If you’ve been doing any research on how to book accommodation for your upcoming trip to Japan, you’ve almost certainly heard of Rakuten Travel. It is often described as the “Amazon of Japan” for hotels—the absolute undisputed king of domestic booking platforms.
But as an international traveller used to smooth, English-friendly platforms like Booking.com or Agoda, is it actually worth your time? Can it really save you money?
The short answer is yes, but only if you know the secret to unlocking its full potential.
On our recent trip to a stunning traditional onsen (hot spring) resort in Izu, my wife, Mai, took charge of the accommodation. Instead of looking at Western apps, she hopped onto Rakuten Travel and managed to book us an absolutely incredible package deal that we couldn’t find anywhere else. Not only was the rate unbeatable, but it also stacked up loyalty points for our future stays.
Here is our honest review of Rakuten Travel, and exactly when you should—and shouldn’t—use it to book your Japanese adventure.
The Big Dilemma: The English Site vs. The Japanese Site
Before we talk about the savings, we need to address the elephant in the room: Rakuten Travel actually has two entirely different websites.
- The Official Global Site (English): This is clean, modern, and very easy to navigate.
- The Domestic Japanese Site (Japanese): This looks like a chaotic digital marketplace, packed with colorful banners, text, and flash sales.
Here is the ultimate insider secret: The global English site only shows a fraction of what is actually available.
If you only use the English version, you are missing out on roughly 40% of the properties and, more importantly, the best local discount coupons.
The Ultimate Booking Hack
To get the absolute best deals, use the domestic Japanese website on your laptop or mobile, and let your browser (like Google Chrome) automatically translate the entire page into English.
It might look a bit messy at first, but it completely unlocks the full database, the hidden local promotions, and the exact same prices that Japanese locals get.
When Rakuten Travel is the Undisputed King
You don’t need to use Rakuten for every single night of your trip. (In fact, for standard city business hotels, we highly recommend sticking to direct booking—read our Ultimate Japan Business Hotel Guide to see why we love chains like Toyoko Inn!).
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However, you should always check Rakuten Travel in these two scenarios:
1. Booking Traditional Ryokans & Rural Onsen Resorts
This is exactly how Mai scored our amazing deal in Izu. Many authentic, family-run traditional inns (ryokans) in rural Japan don’t bother listing their rooms on Western booking apps. Rakuten has a near-monopoly on these hidden countryside gems.
2. Customising Your “Meal Plans”
In Japan, staying at a ryokan is as much about the food as it is about the hot springs. Rakuten excels at letting you choose highly specific meal plans. You can choose packages that include traditional multi-course Kaiseki dinners, local Wagyu beef upgrades, or simple breakfast-only options. Western apps rarely offer this level of local culinary customisation.
The Secret Weapon: Rakuten Points & “Super Sales”
Why do locals like Mai swear by this platform? It comes down to two major perks:
- The Point System: Every time you book a room, you earn Rakuten Points (usually 1% to 10% of the booking value). If you are slow-travelling through Japan for a month or two, these points accumulate incredibly fast. You can use them as direct cash discounts on your very next hotel booking.
- The 5th and 10th Flash Sales: Rakuten runs massive “Super Sales” throughout the year, but they also have regular monthly promotions. Keep an eye out for dates ending in 5 or 0 (like the 5th, 10th, 15th, etc.), as they frequently drop exclusive 5% to 10% off coupons for domestic bookings.
The Verdict: Should You Use It?
- For Tokyo/Osaka Business Hotels: Skip it. Stick to global apps or direct chain websites for simplicity.
- For Countryside Adventures, Ryokans, and Onsen Trips: Absolutely, yes.
Don’t be intimidated by the Japanese interface. Fire up your browser’s auto-translate tool, let the local deals roll in, and start racking up those travel points. It made our escape to Izu truly unforgettable, and it will undoubtedly save you a massive chunk of money on your journey through local Japan!
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