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Accommodation
in Japan
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Like anywhere in the world,
Japan has a variety of accommodation available. Here's a run
down of the types of Accommodation available in Japan.
A word of warning, Japanese Hotels (and all things Japanese in fact), do not like surprises. Showing up at a hotel out of the blue without a reservation is not the done thing. Even if you call from just around the corner, you'll get a warmer welcome than just wandering in off the street. Resort Hotels / 5-Star Hotels Japan has some of the finest hotels in the world. All major cities and resorts have large, luxurious hotels, catering to the rich and famous. These are about the only places in Japan you can make a reservation in English from overseas, and these are the hotels your travel agent would like you to stay. You will have no problems communicating, and Western style services (toilets, food etc) are always available. Rates start at around 20,000yen per person, and skyrocket from there. There are a few off peak discounts available, but don't hold your breath. Almost all Resort Hotels nationwide will be fully booked months (even years) in advance for the following periods: Dec. 29 - Jan. 4, Apr. 28 - May 7th, Aug. 5 - 15th. Other peak times are during local festivals. Business Hotels / City Hotels Business hotels and City Hotels are everywhere. Even the smallest of towns seem to have some establishment calling itself a business hotel. You get a small room with a bed, shower/bath/toilet unit, a TV, and a cup of green tea. Many hotels also throw in a free breakfast. In general City Hotels are nicer than Business Hotels, and have a lot more facilities. They are also a little more expensive. They may be small but they are clean and comfortable, and staying in them can save you hundreds of dollars. Most Business Hotels are conveniently located near stations and other major thoroughfares. Almost all Business Hotels have information in English, and some of the staff can speak a little. A growing number are adding an English TV channel or two (mostly CNN). At the cheaper end of the market there are some communal bathrooms, but in almost all hotels built after 1980 you'll have your own, usually including Shampoo, Razor, Toothbrush etc. Prices start at as low as 4,000yen/person per night, and range up to 20,000yen. Even in Tokyo however you can get a nice (but small) room for around 8,000-9,000yen. You pay your room charge when you check in, and the balance of your stay (telephone calls etc.) when you check out. Capsule Hotels You've probably seen them on TV, the small holes in the wall where Japanese businessmen climb in to catch-up on some sleep. They are almost all strictly divided on a gender basis, with communal bathing. Most offer some extras like a Sauna, Coffee Shop etc. Some (most) have been known to refuse service to foreigners. My advice: Try if for the novelty, but don't plan on spending more than a night in one. Business Hotels are much nicer, and for the few extra dollars you get the privacy. Prices range from 3,000yen per night up to around 10,000yen. Ryokan Ryokan literally means "Traveler's Inn". If you want to experience traditional Japan, then a night in one will be for you. Most rooms are Japanese Style, where you sleep on a futon on the tatami mat floor, but a few are introducing western style rooms. Ryokan in the cities are not a lot different from a business hotel, and the rates are about the same, but in the resort areas, they are very nice and very expensive. Most charge per person, including dinner and breakfast. Watch out for the breakfast as you make be in for a surprise. Minshuku Minshuku means "People's Accommodation". Minshuku are similar to Ryokan, but are generally a more family-run type of business, and are a little cheaper. From the outside many look like a large house, and you sometimes eat with the family. More often not no English is spoken. Many foreigners think of Minshuku as quaint Japanese Inns. However, more often than not, they are run-down old houses, in dire need of repair. As with the Ryokan, you'll be sleeping on the floor on a futon. Pension Taken from the French "Pension", yet pronounced in the English manner (as in retirement income), Pension are the westernized version of the Ryokan and Minshuku. They are found in most resort area, and offer the same service as a Ryokan / Minshuku, with a European flavor. Rates are generally per person, including dinner and breakfast (both Western Style, often French). Rates vary from the standard to the very expensive. Pension are often found in "Pension-Mura", small hamlets of Pension. Love Hotels Love Hotels are the lower end of the accommodation spectrum. Rented by the hour, they offer a discreet place for couples to meet. They range from 30 floor concrete towers to small huts in the countryside. The one thing most have in common is the neon signs, usually with "hotel" written on then, and the garish color schemes. Many also have phallic looking objects indicating there location. If you see a Statue of Liberty anywhere, you're near a love hotel. On a sign near the entrance there will be 2 prices. The lower figure is for a "rest" of generally 2 hours, the higher is for a stay, meaning from 10 or 11pm through to 10am the next morning. Once you enter, you'll find a panel with all the rooms on it. The ones that are lit up are available. Push the button corresponding to the rooms, and pay your money through a whole in the wall (no faces are seen), and away you go. It may sound a bit sleazy (because it is), but the stay options are great if you show up somewhere late, and can't find somewhere to stay. Rooms are generally large, clean, and have excellent facilities. Many have other attractions like video games, karaoke, and some have a breakfast service. Enquiries to: franknoc@yahoo.com |
Japan Embassy of Ireland Ireland House 5F, 2-10-7 Kojimachi, Chiyoda -ku, Tokyo1020083 Tel : ++81 3 32630695 Fax : ++81 3 32652275
Korea Embassy of Ireland Daehan Fire and Marine Insurance Building, 15th Floor, 51-1 Namchang-Dong, Chung-Ku, 100-778 Seoul Tel : ++ 82 2 7746455 Fax : ++ 82 2 7746458
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