BUDGET ACCOMODATIONS
Many Japanese Ryokan and Hotels provides excellent services but are pretty expensive. This section provides information of cheap accommodation not covered by usual guidebooks enough. Many of them (except Youth Hostels and some business hotels) are not common to overseas travelers and might require some Japanese skills. Though it is expected that staffs do not speak English in most places, you will enjoy interesting and unique experience in those places.
Youth Hostel
There are about 350 Youth Hostels in Japan. Prices are much higher than the standard of other countries, still the cheapest accommodation in Japan. 2,400 to 3,200 yen without meals, 4,000- 5,000 yen including dinner and breakfast. Foods are provided in most hostels. Like Youth Hostels in other countries, four or eight travelers stay in each dormitory. Sheets and blankets are provided free of charge, so you do not have to carry sleeping bag.
Youth Hostels are popular among budget travelers from overseas, due to prices and relatively good consideration for people who do not speak Japanese. Most Japanese Youth Hostels are not so popular these days due to the shift of young budget travelers from domestic travel to international travel. Considering the prices in Japan, it is cheaper to travel around Asia or other countries even including airfares.
Generally speaking you do not have to make reservations. I suppose youth hostel is the easiest kind of accommodation in Japan to stay during the busy season when all other hotels are occupied, because of their large capacity. But hostels in Tokyo and Kyoto are exceptional due to those cities' importance for overseas travelers. Also hostels in Hokkaido especially in summer are pretty crowded by Japanese travelers so better to make reservation.
Riders House
In Hokkaido there are about 50 Riders houses. Hokkaido is a popular destination for motor bike riders and cyclists, but every kind of travelers not necessary using motor bike use Riders house, although many of them locate along main roads and far from station or city center. They cost 500- 1,000 yen without meals, fairly cheap. Often foods are not provided. Facilities are not uniform but generally speaking travelers sleep on a floor in large room. Usually sleeping bag is required. Many Riders Houses are open during only summer.
Toho Yado
They mostly locate in Hokkaido, about thirty or forty hostels. Facility and prices are similar as Youth Hostel domitory style but Toho Yado is smaller and has familiar atmosphere. Usually run by family and their capacity is about ten or twenty.
Capsule Hotel
People stay a night in 'capsule' just fit to the size of one person. They can be tight and strange feeling, but air conditioner, radio, alarm clock and TV are all equipped in this small capsule. They mainly aim at male business travelers and locate in convenient places usually within easy walking distance from large train station in major cities. Costs are around 4,000 yen per night without meals.
Business Hotel
They are common accommodation for business travelers and have convenient location in city center or around train station. Rooms are western-style, mostly single and you can found 6,000- 7,000 yen room (not include meal) in most cities. Cheap by Japanese standard but all consideration for business travelers are paid. TV, individual bath and toilet are all included in a small room, suit to the Japanese preference for clean sanitary. Toothbrush, towel, yukata (Japanese stile nightclothes) are usually provided. Midnight snack such as cup noodles and beers are sold by vending machines.
Minshuku
Hundreds of Minshuku locate all over Japan, especially around tourist attractions such as mountains, coasts and old towns. They are run by family, usually house or small building. They cost about 6,500 yen with dinner and breakfast. Rooms and foods are usually Japanese style, Tatami mat and futon beds, though not so formal like expensive Ryokan.
Often you can enjoy nice foods of that particular region with cheap prices in Minshuku. In Japan foods greatly differ from region to region providing interesting tastes, surely one of the most important attractions of the travel in this country. Being traditional type of accommodation, sometimes Minshuku facilities are too old if unlucky.
Pension
Western-style version of Minshuku run by family. They locate in some limited sightseeing spots far from city. Mainly aim at younger people and locate in the places popular with such generation, heights, ski places and famous seaside resorts. Facilities and foods are western style and prices are a little expensive, about 8,000 - 9,000 yen with dinner and breakfast.
Kokumin Shukusha (People's Lodges)
Run by Government and usually cheaper than private accommodation of similar grade. They usually locate in sightseeing area in rural places and inconvenient by public transport. Prices are around 6,500 yen with dinner and breakfast, though vary much from place to place. Due to their prices, they are popular and should be reserved at early time. Both Japanese and western style rooms and foods are provided.
Sauna, Kenko Land (Health Center)
This might not be so common accommodation for normal travelers, but used by many budget travelers, motorbike riders and cyclists. They are the complexes of sauna, many kinds of bath, massage machines and so on, facilities to relax people. Many of them have basic beds or resting room with comfortable sofa and couch open throughout the night. Entrance fee is about 1,000 yen, and 'midnight supplement' to spend the whole night is 1,500- 2,000 yen. They mostly locate along major roads in suburban area equipping large car parking but sometimes seen near stations and city center.
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