Japan - hotels ?

[laffer]

Last minute trip to Japan on the cards. Last minute as in leaving Friday.

Flights are expensive for Japan but I can live with that. But hotels are a huge huge problem. I usually stay in the Hyatt chain and they are coming in at over $1000 a night. I looked at SPG and Marriott and not much better although the Courtyard Marrriott seems ok.

Can anyone suggest any decent centrally located Tokyo hotels for me to research and potentially save my last minute trip.

P.S If you have other ideas for flights departing Friday and back on Wednesday let me know.

 

[kamchatsky]

How about Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo, Autograph Collection? I will be staying there at Xmas for 7 nights using the 7 nights Marriott Reward certificate.

 

[laffer]

Cheers Kamchatsky. Fully booked. What is happening in tokyo over the next few days?

 

[kamchatsky]

Probably everyone is going there for the Cherry Blossom .....

 

[laffer]

Yeah I thought that but then speculated it might be over. Damn. Last minute inspirations often challenged. Will keep,searching. Found a economy flight with QF for 1600. Gee Jetstar fly some inconvenient routes and stops.

 

[Cynicor]

Yeah I thought that but then speculated it might be over. Damn. Last minute inspirations often challenged. Will keep,searching. Found a economy flight with QF for 1600. Gee Jetstar fly some inconvenient routes and stops.

It's not quite golden week, but still a busy period with cherry blossoms and decent weather. Hotels in Tokyo are expensive at the best of times, I'd take anything I could get. Are you able to force a points room with Hilton or similar?

 

[Hvr]

My go to hotel in Tokyo. Have stayed here several times and will be back next month.

5 minutes from Aoyama-itchome and Nogizaka Station | Hotel Asia Center of Japan (official)

 

[JFi]

Understand you're after "centrally located Tokyo hotels" but I stayed at Intercontinental Yokohama last week and it was great. It's only a 30mins train ride to Tokyo station and very cheap

 

[laffer]

Thanks JFI. How often do the trains come (is it subway etc?). If I was out on the tiles could I get back reasonably easy? As I imagine a taxi would break the bank post 12 midnight.

The QF is sitting at 1750 which is way over the odds for this route so need to make a hard call. I know I left it last minute and impulse has its consequences.

 

[Crowne11]

Look into Park Hotel Tokyo. I stayed there recently and was happy with it. Some rooms have a view of Tokyo Tower which if you can get I would recommend.
It is above Shiodome station and Shimbashi station is a 5 min walk away.

 

[JFi]

Thanks JFI. How often do the trains come (is it subway etc?). If I was out on the tiles could I get back reasonably easy? As I imagine a taxi would break the bank post 12 midnight. The QF is sitting at 1750 which is way over the odds for this route so need to make a hard call. I know I left it last minute and impulse has its consequences.

Trains come fairly often. There are several ways to get to Sakuragicho (closest JR train station from the hotel) from Tokyo station. The most direct line takes about 45mins but if you change once at Yokohama station (taking a different line), it takes 30 mins. You can use this site to search for train times and routes HyperDia | Timetable and Route Search in Japan. Forgot to mention it's about a 10min walk from the station or catch a short cab ride if you can't be bothered walking. Just did a check and the last train from Tokyo station to Sakuragicho is 12.16am so I guess you can't stay in Tokyo too late haha Assuming you are landing Narita 17:50? You can catch the Narita Express that goes all the way to Yokohama and then change to the local train for one station to Sakuragicho. Unless I'm reading this wrong, there's a Narita Express at 18.52 that gets you to Yokohama by 20.23 JR-EAST Train Reservation so a late dinner but doable.

 

[Cynicor]

I truly wouldn't stay in Yokohama unless you want to visit the area. It's a hassle and a long train ride just to see Tokyo.
But- Yokohama is very nice in itself, and you could burn 2 days there. How long do you have?

Trains come fairly often. There are several ways to get to Sakuragicho (closest JR train station from the hotel) from Tokyo station. The most direct line takes about 45mins but if you change once at Yokohama station (taking a different line), it takes 30 mins. You can use this site to search for train times and routes HyperDia | Timetable and Route Search in Japan. Forgot to mention it's about a 10min walk from the station or catch a short cab ride if you can't be bothered walking. Just did a check and the last train from Tokyo station to Sakuragicho is 12.16am so I guess you can't stay in Tokyo too late haha Assuming you are landing Narita 17:50? You can catch the Narita Express that goes all the way to Yokohama and then change to the local train for one station to Sakuragicho. Unless I'm reading this wrong, there's a Narita Express at 18.52 that gets you to Yokohama by 20.23 JR-EAST Train Reservation so a late dinner but doable.

 

[bsb]

I stayed last week at Mercure Tokyo Ginza which is really well located. My Japanese colleagues couldn't believe the price I paid to be in Ginza. I got it on special but regular prices seem ok. Decent size rooms

 

[laffer]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input. Sadly, given the very short timetable I set, I am not going to able to do it. The hotel prices when combined with the flights were outside what I consider to be high but acceptable. Oh well. The information provided though was so helpful it has made planning my next Tokyo trip so much easier. Thanks again.