6 Recommended Hotels and Inns for Family Travel, Even with Children
Traveling with children? You’d want to make great memories on your family trip. However, finding a hotel or accommodation where you can enjoy your time with your kids without worrying about your surroundings can be a challenge. For those looking for family-friendly options in the Kansai area, we’ve selected six hotels and accommodations to consider.
* The budget mentioned for each is the lowest rate for one room (2 adults, 1 night) when booked (as of April 2023).
1. CONTEXTED Osaka (Osaka)
We operate CONTEXTED, located in Teradacho, where one out of every five houses is a traditional townhouse. CONTEXTED Osaka is an artistic, fully rented accommodation created by fully renovating townhouses built about 100 years ago.
It consists of three independent townhouses: “宙 SORA,” “天 TEN,” and “玄 GEN,” each accommodating up to 7-8 people. When booking all three townhouses, it can accommodate up to 23 people, making it suitable for multiple families. Within walking distance, you’ll find shopping streets, public baths, and attractions such as Tennoji Zoo, Tsutenkaku, and more.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥17,000 per room per night Address: 1-6-3 Ikuno Higashi, Ikuno-ku, Osaka 544-0025 Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Osaka Loop Line Teradacho Station Official Website: https://contexted.osaka.jp/ |
2. Umekoji Potel Kyoto (Kyoto)
Umekoji Potel Kyoto is located along Umekoji Park, about a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station. The name “Potel” is a combination of “Port” and “Hotel.”
Inside the hotel, you’ll find multiple lounge spaces. For example, “あわいの間” on floors 2 to 5 is exclusively for guests and offers books, board games, and complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, creating a relaxing space for adults. There are also kid-friendly spaces like “Blank” and “Park.” “Blank” has children’s books and games, while “Park” is open to non-guests and features movie screenings, a wooden ball pool, and table tennis. Additionally, there’s a public bath called “ぽて湯” where you can unwind in spacious baths.
Umekoji Park, where the hotel is located, has playground equipment and a large lawn where children can play freely. Moreover, the park houses attractions such as the “Kyoto Railway Museum” and the “Kyoto Aquarium,” making it an exciting place for kids who love trains and marine life.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥25,200 per room per night Address: 15 Kankiji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8835 Access: Approximately 5 minutes on foot from JR San’in Main Line Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station, or about 17 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station Official Website: https://www.potel.jp/kyoto/ |
3. Toretore Village (Wakayama)
“Toretore Village” is a hotel located within the “Toretore Park,” a comprehensive resort facility that includes the largest seafood market in Western Japan, “Toretore Market,” and “Toretore no Yu.”
The buildings have a unique appearance resembling igloos and snow domes, creating a captivating atmosphere that’s popular among children. Nearby, you’ll find the “Panda Village,” featuring domes shaped like panda faces.
Additionally, there’s an exclusive village park within the facility with various play equipment such as slides and rides resembling animals, providing plenty of fun activities for children in the vicinity.
While at “Toretore Park,” you can savor delicious seafood dishes, enjoy various activities, and, of course, visit the famous “Adventure World,” known for its pandas, which is just a 5-minute drive away. The beautiful Shirarahama Beach with its pure white sand is also approximately a 20-minute drive from here, offering more options for outings.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥15,860 per room per night Address: 2498-1 Koda, Shirahama-cho, Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-2201 Access: Approximately 5 minutes by car from JR Kisei Main Line Shirahama Station Official Website: https://toretore.com/village/ |
4. Ehon Hotel (Nara)
As the name suggests, it’s a hotel where you can stay surrounded by picture books, limited to one group per day. Inside the hotel, there are picture books collected from around the world, with a focus on Italy, and you are free to read them. There are also picture books you can enjoy in the bath, interactive picture books, and socially conscious picture books, making it an attractive place to discover unique books.
In addition, there are various features throughout the hotel that children can enjoy, such as the “Play Wall” made of Yoshino cedar and hinoki cypress, a “Drawing Wall” where you can freely draw, and the “Nozokiana” where you can peek into the next room. Furthermore, all facilities like the washroom and kitchen inside the hotel are designed from a child’s perspective. With a maximum capacity of 8 guests, it’s also recommended for multiple families traveling together.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥28,305 per room per night Address: 1144-6 Akahi-cho, Nara 630-8035 Access: Approximately 8 minutes by car from Kintetsu Nara Line Gakuen-mae Station Official Website: https://ehonhotel.jp/ |
5. Lake Biwa Hotel (Shiga)
The “Lake Biwa Hotel” offers a fantastic location with a view of Lake Biwa.
There’s a children’s pool with shallow water in addition to the outdoor pool exclusively for hotel guests, ensuring that even young children can have fun. Rental bicycles are also available, allowing you to leisurely ride along the Lake Biwa waterfront. Adult bikes are available for ¥1,500 per day (electric bikes for ¥2,200 per day), and children’s bikes are available for ¥1,200 per day.
Moreover, the breakfast buffet is a great feature, with children aged 4 and under eating for free. For children aged 5 to 12, the cost is ¥1,600 per child. You can enjoy a buffet-style breakfast with a view of the beautiful Lake Biwa, featuring locally sourced vegetables and freshly baked bread.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥23,700 per room per night Address: 2-40 Hamacho, Otsu, Shiga 520-0041 Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Kosei Line / Lake Biwa Line Otsu Station, or about 5 minutes on foot from Keihan Keishin Line Biwako-hama-Otsu Station Official Website: https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/biwakohotel/ |
6. Nook the Peak (Hyogo)
Nook the Peak is a one-group-per-day accommodation nestled in the mountains of Awaji Island. The interior is spacious and offers a sense of liberation, allowing you to relax without worrying about your surroundings. There are even hammocks that will surely delight children.
From the windows of the accommodation, you can overlook the vast sky and Wakayama Bay. Perched on the edge of a cliff at an altitude of 80 meters, you can experience a sense of freedom as if you were soaring over the sea at seagull-eye level. A unique and luxurious feature of this accommodation is the opportunity to have the morning’s first light all to yourself, bathing in the sparkling sea.
As the specific address of the accommodation is not disclosed, you will first need to check in at the affiliated hotel “Nook The Hub,” from where they will provide transportation to the accommodation. This is a highly popular accommodation, and reservations are often filled several months in advance. However, if you are lucky enough to secure a reservation, you are sure to create wonderful and memorable experiences with your children.
| Basic Information Budget: Starting from ¥110,000 per room per night Address: Nada (Specific location undisclosed), Minamiawaji City, Hyogo 656-0551 Access: Not disclosed Website: https://www.noooooook.com/villa-3/ |
Summary
The accommodations featured in this article provide not only children but also adults with the opportunity to enjoy an extraordinary experience. Why not consider adding them to your list of options for your next family trip to the Kansai region?
