Tokyo, Japan, has plenty of discount hotels. There are the famous "capsule" hotels, where the room consists of a capsule into which the guest fits. Then there are hotels for foreign backpackers, which are much cheaper than average Tokyo hotels. It can be a challenge finding discount hotels and communicating with the staff. Very little information is available in English, and few of the discount hotels have websites. However, there is a database maintained by the Tokyo city government that lists hotels in the city.
The Sakura Hotel is part of a chain of hotels and hostels aimed at foreign guests. The staff normally speak English, and there is Internet available in the hotel. In the Jimbocho hotel, which is situated about a mile from the Imperial Palace, there are four types of rooms, from one bed rooms to group accomodations. A single room costs 3,150 yen (about $37 in September 2010).
Sakura Hotel Jimbocho
2-21-4 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo 101-0051
011-81-3-3261-3939
www.sakura-hotel.co.jp
Capsule hotels have evolved since the first ones opened in 1979. However, the concept is still the same: Small bunk rooms with the barest necessities. Most are open to men only. Easily accessible from the Yaesu exist of the Tokyo central station is the First Inn Kyobashi, which has 70 capsules at 5400 yen (about. $64 in September 2010) for an overnight stay. Daytime stays are also available. There are two capsule levels per floor.
Naniwa Hotels, First Inn Kyobashi
2-6-16 Kyobashi Chuo-ku Tokyo
Tokyo 104-0031
011-81-3-3564-0141
www.naniwa1001.co.jp
Traditional Japanese inns are called ryokan, and they offer accomodations in traditional Japanese rooms, with beds on the floors covered in tatami grass mats. Tama Ryokan is not one the type of luxury ryokan in the countryside that serves both breakfast and dinner. Here, for 4,500 yen per guest a night (about. $53 in September 2010)you get only your room. The ryokan only has six rooms. It is located in the Takadanobaba neighborhood, about three miles from Shinjuku station.
Tama Ryokan
1-25-33 Takadanobaba
Shinjuku Tokyo 169-0075
011-81-3-3209-8062
www.tamaryokan.com
