Staying in Japan

Japan works well for hotel-based travel because major cities, rail hubs, airport links, resort islands and traditional lodging areas are tightly connected. Visitors commonly base in Tokyo for Kanto, Osaka or Kyoto for Kansai, Nagoya for central Japan, Fukuoka for Kyushu, Sapporo or Niseko for Hokkaido, and Naha/Okinawa for island trips. Entry depends on nationality: Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes reciprocal visa-exemption arrangements for listed countries and regions, with standard short-stay periods varying by passport. Main international gateways include Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Kansai International, Chubu Centrair and Fukuoka, with airport rail, bus, taxi and rental-car links into city hotel zones. Once in-country, hotel travelers can combine shinkansen and JR rail, subways, local and highway buses, taxis, domestic flights, ferries and luggage-forwarding services. For loyalty planning, IHG One Rewards and Hilton Honors stand out for broad documented Japan coverage; IHG’s ANA-linked network spans InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, while Hilton lists Japan hotel pages across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Okinawa and many secondary city/resort markets.