What Utilities Actually Cost in a Japan Short-Term Rental (And How to Control Them)
Nobody warned me about the electricity bill when I started running short-term rentals in Tokyo. In a regular apartment, the tenant pays utilities. In a short-term rental, you do — and guests have absolutely no incentive to turn off the air conditioning when they step out for the day.
After a few summers of bill shock, I got systematic about it. Here’s what utilities actually cost in a Japan STR, why the numbers move the way they do, and what actually works for controlling them.