Find a sentoo or onsen
Don’t worry if there is no ofuro bath in your inn or hotel! Ask for the closest sentoo or onsen. Sentoo is a traditional Japanese communal spa – a great experience for anyone.
Help with finding your bearings
It is difficult to grasp the sheer size of Tokyo until you get there. To the traveler, all the streets look the same, and they have no names either. If you can’t find the way back to your hotel, ask for directions or take a taxi equipped with a GPS device.
Finnair flies you quickly to pulsing Tokyo
Where to stay
Tokyo is the most expensive city in the world to live in, but a traveler can find affordable accommodation. Package deals usually include the most affordable alternative, whereas the best hotel deals can be found online. Many places offer a discount if you stay for several nights.
Seek and you will find
There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, with something for every budget. Prices vary from very expensive to quite affordable. The same rule that applies to shopping goes for accommodation as well: when some effort is combined with some luck, you can find a very affordable place to stay.
Spend the night in the scenery of “Lost in Translation”
For those longing for the finer things in life, the western part of Shinjuku is the right place. For instance, the Park Hyatt Hotel, from the film “Lost in Translation”, is located here. You can also spend your nights comfortably near Tokyo station and in Akasaka. The more affordable alternatives can be found in Asakusa and Ueno.
Safe and familiar or real atmosphere
In most Western hotels, especially those belong to an international hotel chain, the customers are served in English. For an authentic Japanese atmosphere, stay at a ryokan inn. The best way to find suitable accommodation is to search online.
Traditional accommodation
Many Japanese hotels are very Western. The best way to experience true Japanese atmosphere is to stay at a ryokan or a minshuku. Prices vary: you can find a good hotel room for only 50 euros per night. In hostels and dormitories you can stay for less than 20 euros per night.
Hotels
Japanese hotels are divided into two main categories: hotels and business hotels. Unlike in Western countries, ‘business class’ stands for simplicity, while the normal hotels offer a wider range of services and room options. Most Japanese hotels have their own spa. One night in a hotel can cost as little as 40-50 euros.
Ryokans
A ryokan is a traditional inn, favored especially by domestic tourists. With their tatamis and paper doors, ryokans are famed for their food and cozy atmosphere. An essential part of the ryokan is the communal ofuro bath. Visitors are provided with a yukata to wear while staying in the ryokan. A night in a ryokan usually costs 50-200 euros per person. Food is always included.
Minshuku
The Japanese version of the bed and breakfast is the minshuku. Minshukus are family-owned businesses that offer a great opportunity to experience traditional Japanese hospitality and experience the local way of life. Most minshukus are located in the country, but there are some in cities as well. One night usually costs 50-80 euros per person, including meals and use of the ofuro bath.
Hostels and dormitories
Hostels are usually cheaper than hotels, and they have recently become more and more popular. A dormitory is practically the same thing as a hostel. You can often get a bed for only 10 euros per night.
Other accommodation
Japan is filled with peculiarities in accommodation as well as in other areas of life. The brave traveler might try a night at a capsule or love hotel; a gaijin house is more suited to a longer stay. Buddhist temples and onsen hotels offer a more peaceful alternative.
Capsule hotels
The efficient Japanese only require a little space for sleeping. That’s why in the bigger Japanese cities, there are hotels where people sleep in capsules. The capsules usually have a small TV, but the bath and sauna facilities, as well as the lounge, are communal. Women are usually not welcome in capsule hotels. The cheapest capsule hotels charge only 20 euros per night. If you’re on a tight budget, you can always ask to sleep in an armchair in the sauna department – just like many locals do!
Love hotels
Apartments in Japanese cities may be rather small or crowded, which means that lovers don't always have a chance of privacy behind locked doors. The hourly-rated rooms in the so-called love hotels are often decorated according to the theme, for instance with a revolving heart-shaped bed. You can also stay the whole night in a love hotel. At the cheapest, a whole night costs less than 50 euros, and you will rarely pay more than 100 euros per room.
Gaijin house – the house of foreigners
If you are staying in Japan for several weeks, you should consider staying at a gaijin house. These are shared apartments meant for part-time workers and students. Kitchen and showers are shared by all residents. Monthly rents usually start from around 300 euros.
Onsen hotels and onsen-ryokans
If you really want to enjoy life, an onsen hotel or an onsen-ryokan is the best choice. Onsens are usually located outside the city, closer to nature. Staying at an onsen means relaxing hot baths and delicious culinary experiences.