Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn

In Japan, there are a variety of accommodations available. My first night in the country was spent in a business hotel. Although the room had a decent bed and shower, it wasn't very memorable. When I started making money and traveling around Japan, I stayed at an assortment of places from budget to high-end.

GUEST HOUSE
When planning a trip to Kyoto, a friend suggested the Tani Inn, an International Guest House. It was walking distance from the train station and close to the major temples and shrines in the city.

Autumn trip with Claudette and Kelly

The Tani Inn was cheap and convenient. Consisting of 12 guest rooms, we met travelers from all over the world. There was a common room with a small t.v. and this is where breakfast was served in the morning. The owner spoke English and was extremely helpful, providing directions and maps of the city.








The only point of contention were the bathrooms. Despite the fact they were westernized, they could have used some updating. Although I commended the owner for matching the toilet cozy with the colour of the toilet, there was a lot of pink going on in such a small room.

You can urinate, shower, and brush your teeth...all at the same time

YOUTH HOSTELS
There are approximately 300 youth hostels across Japan and they're both clean and comfortable. You don't need a membership card and people of all ages can stay. The rates are affordable (although more expensive than youth hostels in other countries) and they offer dinner and breakfast for an extra cost.

There were six of us traveling together during Christmas break and we spent one night at a hostel in Hiroshima. Situated on top of a hill, it provided a great view of the city. When you checked in, you were given a room and bed/bunk number. The men and women were in separate parts of the hostel. It was a large facility and the staff were very welcoming.

RYOKAN
Ryokan are Japanese style inns and very popular for both Japanese and tourists. When you enter the ryokan, you take your shoes off, leave them at the front door, slide on some slippers and an attendant will then check you in and show you to your room. This is common practice at many facilities across the country. Over the course of six years, I didn't lose one pair of shoes. Granted, I wouldn't have left a pair of my Fluevog's (if you aren't familiar with them, visit www.fluevog.com) but my blue Chucks were always there at check out.

Genkan (entrance) where you leave your shoes

The bedroom floor is tatami and you sleep on a futon. In this manner, the ryokan is similar to a guest house, however, the quality is far more superior. The bedding is exceedingly comfortable and the room is very quiet. There's a table in the room and your attendant brings in your meals (both supper and breakfast) which feature local cuisine.

Most ryokans have beautiful gardens, sporting activities and public areas for guests to enjoy. They have ofuro which is a common bathing area segregated by gender. Guests are given a yukata or robe to wear. The ryokan is an experience that shouldn't be missed when traveling in Japan. This was unequivocally my preferred choice of lodging and I stayed at a number of them throughout the country. The reception is warm and inviting, and the comfort level can't be beat.

MINSHUKU
A budget version of the ryokan, minshukus are located in towns too small for a hotel or ryokan. They are family run and the equivalent to a European pension hotel or a western style B&B or boarding house. You spend your meals with the other guests and with the family that owns/runs the minshuku.

CAPSULE HOTEL

The capsule hotel is not ideal for someone that suffers from claustrophobia! They resemble a morgue with the capsules stacked side by side and on top of each other. This is a perfect alternative for one looking for a cheap place to stay, without the amenities the bigger hotels afford. These pod-like capsules have free wireless and a t.v. There is a storage locker for your luggage and communal washrooms.  The capsule hotels are optimal for single travelers on a budget.

LOVE HOTELS 

Hugely popular in Japan, love hotels offer a short stay for couples looking for some privacy while engaging in sexual activities. Entrances are discreet, parking is hidden, and there is little interaction with staff. There are no windows to maximize privacy. Couples have the choice of a "rest" or "stay". The rates are based on the hour, and a "rest" lasts 1-3 hours. The "stay" are for couples who spend the night. With more and more of Japan's youth living at home until they marry (if they marry), these hotels offer the privacy a couple needs. Love hotels bring in an annual revenue in the billions.

Hello Kitty...setting the mood. You feeling it? 

The hotels often have a theme. Steps from my apartment was the Shakespeare Love Hotel. Being an English major, I could embrace that. Most hotels have karaoke, baths, rotating beds and condoms on the bedside table. With the "rest" option, these hotels are also used by travelers who need to grab a few hours sleep, but don't want to pay full rates at an expensive hotel.

Big Red

When I returned to Canada, I worked at a hotel for seven years and with that came the benefit of receiving employee discounts. Now that I no longer work at a hotel, I prefer to find accommodations using VRBO (vacation rental by owner) or airbnb. Nowadays, I no longer travel with a backpack or on a budget. I swapped my backpack for Big Red, my suitcase that has four wheels and spins!

I'm fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel around Japan and stay at a number of places. I could have stayed at Holiday Inn's, but traveling is about braving the new and unknown. The various accommodations added to my overall Japanese experience and I couldn't have asked for better lodging while traveling there.

~MT