Sakuraya Inn, Hiroshima

Sakuraya Inn, renovated in 2013, is located on the seafront with direct views of the sparkling water and the mountains in the background. During your stay, you can begin your day with a hearty Western-style breakfast in the shared dining hall if you don't mind the extra fee. When you're ready to explore, you can reach popular sites like Itsukushima Shrine, O-torii Gate, the Five-Storied Pagoda, and O-torii Gate in just over five minutes on foot. After a day of walking around Miyajima, there's a public bath you can soak in during set hours.

The hotel has just over 20 rooms, each with an authentic Japanese ambience, featuring tatami (woven-straw) floors and comfortable futon bedding. The spacious rooms are sparsely decorated, so some guests might find them bare. There are just over five sea-facing rooms, which include floor-to-ceiling windows from which you can gaze out and watch the sun setting over the Setouchi. While the mountain-facing rooms have more space and are likely a better choice if you're traveling in a large group, there are few windows, so it's possible to feel boxed in. When you stay at Sakuraya, you'll receive a set of pajamas to help make you comfortable during your stay.