Business hotels are often the cheapest hotels in town. They are designed to provide Japanese business travellers with a small, clean, en-suite room.

While they are often characterless and homogenous, the facilities provided, for example, internet or wifi, can be excellent.

Virtually every town has business hotels, and in places where there is less tourism, away from Tokyo and Kyoto, these hotels are a good budget option to consider. In cities and larger towns, business hotels tended to be our staple accommodation. Prices can start from as low as 4,000yen/person per night. They are especially good value for a couple as the prices for double rooms are only a little higher than that for singles.

Even more fortunately, there were a couple of occasions where the hotel staff allowed us to book a single room for the two of us and so save even more money!

Capsule hotels

Capsule Hotels are famous for their economy-sized accommodation with endless rows of ‘capsules’ (holes in the wall essentially), which contain a bed and television. For visitors, this can provide a real novelty hotel experience.

We never actually stayed in a Capsule Hotel ourselves as business hotels tend to be a better option for couples. For single travelers, however, particularly men, this can be a good cheap option. A capsule bed will cost you from between 3,000 to 10,000 yen per person.

Only a few Capsule Hotels actually cater for women as they were originally created to provide accommodation for Japanese businessmen leaving nightclubs and bars after the last trains have finished running. Note that Capsule Hotels normally have communal bathing facilities. Travelers should also be aware that there are some Capsule Hotels which will turn away foreigners.