Enjoyed the Airbnb but loved the hostels! Where we stayed in Japan.
While staying in Tokyo we rented an Airbnb. It was a nice medium sized studio with a mini kitchen and an odd but functional bathroom. We paid $77 a night.
The two hostels we stayed at in Kyoto and Osaka were run by a company that has 13 hostels in Japan. (http://www.khaosan-tokyo.com/) We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in both. They were extremely clean with well thought out rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and social areas. They offered activities from a fun dumpling cooking class, origami making class to playing games. It was social environment but offered many spaces for a less social traveler as well. As far as age, we thought we would always be the eldest of the bunch. I would say that our age group is less frequent but definitely not rare. Before I began this trip, I thought a hostel would house mostly people aged 18-25. I was very wrong. We have run into people in our age group as well as people older than us enough times that I do not even notice anymore. The other thing I have noticed is the very large number of solo travelers. Not just male but just as many females. If you have ever wanted to take a trip but didn’t have a friend, I would encourage you to consider a hostel. They are fun, inviting and safe. Most places offer a mixed dorm for men and women – which works out great for us. They also offer female only dorms that may be more comfortable for single female travelers. However, I have seen many women alone in the mixed dorm. So far, all our experience has been positive with very respectful roommates. Two times now I have been the only female in a 10-bed dorm and I have never felt out of place or uncomfortable. Another thing I had never thought of before this trip is if you are traveling with kids, a hostel might be a good option. You can rent a 4 or 6-bedroom dorm room for the price of a hotel room. You would then have access to a kitchen for your own meal cooking and access to a laundry room (most hostels have them). The travelers are great at sharing stories and many places come equipped with many game choices. At one hostel we stayed they even had a few kittens to play with. We paid $52 a night in Kyoto and Osaka. Both were in great locations and close to tourist sites.
We use a great service called Hostel World to book our hostels. They post descriptions, ratings, reviews, and photos. You put a small percentage of rent down to reserve your spot and pay the balance upon arrival. They have an easy cancellation procedure that is very flexible. (http://www.hostelworld.com/)
I hope I have sparked a travel bug in someone. Luckily now a days we have more options than ever on places to stay while traveling. I have learned so much since I left home 7 months ago, I hope I can pass it along. Beth H.
