Hostels in Japan Hostels in Japan

You are looking for hostels in Japan? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Japan hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Japan.

All Cities in Japan

We list every single hostel in Japan and the world. In total, we have 257 cities in Japan for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All Japan hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Japan. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Japan

Japan is a beautiful country in Eastern Asia made up of many Islands. There are four main Islands in Japan - Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the biggest Island and is where most the highest number of Japanese hostels are located.

Honshu is home to the most famous and accessible Japanese cities including Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Tokyo is a city of sensory overload with so many areas to explore and it mix of new and old culture.

Kyoto is also a must see and is a bit more of a relaxed city but is bursting with shrines, temples, castles, and palaces. It does get extremely busy during cherry blossom season, so it does pay to book ahead at certain times of the year. Osaka is also a popular city with many attractions including Osaka Castle and Spa World.

Some other places not to miss on Honshu include Nara (home to many mischievous deer), Himeji Castle, and Hiroshima. All of these places are easily accessible during one trip and there are countless places worth visiting that are not mentioned above.

The other main islands also have many other great places to offer. Hokkaido is the most northerly island, and also has a much colder climate, which means the summers are a little more comfortable. Hokkaido has many national parks as well as some other great cities including Sapporo and Hakodate. Hokkaido is especially great for travelers who enjoy the wilderness or who want to ski the infamous Japanese powder during winter. Shikoku is a smaller Island, but has some great history and is home to the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Kyushu is also a great place to visit for onsens (hot springs) and history.

Japan is a fairly easy country to travel despite the language barrier if you don't speak Japanese. People are very welcoming and friendly in Japan and will try and help you even if they can't speak your language. The transportation around Japan is very efficient, and if you are visiting on a tourist visa, it is worth purchasing a JR Rail Pass in your home country. And the food in Japan is especially great, be it sushi, ramen, teppanyaki, there is always something tasty to be found. And don't forget to visit an onsen at least once on your trip for the ultimate relaxation.

Japan has a great range of unique accommodations for the budget traveller and hostels come in all different shapes and sizes. It's a very welcoming and cultural country and this is incorporated into their hostels as well, with tatami floored rooms and futon mattresses instead of beds. Many places have a combination of Japanese and western living. The main cities like Tokyo and Kyoto have the largest selection of hostels, but many hostels are also available in smaller towns and around the national parks. Also try and plan your trip around one of the thousands of festivals Japan has every year because you will never forget it.

expert for Japan hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Japan hostels Keppers

Travel Tips for Japan - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Japan. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Japan. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in Japan

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in Japan?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in Japan here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Japan safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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