The origin of the word "minshuku" is said to be from the Japanese word "minshuku", or from the European B&B (Bed and Breakfast), a model of a family hotel that provides bed and breakfast.

This definition fully explains the qualities that make a minshuku different from a hotel or a restaurant. A minshuku is different from a traditional hotel or motel in that it may not have high-level luxury amenities, but it allows people to experience the local flavor, feel the warmth of the hosts and the service, and experience a different kind of life than they have in the past.