Tokyo Hotel Prices Soar Above 150,000 Won, Rising 1.5 Times
Even Affordable Capsule Hotel Prices Show Signs of Increase
Sleeping in Saunas and Staying at Hotels Outside Tokyo
Company CEO Says "Sleeping in Hotels Could Lead to Bankruptcy"
Getting an Office and Sleeping on the Sofa Is More Beneficial
As hotel rates in Tokyo soar, more people are turning to saunas as a refuge instead of hotels. Some companies are even renting separate offices to use them like hotels.
On the 16th, Japan's Asahi TV reported that with Tokyo hotel accommodation fees skyrocketing, competition among capsule hotels is also intensifying. According to the report, the average hotel stay in Tokyo, which was around 10,000 yen before COVID-19, now exceeds 16,000 yen (about 15,000 KRW) as of September. Because of this, travelers visiting Tokyo sometimes spend the night at saunas. The sauna usage fee is only 3,000 yen (about 27,000 KRW).
A man who traveled from Shizuoka Prefecture to Tokyo said, "I've never been to a sauna before, but it was so hot I felt like I was going to die," adding, "I couldn't find accommodation within my budget, so I decided to spend the night here. The area with sofas was already full, so I ended up sleeping on the floor." The sauna where this man stayed became a ‘refuge’ for people without lodging, with visitors continuing to arrive even after 2 a.m.
The representative of a company from Fukushima Prefecture said, "I come to Tokyo every week, and it's really expensive. If I keep sleeping in hotels, I might go bankrupt," adding, "Recently, I have an office in Tokyo where I sleep. It's the cheapest way." He said, "Even if I pay office rent, I can use it for business, so it's not a loss," and added, "I lay a mat on the office sofa and sleep there."
‘Suburban lodging,’ where travelers stay outside Tokyo, is also popular. One traveler said, "If you book in Saitama in advance, it costs 7,000 to 8,000 yen (about 64,000 to 73,000 KRW), which is much cheaper," adding, "I stay in the suburbs and go to Tokyo for sightseeing." Capsule hotels, which were popular for their low cost, are also facing fierce competition. A related person said, "Since the end of COVID-19, prices have been continuously rising," adding, "On weekends, it costs about 12,000 yen (110,000 KRW) to 15,000 yen (140,000 KRW). Even at this price, reservations are very difficult."
A representative of the Tokyo Hotel Association said in an interview with the media, "Unless something like a global depression occurs, room rates will continue to rise due to inflation," adding, "You just have to frequently check online and book the cheaper places."
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