Japan airbnb checklist: don't book until you read this!
- japansophy
- Jun 2
- 5 min read
In our last post, we explained why we always stay in hotels when we travel to Japan, be it solo, as a couple, as a family or as a group. But we know there are some die-hard airbnb fans out there and understand that airbnb-style apartments are just preferable if you need to cook for dietary reasons, need to accommodate a larger group or just want to feel like you're livin' the Japan life. If we haven't convinced you that hotels are the way to go, there are at least a few things that you should look out for when booking an airbnb. Having lived in Japanese apartments for years, we know exactly what might catch you out and what to look out for. Here's our Japan airbnb checklist to make sure you book what you really want and need.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, ♡ at no extra cost to you ♡ It helps cover the costs of keeping this site alive and we really appreciate your support
*Any prices quoted below are as of June 2026 and are subject to change
Book on a reliable booking platform and make sure the host has a Minpaku registration number for the property. Check cancellations policies for both sides carefully: until when are you allowed to cancel free of charge and is there any compensation for you or will other arrangements be made for you by the host or booking platform if the host cancels?
Check out the proximity to the local train stations and how much time and money it will realistically cost getting in and out to wherever you want to be during the day. Don't rely on hosts' "only 3 mins' walk to the train station" - that train station might be on a local railway line with one train an hour to a station that's not even in the city centre itself. Because airbnbs are often in the residential suburbs, the local trains may not be covered by any passes you might have bought, such as a JR pass or a Tokyo Metro Pass. Make sure your commuting costs won't cancel out any savings you're making by not staying in a city-centre hotel.
Read the reviews to see if there was any interaction at all with the host. It's easier to put your trust in the cleanliness and overall integrity of the accommodation if the host is involved personally. Ask potential hosts if and how you can get in touch with them in an emergency. If you are planning to have your luggage sent to your airbnb from the airport or from a previous hotel, make sure that it can be delivered: the luggage forwarding company will only deliver luggage to an address where they can collect a signature for receipt. If your host is completely hands-off, this won't be possible.
Don't be afraid to ask the host how old the building is and if it has been retrofitted if necessary (buildings built before 1981) to meet earthquake safety standards.
If a host doesn't post pictures of the outside of the building, it's usually not because they can't, but rather because they don't want to. Have a good look on Google Maps Street View to see what the area is like at street level, how appealing the building looks from the outside and also what amenities (transportation, of course, but also combinis or small supermarkets) and non-amenities (we once didn't do our due diligence and had a hotel right beside a fire station: nee-naw-nee-naw practically every night of the trip) are in the vicinity.
If it's not included in the description (and especially if you're visiting Japan in winter or anytime between May and October), ask about air-conditioning and heating, what AC and heating appliances are supplied, and make sure no extra charges are incurred for their use. Japanese houses and apartments have notoriously thin walls, usually single-glazing and are horribly cold and drafty in winter, roasting hot in summer. Especially if the airbnb you are considering has a gas/oil heater, make sure a functioning carbon monoxide detector has also been fitted - Japanese apartments do not have central heating and one we once lived in only had an oil heater, which can easily lead to a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide if there is an accompanying lack of ventilation (i.e. windows open, which kinda defeats the purpose of having the heater on).
For longer stays during which you're relying on a washing machine, ask about drying facilities too. Dryers are relatively rare in Japanese apartments because they take up space. Most people dry their clothes outside on poles on the balcony, so make sure you have at least this option, because getting your laundry dried will otherwise be a real challenge, especially during the rainy season and in the humidity of the summer.
Check the layout of the apartment carefully to make sure it's suitable for your group. In a Japanese two-bedroom apartment, a "bedroom" could well just be a space closed off with sliding paper doors (with zero sound insulation). In a listing with "two bathrooms", that usually turns out to be one bath/shower room and one closet with a WC.
Look at the actual floor space in square metres or feet and don't be taken in by the wide-angle shots posted by the host. You might think an apartment will give you more space than a hotel room but apartments, especially in the cities, won't necessarily be bigger and tend to use the space less efficiently too, with entrance way, kitchen space, bulky furniture...
We say this for hotels too: make sure a "double bed" really is a double bed. A single bed is often advertised as a "semi-double". The two-pillow trick and a nice wide-angle lens can make bedrooms and beds look deceptively wide and spacious.
If you intend to be making good use of the kitchen facilities, take a good hard look at what appliances are provided. Ovens are almost unheard of in Japanese kitchens, as are dishwashers. A lot of smaller apartments might have nothing more than a rice-cooker, a microwave, a sink, an electric kettle and one counter-top gas ring. It can make cooking for a family more of a challenge.
Make sure your entire party, including children and babies, can be accommodated in the apartment. The number of guests is strictly regulated by the Minpaku Act and sneaking in even an extra toddler could invalidate your booking.
When checking prices, don't forget to look for extra cleaning fees or service charges that could be tacked on at the end and add this into your total when comparing prices with hotels or other accommodation.
Getting ready to book your accommodation for your Japan trip? The following posts might also be of help:
Comments