Book-themed hotels have all the books a reader could ever want. They have become popular in recent years because you are free to take whatever book you like, spend time reading, and have the freedom to return however you seem fit. Just like in a library, their rows of bookshelves are stacked up to the ceiling, providing a photogenic atmosphere. So in this article, we’d like to share with you our recommendations for best book hotels and hostels in Japan, and traditional inns where you can enjoy reading.
1. Hotel Naturwald Furano (from USD 77)
The Hotel Naturwald Furano is a popular hotel located right by the Furano ski slopes. On the second floor of this hotel, you can find many books and magazines at the Fukuorou Bungou (The Owl Stationary Store). With Furano serving as the setting to the popular “Kita no Kuni Kara” (From the Northern Country) television series, children and adults can enjoy books, comics, and picture books in relation to it. Operating hours are from 3 pm to 10 pm.
Hotel Naturwald Furano
Address: Kitanomine 14-46
2. Hakone Honbako/Kanagawa
Photo is only for illustrative purposes
The Hakone Honbako is a book hotel located near the Hakone Goura Hotsprings where you can be surrounded by books. With its giant shelves containing 12,000 books, you can read just about anything. There are even bookshelves in each room. For those who want to try local and historical dishes, the Local Gastronomy is a popular restaurant to visit. Everywhere you go is pleasant and it’s a hotel that makes you want to live there.
Hakone Honbako
Address: 1320-491 Gora, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0408, Japan
Website: Hakone Honbako
Price: from 46,500 JPY (429 USD)
3. Hoshino Resort Rionare Yatsugatake/Yamanashi
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Hoshino Resort Rionare Yatsugatake is a popular nature resort for the whole family. The Books and Café restaurant has a nice wooden interior, and it provides a space for you to enjoy reading and coffee. Amongst its packed bookshelves, you can find books about nature, art, architecture, and picture books for children. What also makes the Hoshino Resort more appealing is its café menu, in which you can even have sweets and/or alcohol.
Hoshino Resort Rionare Yatsugatake/Yamanashi
Address: 129-1 Kobuchisawacho, Hokuto, Yamanashi 408-0044, Japan
Website: Hoshino Resort Rionare Yatsugatake/Yamanashi
Price: 48,444 JPY (448 USD) onwards
4. Lamplight Books Hotel Nagoya (from USD 69)
The Lamp Light Books Hotel Nagoya is part of a 24-hour operated book store. With about 3,000 books mostly consisting of travel and mystery-themed books on the first floor book store, you can take one book, take it to your room, and spend the night in its world for a fresher kind of stay. You can have a fulfilling reading experience in its simple rooms as it includes reading lamps, and Ottoman-brand sofas to rest your elbows. In addition to reading, you can also relax at the café.
LAMP LIGHT BOOKS HOTEL nagoya
Address: Naka-ku Nishiki 1-13-18
Guests have the option to cancel any cleaning services for their accommodation during their stay Physical distancing rules followed 24-hour front desk Daily housekeeping Heating 24-hour security Library Luggage storage
5. Mikiya Ryokan (from USD 368)
The Mikiya is home to the Kinosaki Hot Springs, and is also where Naoya Shiga, a famous author, wrote “Kinosaki ni Te,” or “At Cape Kinosaki.” Along with its sofas, the library lounge is packed with famous works of numerous authors and travel books for you to check out as you stay. The lounge area has a custom-made bookshelf with books. Highlighted by bright lights, it works as the focal point of the sitting area. The concept is unique and can keep you entertained all day.
Mikiya Ryokan
Address: 487 Yushima, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka, Kinosaki, Toyooka, Japan, 669-6101
6. Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort (from USD 149)
The Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort is proud to present that it provides an ocean view from every room and two separate library spaces. One is close to the elevator that takes you to its hot springs, Shousenkyu. It’s bookshelves, giant sofas, and classic furnishings is a space perfect for adults. The other library space is the Kaze Mochi Terrace for guests that are staying. It has travel books and magazines, a collection of pictures, sofas, and swinging chairs, which makes you feel like you’re in the comfort of your own living room.
Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort
Address: Yamasaki Hamayama
7. Sekitei
The Sekitei is where you can have a pleasant stay with its 1,500 square meters (16145.8 square feet) garden. Its library space, or the Yukashita Salon, feels like a hiding spot for adults with how the entrance takes you downstairs and below ground. In addition, you can have a fulfilling stay by sitting on the chairs facing the garden as you are free to read, enjoy some wine, or view the carp fish in the ponds.
Sekitei
Address: Miyahamaonsen 3-5-27, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Japan, 739-0454
8. Nojiriko Hotel El Bosco/Nagano
Within the forests which neighbor Lake Nojiriko, is the Nojiriko Hotel El Bosco. The concept of this hotel is for reading and to relax within nature, and to feel like you’re in a vacation house. From the lobby to the library space, you can read while looking at its vast nature from the windows. At this hotel, you can find a quiet and fulfilling time.
(Note: Due to present reconstruction, the hotel is closed from June 9,2019 to October 31, 2019)
Nojiriko Hotel El Bosco
Address: 4847 Furumi, Oh-aza, Shinano-cho Kamiminochi-gun
9. Ryokan Fujimoto (from USD 355)
The Ryokan Fujimoto is home to the Okumanganji Hot Springs and is located nearby the Kurosawa Hot Springs. It has a bar counter, a library with books and DVDs, and a café space where you can drink free coffee. From the windows, you can see the green nature with its lamps to provide a relaxing atmosphere, so this is the perfect place to stop by after taking a bath. So this is a perfect place to get away for adults.
Ryokan Fujimoto
Address: Manganji 6069-1
10. Book And Bed Tokyo Ikebukuro (from USD 46)
Just a one-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, the Book And Bed Tokyo Ikebukuro is a hostel that makes you feel like you’re staying at a book store. It provides spaces where you can read and sleep. With its unique style of relaxing, some of your options include sleeping in the bookshelf area, where you can sleep inside a bookshelf or the bank area where you can just read on compact beds. Ever since it opened, similar locations have been increasing throughout Japan.
Book And Bed Tokyo Ikebukuro
Address: Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 1-17-7 Lumiere Buld. 7F
Free WiFi Non-smoking rooms Non-smoking throughout Security alarm Shared lounge/TV area Access to health care professionals Physical distancing in dining areas Smoke alarms
Pick a book-themed hotel
Book-themed hotels or inns are the perfect places to read and relax. So naturally, we recommend them to those that love to read or for those who normally can’t find the time to. For families that have children that don’t enjoy reading, we think this is a good opportunity for you to find the joy of reading. So with these book hotels, how about you find a new reason to travel?
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our privacy policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to bookmark our articles, like local expert tips, receive great stories in your inbox, and follow writers and topics that you love.
Log in with Facebook Log in with Twitter Log in with Google ×