If you are staying in Tokyo for a trip or business trip, you may be wondering how much it would cost to live in a hotel for a long period of time.

While there is more freedom than with a rental contract, many people are concerned about the differences in cost and lifestyle.

In this article, we'll thoroughly explain the specific costs of living in a hotel in Tokyo, compare it to renting, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a hotel. If you're considering a long-term stay in Tokyo, be sure to read this article.

The cost of living in a hotel in Tokyo for a month

There are three main expenses you will need to incur if you plan to live in a hotel in Tokyo for a month.

The total cost of each of these expenses can be higher than renting, so it's important to know the approximate cost beforehand. Below we'll introduce some rough estimates of the main costs.

Estimated accommodation costs

The cost of staying in a hotel in Tokyo for a month will vary depending on the type of accommodation and location you choose. Below are some rough estimates for hotel costs.

Accommodation	Estimated accommodation costs for one month
Economy Hotels	100,000 to 300,000 yen
Luxury	300,000 yen and up
capsule hotel	It is possible to keep the cost below 100,000 yen.
Serviced Apartments	200,000 to 400,000 yen

However, please note that the above prices are only a guideline and costs may vary over time.

Also, some hotels offer discounts for long-term stays, so the price may be lower than the usual quoted price.

Estimated food costs

The cost of food for a month living in a hotel in Tokyo will vary depending on your eating style, but if you cook your own meals it can cost around 20,000 yen a month, and if you eat out every day it can exceed 100,000 yen. Keep in mind that costs tend to be even higher in the city center.

It depends on your budget, but eating out every day can be bad for your health, so it's ideal to book a hotel with a kitchen so you can cook your own meals and eat out at the same time.

Estimated laundry costs

The cost of doing laundry at a coin laundry is around 5,000 to 8,000 yen per month.

The above figures are for use at a coin laundry two to three times a week, with each wash and dry costing around 500 to 700 yen. Some hotels have laundry corners within their buildings, but these tend to be more expensive than external stores.

Furthermore, hotel dry cleaning services are expensive, costing several hundred yen per shirt, making them unsuitable for everyday laundry. To keep costs down, the most economical option is to use a nearby coin laundry.

You can also save money on laundry by choosing a hotel with a washing machine in the room.

Which is better: living in a hotel or renting an apartment?

If you are staying for a short period of time, such as a month, living in a hotel will usually be more economical overall than renting an apartment.

Looking at the monthly payment alone, hotel accommodation costs may seem expensive compared to the average rent in Tokyo (around 70,000 to 110,000 yen). However, signing a rental apartment contract involves large initial costs such as a security deposit and key money, which can amount to several months' rent, as well as monthly utility and communication fees.

On the other hand, living in a hotel does not require any initial costs, and fixed costs are generally included in the accommodation fee. Therefore, when you look at the total cost, living in a hotel may be cheaper.

3 Recommended Accommodations for Hotel Living in Tokyo

To have a comfortable long-term stay in Tokyo, it is important to choose a hotel with a good location and facilities. Of the many hotels available, the following three are recommended.

1.GIVE Higashi Nakano

GIVE Higashi Nakano is an apartment hotel where you can stay like you're living in a home, with all rooms equipped with a kitchen and washing machine. The spacious 30㎡ 1K rooms are equipped with a work desk and high-speed Wi-Fi, making them ideal for medium- to long-term stays such as business trips or workcations.

Another attractive feature is its convenient access, just two stations and five minutes from Shinjuku, making this hotel recommended for those looking for an extended stay in Tokyo.

Address	〒164-0003 GIVE Higashinakano, 4-19-8 Higashinakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
access	3-minute walk from Higashi-Nakano Station East Exit 3-minute walk from Ochiai Station 2B

2.GIVE Kagurazaka

GIVE Kagurazaka is an apartment hotel located in the quiet streets of Kagurazaka, with all rooms equipped with kitchens.

This sophisticated space, which combines natural and modern Japanese design, consists of three rooms on two floors, and Room 202 can accommodate up to eight people, making it ideal for both solo travelers and groups.

Another attractive feature is that all rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, irons, hairdryers, etc., making it ideal for long-term stays. You'll be sure to enjoy a comfortable long-term stay, blending seamlessly into the traditional Kagurazaka neighborhood.

Address	〒162-0832 19-7 Iwatocho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
access	1 minute walk from Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station A3, 5 minutes walk from Kagurazaka Station 1b

3.GIVE Shibuya Honmachi

GIVE Shibuya Honmachi is a private space with only four rooms, each with a different interior design. Free Wi-Fi is also available, making it ideal for workcations. It's also located within walking distance of Nishi-Shinjuku-Go-Chome Station on the Toei Oedo Line, offering excellent access to the city center.

We recommend Give Shibuya Honmachi to those who want to enjoy a long-term stay in Tokyo or who want to experience life in Tokyo.

Address	〒151-0071 5-11-18 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
access	10 minutes walk from Nishi-Shinjuku-Gochome Station A2

5 Benefits of Living in a Hotel in Tokyo

Some people may be wondering whether they should live in a hotel during their long-term stay in Tokyo.

However, if you check out the benefits of living in a hotel in Tokyo, it should help you make the decision. The main benefits of living in a hotel are as follows:

No initial or fixed costs

A big attraction of hotel living is that it eliminates the need for expensive initial costs and fixed monthly fees.

When signing a lease for an apartment, you will incur costs equivalent to several months' rent, such as a security deposit, key money, and agent fees. However, when living in a hotel, you do not have to pay any initial or fixed costs.

In addition, monthly utility bills and internet fees are often included in the accommodation fee, making it easy to manage expenses. Furniture and appliances are also provided, so one of the benefits is that you can start your new life lightly without having to make large expenses or go through complicated procedures.

Furniture and appliances included, no need to move

The advantage of living in a hotel is that all the furniture and appliances you need are provided, and you don't have to worry about the hassle and expense of moving.

The rooms are fully equipped with basic amenities such as a bed, desk, TV, refrigerator, and air conditioning. This means there is no need for expensive purchases or the cost of paying a moving company. Simply pack your essentials in a suitcase and you can move lightly wherever you want, whenever you want, with the agility to do so.

The appeal is that you can start a comfortable new life right away without having to make any major preparations.

Utility bills and Wi-Fi are included in the accommodation fee.

Living in a hotel in Tokyo has the advantage of simplifying your monthly payments.

In a rental property, you will need to sign a separate contract and pay for utilities and internet charges in addition to the rent. However, when living in a hotel, these costs are usually included in the accommodation fee.

This means there are no additional payments or complicated contract procedures, and you can enjoy a comfortable Wi-Fi environment from the day you move in. Another benefit is that it makes it easier to manage expenses.

Cleaning can be left to the staff

A major benefit of living in a hotel is that you can leave all of the daily chores, such as cleaning your room, making your bed, and taking out the trash, to the staff.

Staff will regularly vacuum, clean the bathroom, and even make the beds, so you can always enjoy a clean and tidy space. Towel changes and replenishment of amenities are also included in the service, so you don't need to bring your own cleaning supplies.

The time and effort previously spent on housework can now be devoted to work, hobbies, and rest, resulting in a more relaxed life.

Flexible to accommodate changes in lifestyle

Living in a hotel allows you to adapt flexibly to changes in your lifestyle.

For example, unlike rental contracts, there are no restrictions such as two-year contracts, expensive initial costs, or cancellation fees. This means you can quickly and easily respond to changes such as "I want to live in a different city next month," sudden transfers, or frequent business trips.

There is no need to purchase furniture or appliances or the hassle of moving, and you are also free from individual contracts for utilities, etc. This allows you to live a flexible life that is difficult to achieve in a fixed residence, such as staying close to your workplace for the duration of a work project or enjoying life in various areas.

Five things to keep in mind when living in a hotel in Tokyo

There are many benefits to living in a hotel in Tokyo, but you may end up regretting it if you don't pay attention to the following points.

Monthly living expenses may be higher

Living in a hotel in Tokyo can be more expensive in the long run than renting, as accommodation and food costs can be high.

Even with long-term discount plans, the cost of staying at a business hotel can often be over 100,000 yen per month, which can exceed the rent of an average apartment in Tokyo. Also, since many facilities do not have kitchens, it is not uncommon for people to eat out most of their meals.

As a result, food expenses alone can exceed 100,000 yen per month. It is important to be aware that the increase in accommodation and food costs is the main factor that exceeds the total cost of living when renting.

Serviced apartments, rather than hotels, often come with kitchens and washing machines, so monthly living costs tend to be lower.

In many cases, it is not possible to register a residence certificate

If you live in a hotel in Tokyo, you will likely not be able to register your residence, which may cause inconvenience with administrative procedures.

Legally, hotels are considered temporary accommodations and are unlikely to be recognized as a permanent residence, making it difficult to register your residence. If you cannot transfer your residence, you can only vote in elections, renew your driver's license, and obtain official certificates at your old address. This can also lead to problems such as not being able to receive important mail, such as credit card payments.

As a countermeasure, it is common to leave your residence certificate at your parents' home, so that you can receive official notices there and have them forwarded to you as needed.

You can't invite friends and family over to your room

When living in a hotel in Tokyo, as a general rule you cannot freely invite friends or family into your room.

Many hotel accommodation contracts explicitly prohibit anyone other than guests from entering a room, for reasons such as security and crime prevention, complying with fire safety regulations, and because room rates are based on the number of guests.

Therefore, when meeting visitors, it is common to use the lobby, lounge, attached restaurant, etc. The same is true for apartment hotels, but since the price is often per room, if you stay with multiple people you can split the cost and keep costs down.

Limited storage space

When living in a hotel in Tokyo, it's important to keep in mind that storage space is limited.

Because typical business hotel rooms are designed for short-term stays, you cannot expect to find ample closets or storage shelves like you would in a rental property. Many hotels only have a small space large enough for a few hangers, making it difficult to store all the clothes and personal belongings you would need for a long stay.

Therefore, to live comfortably in a hotel, you need to adopt a minimalist lifestyle, carefully selecting your belongings to fit in one or two suitcases. If you have a lot of luggage, you may need to take measures such as signing up for a separate storage room.

The interior cannot be changed

Living in a hotel in Tokyo means you can't customize the interior to your liking.

In accordance with the accommodation agreement, hotel rooms generally prohibit changing wallpaper, bringing in personal furniture or appliances, or rearranging the furniture. This rule is in place to maintain the asset value of the hotel and provide a uniform quality of space for all guests.

Therefore, living in a hotel is not suitable for people who want to decorate their room with their favorite interior items or enjoy redecorating to suit their lifestyle.

However, because the interior of the room is designed by a professional designer, it is more refined than a room made by an amateur, and you may feel more relaxed there.

How to Stay Affordable in a Hotel in Tokyo

To keep costs as low as possible when living in a hotel in Tokyo, keep the following points in mind.

Use a hotel subscription service

One effective way to reduce the cost of living in a hotel in Tokyo is to use a monthly flat-rate "hotel subscription."

Hotel subscriptions allow you to stay at a variety of affiliated hotels for a fixed monthly fee. The rates are cheaper than regular hotel reservations, and there are no initial costs such as security deposits or key money, or utility or Wi-Fi fees, so you can significantly reduce your total expenses.

For example, there are services that start at 9,800 yen per month, and some that have a unique system that discounts the fee for the number of days you stay away from home. For people who travel frequently for business or who want to live in multiple locations, hotel living is an extremely attractive option for keeping costs down and achieving flexibility.

Take advantage of long-term stay plans (monthly plans)

A great way to save money on hotel living in Tokyo is to take advantage of monthly plans. Rather than paying by the night, monthly plans allow you to keep the total cost down.

For example, at GIVE hotels, you can get a 10% discount for long-term stays. If you are planning to stay for a month or longer, the cost-cutting effect is enormous. Another benefit is that utilities and internet fees are included in the accommodation fee, so you can start living without worrying about additional costs. Also, there is no need for tedious registration, so you can start living comfortably.

Choose a hotel that allows you to cook your own meals

To save money on hotel living in Tokyo, choose a hotel that allows you to cook your own meals. If your room or common areas have a kitchen, you can cut down on eating out in the city, which can be expensive.

For example, eating out three meals a day could cost you over 100,000 yen. On the other hand, switching to a lifestyle where you cook mostly at home can significantly reduce your expenses.

Especially for long-term stays, the cost of cooking for yourself can make a big difference, so whether or not there are kitchen facilities is an important option when managing your total costs.

Check the official website for discounts

To reduce the cost of staying in a hotel in Tokyo, check out the discount plans on the official website. Official websites often offer better rates than booking sites. For example, GIVE offers a 10% discount plan exclusively on its official website.

Other hotels also offer advance booking discounts and special member prices exclusive to their official websites, so you may be able to save more by booking directly.

If you are considering living in a hotel, be sure to visit the official website and compare prices before making a decision on a booking site.

Enjoy your life in Tokyo at a hotel that suits your needs

Living in a hotel in Tokyo allows you to start living there with no initial costs, but accommodation and food costs can add up, and in the long run it may end up being more expensive than renting.

However, the cost and convenience will vary greatly depending on your lifestyle and the length of your stay, so it's important to take advantage of monthly plans, self-catering hotels, and discounts on official websites. Understand the characteristics of both hotel living and renting, and choose the accommodation method that best suits you.