unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Film and TV
    • Netflix
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Hotel room costs $1 per night but guests have to agree to be livestreamed 24/7

Home> News> World News

Published 17:23 1 Nov 2024 GMT

Hotel room costs $1 per night but guests have to agree to be livestreamed 24/7

Honestly sounds a bit dystopian to me, but there is definitely some interest in the service

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Asahi Ryokan

Topics: Japan, News, World News, Travel, Business, Technology

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

You can stay at a traditional hotel in Japan, but there is quite a big catch that explains why it's so cheap.

This might be an impressive and innovative idea, or another step towards a chronically online dystopian future, depending on how you look at it.

But Tetsuya Inoue had quite the unique idea on how to improve business at his grandmother’s hotel when he began running it in the Japanese city of Fukuoka: what if the internet could be used to bringing in even more money?

And I don’t mean setting up a brilliant new online ad, but rather streaming a person’s stay on YouTube.

Advert

Thankfully, everything is consensual - in fact, those hoping to stay at the traditional Japanese inn, can enjoy a stay for ¥100 (about $1) per night.

As well as this, there are some rules on how this works.

Those who agree to the deal can stay in the traditional inn for 1$ a night(Courtesy Asahi Ryokan/CNN Travel)
Those who agree to the deal can stay in the traditional inn for 1$ a night(Courtesy Asahi Ryokan/CNN Travel)

The livestream is video-only, so a person can chat to their heart's delight knowing that other people can’t hear them.

Guests are also permitted to turn the lights off, and the bathroom is out of range of the camera.

As well as this, there are also signs warning about the potential issues and the big no-nos while staying in the room.

As you can imagine, no ‘lewd acts’ are permitted, and guests are advised not to show any private information while staying in the room.

Speaking to CNN travel, Inoue explained how he hopes this will positively impact the hotel’s business.

He said: “This is a very old ryokan and I was looking into a new business model.

“Our hotel is on the cheaper side, so we need some added value, something special that everyone will talk about.

“Young people nowadays don’t care much about privacy. Some of them say it’s OK to be [watched] for just one day.”

And it seems this may actually be the case, as four guests have taken him up on the offer since he started offering the deal last month.

Tetsuya Inoue streams himself working when the room is vacant(Asahi Ryokan/YouTube)
Tetsuya Inoue streams himself working when the room is vacant(Asahi Ryokan/YouTube)

The videos have also proved to be somewhat popular on the social media platform as the One Dollar Hotel YouTube page already has over 1,000 subscribers.

Once it accumulates more than 4,000 view hours, he will be able to put ads on the channel and monetize it.

Viewers can also enjoy simply watching Inoue working at the office if the room is vacant or no one is streaming. Even puts signs up in English and Japanese in front of the camera to let viewers know when he is out of the room.

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Donald Trump sparks new health concerns after chilling Truth Social post stating 'the end is near'

    Social media users called the unusual post 'chilling'

    News
  • Getty stock image
    3 hours ago

    Experts reveal common dog-walking mistake owners make

    Jo Hinds explained why you need to be on your A game when walking your pooch this Spring

    News
  • Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Kanye West’s Switzerland concert canceled as backlash over controversial remarks continues to grow

    The announcement comes just days after the 'Runaway' rapper's UK gigs were axed

    Music
  • Photo by Stephen Butler/BAFTA via Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Steven Spielberg warns Hollywood about change or risks running 'out of gas'

    Steven Spielberg is responsible for creating films like War Horse, E.T., and Disclosure Day

    Film & TV
  • I made five mistakes when I went to Japan for the first time that I've been left regretting
  • Woman, 32, marries AI partner in mixed-reality ceremony where she had to wear VR glasses to see him
  • Major update to Saudi Arabia’s ‘$1 trillion giga project’ The Line as new plans revealed
  • Man travels 965 miles to different country by plane for work because it’s cheaper than living in city