basic information

Western style hotel room

Japanese style ryokan room

Japan offers a wide range of accommodation types. Lodgings come in both the typical Japanese and Western styles, as well as in unconventional forms such as capsule hotels and temple lodgings.

Prices range from less than 2,000 yen per person for a bed in a dormitory to more than 25,000 yen per person for a night at a first class hotel or ryokan. Note that hotel rates in Japan are often given as "cost per person" rather than "cost per room".

Below is a list of accommodation types found in Japan. One US dollar corresponds to roughly 100 yen. See the current yen exchange rates for a more precise conversion.

Japanese Style:

Ryokan (more details)
6,000 to 30,000 yen per person
Ryokan are traditional Japanese style inns with Japanese style rooms and meals. A stay at a ryokan is recommended to all travelers to Japan as it gives you the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese lifestyle.

Minshuku (more details)
4,000 to 10,000 yen per person
Minshuku are Japanese style "bed and breakfast" lodgings. They are usually family run, offer Japanese style rooms, and often include one or two meals in the price.

Western Style:

Western Style Hotels
10,000 Yen to 50,000 yen per room
Western style hotels, including various international and Japanese hotel chains, can be found across Japan, especially in the larger cities.

Business Hotels
4,000 to 9,000 yen per person
Business hotels offer small, simple Western style rooms with snacks and drinks provided by vending machines. Some business hotel chains, such as APA Hotel, Super Hotel and Toyoko Inn, operate dozens of hotels across Japan.

Pensions
4,000 to 12,000 yen per person
Pensions are comparable to minshuku (see above), except that they offer rooms in Western style rather than in Japanese style.

Low Budget:

Dormitories
1,500 to 3,000 yen per person
Dormitories, usually housed in older buildings, can mainly be found in large cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Many dormitories offer women-only rooms.

Hostels (more details)
2,500 to 4,000 yen per person
Hostels offer lodging and meals at the lowest budget level. Japan Youth Hostels, a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation, operates more than 300 hostels across Japan.

Unique Lodgings:

Capsule Hotels
3,000 to 4,000 yen per person
Mainly targeting a male clientele in need of nothing but a bed, capsule hotels accommodate their guests in small capsules. A television, a shared bathroom and coin lockers are usually provided.

Love Hotels (more details)
6,000 to 12,000 yen per room and overnight stay
Not meant as tourist lodgings, love hotels are visited by couples who wish to enjoy some undisturbed time together. Rooms at love hotels can be rented for 2-3 hours during the day or for an overnight stay.

Temple Lodgings
3,000 to 10,000 yen per person
It is possible for tourists to spend the night at some Buddhist temple lodgings (shukubo). One of the best places to experience a night at a temple is Mount Koya.

Longer stays:

Weekly and Monthly Apartments (more details)
From 40,000 yen per month
Apartments and shared apartments, rented on a weekly or monthly basis (sometimes even on a daily basis), are among the most inexpensive ways of staying in Japan for an extended period. Several companies have emerged which specifically target foreigners in Japan.

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hotels & ryokan

Oak Hotel Budget hostel & hotel in the heart of Tokyo. Group booking, ISIC discount accepted. Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro Hotel with comfort. Single rooms 6800 yen, doubles from 9000 yen. 4 minutes from Tokyo's second largest station Ikebukuro. Sakura Hostel Perfect for budget travelers and backpackers! Largest hostel in Tokyo. Friendly staff, cozy rooms, 24-hour internet lounge.

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Recommended Guide Book: Lonely Planet Japan Lonely Planet Japan is the best guide book on Japan for budget travelers, in part due to its superior accommodation listings.