MULTI-ROOM ACCOMMODATION IN JAPAN: SEPARATE SLEEPING AREAS FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN
Hello!
I’ve decided to write a blog post about this as I get asked so often about how to find accommodation in Japan where children are able to sleep in separate rooms to their parents ( so that parents can stay up and eat etc without worrying about waking up or upsetting the schedule of children.
*Please note that this style of accommodation is more difficult to find ( NOT impossible but more difficult.)
*Please note that it is often more expensive – particularly in the big cities.
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links – meaning that, if you book accommodation using one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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The main reasons that it is hard to find this kind of accommodation in Japan is because small children often co-sleep with their parents.
Also, almost always, small children who do not require addition bedding can stay for free ( I know this is new concept for, particularly, Western parents visiting Japan.)
PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST HOTELS ONLY OPEN UP THEIR BOOKING SYSTEMS 6 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME.
If you look earlier than 6 months it may look like a hotel is completely booked – but it is because they haven’t yet opened these dates. The Official Tokyo Disney Resort Hotels don’t open up bookings until 3-4 months ahead of time. If you are able to find rooms earlier than 6 months in time they can often be more expensive as the sites are assuming they will be able to get the rooms once the dates are officially open (so compare current and future prices to be sure.)
See here if you’ve come for tips on accommodation for families of 5 or more
See here if you’d like some tips on areas to stay with small children
See here for accommodation options who provide cots / cribs
See my article here on tips for travelling in Japan with another family or a larger group
But here are my tips if searching for multi-room accommodation in Japan:
Find a compromise with apartment-style accommodation
My personal favourite is the apartment style hotel, Mimaru ( in several locations nationwide.). This means the kids will be in a bunk bed and the adults have their double bed in the same room. But it also allows for a separate table and kitchenette area so it’s more like a little little miniature house. I’ve written in Mimaru in this blog post here.
Did you know that Mimaru in Asakusa (Tokyo) has 2 bedroom apartments?
Mimaru Tokyo Station East is another example of a Mimaru option which has interconnecting rooms as an option and can accommodate families of up to 8 people.
See here for tips on which Mimaru location in Tokyo might best suit your family’s needs.
OTHER TOKYO SUGGESTIONS
Stay Sakura Apartment, Edo no Mai in Asakusa
There are several options in Tokyo and Kyoto under this brand name. Basically, the hotels are renovated apartment blocks or old homes. So the rooms are mostly apartment style – clean but basic. All rooms have a kitchenette, refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, TV and a washing machine. Please note that there is no front desk here – although they do have a 24 hour phone for support line. Rooms can sleep 1-2 people and there is one family suite that sleeps up to 5. This hotel also offers connecting rooms so you could even have two rooms next to one another for a bigger family.
For a studio apartment style option, my friend wrote a blog post on a company called Illi who have apartments in Nakano and Shimokitazawa that sleep up to 8 people. Read her blog post here.
Another great apartment style hotel is KOKO HOTEL RESIDENCE ASAKUSA TAWARAMACHI in Asakusa.
This hotel sleeps 5 people (more if you have children under 6 years old who do not require additional beds) The room has its own washing machine so it is more of an apartment than a hotel. You can also borrow game consoles for kids. Here are the child-friendly options in the area of Asakusa. The in-room ensuite bath and shower re also lovely. You can also ask to borrow a baby’s crib/cot (brand was Baby Bjorn) or a high chair. It isn’t super close to station (10-15 mins) but that is why it is cheaper than competitors like Mimaru.
Sotetsu Fresa Roppongi in Roppongi
This is a good hotel if you’re watching your budget. They have some connecting room options. It’s right on Roppongi Crossing. Rooms are very small (so small that you will need to open your suitcase on your bed) But it is clean and convenient. There is a simple buffet breakfast here – made by the cafe next door. They provide pyjamas for in-room use.
Mimaru Apartment Hotel Akasaka in Akasaka
This hotel is near all the options for Akasaka with kids but are also close to Roppongi which I believe has some of the best inner city playgrounds in Tokyo (the restaurants around here are also very family friendly and are particularly English friendly.) Akasaka also means you are nice and close to Hie Shrine – which is particularly special around the New Year’s holidays.
Akasaka Mimaru sleeps up to 8 people in a room (up to 12 if you have children who can bedshare with you.). The rooms are big. Clean. Modern. Photogenic. You can have western rooms or half western half Japanese rooms. Connecting rooms are available. There is a small kitchenette. Private bathrooms. There is even a communal rooftop dining area with a breathtaking view of the city. There is a convenience store right across the road.
Mimaru Akasaka also has a Japanese connecting room room-type where there is a door separating two sections of the room. This is great for families where parents don’t necessarily want to go to sleep at the same time as their children. Many rooms types can sleep as many as 8 people.
This hotel does not have a restaurant.
If you’re confused as to which Mimaru Tokyo option might best suit your family, see my blog post on Which Mimaru location is best for families? blog post here.
This area also has the Harry Potter Cafe close by (not the Harry Potter World)
KYOTO
If you’re looking at the Kyoto Mimaru options : Mimaru Kyoto Shijo has 3 bedrooms – while Kyoto Mimaru options with 2 bedroom options are: Kyoto Central & Kyoto Station.
Resi Stay Kyo Ryuvilux Nijo
This hotel has beautiful big rooms and can accommodate families of up to four people (4 separate beds or futons, depending on the room type.) Some rooms have a tatami section and two separate toilets and bathrooms per room. There are sliding room dividers so it’s a great option if you want the kids to sleep first.
It is near Nijo Castle and 14 mins walk /6 mins (600 yen) cab ride from Nishiki Market. 14 mins (1500 yen) in a cab from Kyoto Station or 25 mins on public transport. It’s a quieter part of town – this is a good thing in Kyoto although it does make travel and packing up to head back to the station a little bit more difficult – but I think it is worth it for the space and a more authentic experience, if that’s what you are after.
POCKET HOTEL KYOTO SHIJO KARASUMA and POCKET HOTEL KYOTO KARASUMA GOJO (there are two locations)
This is a great option if you are on a tight budget. These are basically hostels but are clean and each room has it’s own lock for privacy.
For women travelling with just a female child- there is a women only floor option.
Bathrooms are communal – separated by gender (ie. there is a woman’s shower room and a men’s shower room.)
The hotel provides pyjamas for guests to use during their stay.
They also have connecting rooms -so you can have one set of bunks in one room connected to a room with another set of bunk rooms making it a total of 4 people (and you could get several of these types of rooms for larger families.) The Karasuma Gojo option has rooms with two sets of bunk beds (ie. sleeps 4 people in one room) AND they have an option with one set of bunk beds and two single beds pushed together to make one big bed (ie. sleeps 4 people in one room.)
Starbucks is just on the corner of the Kyoto Shijo Karasuma hotel . There is a gyoza restaurant literally next door called Motoi Gyoza. They welcome families with kids and have space to store strollers while you dine. The Kyoto Shijo Karasuma Hotel is also 1 min walk from Nishiki Market.
OSAKA
Swissotel Nankai Osaka – This hotel has interconnecting rooms – fabulous for families. This hotel also has triple rooms. This hotel has cots/cribs available on request (limited number so email to reserve asap).
Children 12 and under can eat breakfast for free here. This hotel also has a gym, jacuzzi, sauna and swimming pool (Please note that children 6 and younger are not allowed to use the pool and those between 7-16 years of age can only use the pool between 9am-6pm. Cost to use the pool, even for guests, is 2000 yen per person per day.) Swissotel Nankai Osaka also has several restaurants, including Teppanyaki, Chinese and Japanese restaurant options.
Or, if you’re looking at Mimaru apartments in Osaka with two rooms, check out Mimaru Osaka Shinsaibashi West, Mimaru Osaka Namba Station and Osaka Shinsaibashi North.
Did you know that Mimaru Osaka Namba Station is know as the board game hotel? It has more than 130 games and puzzles for families to rent. It’s such a nice touch.
Hankyu Respire Hotel Osaka is located in Umeda – an area I love for shopping and dining so much (I speak more about it here.) This hotel isn’t super fancy or anything but has lots of different room types and even offers connecting rooms for up to 5 people – even more if you have children who are small enough to bedshare. This hotel has it’s own restaurant for breakfast and also serves italian and mediterranean dishes for lunch and dinner. You can see the full Hankyu Respire Hotel Osaka restaurant’s menus here. The hotel offers baby toys rental and can also organise for baby related items such as baby blankets, baby baths, diapers and baby cutlery. You can also rent strollers for children under 15kgs and scooters (if you are a staying guest.) There is also an in-house coin laundry and gym. Level 5 of the hotel also has a small children’s playground and game arcade.
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba is a great, affordable option for families. 10 mins walk from Namba Station- and 10 mins is quite a walk for Japan so consider if this will impact your holiday before you book.They can also organise for connecting rooms so a family of 6 can all stay together (this is also a fab options for parents who like to stay up after their kids go to bed.). This hotel also has a buffet breakfast in the morning and the same restaurant is used at a lounge for guests in the afternoons and evenings where guests can help themselves to complimentary soft drinks. This is also one of the few hotels that lets guests check in earlier than check-in time at 3pm (if the room is ready, of course) for an additional 1000 yen an hour. Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba also have an in-house coin laundry.
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
ALTERNATIVELY, LOOK INTO RYOKAN-STYLE ACCOMMODATION
This is mostly a good idea as ryokan style accommodation often has sliding doors between sections of a room. Ryokans can be expensive so I also recommend looking at ryokan style hotels. I’ve written about this kind of accommodation here. My number one hotel like this is definitely Imagine Hotel Kyoto. Here is my detailed blog post on Imagine Hotel Kyoto.
Or ,… KYOISUKE INN, HOKOMACHI
Kyoisuke Inn, Hokomachi is a stand alone house (an old tea house actually) and it has an outdoor and indoor private bath.
This house is just 6 minutes walk from Kyoto’s Nishiki Market and sleeps up to 7 adults. Their website is a bit tricky to navigate so I recommend looking at booking via booking.com
Book two connecting rooms ( or a suite)
This is probably the most simple and expensive option – literally double the price ( or you could look at large brand hotel suites but I also think you might miss out on the vibe of actually being in Japan… although it depends how important it is to you.)
If this option to you, these more affordable hotel brands in Japan might be something you’re interested in looking at if the connecting rooms options if something that might work best for you.
Landabout in Ueno also are flexible with connecting double with twin rooms.
Keio Plaza in Shinjuku also have connecting rooms for their standard twin room type and plaza luxe twin rooms.
It’s a standard hotel and they look after tourists and groups of tourists everyday. There will be lots of tour groups here but it is a very big hotel. This hotel also has a free shuttle to Tokyo Disney Resort. Keio Plaza has a swimming pool open for use during July & August only. The cost for guests is 3000 yen per adult and 1,500 yen per child. (Japan has some pretty wild and frustrating rules with it comes to hotel pools. I speak more about it here.) There is also an in-house coin laundry. Keio Plaza is able to supply families with a cot or crib for babies younger than 10 months of age.
*A little note on coin laundries in hotels in Japan. The detergent is almost always built into the machine. If someone in your family has allergies to certain washing powders it is probably best to email in advance to find out what they use and what your options are. Oh.. and another note.. if the washer and dryer is built into one machine – the dryer setting really only works well for 1-2 items (big items like a pair of jeans and a long sleeved top, I mean) so don’t do what I do and just put in heaps of things to dry for longer – hoping that they will dry. It doesn’t work like that. Best to do little tiny drying sessions for the best drying results. It a lesson in patience but it will save you lots of coins in the long run
Many of the Universal Studios Japan Official Hotels have connecting rooms and I’ve written in detail about how many people they can accommodate and all of the room types here.
I’ve listed other hotels in Japan with connecting rooms here.
MIMARU KYOTO SHIJO
If you are looking for an apartment hotel with up to three bedrooms, I highly recommend staying at Mimaru Kyoto Shijo (this is the only Mimaru branch that has 3 rooms as an option!) It can sleep up to 6 people.
Look at home-share apartments and airbnb
Although I don’t often find these to be in the most convenient locations so it is worth doing your research. How far to the nearest station? And how accessible is that station from where you will need to travel? How will you get access when you arrive? I have other things to watch out for in my airbnb blog post here.
Stay in a less convenient location for more options
For example, in Tokyo, Odaiba ( the man-made island at the base of the Rainbow Bridge) requires using a monorail style train line to access but also has a lot more hotels with more space) and the same goes for Tokyo Bay ( out near Disneyland.). For my favourite places to stay out near Tokyo Disneyland please read my blog post here.
Squish up in one room in the cities but make sure you have lush long breaks in the Japanese countryside
For example, last year I stayed with my children in Takayama last year and the Japanese home we stayed in was just incredible. I wrote in great detail about our stay in Takayama here.
Hotels near Narita Airport
Hotel Nikko Narita has connecting rooms and Japanese style rooms.
If you’re currently looking at accommodation options for families in Tokyo and would prefer a detailed name-by-name type list (and what to expect, I recommend reading my Accommodation for Families in Tokyo : My Picks blogpost now.
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links – meaning that, if you book accommodation using one of my links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Here is my answer to the common question “Do Japanese taxis take more than 4 people?”
