A lot of people love to go on vacation. They look forward to going somewhere exotic where they can explore a new culture full of history, music, and food. They also usually plan to stay somewhere really nice.
But a big factor in where people like to stay is the cost. They don’t want to blow their whole budget on their lodging. They want to make sure that they have enough for eating, shopping, and entertainment while they are there.
To help you save, in Japan, there is a hotel that charges $1 a night. No, that is not a typo. A single dollar will get you into this hotel for one night.
There is (of course) a catch. You have to live-stream your entire stay there. Is it worth it? We have 20 pictures that give us a virtual tour.
20 Not Much To Look At From The Outside
The hotel is called Asahi Ryokan and it really is not much to look at from the outside. However, they say never to judge a book by a cover.
It may not have the fanciest entrance, but if it is safe and comfortable then it may be worth the cheap price tag.
19 Simple Will Be A Constant Theme
The hotel is run by a relatively young man. Tetsuya Inoue is the 27-year-old is the manager of the hotel that is located in the city of Fukuoka. The actual hotel is owned by his grandmother.
The theme of the hotel seems to be quite simple, but for such a cheap price it is completely understandable.
18 They See You When You’re Sleeping…
When they say you need to live stream your entire stay, they really mean it. That means that you must always be on video sending out the message to others.
This even means during the night while you are sleeping. If people feel like watching, they can creepily just log in and watch you while you are sleeping.
17 …They Know When You’re Awake
They also watch you when you are awake. Everything you do in that room is being watched as you live stream.
Where did this idea come from? Well, Inoue wanted to find a way to improve business in the new Airbnb-focused economy.
16 Cold, Metal Bathtub
This made Inoue come up with a great and innovative idea. He decided to use one of the most popular things in the world right now, the internet.
He thought that by using the internet to his full advantage that he could catch the attention of a new audience and a new revenue stream.
15 Just Working Away
That means that guests can spend the entire night at his hotel for 100 Yen, which works out to be about $1. Seems like quite a bargain.
However, they must agree to have their entire stay live-streamed. That means from the time they check-in to the time they check-out, they are being watched.
14 All Your Intimate Moments
There are some restrictions when it comes to being live-streamed, as some were worried about the utter lack of privacy while at the hotel. Something that would not be appealing.
The live stream is video-only. That means that there is no sound.
13 Back To Basics
It is also important to note that the bathroom is the only room not in camera range. It would be highly unethical to have a camera in the bathroom.
That means that guests don’t have to worry about being watched while they are trying to do their most private business.
12 Looks Inviting
Even though the stay is live-streamed, guests are allowed to turn the lights off while they are in their hotel room.
That means that there are going to be moments that viewers can not see. This would likely be when the guests are sleeping.
11 You Get Your Money’s Worth…
A lot of people may be wondering by now where they can watch the guests in this hotel room. Inoue has a YouTube channel called One Dollar Hotel.
This is where the public can check out the live streaming, and even add it to their research when trying to decide where they want to stay in Japan.
10 …And Not Much More
Inoue had a lot to say when it came to his unique business model. He had stated that this was a very old Ryokan hotel and that he had to look into a new business model to try and attract new customers.
Businesses are willing to try and do anything when it comes to potentially saving their business.
9 Can Accommodate More Than One
Inoue also understands that his hotel is not full of fancy interiors and amenities. He stated that he knows that his hotel is on the cheaper side.
Since the look of the hotel is not catching, he had to do something that added some value. Something that would get people talking.
8 Is Your Mom Watching?
Inoue started this promotion in October of 2019, and since then he has had 4 people take him up on his offer.
It is going to be a waiting game to see just how many more are willing to live-stream their entire stay in order to get a wicked discount on a hotel room?
7 Not Even A Bed?
Inoue also loves how young people think today, and that will only help his new business model. He stated that young people now are not too concerned about privacy.
This is thanks to social media and the presence of the internet in everybody’s life. Most feel it is fine to be watched for just one day.
6 It Is All Live
Some wonder how this is worth it for him, that he can not be making any money by offering the rooms so cheap.
Well, his YouTube channel already has 1, 000 subscribers. Once he reaches more than 4, 000 view hours, he will be allowed to put ads on his channel and make some extra money.
5 Make It Interactive
There are slow days, since he only had 4 guests, so what does he do when the room is empty? Well, he uses it himself to work in as his office.
He live-streams himself working and puts up signs to tell people when he is out of the office and when he is back.
4 Seriously, While You Are Sleeping
We have mentioned it a lot and that is because it is creepy. The fact that anyone can log in and watch you while you are sleeping may be enough to make anyone think twice about this deal.
3 That Is A Toilet AND A Sink!
Even though the hotel doesn’t look like much, there are still plenty of reasons to visit there. Many people don’t think to stop at a city called Fukuoka when they are travelling to Japan.
However, Fukuoka was named one of the must-visit destinations of 2019 by CNN Travel. This place is definitely worth visiting.
2 What Is On Display?
This city is seaside, which would lead to many beautiful sights and walks. It is also known for its incredible food. A lot of people love travelling to different places just to try different cuisine.
One of its most popular dishes is a delicious pork Tonkotsu ramen.
1 A Welcoming Sign?
If you are looking for more culture than just food, you can also check out the Fukuoka Art Museum. This museum has recently reopened after being closed for three years for renovations.
You can also check out the gift shop with all the money you are saving.