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First-class hotels in Japan are comparable to the world's top hotels with their neatness and luxuriousness, and provide large western style rooms and various facilities. These hotels are generally expensive, but provide first-rate services and English-speaking staffs are usually there to help non-Japanese speaking travelers. These hotels are mostly available in major cities and resort areas. The hotel rates per person per night are somewhere between 10,000 yen and 30,000 yen and vary depending on the type of room and time of year.

Business hotels provide cheaper and smaller rooms near the train stations to cater to business travelers. The hotel rates per single room are somewhere between 6,000 yen to 10,000 yen and most rooms available in the hotels are small singles, but everything the guests may need is available in the room or on the same floor. Most staffs at these business hotels do not speak English.

Ryokan is a Japanese style inn and most rooms are designed in traditional Japanese style with tatami floor. Some of the finest ryokan in resort areas are comparable to first-class hotels. Rates include both dinner and breakfast most of the time. English speaking services are not usually available at the ryokan, but each ryokan provides genuine hospitality. A maid who is in charge of your room will take care of everything you need and you can also enjoy the atmosphere of old time in Japan.
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Minshuku also provides Japanese style accommodations, but is smaller compared to ryokan and is owned by a family in general. Just like bed and breakfasts, the rooms in minshuku are in a big house and many of the services provided by hotels and ryokan are not available. Instead, you may have to follow some rules in the minshuku. The room charge usually includes dinner and breakfast served in a dining area. Pensions are western-styled minshuku and are more commonly found in resort area. Both minshuku and pension give you more opportunities to communicate with other guests and owner's family and to learn Japanese culture.

Youth Hostels are available throughout Japan and offer the most convenient budget accommodations. A room need to be shared with other guests is usually clean; the room space is just enough to sleep in; and, two meals per day are usually included in the room charge. Most of the hostels are privately owned and require you to have a membership card issued by Japan Youth Hostels, Inc., or the International Youth Hostel Federation. You can purchase the membership card in your country or at the Youth Hostel Information Center in Tokyo. A guest card is also available at the hostels and you can have a complete membership after using the guest card for six times.