BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm going to be in Japan for 3 weeks in Sept and S. Korea for 2 weeks in October.

I will have reservations for my first destination in each country before my trip starts.

But I was wondering if I will need to have reservations for accommodation (I mainly use hostels) in advance everywhere in these countries or if I will just be able to show up somewhere and find a bed for that night.

thanks

I have had little trouble finding relatively cheap accommodation in Korea on the spot.

Finding both cheap and available accommodation in Japan isn't always as easy.

Cheap accom in Korea is easy to find. I've been living here for almost 2 years, now. 'Galbijim' website is good. I went to Japan in August 2006, & Sept 2007, had no problems finding accom. 3 sisters guesthouse in Kyoto was good, & Khaosan GH in Fukuoka.

http://www.khaosan-fukuoka.com/

Lonely Planet Guidebooks for Japan & Korea worked fine.

This thread in LPTT may help too:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1624609&tstart=0

I stayed at the New Koyo with a travel companion. We liked it ... friendly, close to a subway stop, a kitchen for use, bicycles, ofuro, and our teeny-weeny tatami matted room. We called from the airport, I think (always winging it, sometimes to our dismay) luckily they had a room, but then it was mid january.....sooo it might be better to book ahead at other times of the year.

@gato feo: Thanks much! It's always a bit hard to look for cheap accommodations in Japan.

Go to the "hostelworld" webite. It has been in invaluable resource for me. I just book the next night or two ahead through this site. If you do get stuck, just go to a love hostel. You'll get a great size bed, a good price and you might even get a spa! You can tell the love hotels by the gary decorations on the outside!
Oh and internet cafes usually have beds as well... its cheap,you get a booth with a small bed or comfy leather chair, and of course a computer with internet. Ganbatte!

I found hostels in Japan to be the hardest to just walk up and get an empty room. I found many Japanese stay in Hostels on weekends. I'd at least try to book a few days in advance, but I don't think you need to book months or even weeks in advance.