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26 amazing things about Japanese budget hotels

35 Comments

Having a hard time deciding the accommodation for your holiday in Japan? Tight on budget, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort? Don’t worry, because Japanese budget hotels are cheap (usually about 3,000 yen per person, per night) and yet provide top-notch service. You probably won’t find anything that is more value for money than this in other countries.

Here we bring you 26 reasons why Japanese budget hotels are so amazing.

1. Free mineral water.

Tap water is safe for drinking in Japan. But if you’re one of those who dislike the idea of drinking from a tap, most hotels provide free bottles of mineral water.

2. Bathroom amenities are available, and often for free.

Forgot to bring your skin care travel pack? It’s ok. A wide range of bathroom amenities ranging from lotion, moisturizers, facial cleansers, to body soap is provided, and most of the time, they’re free! Some hotels even have separate bathroom amenities sets for men and women.

3. Guests can watch unlimited movies for only 1,000 yen.

At a small price, you can buy a movie card which allows you to watch unlimited movies.

4. Bath towels are conveniently placed above the shower head.

The Japanese always take the extra effort to ensure your comfort. Things are always placed in the most convenient locations. You won’t have to worry about slipping in the bathroom while trying to reach for the towels.

5. Smoking rooms.

If you’re a smoker, good news for you. The hotels have certain guest rooms where smoking is allowed. For non-smokers, remember to request for a non-smoking room when booking your rooms. As for how the fire alarm system differentiates cigarette smoke and real fire, it’s a mystery.

6. Personalized “welcome back” notes by housekeepers.

Every night, you are welcomed back to the hotel with a personalized note. “Hope you had a good day! –XX, housekeeper.”

7.Internet is free.

Internet, LAN or wifi, is available in all rooms at no extra cost. Hence, there is no need to sign up for data roaming when travelling to Japan.

8. Expensive ionic hair dryers are provided.

For ladies out there, you’ll be happy to know that the hotels provide expensive ionic dryers that emit negative ions and make your hair all silky and shiny. Say goodbye to dry and frizzy hair during vacation.

9. All hotels have vending machines and ice makers.

Vending machines are everywhere in Japan. Enough said.

10. Phone chargers – yes, even iPhone chargers – are available in guest rooms.

No worries even if you have accidentally left your phone charger at home. The hotel rooms are equipped with them.

11. Rooms are equipped with air purifiers.

You don’t need to worry about dusty hotel rooms. Breathe in fresh air.

12. Newspapers are free.

If you can understand Japanese, you can even read the newspapers for free.

13. You get to choose your favorite pillow.

If you’re one of those who can’t sleep well in hotels, perhaps a good pillow may solve the problem. One of the hotel chains, Super Hotel, provides pillows that come in 7 different heights and firmness for guests to choose from. Pick your favorite one from the shelves in the lobby after checking in.

14. Hotels have washing machines and dryers.

Normal hotel laundry services are expensive, but budget hotels have coin operated washing machines and dryers which cost around 100-200 yen per load.

15. Free item rentals.

Anything that you might need during a stay in a hotel, such as steam irons, nail clippers, extension cords, bottle openers, or corkscrews, can be rented for free.

16. Advanced toilets.

Yes, you can find the world-famous high-tech Japanese toilets even in budget hotel rooms. Seats that keep your butts warm in winter, built-in bidets, sound effects for the embarrassed, you’ll be amazed at what the toilets can do.

17. Onsen baths can be even found in some hotels.

You don’t have to stay in an expensive hot spring inn to enjoy onsen. Some hotels have their own onsen baths. Just remember to abide by the bathing etiquette.

18. Breakfast is sometimes free as well.

Some hotels entitle all guests to free breakfasts. It can be a simple bread-with-coffee set or even a full breakfast buffet, depending on the hotel.

19. Compact rooms.

Guests may sometimes feel that the rooms are a little too small with not enough space to walk around. But hey, look at all those amenities available in the room! Japanese budget hotels are small but compact.

20. Origami souvenirs.

One origami is placed on the table or by the bedside everyday when the housekeeper comes in to clean the room. You may bring the origami with you as souvenirs during checkout.

21. Rooms are equipped with humidifiers.

The weather in Japan is quite dry throughout the year (excluding the summer), so having humidifiers in the rooms really help.

22. Self check-out system.

If you don’t speak Japanese or are a shy person, you may want to avoid speaking to the Japanese person at the reception counter as much as possible. With a self check-out system, you can just drop the room card into the post box on your way out.

23. Japanese yukatas are provided.

One of the exciting things about staying in Japanese hotels or inns is that you get a chance at wearing their traditional clothing. Just remember to wear it left over right! (Right over left is for the dead at funerals.)

24. All rooms have bath-tubs.

Japanese bathrooms are pretty small, measuring about 1.5 by 1.5 meters, but they will always come with a bath-tub. You’ll be amazed at how the Japanese can squeeze a toilet seat, a sink AND a bath-tub in such small space.

25. Some hotels even have guest rooms that come with massage chairs.

Yes, in some hotels, you can even enjoy some massage after a long tiring day of work or sightseeing.

26. TVs have adult video channels.

The TVs do come with adult video channels. So if you have kids with you, you might want to hold on to the remote and select the safe ones for them to watch.

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


35 Comments
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A budget hotel?

Is this some newly classified hotel here in Japan?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Rocket News really loves to use the word, "amazing", with anything connected with Japan. I wish they would expand their vocabulary a little more. Some of the things in these hotels are pretty good, but I would hardly call any of them, "amazing".

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Doesn't match my experience with hotels here. Only place I've stayed in that cheap was a capsule hotel.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Rather a lot of generalisation in this article and, how do you rent something for free? Either you borrow it or it is loaned to you.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Some of these are quite common...bathroom ammenities, toilets, compact rooms with a bath,vending machines and ice makers. However some are rare and wouldn't really be expected in a budget hotel like origami, personalized notes and massage chairs. I have had those services too, but usually at much more expensive hotels, ryokans or minshuku which do go out of their way to give a more personal experience.

But my favorite thing about budget hotels in Japan is the free toothbrush and razor. I always pack my own, but apparently those 2 items always get spirited away during my travels. So, for me it is nice that I don't have to worry about buying new ones at a conbini at 11pm.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This could be re-worded to say "26 standard things budget hotels have in common with other non-budget hotels." Another nice thing about hotels in general is that they give you an umbrella to keep on the way out if it's raining.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Super Hotel provides pillows that come in 7 different heights and firmness for guests to choose from"

Amazing!

"Origami souvenirs"

I want one made by Gaff.

"You'll be amazed at what the toilets can do"

For one thing, they can get your rear end squeaky clean!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The amenities, free internet and free japanese breakfast (at some business hotels) are what I like about these low budget hotels. I haven't found any for 3,000 yen, but they are usually below 7,000 yen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

BUT they rarely have any no non-smoking rooms and definitely no non-smoking floors so the smell stale smoke runs throughout most of the business hotels. The walls are like paper so you can hear all kinds of stuff next to your room...noisy most times. Other than that they provide all the basics. Just make sure to bring ear plugs and sleeping pills for those who want to get a real good nights rest!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All I need is a place to sleep and take a shower, I,m there to see Japan, not the room's. but I alway's do my home work on hotel's and motel's...Who dosen't like a good deal, a real bargain....I know I DO...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Love hotels are cheaper and much more fun.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

But perhaps not for a stay, as opposed to a rest :-)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

yokatta, all the "budget hotels" (they are called business hotels in Japanese) I've stayed in had non-skoking rooms, typically on a non-smoking floor. I always stay at these hotels for business, and I agree with all the aspects of the article. But I've never found a 3000 yen one, typically 6-9,000 yen, but I do care about location. And I usually but a hotel/shinkansen package, it gets much cheaper

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Paying per person is stupid.

For ¥5000 you can stay at a suepr posh love hotel.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

i can relate to number 6! i find heaps of them in my husband's travel bag on his business trips! they are usually origamitized.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Amazing things about hotels? Towels? Pillows? Non-smoking rooms? Blue movies? These are amazing?

The writer forgot to mention that some rooms have doors and windows, and both hot AND cold water comes out of the taps.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

We've obviously stayed at very different business hotels. The ones I stay at never have free wi-fi, bottled water, personal notes from staff, all you can watch movie for 1000 yen....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'm waiting for the follow-up article: the names and addresses of the hotels in Japan that really do cost 3,000 yen and boast all the features listed by the writer. Well?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

JeffLee - if truly ¥3,000 w/ those actual amenities the list will be short.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

3000 yen hmm not bad, later they will cost you plus plus plus scrarry ...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As hard as Japanese newspapers usually try, it will be hard to top this article for nonsense... What a ridiculous list. First of all it is full of lies, those things are almost always NOT available, or only aganst extra cost.

A paper that prints such nonense is simplyterrible. I challenge you to print a list of those hotels !

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Paying per person is stupid.

I agree and hate this about Japanese hotels. But recently I have discovered that many business hotels actually charge per room and not per person. (At least when I book through hotels.com.) Something to bear in mind.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese budget hotels do not provide free mineral water but free internet is always available. For Y3000 you'd better check the reviews and make sure the place isn't infested with bed bugs. I've stayed in some Y4000 places which were OK, if a little old and tired. Go up to Y5000 and you can find some good deals. I stayed in a former love hotel in Nara last month: Y5000 a night for a big, quiet room, huge bath, internet and breakfast. Very nice.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I found a hotel charging y2000 with toilet and coffee provided. When I arrived I was directed to a recliner chair in the lobby. They still hadn't called me for going to my room after one hour so I walked over to the front desk. "sorry, chair IS room.....You sleep now. Coffee machine on floor 35, toilet in park."

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Onsen baths

What budget hotels have onsen baths!? Hokkaido?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

stayed recently at b&b pansion near hakone for 3000 yen. free breakfast, onsen and others mentioned on this page.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You're not kidding about Compact Rooms, are you?

In budget hotels in Tokyo you have just enough space to shuffle along the space between the wall and your bed and continue sideways to the end of the bed to the grimy unopenable window and gaze upon the magnificent view of another building a few centimetres away.

Still it's better than a "capsule hotel."

Well, a bit better.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japanese Yukatas? As opposed to what other kind?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Can't find these prices in New York City.... Very sad !!!! Plus free bathrobes & slippers !!!!

Japanese hotels are very CLEAN !!!!

Hotel breakfast at a Narita hotel I stayed at was NASTY and GROSS.

It was close to Narita Station. Not the airport but Narita JR Station.

Breakfast is sometimes free as well. Some hotels entitle all guests to free breakfasts. It can be a simple bread-with-coffee set or even a full breakfast buffet, depending on the hotel.>

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Some hotels here are ok and some, depending on who is NEXT door to you, can drive you CRAZY, because I had to stay at one of these so called a budget hotels for years in Hanzonmon, Tokyo and boy oh boy! If you had a loud snoring type next door, kiss your quiet sleep, or if you have loud drunk folk etc..surprised that nobody mentioned that on these posts.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As other posters have written, some of these points definitely don't apply to all budget hotels. And 3000 yen is cheaper than anything I've ever seen -- and I am the King of the Cheap Charlies when it comes to finding budget hotels to stay at when I'm away for conferences in Japan. I think a more realistic price range for a mid-class business hotel that might fit most of the points above would be between 5,800~7,800 a night.

Having said that, business hotels are a great deal in a country that typically robs guests blind for hotel stays. Highly recommended.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I've stayed at a lot of budget hotels in the ¥3000-¥7500 a night "budget hotels" over the past five that did not offer half of that. Putting that aside, I do like the business hotels simply for the fact that they are seldom more than a block from the train station and as a train buff, it's usually the first place I hit in the morning.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sounds cool to me! THEN AGAIN.... it depends WHERE EXACTLY it is in Japan.****

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you want the price, you'd probably have to go to a Capsule Inn http://capsuleinn.com/en/.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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