Types of Budget Accommodation
Below are the various types of budget accommodation found in Japan with their typical price ranges:
Hostels, Backpackers and Dorms (1500-3000 yen/person)
Hostels, backpackers and dormitories are budget oriented accommodation that are mostly found in Japan’s larger cities. Although private rooms may be available, guests usually stay in shared rooms that may be segregated by gender. Other facilities, such as showers, toilets, kitchens and other living spaces are typically also shared.
Hostel style accommodation tend to be frequented by international travelers who may enjoy the sociable atmosphere that a hostel cultivates. In addition, some hostels offer their guests free or discounted bicycle rentals and sightseeing tours.
Be aware that hostels tend to be in older buildings, and some hostels maintain a curfew at night when the entrance doors are locked. Also, some hostel require their guests to be members of a hostel association, in which case registration can usually be made at check in for a small fee. Hostelworld is a leading online reservation site for hostels in Japan.
Ryokan, Minshuku and Pensions (3000-10000 yen/person)
If you prefer Japanese style accommodation, consider a minshuku (Japanese style bed and breakfasts) or low budget ryokan (Japanese style inns). The two are similarly styled and typically charge between 5,000 and 10,000 yen per person per night, sometimes including one or two meals. No-frills, budget minshuku and ryokan can be found for as little as 3,000 yen per person per night, but do not usually include meals. Pensions are comparable to minshuku except that they offer Western rooms instead of Japanese rooms.
Business Hotels (5000-7000 yen single room, 8000-10000 yen double room)
Business hotels offer small, simple Western style rooms that usually consist of a bed, desk, TV, and private bathroom and toilet. They are often conveniently located near train stations and may include breakfast. This option is especially attractive if traveling in pairs as the cost is similar to cheaper options, but at a higher level of comfort. Popular business hotel chains include Route Inn, APA Hotel, Toyoko Inn and Super Hotel.
Manga Cafes (1500-3000 yen/person)
Manga cafes (lit. comic book cafes) are establishments where you can rent time at a computer either hourly or for the night. The simplest places offer just some banks of computers with chairs, a selection of comic books and little to no privacy and are not suited for an overnight stay.
A lot of establishments, however, also offer their customers drinks, snacks, shower facilities, game rooms and quiet areas to rest or private booths, which may be equipped with couches or Japanese mattresses (futon). Some manga cafe chains require that you sign up for a membership which may come with a small registration fee.
Capsule Hotels (2000-5000 yen/person)
Capsule hotels accommodate their guests in small capsules rather than rooms. The capsules are essentially enclosed bunk beds that are often stacked two high and may include a television, internet, light and heating controls inside. Shared showers and toilets are provided, while personal belongings are usually stored in lockers. Some hotels also have lounges, restaurants and a public bath.
Capsule hotels are mainly found around major train stations and tend to cater towards men. These days, however, you can also find an increasing number of women only capsule hotels, or hotels that have gender segregated floors.
24 Hour Baths (2000-3000 yen/person)
24 hour baths are a type of public bath usually found in large cities that are open 24 hours a day. In addition to the baths, some facilities provide lounging areas, large comfortable chairs, or private rooms where visitors can rest for the night. The baths are gender segregated while the rest areas generally are not. Some well known 24 hour baths include Oedo Onsen and LaQua in Tokyo and Spa World in Osaka.
Weekly/monthly mansions are a type of accommodation for residents unwilling or unable to enter a long-term apartment rental contract, but they can also be attractive to travelers who stay in a city for a week or longer. Weekly/Monthly mansions are typically furnished private or shared apartments, with some of them specifically targeting foreigners, in which case they are also known as gaijin houses (“foreigner houses”).
Weekly/monthly mansions are most prevalent in larger cities, but also exist in smaller cities and in the countryside, although the ones outside major urban areas are unlikely to cater specifically to foreign travelers. While some establishments require a minimum stay of one month, others also offer weekly or even daily rates that can compete with budget hotel rates.
Overnight Buses, Trains and Ferries
Overnight transportation has the dual benefit of combining cheap travel with the savings of a night of accommodation. An additional benefit is that you can gain back sightseeing time that you would otherwise have lost traveling between cities. Of course to be effective, this requires that you can sleep, or at least rest, while on the move.
Generally speaking, buses are the most practical and economical option for budget travelers. Someovernight trains can also be economical, especially for Japan Rail Pass holders, while overnight ferriesmay pay off but are only available on a very limited number of routes. For more information see our page on budget transportation.
Tour Packages
Also worth consideration are tour packages that combine transportation with accommodation. Large tour companies usually purchase hotel rooms in large numbers, and are able to offer quality accommodation at rates far below those available to individual consumers. Japanican, for example, offers several packages to foreign visitors that combine a round trip by shinkansen with hotel accommodation for less than the regular cost of the train tickets alone.
Camping
Camping in Japan is generally allowed only on designated campgrounds, which are found across Japan, especially in the countryside and national parks. Campgrounds in cities are rare to non-existent. The overnight cost is a few hundred yen per person or around 1000 yen per tent if you bring your own tent. Some campgrounds also provide tents or cabins for rental. Note that many campgrounds are closed during winter.
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