Honto Japan Editorial– Author –

Is the hotel pool free in Japan? We checked 29 hotels on their own official pages. 12 are free for staying guests and 17 charge, from 1,100 to 6,600 yen per adult, with a median of 3,300 yen. Age limits, swim caps and tattoo rules differ from hotel to hotel.

Where to eat souffle pancakes in Tokyo, from the cafes' own official sites: A Happy Pancake, FLIPPER'S, Musashi no Mori Coffee and Takakura-machi Coffee, plus gluten-free Riz Labo Kitchen and bills' ricotta pancakes, with prices, tax, hours, bookings and the 20-minute bake.

Hotel Universal Port near Universal Studios Japan, before you book: about a 4-minute walk to the park, no early park entry (the hotel says that plan ended in October 2024), a guests-only ticket counter, free co-sleeping only for preschool children, breakfast from 3,600 yen, and cancellation at 20 percent the day before. From the official pages and terms of stay.

Gora Kadan in Hakone, before you book: every room has its own bath, the 40-minute private open-air bath is free, large tattoos are refused in the main baths and pool, check-in is from 3 pm with dinner no later than 7 pm, and cancellation fees can start 20 days out. From the official pages and terms.

Palace Hotel Tokyo in Marunouchi, before you book: the pool and 24-hour gym are free for guests but the sauna and bath cost 2,750 yen, tattoos may have to be covered, the standard terms charge 100 percent the day before, arrive by 8 p.m. or call, children 11 and under share a bed free, and tips are declined. From the official pages and terms of stay.

Can you check in early at a Japanese hotel, and what does it cost? We read the official pages of 27 hotels and chains. Five publish an hourly early check-in rate, 1,000 to 3,300 yen; noon is the most common line before which you pay a full night; several luxury hotels sell no early hours and tell you to book the night before.

Where to eat gyoza in Tokyo, from the restaurants' own official sites: Ginza Tenryu, Kameido Gyoza, Harajuku Gyoza-ro, Benitora Gyozabo, Gyoza no Mansyu and Gyoza no Ohsho, with prices from 300 yen, tax, hours, payment, takeout and garlic-free options.

Can you stay at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto? Not on your own: the guest house takes guests only on scheduled retreats. Autumn 2026 dates, what the overnight retreat includes, the Kissako Zen and tea session, cancellation and dress rules. From the temple's official pages.

BOOK AND BED TOKYO lets you sleep in a bed built into bookshelves. The official site lists two locations, Shinjuku and Shinsaibashi (Osaka). Guests must be 3 or older, the booker 18 or older; check-in is 16:00, and a booking may be canceled if you have not arrived by 8:00 pm. From the official pages.

Hotel Okura Kobe in Meriken Park, before you book: the pool is paid even for guests (3,300 yen with sauna, 5,500 yen with the gym), tattoos and printed tattoos are refused, children 12 and under share a bed free, cancellation is 20 percent the day before and 80 percent on the day, and parking is 1,500 yen a night. From the official pages and terms of stay.

Can you leave luggage at a hotel in Japan before check-in or after checkout? We read the official rules of 34 hotels and chains. 25 hold bags after checkout and 2 refuse; 9 set a same-day deadline, 2 charge for longer storage, and 10 refuse cash-on-delivery or want prepaid parcels.

Where to buy wagashi in Tokyo, from the shops' own official sites: Toraya Akasaka, Usagiya, Funawa, Shiose Sohonke, Eitaro, Ginza Kikunoya, Seigetsudo Honten and Mamegen, with prices, tax, hours, cash-only rules and how long each sweet keeps.