Inside Japan's WORST TINY Hotel 

That one gives me a 404 (not found) though. Maybe I need to wait a bit?

Room door opening outwards = NO! Great way to be trapped in a room.

I would definitely stay there, the low type toilet is the best 😄 (for people who have constipation 😛 ) But how is the temperature in the room @Tokyo Lens?

I did, like, a week ago 😅

Norm, I just sent this to my Son as we're supposed to be in Japan for Christmas 2024 through to just after New Years and we're pretty much game for anything (within reason 😂) though I guess it would be too cold in the winter plus neither my Son or I speak Japanese. I'm claustrophobic but I didn't get the ick factor from the room. The first red flag I noticed was the light switch on the outside of the room. Then I realized that the door opened the wrong way, at least for me.

Unfortunately he opted not to be on camera (as you can see in the video) and I’ll always respect that 💜

@@TokyoLens Understandable, thanks for trying!

It’s still so sweet that he’s trying to help people afford somewhere safe to sleep at night:) we still appreciate him!

So Japan isn't a clean and perfect as some travelers make it sound.

@@falaalalala of course not, they just do a better job of sweeping it under the rug, so to speak

God Bless him, for 3 dollars a night, they must be absolutely desperate, especially with Japanese culture, how it seems very much a class culture, the haves vs the have nothings. U can’t even get a cup of coffee for that much anymore.

Basically the Japanese version of the SORs

ahhhh yes! Osaka local~ Thanks for sharing your input on this!! It was an interesting experience

I slept in capsule hotels in Tokyo which were less comfortable, one directly in Shibuya and one in Narita and yours seem real decent despite the creepy light switch 😅

You never been to Nishinari? 🤔 ( Yuka chan has led a sheltered life ne. ☺ )

I wasn't surprised when the proprietor explained that the 500 Yen "hotel" was really a medium-stay housing solution for the destitute. The US used to have something similar that we called "Single Room Occupancies (SRO)". SRO's were single, usually furnished, rooms that were very simple and shared a bathroom between multiple units. They provided a stopgap for people who had _some_ income, but were usually in circumstances where they lacked the ability to acquire a lease for an apartment. Regulation has closed many of the SRO's down, forcing people whose income does not permit them a more normal apartment to stay on the street or live in vehicles. Those regulations serve a purpose, many SRO's were terrible places to live and exploited their tenants, but the lack has come with problems.

@with_Me _JAPAN hello there I’m planning on moving to Japan in the mid 2050s or 2060 still not sure yet hehe anyway I was wondering if you ever heard of this underground mall that opened in 1955 did you hear it won’t close until 2055 & I’m glad norm wasn’t injured in that bad nighbourhood .

Most of them in America are as low as $79 and up. I haven't $60 in a very long time 😂

Tell me about. When you travel to Japan on a budget. Can't be worst than memphis, st Louis or Detroit.

Heck, I've seen absolute shizz holes for $150 a night and instead of crows, it's someone screaming at the top of their lungs, waking you up.

I’ve paid over 100 dollars for a room that had no bed

In the US, many weekly and extended stay motels are turned into homes for the poor. It's become quite tragic. They would totally live there without complaints.

Statistically, my city (Winnipeg) is in the top 10 most dangerous cities in Canada (used to be first but now it’s 8?) and is also in the top 100 most dangerous cities in the world. The hotels in the worst neighbourhoods here might look nicer in comparison but are definitely far worse in terms of what you get for your money. Looks okay on the outside and a much bigger room, but questionable cleanliness, bugs and used drug paraphernalia are common issues. The people you could expect to encounter are unpredictable and potentially dangerous, lots of meth addicts and gang affiliates, as well as the unfortunate homeless people with untreated mental health conditions. This hotel looks like it’s seen better days but you can tell that staff are doing their best to maintain it and keep it clean. If you don’t feel your safety is at risk and a stolen hat is the worst thing that happens then it’s probably not a bad choice for the price. I would only stay there if I couldn’t afford a nicer place in a “better” location. Side note: I live in a nice area (not the fancy rich neighbourhoods) with a great community, lots of young families and wonderful schools. My car was broken into in the middle of the afternoon outside my local grocery store last week. The past few years the problems of the core area have spread out further into the “old suburbs” with easy access on public transportation. It’s now a regular occurrence to find someone passed out with a needle in their arm at a bus stop and having your car broken into, both in broad daylight and unfortunately near schools too.

Thank you for sharing that!

Are you sure you were in Japan and not any other populated place in the states?

Depends which year you've been there, but you might not be too mistaken about those disabled elderly folks being abandoned. Mostly they are or used to be "day workers" doing any sort of job that might hire them and are either lonely or not communicating with family elatives. Also, number of people on welfare in that district is highest in Japan. Also, this area is known to have the biggest amount of street protests and even riots since like 1960's, the latest big one was back in 2008.

@@mistymoon883 for sure. one look at the bathroom affirms that.

Sup Jessica.

I miss Japan so much. Crows included.

@@Magius61Nothing like waking up to the sound a of a murder...of crows. I have stayed at a hotel that had a tree near it that the crows in the area had formed a large murder on of probably more than a hundred crows. They were very talkative every morning.

Have same sound in pretty much every place I stay xD

Those crows gave me the creeps, especially in Kyoto. Those one are not the same ones like here in Europe thats for sure.

Thanks for sharing that!!

A lot of 'ladies of the night' offering "cheap massage" and a cheap hotel in Japan sounds like paradise.

This brings back fond memories of lugging suitcases up and down the chipped tile stairs of Shin Imamiya station XD

@@matho6003lol… That probably exactly what these hotels are for.

We walked out of another nearby hostel by the same company two weeks ago! Peace House Suzunami. I was shocked that the reviews were quite good on Google. (I added my own review now with pictures) The room in this video is much nicer because at least it’s clean. The room had lots of trash on the floors, gunk in the carpet and hairs in the bed. When I told the foreigners that were running the place at reception that I think they forgot to clean the room the guy insisted that he did. So he just missed the used toothpick in the middle of the desk, the old receipts and pill cases in the middle of the floor etc. We ended up getting a refund through Agoda and stayed at Hotel Shin-Imamiya right next to the station instead. Nice, clean, new,y renovated room. I like staying in that area because of Spa World, amazing onsen.

was lovely of him huge appreciation

The 500¥ hotel is very similar to a lot of places we used to have in the US, actually. Regulation may have pushed the Single Room Occupancy out of the market, but the need for this kind of housing persists.

Besides not being good for a traveler, it sounds like homeless people rely on it for housing so I get not staying there for both reasons; Norm's safety and not taking up a room someone desperately needs.

I don't understand why the owner did not recommend you to stay at his 500 yen hotel. Was it dangerous? If so who uses the hotel?

​@@rajeshgajwelly9035 they have hotels like that in the USA and they are usually used by people who shoot heroin or people looking for prostitutes

I'm staying at a capsule hotel near Osaka Namba Station. I'll be too much of a novice to Japan, to go too far off the chart, so to speak.

There are a ton of these still in most major cities. San Francisco and Los Angeles, especially. (Chicago and New York seem to have torn most of them down by now) You'll never find them on any apartment site, and you have a fair chance of being mugged at any time. But if you need a place to rent for a week, no questions asked, there you go :)

That was the same thought I had.

SROs in SD are way more expensive now 500-1200 a month

Thanks so much~

Saying hey to you Perth from Spokane

Nice to see someone else from Perth watching!

Hey fellow Perth person. But now I am living in Japan

@@whyisthisathingnow... Thanks! Best part of my evening 😊

Hello from Perth County in Ontario Canada!

While I understand Norm in this one, because he just wants to share interesting things with us. As someone with a job related with security I seriously agree with the above comment. I'm sure lots of people might disagree with us but mate put your safety first and at least visit those places with a local. It's a interesting video, I just think putting yourself at serious risk might not be worth it. Best regards. 🎩

I bet most US cities are more dangerous than this place lol

I understand your concern, but I don't think it is needed. While Norm's encounter with the hat thief was shocking, he has enough street smarts to not lead himself into any serious danger.

This area is spr safe this guy is just crying

was a bit too much....

@@TokyoLens that place was basically a set for a horror video game. The doll heads. Why? Just, why?

You ain't kidding. I thought if he even dared stay there he'd end up getting spirited away into some horror movie.

Or got massive lice infection. Don't ask how I know.

Sounded like a guy was cryin 6:56

I occasionally go out eating/drinking and do karaoke in Nishinari. I've literally never had a problem there, and actually made some good friends along the way.

More drunk people at night, but I've never had any trouble in the dozens of times I've hung out there.

all too kind~ Thank you so much!

More to come!

@@TokyoLens Looking forward to seeing your next adventure!

the Tokyo Lens Shorts channel will get 3+ new vids a WEEK!

More to come! the shorts channel will be FULL of mini adventures

this one is... WILD

lol that cow emoji killed me The shorts channel is gonna be a TON of fun!!

It's the most dangerous neighborhood in Osaka, but I would still (and do) walk through it at night alone. I wouldn't set foot in some neighborhoods in America even in the daytime!

yeah at least you have your own space and a lock right? not bad!

@@TokyoLens Exactly!

not a bad place overall

The Sanya slums prove that it’s not what it seems in Japan and it’s a facade.

yeah me too~

I was coming here to say this, if I was travelling in a group maybe I could do it, but certainly not on my own >

Same here.

I was frustrated... I was unharmed and safe but an unpleasant experience overall

Norm is Brave and 💪. Our prayers are with him, However, he’s intelligent and prefers to avoid confrontation. 👍 🇬🇧

I actually stayed there with a couple of friends. I didnt realise the area was that dangerous until watching this video. Once Norm called it a slum something triggered in my brain and made the link to the airbnb we got. Honestly would recommend staying away, it was super sketchy. The whole area is run down, you hear people shouting and swearing at eat othe, fights breaking out. People just sitting on the road outside run down buildings. The unfortunate part was, while we walked to and from our airbnb we saw a lot of physicalled disabled old people - this just broke my heart. It was almost like they all had been abandoned and left to fend for themselves. I honestly was taken a back when i experienced this, would not have expected it from japan.

same

​​@@TheresOnlyVenomTOV😢 The physically disabled elderly hit home because that describes me, though I'm in 🇨🇦 and have a really nice one bedroom apartment in a beautiful apartment building in a safe part of my city. Whenever I venture downtown I'm struck by the homeless elderly people and the youths. I don't have much as I'm on a small disability pension but I'll buy coffee and doughnuts for people and share my 🚬 (bad habit, I know) with anyone who asks. I normally keep a few extra packs in my car because I know I'll get asked at least 3-4 times. Our city is buying up real estate left and right to build high-rise apartment buildings while ignoring the vulnerable people who, I have found out time and time again were homeless suddenly when COVID hit; there's not enough RGI housing in my city. I understand your heartbreak. I've worked full-time since 1977 until I became disabled in 2009. I applied for RGI housing and disability who then made me withdraw every penny in my RRSP. The law has since changed and Ontario Disability can no longer make you withdraw your RRSP.

Wow, I'm surprised to hear this! When I lived in Tennouji I walked through Nishinari plenty of times at night and never had any trouble. Maybe I've just been lucky?

@@jenna-a-gogo hey Jenna, long time no see - I think I was just unlucky that night rather than you being lucky. Wrong place, wrong time.

Thanks so much!! Glad to have you here~

lol

And 100 times safer than America.

was a bit of a surprise~ and yea... she worked hard on that lol

What did she do to get herself so thoroughly banned?

@@thedankengine585 my guess would be disorderly conduct while highly intoxicated plus maybe not paying her bills.

Nailed it~

sure