Services Apartments in Tokyo
Services apartments in Tokyo offer convenience for most travelers. Many of them are located close to the city’s transportation hubs and will provide you with a more comfortable stay compared to a normal hotel. In most cases, what separates a services apartment in Japan from a normal hotel are: a separate work space, a kitchen area, lounge area, superior service and housekeeping, and home furnishing.
Features provided by most services apartments in Tokyo include a free internet connection, front desk services, laundry/dry cleaning services and round-the-clock security.
Making reservations for services apartments in Tokyo
Making a reservation for a serviced apartment usually takes about one week. Below are the usual steps involved in applying for a serviced apartment contract in Japan:
- Make an appointment to inspect the apartment or fill in the rental agency’s online inquiry form.
- Wait for the rental agency’s room availability notification.
- Decide whether to close the deal or look elsewhere.>
- Check the leasing terms and fill up the reservation form. Depending on the apartment, some allow you to stay for months while others will only allow you to stay for one or two weeks. The leasing terms also depend on whether or not you are making a corporate or individual rental.
- Complete the payment using either a credit card or bank transfer.
- Provide your flight details (usually one week in advance).
Serviced apartments are on average 15 to 30% cheaper than a hotel accommodation of equivalent quality. Most apartments have daily, weekly and monthly rates. Prices for central Tokyo apartments start at around 18,000-20,000 yen per day for a studio room and go up to about 28,000 yen per day for a 2-bedroom place. Monthly rates also vary greatly, from around 200,000 to over 3 million yen. Generally, the longer the stay, the cheaper that apartment rates get.
In Tokyo, which is well known for its cramped living spaces, a serviced apartment offers far more in terms of floor space than a hotel room. Of course, if you rent an apartment for a couple of weeks, you will definitely appreciate the price difference. However, even short stays are not too expensive. Serviced and similar apartment types have less in the way of overhead expenses compared to hotels, which is why the price difference can be significant for tourists.
If you are staying in an apartment, you can simply go back anytime of the day, relax, and cook a meal by yourself. Having a full kitchen at your disposal enables you to save money on food. A serviced apartment makes it more than possible to have quiet dinners in front of the television.
It is clear to see that serviced apartments are far more versatile than hotel rooms – you have more room to relax in, perfect for accommodating extra guests. If you expect to work a few hours every day, you will find that having a dining room or lounge also provides more comfort. Staying in an apartment is truly a splendid way of enjoying Tokyo!