Found out hostels in Japan include slippers and it saved me $40

I was planning a trip to Kyoto next month and was about to buy a pair of cheap hotel slippers for the room. Then I read a blog from a guy who lived there that said basically every hostel in Japan gives you slippers at the front desk. I checked a few booking sites and confirmed it's standard even at the $25 a night places. Has anyone else found random free stuff at hostels overseas that caught them off guard?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_drew1mo ago

Did they let you keep the slippers or do you have to leave them behind when you check out?

samflores1mo ago

No way they let you keep them. Those things are basically part of the room inventory like the towels and TV remote. I tried to ask once and the front desk lady looked at me like I was crazy. They probably wash them and reuse them for the next guest actually, which is kinda gross when you think about it.

finleyl391mo ago

Hold up, I'm with the hotel on this one. I actually asked to keep a pair once and they told me it was fine, no weird looks or anything. They said they toss them after each checkout anyway because washing them would cost more than just buying new bulk ones. Those fuzzy little things are basically disposable, like the little shampoo bottles. Plus they're usually branded with the hotel logo, so they want you walking around with them as free advertising. I've got a drawer full of them from Hilton and Marriott properties and nobody has ever chased me down for it.