The Best Hotels to Book in Yokohama

Japanese capsule hotels are an ingenious solution to a lack of space. In a way, they are designed like a futuristic dorm room and are an essential lodging experience when visiting the country. At Capsule Plus Yokohama, which is located a few minutes’ walk from Yokohama’s main train station, the pods are big enough to sit up in but not to stand and each contains its own television. Floors are separated by gender.

Overlooking the waterfront splendour of Yamashita Park is Hotel New Grand, which has been in business since 1927. The main building retains its grandeur, with broad staircases, traditional Japanese murals and high ceilings. Many of the rooms enjoy views out over the ships moored in the harbour, while the suites have wooden wainscoting and plush furnishings. There’s also a newer tower extension with more modern rooms. Italian, French and Japanese cuisine is served across the hotel’s three restaurants.

The Knot perfectly embodies the history and driving force behind Yokohama’s stature in modern Japan: seafaring. The philosophy of the hotel is to celebrate the wealth that international trade brought to the region, but also to acknowledge the new ideas and styles that came with it. As such, the hotel is designed like a cruise ship, encompassing past eras and international styles. Each room is designed like a cosy cabin using a US-centric theme, particularly in the Knot Room.

For a room with a view, try the Yokohama Royal Park, a high-rise hotel with a commanding position on the waterfront. The hotel’s design is vaguely reminiscent of a ship’s funnel and you can see the hundreds of ships in harbour and the urban sprawl of Yokohama from all of the rooms, which are arranged across the 52nd to 67th floors. Rooms are big on comfort, with plenty of seating and even a small porthole window in the bathroom for a teeth-brushing vista.

Boutique hotels offer a stylish way to escape Yokohama’s megacity maelstrom. With Hotel Edit, the concept is in the name, where the aim is to provide guests with as many options as possible so that they can edit their perfect trip. For example, there is a valet laundry service and a self-service option, an on-site restaurant and lots of advice on great local eateries nearby. What’s more, there’s plenty of common space, including a bar, library and an office.

This hotel stands out immediately for its unique room designs. The colour scheme is a study in charcoal and spring green, which sounds like a curious combination, but the calming effect of the dark walls and ceiling soon makes itself felt. Tatami floor mats and shoji-style windows and doors create the illusion of traditional Japanese architecture, incorporated within a modern but still unquestionably Japanese design. The hotel’s restaurant specialises in beef hotpot.

Yokohama’s Minatomirai area is a theme park-like waterfront with rides and a giant Ferris wheel. In the heart of all this, there’s the Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu, one of Yokohama’s most luxurious hotels. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows and a small balcony. There are three restaurants, two bars and even a babysitting centre on-site. The hotel connects directly to an underground mall and the nearby metro station.

Another great boutique hotel in Yokohama is the Plumm, which utilises a crisp, minimalist back, white and gold motif throughout. The moderate rooms are simple and furnished to be a comfortable budget option. Design, size and quality go up a notch in the higher-end rooms, such as the SOHO double. Hotel Plumm is just a few minutes from Yokohama Station and is surrounded by amenities, cafes and restaurants.

This fascinating and novel approach to hotel accommodation in Yokohama aims to recreate traditional Japanese home living for guests. Homes scattered around Yokohama have been converted into cosy, charming rooms. Haco and Tatami are the highlights. Haco is a women-only dormitory with vivid ceiling murals and Tatami is an Airbnb-style whole house rental for up to six people. Each contains a shared kitchen as well as a living area with a sofa and traditional tatami flooring.