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Cheap accommodation in places you might want to visit...
There are hundreds of great value places to stay if you want to travel around Japan. Have a look at the Japan Youth Hostel Association web page http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html or simply run an Internet search. The more traditional Japanese guest houses are called ‘Ryokan’ so be sure to search for these as well as you can find some really reasonable deals. Though be careful as these can often have a curfew – something you definitely won’t want in Tokyo or Osaka if you are to experience those cities in their full nocturnal glory. You can usually book online and often you can send an email in English. Sometimes you will need to give a credit card number upfront, though they don’t often charge anything to the credit card until after you arrive.
Below are just a few tried and tested recommendations from Toyama ALTs for good, cheap, easy to book hostels and hotels in and around the big cities...
Toyama
Kadokyu TEL: (0766) 22-0354
A pretty cool Ryokan right next to the Daibustu in Takaoka where you can put your friends. Very nice people, very weird/unique building that's apparently 100 years old? No English spoken whatsoever but the owners were awesome. If you opt not to get food its only 5000 per night per person which is less than most of the surrounding business hotels and the place is def way cooler.
Tokyo
Guess T House Hostel, 402 Place Bo Azabu, 2-13-7, Azabu-Juban, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Guess T House is an international, multi-cultural guesthouse for both foreign nationals and Japanese as well. It is located in the heart of Tokyo, on the shopping streets of Azabu-Juban, just five minutes from Roppongi and Roppongi Hills, and one minute to the Azabu-Juban station. It has no curfew so you can party the night away in Tokyo and still get in when you’re done. Guess T House doesn’t currently have its own website but you can make a reservation through http://www.tokyo.hostel.com/. You will probably have to pay a small credit card deposit. Apparently you can call them when you reach Azabu-Juban station exit # 4 and someone will come and pick you up. A bed in a dorm (they have single sex and shared dorms) will cost around 3500 yen a night (this includes tax).
Otsuka Station Hotel
Tokyo, 2 minute walk from Otsuka Stn. on the Yamanote line. 4500-5900yen. The higher prices are for double rooms / late checkout. Normal price is around 5000yen. No English whatsoever. But there's free wifi in all rooms, and a computer in the lobby you can use if you don't have your own device. It's in a great location, it's really easy to deal with, the rooms aren't big but the beds are great.
Hotel New Azuma – Ueno A little out the way and with a midnight curfew, it is not what everyone wants on a trip to Tokyo but it is cheap: from 2,700 for a single room or 5,000 yen for 2 people to share a single room (with extra futon and pillow). It also has an English website and you can book online: http://www.myfavorite.bz/azuma/pc/index.html
Kimi Ryokan
36-8, 2chome, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku (Tel: 03-3971-3766)
7 mins walk from West Exit of JR IKEBUKURO Station on JR Yamanote Line or Subway IKEBUKURO Station on Subway Marunouchi and Yurakucho Lines, and Seibu IKEBUKURO Line.) This is not a hostel and there is a curfew of 1am. However is it very reasonably priced (4500 yen for a single room, 6500 yen for a medium sized double and they have 4 person rooms for 2800 yen per person) and very central. It is really clean and has A/C in every room. No breakfast or parking is provided. They have English speaking staff so you can easily make a reservation over the phone. http://www.kimi-ryokan.jp/index.html
Andon Ryokan
2-34-10 Nihonzutsumi Taito (Tel: 03-3873-8611 Fax: 03-3873-8612) http://www.andon.co.jp/
This is a very stylish modern building full of Japanese Antiques. It’s in Asakusa which is a little way off from some of the more popular areas such as Shibuya, Shinjuku etc but it is on the subway line (Hibiya Line, Minowa Station) and not far from Ueno Station (one of the largest stations in Tokyo). Again expect to pay from 3000-4000 yen per person per night, depending on the kind of room. Apparently, every room had a DVD player and they have over 300 DVDs, which you can borrow for free. It is a really comfortable place and they will cook you breakfast for 300-500 yen.
Osaka
Raizen Hotel 1-1-3 Taishi, Nishinari-ku (Tel: 06-6647-2193 Fax 06-6647-2168) Only 2,100yen a night, recommended by a fellow Toyama JET and with and English website: www.raizan.net/index2.htm
Asahi Plaza Capsule Hotel Shinsaibashi book in english: http://www.asahiplaza.co.jp/capcel/english.html
It is right in the middle of Shinsaibashi near Triangle Park--step outside and you are in the thick of Amerikamura--shopping, nightlife, and excitement. It's convenient to walk to Dotonbouri or Namba Station, and the subway and/or train will get you to Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium, Universal Studios fairly quickly. Day trips to Kyoto or Nara are totally doable.
If you book online, the price is 2600 yen (about $25)--really cheap for the location. Check in is whenever (some people just come in after a long night out for a bath before work). Check out is 10, or noon if you're staying another day. It's closed noon-3pm. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it seems there's generally someone there who speaks some English.
Women have their own area that includes a locker room (w/ towel, washcloth, pyjamas), a dressing area (w/ tootbrush/paste, hairbrush, hairdryer, lotion, soap), a sauna, washer/dryer, vending (soft drinks, beer), and bath (w/ shampoo, conditioner, soap, & razors). The capsules have a light, a little aircon vent (like on a plane), tv, radio, and alarm clock. Everything is very clean--the linens and towels are changed every day. I assume the men's area is similar--my male friends never complain.
There's a few free computers with internet in the lobby, a restaurant with basic Japanese food on the second floor, and storage lockers just outside the hotel. The staff will charge your phone/camera/ipod for free at the front desk.
This is a great place for people who don't want to hang out in their hotel room all day. 3 warnings. 1st, the bath is Japanese-style: one big room with little showering stations to clean off before soaking in one communal bath. And the baths close at 9:30 i believe. 2nd, the lockers are not large. If you are traveling with loads of luggage, you might have some trouble. But a big back pack fits with a bit of a push. 3rd, if you are a very light sleeper, you might have trouble sleeping in a room with 30 other people, but the capsules are very private and I've found the air vent makes for nice white noise. I've never had trouble sleeping there, even for an early night in.
Kyoto
Backpackers Hostel - K's House Kyoto
418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto. (TEL +81-75-342-2444 FAX +81-75-342-2440)
This is the Youth Hostel that the Toyama JETs used for last years Kyoto trip. It is brand new, clean and well equipped. The staff speak excellent English and there is no curfew. It is located just 10 mins walk from the main Kyoto JR station and 4 mins walk from the nearest subway station. Rooms in a shared dorm start from 2,500 yen but they do have single, twin and double private rooms too. You can book by email or call and speak to the staff in English. They even have some space to park a car but let them know beforehand as they only have a couple of spaces.
All of the information for K’s House in on their website at: http://kshouse.jp/
Budget Inn Ryokan
295 Aburanokoji-cho, Aburanokoji, Shichijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (Tel: 075 344 1510)
Can not recommend this place enough, the staff are friendly, all have excellent English. And they are very prompt with email responses for when trying to book. And best of all, each time you stay there they give you a new pair of Chopsticks. It is just a 6/7 minute walk from JR Kyoto Station. You can find the map on the website. The prices are also listed on the website but expect to pay around 3000 yen per night if you share a larger room and from 4000-4500 yen a night for a private double room. http://www.budgetinnjp.com/
Tour Club Ryokan
362 Momijicho, Higashinakasuji, Shomensagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto. (Tel: 075-353-6968)
This ryokan is run by the same people as ‘Budget Inn’. It is a slightly older hostel but has just been renovated and reopened. The prices are very slightly cheaper than those of ‘Budget Inn”. It is a 9 minute walk from JR Kyoto Station. Again, you can book online or you can give them a call and talk to them in English. http://www.kyotojp.com/
Both of these hotels are very foreigner friendly. The owner is a guy called Kenji Shimizu. This guy backpacked around 30 countries and saw the need for cheap, friendly accommodation in Japan. He first opened Tour Club and due to demand later opened the Budget Inn.
Nara
Ryokan Seikanso 29 Higashikitsuji-cho, Nara City, Nara Pref. Tel: 0742 22-2670
This ryokan costs 4000 yen per night and a western breakfast in just 450 yen. It is very centrally located. It takes 10 minutes by No.1 loop by from the main JR Station and is a 12-minute walk from the Kintetsu Nara Station.
Hiroshima/Miyajima
WFC (World Friendship Center)
8-10 Higashi Kannon-Machi, Nishi-ku (Tel 082 503 3191) This place is apparently run by an American couple and offers an ‘American-style’ breakfast. Also, it’s only 3500yen/night.
Mizuhaso
TEL: (0829)44-0173 Want to stay on Miyajima Island and spend a fantastic night view there? If you really only want a futon to sleep on, Mizuha-so is the perfect place. They cater to foreigners need to "sleep only" and charge 5000 a person. They also have a breakfast/dinner package too for around 8,400. They have 6 rooms for 25 guests.
http://www.gambo-ad.com/miyajima/english/hotel/mizuha-so/info.htm
Nagano
If you want a cheap place to stay whilst enjoying the world-class Nagano pistes check out these two hostels. These hostels are both located just off route 148 in Hakuba, Nagano ken. Run by very friendly New Zealanders, they both have mini-buses to pick you up from the station or there are car spaces for those who drive. Both hostels are close to the ski areas, Goryo being only a short trip up the road. They both have dorm rooms, common areas, cable TV, beer vending machines and kitchens that can be used as you wish!! Cost is about 3000 yen/night.
Hakuba Alps Backpackers, 22407-4 Ooaza Kamishiro Hakubamura Kita-azumigun Nagano-ken 399-9211, Tel/Fax: 0261-75-4038 Email: h.a.backpackers @ sweet.ocn.ne.jp
Travellers' Nest Backpackers, 22200-7 Kamishiro Hakubamura Kita-azumi-gun Nagano-ken 399-9211, Tel: 090 9668 8171 (Ben), 090 9668 7865 (Jenny - English or Nihongo!) Email: greennzs @ hotmail.com
Nagoya
If you're looking for cheap accomodation in Nagoya then this funky little capsule hotel could be the answer! Apaiser Capsule Hotel (http://www.apz-spa.com/index.html) is located in Imaike, a relatively central area, and is only 3,800 yen a night! It's also within a spa, so you could get some beauty treatments done when you're there if you fancy it!
Takayama
Hida-Takayama-Tensho-ji YH Hostel
Very nice, very clean place to stay, it is situated in the back of a temple (you don’t have to get up at 5 to pray which is nice). You can only book by phone and need a bit of Japanese. But if you want to experience Takayama in all it’s glory staying here caps the visit of for serenity. Telephone 81-577-326345 website http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/toukai/hidataka/
Across Japan:
At the moment there appears to be more and more chain hotels setting up across Japan, some are expensive, some are business man hotels.
Toyoko Inn (across Japan in the bigger cities)
ALTs have found Toyoko Inn hotels to be nice and reasonably priced places to stay. It is a business hotel chain so the rooms are very spacious. Prices vary slightly depending on the location but you should expect to pay max (these are the prices for Tokyo – Shinjuku Kabuki-chou):
Single room A ¥6,980
Double ¥9,240
Twin room ¥9,240
DX twin room ¥12,390
The above prices include tax. The double and twin prices are the total cost per room (two persons). http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/
Some others are
www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com
Useful Links
There are way too many websites to list all in regard to finding accommodation. The big ones like yahoo travel ( http://travel.yahoo.com/ ) work well for the big cities. Also http://www.tripadvisor.com/ has worked well for us in the past. One thing that we have found is that at times the internet rate rooms listed on the generic websites (eg yahoo travel), seem to be all booked up; but, if you ring the place you are interested in they will still have rooms available, and will often give it to you at the internet rate. So don’t be afraid to ring up.
OTHER GENERIC INTERNET SITES INCLUDE
www.wotif.com is a site out of autralia that has some really good bargins - it runs on a 2/52 basis (or there abouts) and has some hotels in Japan. But more importantly it has them listed for countries such as Australia, New Zealand and a whole host of other places.
A final suggestion
Finding accommodation in Japan is quite easy, and can usually be done with little or no Japanese.
- Use your guide books, Rough Guide has been very good for us.
- If you find a website you like stick with it, (eg trip advisor)
- Don’t be afraid to use the phone, most of the small places seem to do best on the phone rather than the internet. Though some places will have no English speaking staff.
- Use the toyama boards, often people have visited where you want to go and may be able to direct you to a hotel.
- If all else fails type the name of the city and accommodation in a search engine in English – you are bound to get some hits.