Ichinomiya sits in Aichi Prefecture and takes its name from Masumida Shrine, the first-ranked shrine of the old Owari Province. For a traveller it is a practical, workaday city rather than a resort, and its accommodation is built around that: business hotels and highway-oriented lodging rather than sightseeing-focused stays.
For booking purposes, the city is simple to read. The main concentration of accommodation clusters near the station, which is where you want to be if you are arriving by train and moving around on foot or by rail. A second, separate belt of lodging lies out along the highway, which only makes sense if you have a car. This guide covers those two options and what each is suited to.
1. Around the station
This is the default choice for most visitors. Accommodation here is mostly in the form of business hotels, and several chains have branches near the station. That means compact, functional rooms and a steady supply of them, rather than character properties.
It suits first-time visitors, solo travellers and anyone arriving and departing by train, since you are already where the transport is. It is also the better base if you plan to eat out in the evening without worrying about driving afterwards. The trade-off is that this is a business-hotel district, so expect straightforward, no-frills places rather than resort-style amenities.
2. The highway belts at the city limits
At both ends of the city limits, off the highway, there are large belts of love-hotels. These are a distinctly Japanese category of lodging, typically aimed at drivers and booked for short stays rather than as a conventional touring base.
This area only suits you if you are travelling by car, since it is oriented entirely around road access and sits away from the station. If you do drive, it offers an alternative to the business-hotel cluster in the centre. If you are on foot or relying on trains, it is not a practical place to base yourself.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: the business-hotel chains near the station are the standard low-cost option, offering small, simple rooms. The highway love-hotel belts are a separate, car-dependent alternative.
- Mid-range: also largely covered by the business-hotel chains near the station, some of which add extras such as an indoor onsen.
Best area for a first visit
Stay around the station. It is where the accommodation is concentrated, it is served by the chains you are most likely to recognise, and it keeps you connected to the rail network for the rest of your trip. Unless you are arriving by car and specifically want highway access, there is no reason to base yourself anywhere else.
What kind of accommodation is typical in Ichinomiya?
Mostly business hotels. Several chains have branches near the station, and some properties add features such as an indoor onsen.
Should I stay near the station or out by the highway?
Near the station if you are arriving by train or want to be within walking distance of transport and food. The highway belts at the city limits are only practical if you have a car.
Is there anywhere to stay if I am driving?
Yes. If you drive, there are large belts of love-hotels off the highway at both ends of the city limits, in addition to the business hotels near the station.
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