- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
With hotel prices skyrocketing across Japan, budget travellers are getting creative - turning to everything from convenience store car parks to ferry cabins for cheaper accommodation. What used to cost under ¥10,000 ($68) three years ago now averages ¥14,300 ($97) in Tokyo and ¥13,900 in Kyoto . Some Tokyo capsule hotels even charge ¥20,000 ($136) per night.
Take the ferry alternative: one family discovered they could combine transport and lodging on the Kobe-Takamatsu route for just ¥9,000 ($61) for three people. The ferry operator launched an overnight service in February 2025 - passengers board in Kobe at 19:45, sleep in cabins after reaching Takamatsu around midnight, then return to Kobe by 05:00. The entire nine-and-a-half-hour round trip doubles as both transport and accommodation, with night views thrown in as a bonus.
Another option: kei camping cars.
Mini-campers offer a budget-friendly alternative that's cheaper to buy and run than full-sized motorhomes. Their compact size allows them to fit into most Japanese car parks, making it much easier to get around. Shinjo Hiroyuki and his wife, Natsue, from Chiba Prefecture, bought a used mini-camper in 2019, and it's been perfect for them and their dog. They take trips regularly - sometimes three times a month. On this particular outing, they opted to stay in a convenience store car park. Since July 2025, a major convenience store chain has been testing overnight parking at seven Chiba locations. The service requires online booking in advance, costs ¥2,700 per night, and check-in happens at the shop counter. Including breakfast shopping at a local market the next morning, the total cost for a two-day trip is about 8,000 yen or around 54 dollars.
Take the ferry alternative: one family discovered they could combine transport and lodging on the Kobe-Takamatsu route for just ¥9,000 ($61) for three people. The ferry operator launched an overnight service in February 2025 - passengers board in Kobe at 19:45, sleep in cabins after reaching Takamatsu around midnight, then return to Kobe by 05:00. The entire nine-and-a-half-hour round trip doubles as both transport and accommodation, with night views thrown in as a bonus.
Another option: kei camping cars.
Mini-campers offer a budget-friendly alternative that's cheaper to buy and run than full-sized motorhomes. Their compact size allows them to fit into most Japanese car parks, making it much easier to get around. Shinjo Hiroyuki and his wife, Natsue, from Chiba Prefecture, bought a used mini-camper in 2019, and it's been perfect for them and their dog. They take trips regularly - sometimes three times a month. On this particular outing, they opted to stay in a convenience store car park. Since July 2025, a major convenience store chain has been testing overnight parking at seven Chiba locations. The service requires online booking in advance, costs ¥2,700 per night, and check-in happens at the shop counter. Including breakfast shopping at a local market the next morning, the total cost for a two-day trip is about 8,000 yen or around 54 dollars.
