18:00

Today I moved to Homeikan. I will be staying here until the end of the week while I finish apartment hunting.

Homeikan is my number one place of choice when staying in Tokyo. Originally recommended by my friend Win, this is a traditional Japanese Ryokan. A Ryokan is a traditional guest house or Japanese Inn that you can book online through their website homeikan.com, HostelWorld.com or the Japanese Guest Houses website japaneseguesthouses.com. This last website is particularly handy to find guest houses around Japan and I’ve used it several times. A stay at Homeikan will cost around ¥7,000 per night.

All rooms in this guest house are with tatami floors. The tatami has a smell similar to fresh grass, especially when it is new, and is quite comfortable to sleep on.

Like in most traditional Japanese Inns, guests are provided with a fresh yukata every day. The yukata is a casual full-length robe, similar to a kimono, to be worn indoors and around the neighbourhood if desired. And the Homeikan also has three indoors onsen: a private one,a shared one for women and a shared one for men. An onsen is a Japanese-style hot bath. I am sure I will be using it every night before going to sleep.

The photo above is another one of the series of my suitcase and backpack upon arrival in a temporary accommodation.