[Gahzirra]

What's your age and how old?

I ask as I am 38 but a very young and athletic looking 38. I had booked hotels but ended up mid way on my month long vacation switching to hostels. I had a pretty much limitless budget but did this as I found I had a better experience at the hostels. It feels more like home, you get better information on whats the thing to do and see. For example, I asked my hotel concierge what were some great things to do in Tokyo...he pointed me to the rack of canned tour trips. Same question at the hostel I got a xeroxed hostel designed map of all the cool things within walking distance, along with favorite restaurants. Also at night and in the morning just chatting with the other gaijin is a wealth of information and first hand knowledge of the cool finds for the day. The hostels had a wide range of ages most were mid 20-30's, but I did run into several 40-50+ as well. (Hostels in my opinion were clean and modern and gave a home feel)

Also by staying at a hostel for like $30usd a person if you had been on a budget or even had a large budget, you don't think twice about dropping the coin for a night time helicopter ride around Tokyo. Japan is more about the experience then your accomodations. I bought box seats to Sumo, helicopter rides, waterbus around Odaiba, ate a $200 Ohmi steak in Gion, the list goes on...

Many of the Aussies, Brits, Fin's and Koreans I had met while at the hostel have become great friends and I continue to follow their travels.

If I were to go back to Japan I would stay in a hostel again I felt it to be the best experience.