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This guide provides essential travel tips and practical advice for navigating Kanagawa Prefecture. From transportation passes to safety information, you will find everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Small but efficient rooms (12-18 sqm). High-speed WiFi. Coin laundry. Paid breakfast (¥500-1,500). Vending machines. Some have public baths. Check-in 3 PM, check-out 10 AM.
Toyoko Inn (¥6,000-9,000): largest chain, free breakfast (simple), member discount. APA Hotel (¥5,000-8,000): modern design, good soundproofing, paid breakfast. Super Hotel (¥6,000-8,000): free breakfast (good quality), natural springs at some locations.
Toyoko Inn: Yokohama Station (East/West), Kawasaki, Kamakura, Ofuna. APA Hotel: Yokohama Station, Kawasaki, Fujisawa, Odawara. Super Hotel: Yokohama (Kannai), Kawasaki.
My personal exploration of Kanagawa has been incredibly rewarding, and I encourage every traveler to experience these places firsthand.
💬 Traveler’s Note: I stayed at Toyoko Inn Yokohama Station West on a recent trip and tried their free breakfast every morning. I recommend joining the loyalty program before you book — the free-night point for ten stays adds up quickly if you visit Japan often.
Join loyalty programs for 5-10% discounts. Book early for weekends. Rooms are small — use luggage forwarding service.nn
My recommendation: Toyoko Inn offers the best value for most travelers — free breakfast (simple but includes rice, miso soup, and a protein), the most Kanagawa locations, and the easiest loyalty program. If you want better food, Super Hotel’s free breakfast includes fresh bread, salad, and even wine in the evening.
Toyoko Inn vs APA Hotel: The Practical Difference
The two dominant chains serve slightly different needs. Toyoko Inn rooms are slightly larger (14-16 vs 12-15 sqm) and include free breakfast. APA Hotel rooms are more modern in design and often have better soundproofing, but breakfast costs extra. For long stays (3+ nights), Toyoko Inn’s space advantage makes a real difference. For a single-night stopover, APA Hotel’s lower base rate may be better.
Dormy Inn is the chain you choose when you want a business hotel price but a nearly-ryokan experience. At ¥8,000-12,000/night, it’s 30-50% more than Toyoko Inn, but you get: a natural hot spring bath (onsen) on site, free ramen (21:00-23:00), free coffee and yakult in the lobby, complimentary manga library, and significantly better breakfast (Japanese + Western buffet). The Yokohama location is 5 min from Kannai Station. Dormy Inn is especially worth it in winter — nothing beats soaking in the rooftop onsen after a day of sightseeing.
📍 Best Business Hotel Locations by Area
Area
Best Chain
Location Advantage
Walking Time from Station
Yokohama Station
Toyoko Inn Yokohama West
Direct access to Minato Mirai via moving walkway
3 min
Kannai (Yokohama)
Super Hotel Kannai
Near Chinatown and Yamashita Park
5 min
Kawasaki
APA Hotel Kawasaki
Cheapest option, 15 min to Tokyo
2 min
Kamakura
Toyoko Inn Kamakura
Only chain hotel near station, 10 min walk to temples
Toyoko Inn Club Card: ¥1,500 for lifetime membership. Get 5% discount on every stay + 1 free night after 10 stays. The card pays for itself after 3 stays.
APA Hotel App: Points-based system. ¥1 = 1 point. 10,000 points = ¥1,000 discount. Frequent flash sales with 30-50% off.
Rakuten Travel: Often has exclusive rates 10-20% below direct booking. Pairs well with Rakuten credit card points.
Book Early for Weekends
Weekend business hotel rates in Kanagawa are 30-60% higher than weekday rates. A ¥6,000 weekday room jumps to ¥10,000 on Friday/Saturday. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for weekday stays, 1-2 months ahead for weekends.
Luggage Forwarding
Use takkyubin (luggage forwarding) between business hotels. Drop your suitcase at the front desk by 10 AM and it arrives at your next hotel by 6 PM. Cost: ¥1,500-2,500 depending on size. Look for Yamato Transport (black cat logo) or Sagawa (red dolphin) at hotel receptions.
Coin Laundry Hack
Business hotel coin laundry costs ¥300-500 per load, Bring a small laundry bag and do laundry every 3-4 days instead of packing 7+ outfits. This alone saves one checked bag fee.
How to Get There
To Yokohama business hotels: JR Tokaido Line or Keihin-Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station (25-35 minutes). Most business hotels (Toyoko Inn, APA, Super Hotel) are within 5-10 minutes walk from the station.
To Kawasaki business hotels: JR Tokaido Line or Keihin-Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station to Kawasaki Station (15-20 minutes). Kawasaki is a convenient and affordable base for Tokyo day trips.
To Kamakura/Ofuna business hotels: JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo to Kamakura (1 hour) or Ofuna (50 minutes). Toyoko Inn Kamakura is near the station. Ofuna offers more budget options.
To Hakone-Yumoto business hotels: Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku (85 minutes) or JR Tokaido Line to Odawara then local train. Business hotels near Hakone-Yumoto Station are affordable alternatives to ryokan.
To Fujisawa business hotels: JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo (50 minutes). An affordable base for exploring Enoshima, Kamakura, and the Shonan coast.
exploring Kanagawa for its bus can be as relaxed or as packed as you want it to be, and I have found that the best visits leave room for both planning and spontaneity. During my visit I went with a rough plan and found that leaving room to wander made the trip far more memorable. Use this guide to sort out the logistics in advance, then let the day surprise you — Kanagawa rewards travelers who stay curious.
Born and raised in Yokohama, Takao has spent over a decade exploring every corner of Kanagawa. From hidden ramen shops in Tsurumi to quiet coastal walks in Zushi, he brings an authentic local perspective to every guide. When not writing, you'll find him sampling craft sake in Isezakicho or cycling the Shonan coast.
