One of the biggest difficulties of traveling to another country is finding the best accommodation. There are various accommodation options such as hotels, homestay, ryokan, capsule hotels, and hostel. For many, the best will always be the cheapest, which is why many opt for hostel. In this article, I will share my experiences in a hostel and provide tips on how to choose a good accommodation.
Before choosing your accommodation or hostel, you need to decide which neighborhood you want to stay in. Use websites to make your reservation, I used booking.com, some prefer AirBNB to find family homes. Pay close attention to all the details of the accommodation to avoid making any wrong choices.
You can cancel the reservation up to a few days before the date, and you pay only on the spot. You can make changes to the booking dates, but this may change the nightly rate according to the change date and demand. It is possible to find 2 month hosting for less than 2,000 reais if you look hard.
Take into account all possible information such as laundry, internet and distance from a train station. No matter the neighborhood, as long as it's close to a station and a comprehensive train line. The closer to the center and train stations, the more expensive the accommodation. Some usually bike companies to streamline your ride.
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Hosting at Hostel Grids Akihabara
During my trip to Japan in 2016, I spent about 14 days in Tokyo at a hostel called Grids Akihabara and I paid around 1200 reais. The hostel was a 5-minute walk from Akihabara station and the daily rate was less than 100, a very reasonable price for what it offers.
It is worth remembering that most hostels that are shared rooms do not provide breakfast included due to their low price. I really liked Grids, because the environment is totally organized, clean and it doesn't even feel like you're in shared rooms.
The toilets are high-tech, the lid even opens automatically when entering the bathroom. The lockers have a password, but they don't fit a giant backpack. It's no problem, I've left my luggage beside my bed all this time with no problem.
The hostel has an automatic laundry that works with coins. If your clothes haven't dried completely, you can leave them on the balcony in the rooms. Each room usually has 48 beds, 3 bathrooms, 3 urinals, 3 sinks, and 3 showers.
The attendants are very receptive and cheerful, there is a cafe on the ground floor that also provides snacks such as sandwiches, the prices are salty. The place also has a floor just for leisure and socializing. It was very comforting and fun to stay at Grids Hostel Akihabara.
You can see more tips and details about the hostel I stayed in the video below:
Types of Cheap Accommodation in Japan
If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Japan, the options below are the most appropriate:
Hostel Hostels – There are some similar to capsule hotels with several beds on a single floor, but there are simple hostels with around 5 to 15 beds in a single room with plenty of space to socialize with roommates. You can find daily rates from 10 USD.
HomeStay - Stay with native Japanese hosts in a large exchange cultural that usually costs around 90 reais per night or 600 reais per week. Couchsurfing - On this site, you can socialize and find people who can provide free accommodation for you.
Capsulas Hotels – Despite the limited size and the shared location, the capsules are well reserved and modern and provide a comfortable experience. Some capsule hotels even have a public bath or hot spring and various forms of entertainment. Daily rates can be found above 10 USD.
Volunteer work – Some companies like WWOOF Japan offer free accommodation and food for people who help with farm work. Companies that offer similar opportunities are helpx and workaway.
To camp – You can just pack a tent and camp in some forest or mountain, there are specific places to camp that are free or paid.
Others end up resorting to options like Karaoke, Manga Café, onsen, and other options. For more details, we recommend reading our article about types of accommodations and lodging in Japan.
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