Hi,
I'm a Canadian living in Tokyo.
I'm thinking about starting a hostel in "suburban" Tokyo and have just started researching. I obviously have countless questions but I don't expect them answered overnight. Or in a week. Or even a month. Or more.
First and foremost my research is focused on getting a lot of information on day-to-day operations of a hostel, financial aspects, legal aspects, and to see if it's really feasible for me. And of course to determine if I'm up to the task.
I've stayed in some great hostels and some nightmares. I love my neighbourhood in Tokyo and have been here for three years. I have no intention of leaving any time soon and I'd like to share it with others.
My idea is nothing on a grand scale -- 20 to 30 beds at most is what I currently envision. However, my research has just begun.
I've looked through the forums a bit and I've already got a tonne of helpful ideas, facts, tips, thoughts, etc. So I'll continue to scour them and start asking questions after I exhausted all the info already here.
However, my MAIN question I have before I go any further down this road is this: Is it feasible for two people to own/operate a 20-bed hostel without any support staff? Or is staff something we should expect to need from square one? (Also, we plan to live on the top(?) floor of the hostel.)
Great site, looking forward to learning more.
cheers
d
15 years
However, my MAIN question I have before I go any further down this road is this: Is it feasible for two people to own/operate a 20-bed hostel without any support staff? Or is staff something we should expect to need from square one? (Also, we plan to live on the top(?) floor of the hostel.)
Yes, provided that it is not necessary to have the front desk open for 24 hours a day. This depends upon local and national laws and upon what security measures you have in place.
15 years
Thanks Plakian,
We don't really intend to have a 24-7 front desk. But i still have to look into the legalities of that. If so, of course we'll hire someone. But we'd really like to run it on our own at the start if possible.
cheers
d
14 years
Hello, Digdug.
Me and my girlfriend (japanese, im swedish) are trying to open a hostel in the tokyo area, probably outside the center, and we are just wondering how your progress is going. We are still in the process of finding a good location.
Where can you go to learn the local regulations/zoning bylaws? My japanese reading isnt topnotch :) but if i can point my girlfriend in the right direction, that would be great.
Good luck to you!
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