What It Actually Costs to Run a Small Guesthouse in Japan
If you’ve read any Japan real estate investment article online, you’ve seen the same optimistic headline: “8–12% gross yield on short-term rentals in Tokyo!” What those articles never show you is the part where 40–60% of that gross revenue quietly disappears before you see a yen of profit.
I’ve been running guesthouses in Japan for several years now. The operating cost picture is messier — and more manageable — than most people expect. Here’s an honest breakdown.