During my childhood, some of my summer vacations were visiting grandma at her home in Colorado or other relatives. We also had some relatives who would visit my parents’ home for their vacations. This was never a problem because if the spare bedroom wasn’t spacious enough, we would always throw out some sleeping bags on the living room floor. We also stayed at hotels or motels for those occasional beach vacations. And while my uncle who lived near Disney in Orlando probably got tired of his relatives visiting, it was mostly acceptable to ask a relative or friend to let you stay over in their home.
Homes in Japan just don’t have the space to welcome guests for overnight stays (unless you are incredibly wealthy and have a large home). In fact, Japanese culture has a concept of “not being a bother” by way of asking for favors such as whether or not you can stay overnight in someone’s home. So where should you stay in Japan?
If and when you visit Japan, it is good to know about your options for places to stay. While some may think that the Disney Hotel next to Disneyland and Disney Sea are perfect for their stay near Tokyo, most people want to see other places in Japan and experience the culture. In this issue, let’s look at the options for accommodations in Japan so you can find what is just right for you.
So Jerry, what are some of the options for accommodations?
First, let’s start with an overview of some options and their pros and cons. In most cases, prices of accommodations in Japan are per person rather than per room. This is an unexpected difference that travelers are often surprised by.
Each accommodation type can be toggled open to show the average price, some amenities, and some potential drawbacks.
Average Price
Amenities
Potential Downsides
Comments
| 10,000-25,000 yen per person for a room | Often include event rooms and restaurants/bar for additional cost. Fitness rooms, computer rooms, and bathrooms are complementary. | May be more expensive. English speaking staff may not communicate fluently, but may be helpful. | These western style hotels generally include a large communal bath, spa, and pool areas. |
| 6000-12,000 yen per night for a single room. | Somewhat low-budget western style room with bed and private shower/bath in the room. Breakfast is available for an additional fee. | Few rooms available with twin or double beds. Typically don’t have large communal baths. No frills. | Location is more about convenience to the city and transportation than to nature and scenery. Our room looked out to a parking lot and another business building. |
| 15,000-25,000 yen per person per night There are cheaper ryokans and more expensive ryokans. (Priced per person even for shared rooms | Traditional style Japanese dinner and breakfast are included. Bedding is Japanese futons on straw mat floors. Often built around a hot spring, but definitely include a large relaxing communal bath. | Staff may lack English communication skills, especially outside of metro areas. | The quintessential Japanese lodging with a high level of service. They provide the ultimate experience in relaxation. Some big establishments include Japanese style and western style room options. |
| 5000-12,000 yen per person per night. | Traditional style Japanese dinner and breakfast are included. Bedding is Japanese futons on straw mat floors. Usually include a communal bath. | Meals are generally served in a common dining area rather than a private room. | Minshuku are a family-owned bed and breakfast with just a few rooms and usually in the countryside. Similar to Japanese Ryokan on a smaller scale and fewer amenities. |
| 9000-15,000 yen per person per night. | Simple, private, traditional rooms with straw mat floors and communal toilets and sinks, as well as communal baths. Includes dinner and breakfast. | Many only accept cash payments. | These accommodations are typically found along pilgrimage destinations and give the traveler a chance to experience the simple lifestyle of a monk. Lodging at Koya san in Wakayama offers a popular vegetarian dinner known as “shojin ryori,” which is commonly eaten by the monks. |
| 6000-14,000 yen per night for a room. Some Airbnb rooms advertise for up to 6 people, but this may be very crowded. | Allows for privacy. Usually includes a kitchen or access to a kitchen. May also include a laundry machine. English is often used with Airbnb lodging since many English speakers stay. | The bathroom may be extremely small, kind of like an airplane lavatory that includes a shower. Location may be more about access to transportation than scenic. No meals included. Booking requires a copy of your passport. | My experience was staying in a studio apartment that was rented as Airbnb. I was expected to keep the noise level down in consideration of the neighbors and to take out my own trash. |
| 3000-5000 yen per capsule (one person) per night. Some premium capsule hotels may have slightly higher prices. | The sleeping area is a pod for one person rather than a full sized room. Dorm-style shower and bathrooms available. Often have general lounge area with wifi access. | No meals included. May be uncomfortable being in the pod for very tall or claustrophobic people. | I like the capsule hotels better than the youth hostels, mostly because they are cleaner, the people have been more polite, and the pods were more comfortable. |
| 2000-5000 yen per person per night. Perfect for the budget traveler and least expensive accommodation in most cases. | The sleeping area is like a dorm room full of bunk beds. Similar in size (or smaller) than capsule hotel pods. Often have lounge area with wifi access. Cater to foreign travelers, so English is often available. | No meals included. May be uncomfortable being in the pod for very tall or claustrophobic people. Easy to hear movement and noises from people in other bunks. | One aspect I loved about the youth hostels I stayed in is the conversations with other travelers in the lounge area. Others travelers feel comfortable chatting and talking about their travel experiences. It is a good way to find out about travel tips. Most of the travelers I’ve met are young and traveling for weeks/months at a time to various countries. |
| 6000-14,000 yen per night per person. | Western-style bed with western-style meals for dinner and breakfast included. | Adequate for a night’s stay, but may be comparable to a motel. | Pensions are similar to Minshuku, but with a western-style bed. More commonly found around tourist locations and ski resorts. |
This currency converter can help give some perspective to the prices in yen.
Recommendations and Photos
I’ve stayed at all of the accommodation options except for shukubo. Here are a few more thoughts about staying at these places in Japan to help you consider the option best for you.
Western hotels vs. Ryokans (Is there fusion?)
There is nothing like the experience of staying in a Japanese Ryokan. It is a Japanese cultural experience with the best of Japanese service, food, and hot springs.
Because most Ryokans are built around natural hot springs, visitors freely walk around the property in robes (yukata) to easily go in and out of the gender-separate communal baths.
A common trend in recent years is the concept of “sudomari.” This trend allows guests to stay at the ryokan without meal service, making a cheaper stay and giving the opportunity to eat out at local restaurants. They may also choose to add 1 or more meals as an option. Essentially, booking a stay at a traditional Japanese Ryokan has become very customizable.
Western style hotels in Japan, as well as Japanese Ryokans, often fuse the designs with aspects of the modern and traditional to accommodate all types of guests. This means that western-style hotels often have large communal baths and ryokans may have rooms available with beds.
The Value of Minshuku
Minshuku are family-run generally smaller versions of a traditional Japanese lodging. They offer unique and relaxing experiences with hot springs and well-prepared local food for a lower cost.
Don't Forego the Chance to Stay in a Capsule
For the budget traveler, capsule hotels are ideal. Although meals are usually not included, capsule hotels are comfortable and perfect for an overnight stay on one’s way somewhere or as a base for daily outings. Everything that is essential is included and I definitely prefer a capsule hotel to a budget motel back home.
Should You Consider an Airbnb?
Staying at an Airbnb is a good option if you don’t want to be bothered by anyone. It is quiet and private.
When I stayed at an Airbnb in Tokyo, it was hosted by someone who used written English well. There was a small kitchen, a laundry machine, and a bathroom all packed into a small studio apartment. I suspect that many apartment owners make these apartments available on Airbnb.
My stay was comfortable. However, it was important for me not to expect a spacious bath. This style of “unit bath” is very small and includes the bath/shower, sink, and toilet in the space of a small closet.
The Most Budget-Friendly Option
Youth hostels are the easiest to navigate for English speakers. I was probably the oldest guest among the younger travelers, which is probably why youth hostels are popular among younger budget-minded travelers. Most of them can sleep more easily than me with noise and the dorm-like atmosphere.
Even so, there is a pleasant camaraderie among travelers. They share openly about their travel experiences and places like this make perfect sense for digital nomads.
Less Common Options
- Business hotels are more than adequate if you need to be near a transportation hub. Rooms are generally small and usually only have one bed.
- Overnight buses can also make sense if you can sleep on a bus. Some younger people use these overnight buses in order to arrive at destinations like Disneyland and ski resorts for a morning start to the day. Overnight buses are likely the cheapest way to travel long distances in Japan.
- Japanese pensions are western-style lodges similar to minshuku and can be a good budget option if you prefer a bed to a futon.
- I would regret not mentioning camping. Campgrounds, as well as roadside stops (Michi no Eki), are great places for RV and car camping. Campgrounds also allow tent camping, although tents are not allowed at roadside stops.
Which would you choose?
Staying at Shukubo is still on my bucket list, but all of these accommodation options are nice in their own way. When you visit Wakayama, let’s make plans to visit Koya san together and enjoy the vegetarian meal (shojin ryori) prepared by the monks. Surely a visit to the shukubo will be a great cultural experience.
Honestly though, I’d love to know your preference and why you would choose it. You can comment below!
This is so interesting Jerry! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! I hope you get to experience some of these great places in the future!
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