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When traveling to Japan with children or in large groups, finding a hotel room that accommodates everyone comfortably can be a major challenge. Standard hotel rooms in Japanese cities are notoriously compact, often forcing families to split across multiple rooms.

This is where Rakuten STAY comes in. Managed by Japan’s leading tech and e-commerce giant, Rakuten Group, this accommodation brand offers spacious, modern vacation rentals and villas nationwide that allow you to live comfortably just like a local.

What is Rakuten STAY? Experience “Living” While Traveling

Unlike traditional hotels where your room is merely a place to sleep, Rakuten STAY accommodations are fully-equipped homes. They usually feature large living rooms, multiple bedrooms, full kitchens, and private amenities like hot springs or saunas, making the stay itself a major highlight of your trip.

For families with small children, skipping tightly scheduled sight-seeing itineraries and spending high-quality, relaxing time inside a premium private villa significantly lowers travel stress.

Why Families and Groups Choose Rakuten STAY over Standard Hotels

Recently, Rakuten STAY has expanded its lineup of detached houses (villas) and entire apartment units. Let’s look at the major differences between standard hotels and a typical Rakuten STAY property:

Feature	Standard Hotel in Japan	Rakuten STAY (Villa)
Capacity	Requires multiple rooms for large families.	Entire groups can stay together in one large house/suite.
Noise Concerns	Easy to worry about kids running or crying next door.	Detached villas mean complete privacy and less stress.
Space	Compact, quickly crowded with large luggage.	Spacious living rooms and separate bedrooms.
Dining	Relying entirely on restaurants (hard with toddlers).	Full kitchens let you prepare simple meals easily.
Bath Culture	Public baths or small unit baths.	Many feature private open-air Onsen or footbaths.

The Reality of Pricing: Is Rakuten STAY Actually Cheaper?

Many travelers assume that booking a luxury private villa or a high-end apartment in Japan is far more expensive than a standard hotel. However, for families and groups, Rakuten STAY often offers much better value per person.

In central Tokyo or tourist hotspots like Kyoto and Hakone, booking 3 separate standard hotel rooms for a group of 6 people can quickly add up to $600–$900+ USD per night. In contrast, booking a single large Rakuten STAY villa that comfortably accommodates up to 8–10 people frequently costs around $300–$500 USD per night for the entire property. When you divide the total price by the number of guests, you are getting a premium luxury space for the price of a budget hotel room.

Moreover, children under a certain age often stay for free if they share existing bedding, making it incredibly budget-friendly for parents traveling with toddlers.

Money-Saving Tip: Claim Your Coupon Before Booking

Rakuten Travel regularly releases exclusive discount coupons for international travelers, which can cut your total accommodation costs by an additional 5% to 15%. Because villa bookings have a higher total value, applying these coupons right before checkout results in massive savings.

Click the link below to check for active discount coupons on the official Rakuten Travel site before rooms fill up:

What About Food? How to Handle Meals at Rakuten STAY

One important detail to know is that Rakuten STAY operates on a room-only (“Suodamari”) basis. Unlike traditional Japanese Ryokans, they do not automatically serve kaiseki dinners or breakfasts. While this sounds like extra work, international guests actually find this system liberating for two reasons:

• Grocery Shopping as an Experience: Most locations are situated near major Japanese supermarkets (like MaxValu or local co-ops) and convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson). Visiting a Japanese supermarket to buy high-quality A5 Wagyu beef, fresh local sashimi, and seasonal fruits to cook in your private kitchen is a fun, cultural highlight that costs a fraction of a restaurant meal.
• Perfect for Dietary Restrictions: If your family members are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, or have severe food allergies, dining out in Japan can be a constant challenge. Having your own fully equipped kitchen with a microwave, rice cooker, refrigerator, and clean tableware allows you to manage your meals safely and stress-free.

*Note: Some premium properties also offer optional “Meal Plans” where local catering or high-end BBQ ingredients are delivered straight to your door. Be sure to check the specific room options when reserving!

Getting There: Is It Easy to Access via Public Transit?

A common worry for overseas tourists is whether they can reach these vacation rentals without a rental car. Japan’s driving rules (left-side driving) and tight mountain roads can be stressful for visitors.

Fortunately, the majority of popular tourist-focused Rakuten STAY properties (such as those in Hakone Gora, Nikko, or near Mt. Fuji) are strategically located within walking distance (typically 5–10 minutes) from major train stations or key highway bus stops. Even if you are carrying large suitcases and traveling with small children, you can easily access them using the Shinkansen, local express trains, or convenient highway buses departing directly from Narita, Haneda, or Shinjuku stations.

How to Secure the Best Rates and Room Types

Because Rakuten STAY locations consist of individual private villas or limited apartment suites, the most desirable rooms (especially those featuring private outdoor hot springs or premium saunas) sell out months in advance during peak travel seasons like Cherry Blossom spring, summer holidays, and Autumn Foliage.

To secure the best dynamic pricing and guarantee your family stays together under one roof, we highly recommend checking live availability and booking directly through Rakuten Travel’s official English platform as early as possible.