What Are the Most Affordable Hotel Chains in Japan?

Hotels will most likely be the biggest expense on your trip. Today, we’re going to tell you about the five most affordable hotel chains in Japan.

Business Hotel Chains in Japan

Business hotel chains in Japan fall into the 2 and 3-star category of hotels. Don’t let this deter you though, they still include a lot of great amenities. All of these types of hotels include shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, hair dryer, refrigerator, electric kettle, complimentary tea and coffee, nightwear, slippers, and in-room safe.

These hotels also include free Wi-Fi, vending machines with beer, canned coffee, sodas, fruit drinks, and snacks. They also usually have coin laundry machines, with both washers and dryers.

Many 3-star hotels provide free tea and coffee in the lobby for guests during, and after, check-in.

Toyoko Inn

Toyoko Inn is a 2-star business hotel chain with locations all over Japan. They’re very affordable, safe, and clean, but their rooms are really small. They also have very firm beds and hard, dense pillows.

The room rate always includes breakfast at all the Toyoko Inns, all over Japan. You’ll find Japanese foods and some western options here and there. Maybe some salad, vegetables, eggs, and bread. It varies from one Toyoko Inn to the next.

For Japanese food, they typically have onigiri rice balls and miso soup, which is a pretty common breakfast in Japan.

The one interesting thing about Toyoko Inn is that the CEO is a woman, and they are very female-oriented. Nearly ninety-five percent of the employees are women, and almost all the managers are women.

3-Star Hotels

There are 3-star hotel chains all over Japan. Most are categorized as business hotels. This means the rooms are still pretty small, ranging between 10 to 20 square meters.

They usually have a breakfast buffet, but it’s not included in the base room rate. It’s usually an extra charge onto the room, or you can pay on the day.

Most of the buffets have Japanese and western style foods. Although it’s not complimentary, it’s a higher quality breakfast than at Toyoko Inn.

MyStays

Some of the MyStays hotels have Onsen style public baths. The baths are gender-separated and only available to guests staying at the hotel.

APA Hotels

APA Hotels have locations all over Japan, and many locations also have Onsen baths for guests. Their base rooms are very affordable, and very small.

Just so you know, there has been a little bit of controversy surrounding the owner. So, it’s up to you whether you want to stay there or not.

Tokyu Stays

Tokyu Stays are a wonderful option for families or for people staying in Japan for a longer period of time. They have rooms with kitchenettes, microwaves, and in-room washer and dryers. This is nice because it saves you from having to go down to the lobby to wash your clothes.

Many of the Tokyu Stays have a variety of room types. Some locations even have Japanese style rooms and an Onsen bath on premises.

Dormy Inn

Almost all Dormy Inn hotels have complimentary Onsen style baths for guests. Some of them also include a late night Ramen hour. They also have welcome drinks for the guests during, and after, check in.

What to Look For

There are other 2 and 3-star hotel chains in Japan. The main thing that you want to look for when choosing a hotel is room size. We recommend no less than 20 square meters for two people. Anything smaller will make it hard to open your suitcases and move around the room.

Another thing to pay attention to is the types of mattresses the hotel uses. From our experience, Simmons and Sealy are the top picks. They offer great support and quality.

Also, pay attention to the age of the hotel, or at least the last renovation date. The age really does matter and the price point will be pretty similar. A newer, or recently renovated, hotel will feel more luxurious.

Finally, don’t be afraid of hotel point cards or hotel membership cards. If you do book on the hotels official website, and you sign up for their point card system, then it’s possible that you might be able to get some discounts. Sometimes it’s money off your room rate, or after accumulating enough points, you might even get a free night!