Japan is so expensive! A common reaction when I tell people I've done Japan for 10 days - without going broke. Oh
yeah. Japan is pricey alright. But there are ways to trim down costs. Wanna
save on accommodation? Stay in hostels!!!
Some
would cringe at the thought of sharing a room with a bunch of strangers. I've done it before and I had a blast!
The
price of hostels in Japan is almost the same as the hostels in Europe. The
difference in price will depend on the location and the type of hostel you want
(boutique hostel or basic hostel?). But both will fall around the $30 range. If
you find something cheaper, great!
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Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki |
I
wanted to stay in a capsule hotel but most of the staff there do not speak English and most cater to men business travellers. So, no capsule hotel for
now.
I
read that the best place to stay in Tokyo is around Shinjuku or Tokyo area.
These are near the popular tourist attractions, and a great place to just feel
the vibe of the city. However, these locations have really limited hostels –
and the hostels are not cheap. So I decided to stay in Asakusa instead. The
hostels here are cheaper and it is in Asakusa, which still has some houses in
old Japan style.
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Asakusa streets at night |
Deciding
for a hostel was quite easy, I just picked the highest rating hostel in
Tripadvisor. It suits my basic needs: Free wifi, hot water, lockers, baggage
custody, and near the metro station. They do not have breakfast but that is
fine. They have a fridge and kitchen. I survived by eating rice cakes, bread,
and coffee for breakfast – all from a convenience store nearby.
If
you are arriving from Narita Airport, please take the KEISEI DIRECT EXPRESS to
avoid lots of stops. Do print the hostel’s directions posted in their website. I
had little trouble finding the hostel.
The
location is perfect - near the Asakusa and Ginza lines. At night, you can walk
around the wonderfully lit streets of Asakusa, and you can take a pic of the
Skytree at night.
Check-in
time is in the afternoon so you can leave your luggage while you explore the
city. The common room has a bathrrom with toilet and sink so you can freshen up a bit before
heading out. No shower though, so you’ll have to survive with basic grooming. The
common room is well equipped with various information about touring Tokyo and
Japan.
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The common room's dining and kitchen area |
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The famous Japanese toilet |