What a night costs
| 🛏️ Hostel dorm bed | $18–$30/night |
| 🚪 Private room (hostel/guesthouse) | $45–$75/night |
| 🏨 Budget hotel / Airbnb room | $60–$100/night |
Full backpacker daily budget for Japan (bed + food + local transport + fun): about $70/day shoestring or $110/day flashpacker.
Where to stay
Asakusa for budget beds near sights, Shinjuku/Shibuya if nightlife matters more than price.
Local tip
💡 Capsule hotels ($25–40) are the experience <em>and</em> the budget move. Business hotels (APA, Toyoko Inn) undercut Airbnb.
The clean-bed formula
Filter to rating ≥ 8.3 with 150+ reviews, then read the recent negative reviews — that's where the cleanliness truth lives. Prefer free-cancellation rates; plans change, especially yours.