They say a picture says a 1,000 words, so this post is a lot of photos. Our staff-accommodation for four months set the bar pretty low. It reminded us of our backpacking years when we met 25 years ago!
For our mid-season four-day holiday, we went to another ski resort called Furano and rented this lovely 2-storey chalet linked to the main hotel for the bar, an indoor onsen.
On the road, I used Agoda a lot as they have a pay at the hotel option. I set a max budget of £100 per night and we probably averaged around £70 per night. Some places were very Japanese but we did try to book Western beds where possible.
We stayed in some accommodation that were typical homes and made us appreciate the hugeness of Western homes.
We also had some Western hotel rooms. This was probably one of the largest – always a result when we could open our double-sided luggage!
We stayed at Japanese style hotels in the countryside – often with onsens – instead of a shower in your room
Our most entertaining accommodation was when I accidentally booked a love hotel – whoops. In Japan, dating couples don’t get much chance to be alone as likely they live with their families who all sleep in one room. So love hotels can be booked by the hour during the day or all night.
I’d booked it as it was a bargain at £60, had the largest bedroom I’d seen in ages including a jacuzzi bath. It was only when I looked the hotel up on Google maps it said “love hotel” and upon checking the booking we could only check in at 7pm.
We saved the best to last. On Ishigaki Island, we wanted to be away from the town, and I found this lovely place overlooking the sea and with its own pool. What was instantly noticeable on the first evening was the sounds of wildlife … cicadas, frogs, birds and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Heaven!
So like lots about Japan, you can find all sorts on offer – maybe something for everyone. But in the whole, not expensive foe accommodation and the hosts were always very welcoming.
