Backpacking around Japan

Hi - we (2 people) want to know how easy it is to backpack around Japan and to find cheap hostel or homestay accommodation in the smaller towns. We have just over a week and dont want to have a strict itinerary so booking in advance might not be possible. We are travelling in Feb next year. Will we find accommodation easily or could we end up 'stranded' with no where to stay at the end of the day??!! Thanks

Friday tends to be off-season in terms of travel. Therefore, it should be relatively easy to find budget accommodations in most places. Just bring some accommodation listings or URLs of some hostel and hotel reservation websites.

However, finding homestays on a short term will be difficult.

Possibly Friday = Feb. for Uji??

Within one week ( 7 nights ?) what areas do you want to visit? It might be a good idea to book the first accommodation after arrival in Japan in advance and from there book the other accos. Make up a rough schedule and answer yourself following questions: Which airport to fly in / fly out, how many days in which city? How to travel from arrival city A to far distance city B and back to A ( maybe rail pass ) or only stay in the arrival city area ( no rail pass ). If we decide for B are we ready to look for accommodation after arrival at the railway station without knowing were to find acco. ,not speaking Japanese, tourist office at station already closed.

Oops, I meant February is the off season. Thanks for the catch Connie.