

Onna, Okinawa Prefecture
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $94 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 1496 Tancha, Rizzan Sea Park Hotel Tancha Bay has great rooms from $94 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, parking, hiking, child care, and laundry services which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


The Westin Tokyo

Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $395 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is The Westin Tokyo which has nice rooms starting at $395. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1-4-1 Mita, Meguro-ku. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, city views, a hot tub, a spa, and laundry facilities. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


For more terrific hotel ideas in Japan, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Japan, Best Luxury Hotels in Japan, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Japan, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Japan, Best Hotels for One Week in Japan, Best Hotels for One Night in Japan, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Japan, Best Adults Only Hotels in Japan, Best Party Hotels in Japan, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Japan, Best Hotels for Skiing in Japan, or Best Business Hotels in Japan.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Japan?

Japan Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$132

After analyzing 3223 first time trip hotels in Japan, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $132. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Japan.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $361
  • 4-star hotels: $156
  • 3-star hotels: $102
  • 2-star hotels: $106


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