Needing a place to stay before moving to a new home, James Degan recently went on Airbnb and found an apartment in Tokyo's upscale Minato Ward. At ¥8,000 per night with a double bed and fully equipped kitchen, it came cheaper than staying in a hotel and was conveniently located near a station close to his workplace.
Degan, a Franco-British financial trader, said he looked at other short-term minpaku (private lodging) sites but couldn't find any operating in Japan with the variety offered by Airbnb. He attributed that advantage to the service's early entry into the nation.
"I think Airbnb benefits from the innovator's edge," he said.
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