Guesthouses Japan

Japanese guesthouses for foreign visitors are frequently in the form of apartments and they often require a mixture of deposits, guarantors, visas and other such like. A guesthouse is in general an inexpensive way to reside in Japan and they are normally rented out for a minimum of one month, with a few exceptions in large cities like Tokyo.

A cheap guesthouse is ideal for long-term accommodation and many are owned by Japanese residents who purposely chose to create a guesthouse. Yet others are owned by property companies that manage multiple guesthouses around the region and many of these function with a rule that only foreigners are allowed to stay.

Japanese guesthouses that specialise in accommodating foreigners are locally known as gaijin houses, which literally translated means 'foreigner house', and they are often associated with long-term stays. International visitors who reside in Japan regularly choose to stay in a gaijin house and this type of guesthouse can be found throughout the country.

Guesthouses in Japan can be shared, with bathroom and kitchen facilities being the most commonly shared amenities. Sharing a gaijin house is one of the cheapest ways to stay but for those who prefer a private guesthouse for a little more money, they are easy to find. Whether you choose a shared or private guesthouse, more often than not the accommodation will be furnished - unlike many other types of lodgings.

Guesthouses in cities such as Kyoto come complete with a pay phone suitable for international calls, a futon for sleeping on and basic utensils like frying pans and cutlery. A gaijin is the best way to experience real life in Japan in a comfortable and clean environment and they are widely available and simple to track down.

Ryokan are also used by foreigners who choose to stay for long periods but the majority of this type of accommodation is aimed at short-term stays, as this is a more costly choice than the traditional guesthouses that are specifically aimed at foreigners looking to stay for a long period of time.