ゲストハウス
Meaning: A guesthouse — budget accommodation, often with shared rooms and communal spaces, popular with backpackers.
Japanese ゲストハウス are budget-friendly accommodations that offer dormitory-style or small private rooms with shared facilities. They cater to both domestic and international budget travellers. Many feature communal lounges designed for socialising, making them popular with solo travellers. Distinct from Western 'guesthouses,' Japanese ones are closer to hostels. Some double as share houses for longer-term stays.
Examples
- ゲストハウスに泊まったら海外の旅人と友達になれた。 住青旅的时候和外国旅行者交上了朋友。Me alojé en un guesthouse y me hice amigo de viajeros extranjeros.게스트하우스에 묵었더니 해외 여행자와 친구가 됐어.
- 一泊3000円のゲストハウスがあるんだけど、どう? 有一家一晚3000日元的青旅,怎么样?Hay un guesthouse por 3000 yenes la noche, ¿qué te parece?1박 3,000엔짜리 게스트하우스가 있는데 어때?
- ゲストハウスの共有スペースで朝まで話し込んだ。 在青旅的公共空间聊到了天亮。Nos quedamos hablando hasta el amanecer en la zona común del guesthouse.게스트하우스 공유 공간에서 아침까지 이야기에 빠졌어.
Pronunciation
/ge.su.to.ha.u.su/
Usage Guide
Context: travel, backpacking, budget travel
Tone: casual, adventurous
✓ Do Say
- お金ないからゲストハウスにする。 (I'm broke so I'll stay at a guesthouse.)没钱了,就住青旅吧。(我囊中羞涩,就住青旅好了。)No tengo dinero, así que me quedo en un guesthouse. (I'm broke so I'll stay at a guesthouse.)돈이 없으니까 게스트하우스로 할게. (주머니 사정이 안 좋으니까 게스트하우스에 묵을게.)
- ゲストハウスの方が旅人同士の交流があって楽しい。 (Guesthouses are more fun because you can interact with fellow travellers.)青旅更有趣,因为可以和其他旅行者交流。(青旅比较好玩,因为能和其他旅行者交朋友。)Los guesthouses molan más porque puedes interactuar con otros viajeros. (Guesthouses are more fun because you can interact with fellow travellers.)게스트하우스가 여행자끼리 교류할 수 있어서 더 재밌어. (게스트하우스는 여행자끼리 소통할 수 있어서 더 즐거워.)
✗ Don't Say
- 高級ホテルを「ゲストハウス」と呼ぶのは完全に間違い (Calling a luxury hotel a 'guesthouse' is completely wrong — ゲストハウス implies budget accommodation)把豪华酒店叫做「ゲストハウス」完全是错误的(把高档酒店叫做'青旅'完全不对——ゲストハウス指的是经济型住宿)Llamar「ゲストハウス」a un hotel de lujo es completamente incorrecto — ゲストハウス implica alojamiento económico (Llamar 'guesthouse' a un hotel de lujo es completamente incorrecto — ゲストハウス implica alojamiento económico)고급 호텔을 「ゲストハウス」라고 부르는 것은 완전히 틀리다 (럭셔리 호텔을 '게스트하우스'라고 부르는 것은 완전히 잘못이다 — ゲストハウス는 저가 숙소를 의미한다)
Common Mistakes
- Expecting the same level of privacy as a hotel — most ゲストハウス have shared rooms and bathrooms
- Confusing the Japanese meaning with the Western meaning — in Japan it means a budget hostel, not a small B&B
Origin & History
From English 'guesthouse,' but with a different meaning in Japanese. While English guesthouses are typically small B&Bs, Japanese ゲストハウス evolved as budget hostel-style accommodations from the 2000s, growing rapidly with the inbound tourism boom of the 2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s growth, 2010s boom with inbound tourism
Generation: Young travellers (20s–30s), backpackers
Social background: Budget travellers
Regional notes: Found across Japan, concentrated in tourist cities. Many opened in renovated traditional buildings (古民家), adding cultural charm to budget stays.
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