So you want to stay in Japan cheap.
Like really cheap.
You’re probably already aware of great inexpensive hotel chains such as APA, Hotel METS, and others.
You’ve probably also heard about or stayed in capsule hotels, which for $20-$35/night give you a small tube to sleep in along with a common shower area and usually a ground-floor common living area and kitchen.
Fair enough, but there’s an even cheaper way.
How does under $10/night sound?
We’re talking a month’s stay in Tokyo for around $250/mo.
Japan’s Internet Cafés
Internet cafes (ICs) popped up in Japan sometime in the 1990’s when the internet became big but toursits started to shy away from capsule hotels, many of which were aging in Tokyo by that time.
An internet cafe is a place where for a thousand Yen or so (roughly $10 USD) you can stay for a night or in some cases a few hours. You usually get your own room or booth, a computer, a large recliner, or in some cases a small fold-out bed to sleep on. Some ICs rent space by the hour, some by the night, and even some by the week.
Early ICs in Tokyo were large single room afairs in which office cubicles were piled in, and drapes stretched across the front of each cubicle for privacy.
OG ICs had two major drawbacks: 1) open ceilings and the noise that came with them, and 2) smoking. These were maybe annoyances for tired travellers, occupants who were sensitive to noise, and people allegic to or intolerant of smoke.
Later some IC companies decided to ban smoking altogether.
OG ICs were mostly small and local, run by independent owners, or very small companies, or by individuals. Most IC buildings were small and often, not the cleanest.
Some of the earliest ICs were located in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, but later they expanded to other areas.
You can still find good internet cafes scattered all over Tokyo which range anywhere from $8-$65/24 hours. Some are quite good.
Most ICs were originally used by very budget-conscious travellers, locals who may have missed the last train home from work, or in some cases crazed manga fans.
Manga soon caught on as a theme in OG ICs, and many ICs began to provide small manga libraries on-site.
Some ICs even provide restaurants or vending machines where you can buy food and drinks.
Modern ICs: Cheap + Clean on an Industrial Scale
Fast forward twenty or so years and some larger companies have taken ICs to a whole new level.
Like the super-upscale First Cabin in the capsule hotel world, these companies feature exremely clean and convenient buildings and rooms, including a soundproof door with an electronic keycard lock just like a real hotel.
As with First Cabin these companies have now become chains and have IC locations all over Japan, with many of them concentrated in Tokyo. They attract their clients by providing a uniform, safe, and clean environment at rock-bottom prices.
Chief (and best IOHO) among these in Tokyo is Kaikatsu Club.
This company’s internet cafes are on a whole other level. Spotless, quiet, with loads of amenities, they’re a joy to use and stay at. The soundproof doors guarantee your sleep won’t be interrupted no matter how tired you are. If you’re a manga nut some of them have huge manga libraries you can utilize for free. Some also have sit-down cafeterias on-premises.
There are Kaikatsu Club locations in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Akihabara and even one on the fabulous Akasaka backstreet Esplanadé Akasaka around 35°40’36.10″ N 139°44’11.89″ E. The .belleVie and Bic Camera complexes are right next door, and the Bic Camera has a basement subway station on the Ginza and Marunouchi Lines.
Prices at Kaikatsu Club vary from location to location with Shinjuku currently being the most expensive.
There are even Kaikatsu Club establishments on the outskirts of Tokyo located in suburbs.
The company also features rooms which can be utilized as temporary offices if need be.
One drawback to Kaikatsu Club is the price: because it’s upscale, and of higher quality construction, the price is higher, as is the case with any high-end hotel. Prices currently run around and 500¥ for 30 minutes to $35 for a 12-hour block of time. As of this writing the weak Japanese Yen exchange rate against the dollar means most hotel rates are low.
More Amenities
You’re probably thinking “Hold on a sec, that’s almost as much as many capsule hotels, including First Cabin”.
And you’re right.
But there’s more at Kaikatsu Club. You also get free common showers, a full-sized laundry, and free unlimited drinks and ice cream. Also consider that unlike in a capsule tube you can actually stand up and move around in rooms at Kaikatsu Club. The soundproofing is an added benefit, and believe us, those soundproof doors aren’t cheap.
Other ICs
Of course Kaikatsu Club isn’t the only IC game in town, and there are many great others ones including Cyber Grand Cafe B@gus. This establishment also offers a very upscale experience, although its rooms lack the absolute soundproof doors of Kaikatsu Club. But they do include sliding doors. B@gus also offers different sized rooms including Booth, Box, and Theater, the last of which is nearly the size of some ordinary 1-room micro-apartments.
B@gus‘s weekly rate for a Booth room is a mere ¥19,800 which at current exchange rates works out to about $133 USD – hard to beat. Consider that’s about $530 a month – a mere 1/3 of what a good APA hotel room will cost in off-peak season in Tokyo. Yes, you only get the recliner in the Booth room and not a full bed, but you’re only spending 1/3 as much. Rates like this make a 3-month stay in Tokyo incredibly affordable at only roughly $1,500 for the entire stay. Incredible.
If you absolutely don’t need a flat bed to sleep in, you can’t go wrong with places like these.
If you’re going to Tokyo for an extended stay you could also stay in an IC for several weeks, then utilize a cheap hotel. Or go back and forth as comfort and money allow. Same goes for capusles.
At any rate modern ICs provide an easy and extremely cheap way to stay in Tokyo without spending a lot of money. The new generation of IC chains with all their perks and freebies make this an excellent and affordable way to travel.
Enjoy!
LINKS
Top 10 Internet Cafes in Tokyo for Digital Nomads
Kaikatsu Club Shinjuku | Tokyo Cheapo
How to Live Like a Local in Japan for Less Than $15/Night
6 Recommended Internet Cafes in Ikebukuro
VIDS