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.)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
