Click HERE for a map of accommodation

Accommodation overview

The trail offers a wide range of accommodation options - from campsites to fancy hotels with hot springs - to suit all travel styles.

That being said, planning where to stay can be a bit of a headache, especially for non-Japanese speakers, but it’s certainly possible with some flexibility and perseverance!

Options can be sparse along parts of the trail, so make sure to do your research and plan ahead, or join a tour that organises accommodation for you.

I strongly advise that hikers try to reserve at least a few days in advance; many smaller places are family-run and need time to prepare their rooms and kitchen. Also, beware that some hotels become fully booked on weekends and holidays.

In some more rural parts of the trail, it may be challenging to find and book a place in English, as many of the hotels and ryokan are only set up on Japanese websites and travel services. I’ve listed some tips below to help you in those situations.

How to book accommodation if you don’t speak Japanese?

A lot of smaller places along the trail are not registered on English-friendly websites like Booking.com, AirBnb and Agoda. For these, you can try the following:

• Get a Japanese-speaking friend or colleague to help you call or book online if you’re lucky enough to have someone who can do this.

• A company called Michinoku Hikers offers accommodation reservation services and other trail-related services for English speakers.

• Use a real-time language support service like OYRAA to call the accommodation directly. You would essentially be calling the hotel with an interpreter on the line, and so should be able to communicate and make a booking.

• Some popular Japanese travel websites like Rakuten Travel, Japanican, and Jalan have English-language versions, which you can use to try and find the right lodging for you.

Different types of accommodation

There’s quite a broad range of places to stay along the trail - here’s a very rough breakdown of what they could look like.

Ryokan (6,000~25,000 yen per person)

Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns that offer Japanese-style rooms. Staying at a ryokan usually includes dinner and breakfast, providing an opportunity to experience the authentic Japanese lifestyle. It is highly recommended for all travelers visiting Japan.

Minshuku (4,000~10,000 yen per person)

Minshuku are bed and breakfast lodgings in Japan. They are typically run by families, providing Japanese-style rooms and often include one or two meals in the price.

Western-style hotels (6,000~25,000 yen per room)

You can find some Western-style hotels along the Michinoku Coastal Trail, particularly in major cities. They tend to have beds instead of futon, for example, and may even offer more Western-style food.

Business hotels (5,000 to 13,000 yen per room)

Business hotels provide compact, no-frills rooms equipped with vending machines offering snacks and drinks. You will find some prominent chains like Route Inn, APA Hotel and Toyoko Inn in the bigger cities along the trail.

Pensions (5,000~15,000 yen per person)

Pensions are similar to minshuku, with the added option of Western-style rooms instead of Japanese-style. They are commonly found in resort towns and rural areas.

Hostels and dormitories (1,500~5,000 yen per person)

Hostels provide affordable accommodation and meals at the lowest budget level. Japan Youth Hostels, which is part of the International Youth Hostel Federation, operates over 300 hostels throughout Japan.