Guest Experience
LINE, WhatsApp, or Email? Guest Communication Channels in Japan
Which messaging app do Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Western guests prefer? A practical guide for short-term rental operators in Japan.
BenStay Blog
Hospitality, tech, and business in Japan
All Articles 3/5
Operations
Workation in Japan: What Short-Term Rental Operators Need to Know
How Japan's workation trend is reshaping short-term rental demand — what property managers need to know about amenities, pricing, and attracting remote workers.
Tourism Trends & Market Analysis
Japan's Digital Nomad Visa: A Practical Guide for Short-Term Rental Operators
Japan's digital nomad visa is attracting a new type of longer-stay, higher-income guest. Here's what STR operators need to know about amenities, pricing, and platforms.
Operations & Property Maintenance
What It Actually Costs to Run a Small Guesthouse in Japan
A real breakdown of fixed, variable, and hidden costs for running a small guesthouse in Japan — with realistic net margin expectations for 2026.
Short-Term Rental Pricing & Revenue
Revenue Management for Small STR Operators in Japan (No Revenue Manager Required)
A practical guide to revenue management for small short-term rental operators in Japan — covering ADR, occupancy, seasonal pricing, and tools that don't cost a fortune.
Operations
Getting Contractor Quotes in Japan When You Don't Speak the Language
How foreign property managers navigate contractor quotes in Japan — the language barrier, the 比較見積もり system, and practical tips that actually help.
Freelancing & Business in Japan
Survived Japan's 確定申告? How to Make Next Year Actually Manageable
A practical guide to Japan's annual tax return for freelancers and sole proprietors — blue form vs white form, deductible expenses, and a year-round system that works.
Tax & Compliance
Japan's Invoice System, 2.5 Years In: What Small Operators Need to Know Before October
Japan's qualified invoice system (インボイス制度) hits a key transition in October 2026. Here's what small hospitality operators and freelancers need to know now.
Property Investment
Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka? Comparing Short-Term Rental ROI Across Japan's Top Cities
Comparing short-term rental investment ROI across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka — occupancy rates, regulations, operating costs, and which city suits which investor.
Operations
Self-Check-In in Japan: What Actually Works, What Doesn't, and What Guests Think
Running a guesthouse in Japan? Here's three years of real experience with self-check-in — the hardware, the communication flows, and what guests actually think.