Hoshinoya Tokyo Review: What Guests Say About the Ryokan

How we wrote this: we have not stayed at Hoshinoya Tokyo for this article. It summarizes published guest reviews, mainly the most recent 70 of about 580 on TripAdvisor, read on 8 October 2026, with facts checked against the hotel's opening coverage. The verdict is ours. This page has no affiliate links.

Hoshinoya Tokyo is a strange and beautiful idea: a traditional Japanese inn built as a tower in Tokyo's financial district. Its dark latticed facade stands out among the glass office blocks of Otemachi. Inside, you leave your shoes at the door and walk on tatami, each floor has its own lounge, and the top floor has an open-air hot spring. It opened in July 2016 and is run by Hoshino Resorts. Guests either love the concept or feel it gets in the way of a comfortable stay, and recently more have felt the second way.

The hotel at a glance

What guests love

The concept. Many guests say Hoshinoya pulls off something that sounds impossible: a calm ryokan atmosphere in the middle of a business district, from the moment you take off your shoes.

The staff. Even critical reviewers often praise the staff as attentive and gracious; one guest felt there were three staff for every guest.

The design and the onsen. The minimalist rooms, the lounges and the rooftop hot spring bath under the open sky are what people remember.

What guests complain about

In the most recent 70 reviews, 18 gave one or two stars, a much higher share than the hotel's overall average suggests. The same issues recur:

• The beds. Rooms have low, futon-style beds, which some guests find uncomfortable.
• Meals. Dinner and breakfast must be booked the day before, and guests who didn't were turned away. Breakfast is served in a private room in the basement with no natural light.
• No bar. There is nowhere to have a drink in the evening, and Otemachi is quiet at night and on weekends.
• The restaurant. Several guests in 2026 said the dining room was closed for renovation during their stay, without warning when they booked, leaving only a limited, expensive menu. Ask before you book.
• Rigidity. Guests describe a lack of flexibility, from families split across floors to unexpected charges and slow responses to problems.

Our take

Hoshinoya Tokyo is worth a night or two if you want to experience a ryokan without leaving Tokyo, and the rooftop bath is unique among the city's hotels. But it is not built for a long stay, for guests who want a comfortable Western bed, or for anyone who likes to decide on dinner at the last minute. Recent reviews are a warning: confirm that the restaurant is open for your dates. For a full ryokan experience, an inn in an onsen town such as Hakone is usually better; see our ryokan guide. For Tokyo alternatives, see our ranking of the city's best luxury hotels.

FAQ

Is Hoshinoya Tokyo a real ryokan? It is a modern ryokan in a tower: shoes off at the entrance, tatami floors, a hot spring bath and set meals, but without a garden or traditional building.

Does Hoshinoya Tokyo have an onsen? Yes, an open-air bath on the top floor, using hot spring water drawn from about 1,500 meters below ground.

Is Hoshinoya Tokyo worth it? For a night or two, many guests say yes. Recent reviews are more critical, mainly about beds, meals and flexibility.

Do I need to book meals in advance? Yes. Book dinner and breakfast at least a day ahead, and check whether the restaurant is open for your dates.