10 Best Family Hotels in Japan

Highland Resort Hotel & Spa is a family-friendly hotel in Yamanashi Prefecture that’s overlooked by the awesome sight of Mount Fuji. The 161-room 3.5-star hotel has themed family rooms based around popular children's themes, but for an unmistakable taste of old-world Japan, book a family suite with tatami floors and mountain views. The hotel has its own spa, and you’ll also find several esteemed Onsen close to the hotel.

The sight of Mount Fuji on the horizon is indeed impressive, although children may well be more excited about Fuji-Q Highland amusement park that sits next door to the hotel. Young children will enjoy Thomas’ Treasure Hunt and other classic family rides, while teenagers and the young at heart often head straight to Do-Dodonpa rollercoaster that accelerates from 0 to 180 km/h in less than 2 seconds.

Royal Hotel Nasu is a safari-themed hotel that’s geared towards families with young children. Baby-friendly facilities include a playroom and outdoor swimming pool, while preteens will enjoy the outdoor playground and arcade games. Family rooms at Royal Hotel Nasu stick to the safari theme, with zebra prints, soft animal toys, and colourful murals. From the lobby to the guestrooms, there are lots of props scattered throughout the hotel for photo opportunities. The onsite onsen is set in a beautiful garden area, with indoor baths and a sauna also available.

Mount Nasu is renowned for hiking, and you can choose from a range of beautiful forest trails close to the hotel to suit your ability. Also nearby, you’ll find the Nasu Animal Kingdom, which is home to penguins, otters and many farmyard animals.

Renaissance Resort Okinawa is a secluded family-friendly hotel on the west coast of Okinawa's main island. Large groups can request connecting rooms with beach or coastline views. The pool area is one of the real highlights of the hotel. It’s huge and surrounded by plenty of loungers, plus there’s a paddling pool for toddlers.

The hotel grounds lead onto a small, sandy cove that’s tastefully decorated with parasols. Teenagers have a choice of beach activities, such as jet-skiing, banana boat rides, and stand-up paddleboarding. After a morning on the beach, head to nearby attractions like Bios Hill and the Ryukyu-Mura living museum. Renaissance Resort Okinawa is around 1 hour’s drive from Naha City.

Liber Hotel At Universal Studios Japan is a family-friendly hotel next door to Osaka’s iconic theme park. Built in 2019, this large hotel feels modern and bright throughout its 760 rooms, 2 restaurants, and riverside terrace. Guestrooms for families feature themes based on famous cartoon characters.  

After a long day of rollercoasters and parades, head back to the hotel to relax in the onsite Onsen. The hotel is just 1 km from Universal City Station, with other interesting attractions nearby like Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, and Legoland Discovery Center. If you want to head into central Osaka, JR Sakurajima Station is across the road from the hotel.

Hotel Kintetsu Universal City is a 3-star hotel right on the doorstep of Universal City Station. It's within walking distance of a movie-themed amusement park that's well-known as the most entertaining in the Kansai region. Hotel Kintetsu combines a convenient location with great value for families with children of all ages.

The hotel has 456 cosy guestrooms, with family rooms accommodating up to 4 people. For toddlers, you can add additional beds for an additional fee. The JR Universal City station is a 2-minute walk from the hotel, so you can continue your sightseeing into wider Osaka by train.

Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo Hotel and Spa Resort is a secluded resort just north of Sapporo city. It sits along the Barato River and has everything needed for a relaxing family vacation. There are several different restaurants to choose from, as well as a games room, a toddlers’ play area, and a fantastic pool area.

The large indoor swimming pool – with bubble baths, a lazy river, and a kiddie pool – is popular in any weather, especially with pre-teens. There’s also an outdoor pool with sun loungers for the warmer summer months. The hotel offers a free shuttle to the Sapporo train station in the city centre.

Suginoi Hotel is a family-friendly hotel on the outskirts of Beppu, on the southern island of Kyushu. This area is renowned for the hot springs scattered throughout. The hotel is especially popular for families with children due to the on-site water park called The Aqua Garden, featuring outdoor pools as well as an illuminated water fountain.

There are plenty of attractions to enjoy close to the hotel. A visit to Umitamago Aquarium and Takasakiyama Monkey Park is especially popular amongst families. Local attractions surrounding the hotel include a retro amusement park with fairground rides and Sanrio Harmonyland.

Ryugujo Spa Hotel Mikazuki Fujimitei combines the best elements of a modern hotel with the service and spa treatments of a traditional inn. VIP rooms include a tatami seating area and a large balcony. On clear days, you can see the summit of Mount Fuji on the horizon.

There are several hot springs on the hotel terrace overlooking Tokyo Bay and a large pool area with slides. For toddlers, a cushioned play area filled with inflatable obstacles and the ball pit offers all-weather activities, plus a reading room with children’s books. Nearby attractions include Egawa Beach Shiohigari, Futtsu Misaki viewpoint and several golf courses.

Hilton Tokyo Bay is in Chiba Prefecture, close to downtown Tokyo. The 828-room, 4-star hotel has a wide variety of features to appeal to all members of the family. You can choose from 5 restaurants, most with dedicated kids’ menus. There’s a playground on the hotel grounds, as well as indoor and outdoor swimming pools surrounded by loungers. Family rooms feature fantastical themes, like magical woodlands or outer space.

Despite being in Chiba, Hilton Tokyo Bay is well connected to the city. It's only 20 minutes away from Tokyo Station.

Yukai Resort Nanki Shirahamaonsen Shirahama Saichoraku is a family-friendly ryokan on the western bank of the Hiki River. With only 160 guestrooms, this 3-star hotel feels secluded and homely. Young children will enjoy the playroom with a ball pit and soft-play foam obstacles. Older children can play ping-pong or arcade games, while the whole family can enjoy the karaoke rooms. During the summer months, the hotel opens its outdoor pool.

For fans of the outdoors, Yukai Resort Nanki Shirahamaonsen Shirahama Saichoraku is a short drive from Yoshino-Kumano National Park, home to woodland trails, ancient temples and several waterfalls. The biggest draw in the area has to be the chance to see the charming pandas at Adventure World, a wildlife park that’s home to 1,400 animal species, including tigers, polar bears, and dolphins.