Five people. 8 hotels. What we paid, what we loved, what we didn’t and whether we’d stay again.
Finding a hotel for two people in Japan is one thing. Finding a hotel for five people that doesn’t cost a small fortune, isn’t miles away from everything, and doesn’t require someone to sleep in a bathtub?
That’s a different story.
When we planned our 17-day family trip through Japan, I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at hotels. We wanted clean, comfortable places in good locations, but we weren’t interested in spending $400 a night just because we were traveling with three kids. In fact, our nightly hotel budget was only $150.
So we stayed in 8 very different hotels- from a family bunk room underneath the train tracks in Tokyo to a hotel with its own natural hot springs in Nara. Some were absolute winners. Some were more of a “well, it was fine” situation.
And one became such a favorite that our kids are still talking about it.
Here’s where we stayed, what we paid, what we loved, what we didn’t, and most importantly, whether we’d book each one again.
1. 🚂 Tokyo: Under Railway Hotel Akihabara
Room: Family bunk room
Cost: $456.07 for three nights
Let’s start with the hotel that probably sounds the strangest.
Under Railway Hotel Akihabara is, quite literally, underneath the train tracks.
Yes, trains, running at all hours, day and night. Yet somehow it worked.
We chose this hotel because finding a reasonably priced room for five people in Tokyo is not exactly easy. The location was incredibly convenient, and we could walk to plenty of places in Akihabara and easily get around Tokyo from there.
The room was a family bunk room, which was definitely more “Japan adventure” than “luxury hotel.” But it gave all five of us a place to sleep without booking multiple rooms.
And here’s the thing I didn’t expect:
The trains didn’t keep us awake.
You could hear them. Obviously. But once we were asleep, we were asleep.
What we loved
- Great location
- We all had our own bed!
- Fun/unique experience
- Walkable to things in Akihabara
- We weren’t paying for a fancy hotel room we weren’t going to spend much time in
What we didn’t love
- The bathroom. Ever used a bathroom in a small RV? Comparable.
- If you’re looking for a luxurious Tokyo hotel, this is not that.
Would we stay here again?
Yes. And honestly, I think that’s the best test of a hotel.
2. 🐭 Disney Ambassador Hotel
Room: Minnie Mouse-Themed Deluxe Twin with Trundle. We had two double beds and a fold-out, perfect for five people.
Cost: $435.36 for one night.
This was clearly our splurge hotel, and I booked it with park strategy in mind. At the time of our visit, Ambassador allowed early access to DisneySea, so my strategy was to enter the park early and knock out a couple of rides before the park opened. I can’t say we were wildly successful, but the hotel was still a treat.
It’s worth the splurge if you’re able.
What we loved
- Great location. Walk right in to Ikspiari (similar to Disney Springs) and parks
- Incredible Disney theming in our room
- Happy Entry access to parks (After 9/14/26, Happy Entry only applies to Disneyland)
What we didn’t love
- Beds were small.
- Out of our budget
Would we stay here again?
Yes. We would love to… If it made sense financially.
3. 🏨 Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel- Wish
Room: Standard room with four beds.
Cost: $305.20 for 2 nights
This was another “strategy” hotel for us because we wanted Happy Entry for Disneyland. While it fit the bill, it was a bit of a let down after our night at Ambassador.
What we loved
- Incredibly clean
- Bus transportation to parks
- Lawson-operated c-store inside hotel and others across street
What we didn’t love
- Room was small. One of us slept on the floor.
- Area surrounding hotel had a dystopian vibe. Lots of concrete and bleak-looking buildings, no people. Felt strange.
Would we stay here again?
No. And there wasn’t anything wrong with the hotel itself other than the room being too small for us. The problem was with the surrounding area. It just felt… dreary, which is not what you want at Disney.
4. ⛩️ Kyoto: BON Kyoto Kiyomizu
Room: Deluxe Twin with fold-out couch. We had two double beds and a fold-out, perfect for five people.
Cost: $277.05 for 2 nights
Kyoto was where we really started appreciating how important it is to find a hotel that works for five people.
The hotel was clean, and the location worked really well for us. We could walk to several attractions, and buses and trains were accessible when we needed them.
One thing that really impressed us was that they allowed us to check in early, which was especially welcome after a long day of travel.
It wasn’t fancy, but it was exactly the kind of hotel we were looking for.
What we loved
- Room was perfect for five
- Clean
- Good location
- Walkable to attractions
- Easy access to public transportation
- Early check-in was a huge bonus
What we didn’t love
- Can’t think of a thing!
Would we stay here again?
Yes. For our family, the combination of price, location and the ability to put five people in one room made this a winner. Fun fact: I celebrated my birthday here! My family decorated the room for me, making it that much more memorable.
5. 🦌 Nara: Onyado Nono Nara Natural Hot Springs
Rooms: Two adjacent queen rooms
Cost: $170.48 for one night
And then there was Nara.
This hotel was different from the others because we booked two rooms, but the real reason we chose it was the onsen and the cultural experience it offered beyond the typical Western-style hotel.
And oh my goodness.
This hotel had tatami-style floors, natural hot springs, free laundry, free popsicles and complimentary Yonaki Soba at night, free probiotic drinks, a relaxation room with massage chairs… Are you sold yet?
Basically, the hotel kept handing our children free food and snacks, and they were not complaining. In fact, they still talk about this hotel.
What we loved
- Natural hot springs
- Tatami floors
- All of the freebies
- The kids absolutely loved it
What we didn’t love
- We needed two rooms
Would we stay here again?
100%. This was probably the hotel that felt the most like an experience rather than simply a place to sleep.
6. 🍜 Osaka: BON Osaka Namba East
Rooms: Deluxe Twin
Cost: $255.98 for 3 nights
After moving around as much as we did, having a huge room for five people in Osaka felt like a luxury. BON Osaka Namba East gave us something that can be surprisingly difficult to find in Japan: space.
We also had a kitchenette, and the location made it easy to get out and explore the food scene around us, including Shinsekai, which was so close.
This was another hotel where we cared much more about functionality than fancy amenities. It was more of an apartment than a hotel, but it was a great value for the price.
What we loved
- Huge room for five with a kitchenette
- Good location & easy access to food
- Plenty of space
- Luggage storage before check in time
- THE PRICE
What we didn’t love
- The check-in process was weird. We had to do a video call with an operator and show our passports on screen.
Would we stay here again?
Yes. Especially for a family who is on a budget and values space over luxury.
7 & 8. Okinawa: Churaumi Terrace + Novotel Okinawa Naha
Okinawa was a little different because we split our stay between two hotels.
– 🐠 Churaumi Terrace
Rooms: Two-Bedroom Apartment
Cost: $280.58 for 2 nights
We chose this area because we wanted to be near Churaumi Aquarium and the beaches, and this was much more of a relaxed, Okinawa-style portion of the trip. Note: you really need a car if visiting this area, and don’t forget your International Driving Permit.
What we loved
- Convenience to Churaumi Aquarium
- Plenty of space for our family
- “Food court” across the street
What we didn’t love
- The apartment was dated and didn’t look like the photos
- Aside from the food court, no food options within walking distance.
Would we stay here again?
Doubtful.
– 🌴 Novotel Okinawa Naha
Rooms: Executive Twin with Lounge Access
Cost: $395.28 for 2 nights
Although over budget, I don’t regret this one at all.
The lounge access turned out to be a very good decision.There were hors d’oeuvres in the evening, and on some nights there was enough food that we counted it as dinner. Breakfast was included, too. And although the room was over our budget, the free food made up the difference.
What we loved
- Lounge access with beer and wine, snacks and hors d’oeuvres
- Breakfast included
- The infinity pool- excellent views
What we didn’t love
- The pool was very crowded at times
- Parking fees
- Car necessary
Would we stay here again?
Absolutely.
So…Which Hotel Was Our Favorite?
This is probably the question I’d want answered if I were planning this trip. And honestly, it depends on what you’re looking for.
Most fun for the kids: Onyado Nono Nara (experience) & Novotel Okinawa Naha (pool)
Best value: BON Osaka Namba East (huge)
Most unique: Onyado Nono Nara (again, experience)
Best overall: If I could only return to one… Onyado Nono Nara is the winner! Even though we had to book two rooms here, this one exceeded our expectations and truly gave us a memorable experience!
The most expensive hotel wasn’t our favorite. The fanciest hotel wasn’t our favorite.
Our favorite was the one that gave us the best experience. And for a family of five trying to travel more and spend less, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend places and products we personally used or genuinely think would be helpful. Prices shown above are what we paid in July 2026 and will vary depending on dates and availability.