There is so much to see and do in Japan that sometimes a short trip simply isn’t enough. If you find yourself in the country for multiple weeks and months at a time – whether for work, leisure, or otherwise – you’ll need somewhere to stay. However, some hotels can get expensive, while others are specifically designed with short-term visitors in mind.
Luckily, today there are tons of options, from capsule hotels to Airbnb to share house programs and even homestays. If you’re planning an extended stay in Japan, here are just a few great options to consider.
&Here: A new kind of hotel
The &Here brand has already made a name for itself as a prime option when it comes to long-term accommodations – and it’s not even open yet! The first &Here hotel, located in Ueno, Tokyo, is scheduled to open on March 15, 2024. It was delayed slightly following an originally planned January launch. However, it has been taking reservations since July 2023, and the first several months are already heavily booked.
Developer Nittetsu Kowa stated that the &Here hotels were designed to appeal to visitors who want or need to stay in Japan for a long time. CEO Imaizumi Yasuhiko described the &Here brand as “residential hotels” and stated that they would be well-suited to families and large groups.
In addition to the already constructed Ueno location, &Here hotels are planned to open in Asakusa and Shinjuku as well as Osaka’s Namba district. Current estimates foresee a 2025 opening at the earliest.
&Here Is designed for long stays
&Here’s hotels will feature accommodations designed for long-term guests. These include multi-occupancy rooms and suites, kitchen and laundry facilities, and both Japanese and Western-style relaxation rooms.
The Ueno location also features a 14th-floor bath with a view of Ueno Park. Its cafeteria is designed as both a place to work remotely and a place to enjoy a bite to eat. Guests are also provided with information about nearby activities such as Sensoji Temple, the Ueno Zoo, and Tokyo Skytree. [2]
Rooms at &Here will be available for a variety of prices depending on group size. Single rooms sleeping up to four will run 30000 to 50000 yen per night. Larger suites with multiple bedrooms and attached mini-kitchens will cost between 100000 to 120000 yen per night.
Nittetsu Kowa states that 80% of their current reservations are from overseas visitors. Many of the first wave of guests will be staying for multiple weeks and even months.
Sharehouses: An affordable option
Unfortunately, &Here’s prices won’t be affordable for every visitor. One more cost-conscious option is a sharehouse.
A sharehouse is an establishment that typically combines pre-furnished residential rooms – often a mix of private and shared – and communal facilities like kitchens, laundry, relaxation and entertainment areas. Share houses offer the opportunity to sign a longer-term stay contract without tons of hidden fees. Additionally, unlike renting an apartment or house, a sharehouse generally comes fully furnished with pre-working utilities such as WiFi.
A number of sharehouse companies operate in Japan. These include Oak House, Fresh Room, Borderless House, and Sakura House. Residence in a sharehouse tends to be quite affordable. A month might cost visitors between 35,000 and 80,000 yen – the equivalent to a single night at &Here Ueno.
In addition, some share houses offer female-only accommodations and bonus features like shuttle service to nearby train stations. Many also host events for residents. Sakura House, for example, often throws karaoke parties or cooking demonstrations featuring traditional Japanese meals.
Keep in mind, though, that staying in a sharehouse might limit your location options. Most sharehouse companies operate only in major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Still, with rapid travel options like the Shinkansen available, a sharehouse could make a good “home base” to operate out of while you embark on day or weekend trips around Japan.
Additionally, sharehouses can fill up quick. Most require reservations multiple months in advance.
Hostels: For the wanderer
Including hostels on a list of “best options for an extended stay in Japan” may initially seem odd. However, they can be the perfect choice if you want to keep moving around rather than tie yourself down to one spot.
With hostel stays, you have the freedom to move around and not commit yourself to staying more than one night in a particular place. They’re also generally quite affordable, and many offer fun bonuses like breakfast, baths or access to a local onsen, or more. Many hostels also understand that visitors will be traveling light and offer hygiene products or laundry services for purchase or rent.
Hostels exist pretty much everywhere in Japan. They range from cozy family-owned homes to enormous facilities with hundreds of guests at a time. If you’re going to be hostel-hopping during your long stay in Japan, though, there’s a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
One, always keep change on you. Most are cash-only and have small rental fees for lockers, towels, and other add-ons.
Two, bring a power bank or backup battery. Outlets – and the beds near them – can be prime real estate at many hostels.
Third, do your research and look for fun and unique hostels. Some of the places I stayed during my own time in Japan include a Moomin-themed hostel in Sapporo and a camping store in Tokyo that let travelers sleep in the display tents after the shop closed.
Other Options
Of course, these are only a few of the great options available for people wanting to stay in Japan for an extended length of time. With the increased popularity of “staycations” and “work-cations,” companies like Nagano’s Snow Monkey Resorts are offering special extended-stay packages and itineraries. AirBnB, while strongly regulated, also has a growing presence in Japan. Some standard hotels also offer “extended stay” plans with discounted rates. Make sure to do your research before making a final decision about where to stay!
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Sources
[1] PR Times. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000254.000001379.html
[2] &Here Hotels. https://andherehotels.jp/
[3] Sakura House. https://www.sakura-house.com/jp/
[4] Snow Monkey Resorts. https://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/lifestyle/long-term-stays-in-japan/
