TOKYO - As Golden Week approaches next weekend, one major headache for travelers is the soaring cost of hotel stays. In central Tokyo, a single night can now cost 23,000 yen—not for a luxury or business hotel, but for a capsule hotel.
The capsule hotel Nine Hours Hamamatsucho Sleep Lab in Minato Ward, Tokyo, reports that some nights during Golden Week are priced above 20,000 yen.
Located near Tokyo Tower and popular among foreign tourists, this hotel usually charges around 5,000 yen per night on off-peak days, with low pricing as its main draw.
Nine Hours manager Mitsuki Ai explained: "Our pricing system increases rates as bookings fill up, and this year we already have guests who booked a night at 23,000 yen during Golden Week."
A night without meals at 23,000 yen reflects not only rising labor costs but also higher prices at surrounding hotels.
Depending on location and dates, business hotels may actually offer better deals.
Business Hotels May Be a Bargain if You Adjust Your Dates
While some people are planning trips during Golden Week starting next weekend, many are struggling with accommodation costs.
A man in his 20s said, "I'm going to Yugawara in Kanagawa with my girlfriend."
When asked how many nights and how much it would cost, he replied, "Two nights at a standard hotel. It’s about 110,000 yen in total. We chose somewhere nearby to cut costs even a little."
Others are feeling the pinch too.
A man in his 60s from Ibaraki Prefecture said, "Hotel prices in Tokyo are crazy high right now. A few years ago, I could get a room for around 6,000 yen when visiting the city."
Hotel rates in Tokyo seem to know no ceiling. According to the Tokyo Hotel Association, which includes over 200 member hotels, the average room price for April and May, including Golden Week, exceeds 17,000 yen per night—far above pre-pandemic levels.
Even capsule hotels, once offering rooms for about 5,000 yen on cheaper days, now have nights priced over 20,000 yen.
So, are all hotels fully booked and hiking rates? Not quite. At the business hotel Vessel Inn Ueno Iriya Ekimae in Ueno, Tokyo, the manager shared a different picture.
Miyuki Kikuchi, the hotel’s manager, said, "On May 1st and 2nd, as well as the final day of Golden Week, we’re still only about 50% booked."
While weekend nights during the holiday period are nearly full, there is still availability on other days.
The hotel normally charges around 12,000 yen per night without meals, but prices peak at 19,400 yen during this time. However, by May 6th, the final day of Golden Week, rates drop sharply.
"Occupancy is below 50%, so we’ve reduced the price significantly to 8,600 yen," said Kikuchi.
By adjusting travel dates or choosing a different location, travelers may still be able to save on accommodation.
Source: TBS
