*This post includes affiliate links
Where to stay in Tokyo on a budget? Is that even possible? Yes, it is!
Japan, and especially Tokyo, has a reputation for being a high-cost travel destination.
The truth is, it’s much cheaper than most people expect. You can do it with a tight budget too.
I share my tips for a few hotels and hostels where I have stayed on my trips to Tokyo plus some other options to choose from.
How much does it cost to stay in Tokyo
The sky is the limit, of course, but my tips are for places to stay for less than 100 euros a night, usually much less.
We’ll dig deeper in a bit, but first, a little bit of background for this article.
I have traveled to Japan multiple times, and often stay months at a time.
Being a digital nomad and constantly traveling, I couldn’t spend as much money as people who travel a couple of times a year and are willing to pay for luxury on their holidays.
Once again, I read a post on a travelers’ group on Facebook asking for Tokyo accommodation prices.
This poster had been asked for almost ten thousand euros for less than a two-week itinerary. It’s fair to say that it included also tours elsewhere in Japan, but the price was still ridiculous.
10 000! I have traveled for three months in Japan for half of that money!
Budgeting for a Japan trip
Some travel agents seem to think that everyone can afford to pay 1000 euros a day.
I understand it’s their work and source of income, but I think some of the agents could stand a bit more on their customer’s side and not just be greedy for their own profits.
A thousand euros is a crazy amount of money, and my total budget for my Japan trips is usually much less than 100 euros a day.
Actually, 50 euros a day is pretty much what I spend in total, but being a quite frugal minimalist I would suggest others to budget a bit more. Especially if you want to do some fine dining and shopping of course.
But we’ll talk about other travel expenses at another time, this article is exclusively for budgeting for a place to stay in Tokyo.
I needed to do this for you
So what I did after reading another post about crazy high traveling costs to Japan. I searched through my notes to check the places I have stayed in Tokyo and sent the list to this traveler in doubt.
I have shared tips for my readers and friends for affordable stays when someone has asked, but I felt now it was time to find, well, time to write this article.
I feel so bad for people spending all their savings just because they don’t know how much is a reasonable amount to pay to stay in Tokyo, Japan in general, or anywhere else while traveling.
Thanks for her asking, I finally made this list, and now I am sharing it with you too.
It’s not complete and I might add more suggestions later on (when I remember all the places I’ve stayed in and hopefully I’ll soon get to try some new ones), but here is something for you to start with.
*Note: My list has affiliate links, so I might also get some profit if you book through my links, but for you, there are no extra costs.
Where to stay in Tokyo on a budget
Let’s talk about different accommodation styles first, so you can get an idea of what type of place would suit your needs and budget.
As a digital nomad having a slow travel lifestyle, I tend to stay in apartments, but in Tokyo, I usually stay only about one week at a time on a way to somewhere else in Japan, so I prefer hotels & hostels here.
Hotels, hostels & capsule stays
To travel in Japan on a budget doesn’t mean you should sleep in a park or an internet cafe or such. I wouldn’t.
Though I have been camping in Okinawa for 2 € per night having my tent parked at the seashore. But that’s another story, now we’ll check out Tokyo accommodation options on a budget.
Hotels, hostels, and capsule hotels,- all less than 100 euros a night.
Please note that in peak seasons and festive times demand is high and prices can go up significantly, or everything is simply fully booked.
So my tip is to book a place to stay as early as you can, no matter what price range or accommodation type you are looking for.
Capsule hotels in Japan
You have probably heard of these tiny capsule hotels that are popular in the big cities in Japan, especially among businessmen.
They are inexpensive and also fun to experience. But if you are carrying luggage or have a tendency for claustrophobia, capsules might not be your choice.
If you are willing to try, just make sure for which gender they are reserved, especially if you are a female. Some of the capsule hotels only accommodate men, while others welcome also women.
For whom: Especially for solo travelers looking for the cheapest option.
Hostels in Tokyo
The second style of affordable accommodation is hostels. There are an enormous amount of hostels in Tokyo to choose from.
If you think of those noisy and sweaty-socks-smelling youth hostels you’ve experienced in Europe or Australia, don’t worry. Japanese hostels are super clean and quiet.
What I most love about them are the beds. Forget about squeaky bunkbeds, in Tokyo hostels, you can expect to have a private little space, oftentimes with wooden walls.
These beds are similar to capsules, but usually a bit larger in size.
Some of these come with double beds! This is a great option for traveling couples. When I travel with my hubby – which I nowadays do in our nomad life – this is our most popular choice.
Not only because of the double bed option and cheap price but because most of the hostels have a shared kitchen. A must-have for long trips and for anyone who doesn’t want to eat out multiple times a day, money-wise or otherwise.
Hostels might be a little bit more expensive than capsule stays, but not always. Plus you can save money cooking yourself or buying something from kombini (l7/11, Lawson) to heat up in a microwave oven
For whom: Solo travelers & couples on a budget and for those wanting to cook themselves.
Hotels in Tokyo
Hotels are obviously the most expensive accommodation style in Tokyo, but it doesn’t mean that they are out of your reach with a smaller budget. Especially if you are traveling with a partner.
A hotel room doesn’t necessarily cost more than two beds in a hostel dormitory.
We often book a room at *the APA Hotel. They are a big chain having dozens of hotels around Japan, also a few in Tokyo. Rooms are usually small, but you can expect to pay around 70 € per night which I think is a pretty good price in the biggest city in the world.
APA hotels are also centrally located.
For most of the other hotels in Tokyo, you can expect to spend more than 100 € per night.
For whom: For couples, or solo travelers on a bit more permissive budget.
Budget-friendly accommodation in Tokyo
Finally the ultimate list of affordable places to stay in Tokyo!
Haha, maybe not an ultimate, but you know, that’s how all travel bloggers love to refer to their posts and lists.
Honestly, I hope you find this helpful and will find something to make your Tokyo travel dream come true even on a smaller budget.
I mention the location of the accommodation for each place to help you to choose. Tokyo is a huge city with 14 million inhabitants, so if you are planning to visit a certain neighborhood of the city, you can save a lot of time booking your stay in the same area.
I book my stays (hotels, hostels, and short-term apartments) via *Booking.com and am also their affiliate partner, so naturally, I use their links here.
Price examples are per night and are checked for December 2023, and they might vary daily.
When you click on the hotel link just switch the dates for your needs and you’ll see availability and exact prices.
Aaand here it comes:
The list
of the cheap hotels & hostels in Tokyo
(in no particular order)
1.
APA is a big chain with a lot of different hotels.
*This one has a nice little spa on the rooftop with small pools inside and outside on the balcony.
Location: Asakusa-Ekimae
Around 70 € per room
2.
*Book & bed
is a fun hostel concept – you will sleep on bookshelves!
The one we have stayed in doesn’t exist anymore, but this hostel is part of the same chain.
Location: Shinjuku
From 36 € per bed
3.
*Stay Work Asakusa
is a lovely hostel with comfy wooden sleeping “lockers” in a dorm. The public area is quite big, so there’s space for dining and working.
Location: Asakusa
Bed in a dorm 23 €
Private room 55 €
4.
*Tokyo Guesthouse Hive
I haven’t stayed in this one, but it’s similar to those I’ve been to and it’s affordable and centrally located.
Location: Tokyo, Bakurocho station
From 30 € (dorm)
5.
*Guesthouse Tokyo Azabu
This is also similar to places I’ve stayed, but I haven’t personally tested this one. I list this because of its location as my favorite hostel in Akabanebashi was closed down a while ago. I have stayed in the area multiple times, and I think it’s one of the most convenient areas to stay and explore the city by foot or by metro.
Location: Minato/Akabanebashi
From 30 € (dorm)
To be continued…
P.S. Are you looking for destination ideas for your Japan trip?
Jump into our other Japan posts to get more travel tips.