If you are staying long term in Tokyo (or anywhere for that matter), have you considered a “weekly mansion”? These are smallish rooms (singles mostly, though family-style rooms for couples or even four or more are available) that include a “unit bath” (toilet/shower/bathtub combo), and a small kitchen with a fridge, sink, and one burner. You get a table, wardrobe, bed and TV also. These are great if you will be staying a week or more somewhere, as the cheapest (read most out of the way) locations will be as low as around 25,000 yen for 7 nights, for a per-night stay of around 3,000-4,000 yen. I used the following company: Weekly Mansion Tokyo. I also found the places pretty foreigner friendly, with international phone-card vending machines, English maps, and instructions in English. The bad part: you need to place a 20,000-yen deposit that they apply to your overall bill. A bit cleaner and more private than a gaijin house or guest house.
© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.