3 CHEAPEST Accommodation Options in Japan

Travelling to a new country is an amazing experience, but we understand that international flights aren’t necessarily cheap. A big part of your budget is not just considering about your time in the air, but also your time on the ground, particularly when you are laying down for some rest. Hotel costs can build up very quickly, even if you revert to the cheaper hostels and capsule hotels.

However, there are some EVEN cheaper options that you can easily get without needing reservations. Here are the top 3 accommodation options in Japan that perhaps have never crossed your minds but can make your wallet very happy!

3. Karaoke

Everyone should go and enjoy karaoke at least once during their time in Japan. Getting a little private room for hours, well equipped with food and drinks delivered into your room as you sing your heart out with your friends (or alone), is one of the most popular pass times in Japan. You can take full advantage of it with a “night free time” package where you can essentially be singing from 8pm to 5am the next morning non-stop for less than 2,000 yen per person, or if you are like me, sing until I feel like it’s time to adjust the air-conditioning to sleeping temperature and bring out my blanket from my luggage so as I catch some snooze on the flat couch.

The best part would be to do this on a partying night where you enjoy their all-you-can-drink alcohol plan for about 1,200 yen, drink and sing and have no need to worry whether you can make your way back to the hotel safely. Wake up in the next morning and you’re off to your adventure!


2. Manga-café

A mange-café is full of manga, magazines, movies… all sorts of entertainment, and it’s also an excellent place to stay overnight for an incredibly cheap price! For about 2,000 yen for a 7-10-hour night pack, you can rent a little flat and cushioned space for you and your belongings as you drift yourself to sleep. If you can’t fall asleep yet, grab any of the numerous books to help you relax your mind, or do some internet surfing to catch up on news for a while. Pillows and blankets are provided, and the best part is that shower rooms are also available, so you can clean the travelling dust off yourself and feel refreshed for your next day of explorations.

With so many manga-cafes available everywhere in Japan and often close to the stations nowadays, I no longer stress myself with rushing to hotels for check-in times, as I can always just pop into any of these joints to rest up.

1.    Rental cars

If you are going to be renting a vehicle to discover the more rural side of Japan, highly consider the option of staying in your car overnight especially when the season is right. In a country as safe as Japan, finding a resting area or a park for some in-car camping is a great option to spend your night without any extra costs. Cars in Japan are much wider than we would imagine, so even a little light-car would be great for two.

Use the Shachuhaku Wiki (https://syachuhaku.fxtec.info/ ) where thousands of minds alike share their experiences, recommendations, and reviews about places all across the country where you can park overnight for free to guide your trip. They even tell you where the closest washrooms, water sources, and cheap bathhouses are. During my road trip this summer, we had a completely stress-free trip thanks to this option, and the money we saved went into enjoying delicious local cuisines!

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With these awesome options to help make your trip in Japan more affordable, you can potentially save tens-of-thousands of yen so your budget can be spent on discovering the country. Hope these helped and have a great trip!