Monthly Mansions

Monthly Mansions in Japan

The word “mansion” is misleading and actually refers to modern apartments in concrete buildings, while “apartment” refers to older units in conventional structures.

As the name suggests, a ‘monthly’ mansion is an apartment or mansion which allows you to stay for a period of at least one month without the need for key money. Some places, although they are advertised as Monthly Mansions allow you to stay for shorter periods such as one week and for longer periods from 3 months to a year.

The concept of the montly mansion is to provide you with the basic needs you would usually find in your own apartment so it doesn’t feel as if you are staying at a hotel. You have a key to the apartment and you are free to come and go as you please.

Prices
Monthly mansions are a good alternative for those who don’t want to stay in a hotel. In most cases they are more expensive and not quite as homely as ‘Gaijin Houses’ and ‘Ryokans’ but are equipped with the essentials. Depending on the location and type of facilities they can be quite expensive, but for short term stays they are a reasonably good option.

Typical prices for one months rent is 50,000 - 80,000 yen depending on the location, facilities, age of building and room size. If you are a family, it will cost you about 1.5 to 2 times the regular price per person. Most allow you to put an extra bed in the room if numbers go over. If you go out of central Tokyo to places like Nippori the prices tend to drop a fair bit.

Some places require a Japanese guarantor or a payment of 50,000 yen as a deposit. But many establishments allow you to pay by credit card instead of requiring a guarantor.

Facilities
The facilities at monthly mansions vary quite a bit. Some have creature comforts such as cable television while others have the bare minimum.

Depending on the place, bed linen is regularly replaced or at some places you have to wash yourself. Most places have rice cookers, hair dryer, shampoo and body soap; they also have most essential electrical appliances such as TV, refrigerator, washing machine, microwave oven and vacuum cleaner.

Another type of Monthly Mansion called Monthly Hotels exist which allow you to stay overnight. These places generally have higher security and have a person on the front desk at all times.