Most of the serviced apartments are located in areas of the city in convenient locations and give you a more ‘home from home’ stay than a normal hotel. In most cases, what separates a serviced apartment in Japan from a normal hotel is: 1. A separate work space 2. A kitchen area 3. Sleeping area 4. Superior customer service (usually a bilingual concierge) 5. Housekeeping (at the most expensive) 6. Furnishings that create a ‘homey’ atmosphere Services provided in most serviced apartments – free internet service – front desk services – laundry/dry cleaning services – high security The only real disadvantage of a serviced apartment is the lengthy procedures to apply and the paperwork involved. Leases generally need to be signed and mailed in at least one day before you move out. You must also transfer the rental amount for the period of your stay to the designated bank account or pay by credit card.
make reservations
In most places, making a reservation for a serviced apartment takes about a week. Here are the common steps required to apply for a serviced apartment in Japan: 1. Make an appointment to inspect the apartment or fill out the online inquiry form 2. You will be notified of room availability, usually the next day 3 Make a decision to rent it or not 4. Consult the rental conditions and fill out the reservation form. Depending on the apartment, some allow you to stay for months while others will only allow you to stay for a week. The terms of the lease also differ depending on whether or not it is a corporate or individual rental. 5. Make the payment by credit card or bank transfer. 6. Provide your flight details (usually a week in advance)
Prices
Serviced apartments are on average 15-30% cheaper than hotel accommodation of equivalent quality. Most have daily, weekly and monthly rates. Typical prices for central Tokyo range from 18,000-20,000 a day for a studio and up to 28,000 a day for a 2-bedroom apartment. Monthly fees also vary widely, from around 200,000 yen to over 3 million yen. In general, the longer you stay, the cheaper it is.
Some alternatives for those who cannot afford serviced apartments are weekly or monthly mansions, which are covered in separate articles.
