Tokyo hotel help

Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 12:02 PM
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Tokyo hotel help

Flights are booked for July (me, hubby and 14 yr old) and now I am researching hotels but am overwhelmed by the many possibilities. Can someone help me narrow down a few favourite areas in Tokyo that I should focus on? Want to be close to train stations to venture out and explore during the day and have restaurants /coffee shops/stores close by for evening (i.e. not isolated).

And same as above for Kyoto- and perhaps even stay in a ryokan there. I am not a fan of gigantic hotel chains and prefer a smaller cosier atmosphere but not sure if that is possible.
Thanks!!
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Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 02:17 PM
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Check vrbo and airbnb. Do you need hotels?

If you're within the circle of the JR Yamanote line in Tokyo or anywhere within five minutes' walk thereof, you'll be "close to train stations" and "have restaurants /coffee shops/stores close by for evening."

Fact is, if you lack a clue right now, you need to go to japan-guide.com and familiarize yourself with Tokyo because it is a large city with a lot of areas you could stay in (Ginza, Asakusa, Roppongi, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ueno, etc.).

Kyoto has a surfeit of machiyas available as short-term rental properties on vrbo/homeaway or airbnb. Kyoto is sizable (as large as Philadelphia, the US's 5th-largest city) so you need to familiarize yourself with the city and its areas. Plus, if you're planning to take day trips, you shouldn't be too far from Kyoto station.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 03:38 PM
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fyi, there are a lot of issues with airbnb in Japan. I really would not recommend using that....you can check out the TA discussion board - constantly discussed over there....
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Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 07:48 PM
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For Tokyo, I think it really depends on your interests. Some people want to be in the heart of modern Tokyo, others near its historic district; some want to be near shopping areas, while others want to be near museums....

In Kyoto, I prefer the Kawaramachi district -- good access to public transportation (a train station, several different subway lines, various bus routes) plus interesting restaurants, places to roam, etc. You can set it as a criterion when searching booking.com

Hope that helps1
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Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 08:16 PM
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Thanks! appreciate it and i understand that i posed a very broad question. Anyone have thoughts on the Westin Tokyo or Sheraton Miyako? Asking because my hubby is an spg member so have an opportunity to redeem some points towards a stay....
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Old Mar 23rd, 2017, 09:15 PM
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The Westin is a nice hotel. It is a bit of a walk to Ebisu stattion, walk + moving walkways, all flat. It is a good SPG choice at the right price. I could recommend a sushi place near Ebisu station, Better rates are at the Sheraton but I am not a fan of the location (admit that I didn't see how close it is to a rail or subway station, which could make a big difference). Only saw it from the airport bus. For my next stay in Tokyo, I chose the Hyatt Regency which I enjoyed before, and I prefer to stay in Shinjuku this time.
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Old Mar 24th, 2017, 07:25 AM
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>

This is too broad. There can be "issues with airbnb" anywhere. We rented twice with minimal problems.

The real issues you have with any description of a Japanese residence for short term rental are size and "bedrooms". Japanese apartments tend to be small (as do hotel rooms). The concept of "bedroom" can also be "room in which you can sleep" not a separate chamber for sleeping.
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Old Mar 24th, 2017, 09:49 AM
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I prefer the Westin and the neighborhood as compared to the Sheraton. Rooms at the Westin are a step above Sheratons also. All that said I prefer Shinjuku to stay in. The Hyatt Regency is my choice now but there are so many hotels to stay in the area its mind boggling. Try Booking.com for an idea.

Agree with Mara have heard lots of negative about AirBnB in Japan and even now here in Hawaii.

If I had the choice between the Hyatt and Westin in Kyoto my choice would be the Hyatt hands down. The Westin is poorly located and run down while the Hyatt is modern and clean. No comparison between these two hotels.

Have you ever thought about staying in a machiya while in Kyoto? Would be perfect for a family your size. Avi or Wendy got us a nice two bedroom machiya for a great price our last visit. We stayed at their Koke-An machiya and could not have been happier.

https://www.kyotomachiyastay.com/index.php/en/

Aloha!
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Old Mar 24th, 2017, 09:49 AM
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mrwunrfl - club room at the Hyatt? I was there when you were there once lol. We will be there twice during upcoming trip. First night then three in between. Have final two nights at the Park Hyatt with Bob&K on points
Getting close...can't wait

Aloha!
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Old Mar 24th, 2017, 10:22 AM
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I didn't see a club room option when I booked the HR. I think I got in because had platinum status last time, a one-year comp, but no more. I do remember visiting there with mrs ht, Mara, and you. I suppose you will be taking B&K to the fab French place.

I should pack a compass.
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Old Mar 25th, 2017, 08:43 PM
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I think a hotel near a subway stop without a train station is more convenient than being at a train station. Train stations are big places and usually take a lot of walking even once you enter.

Once you get on the subway, it doesn't really matter what neighborhood you're in. The places you'll likely want to go are spread out enough so you will have to travel. The system is very quick and efficient.
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Old Mar 25th, 2017, 11:29 PM
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I like the Westin and have stayed there several times, last about 2 years ago. Its about a 15 min walk to the train station but you can get there mostly covered if it rains. Nice department store for food next door. Large rooms for Japan. Lots of places to eat around the hotel and train station. Getting a bit dated as it was designed in the 1990's but sometimes you can get a good deal on points. Prefer Ebisu to Shinjiku unless you want to spend a lot of time east of the station. Do love the Isetan food floor. The Shinjuku train station is also much more difficult to navigate than the Ebisu train station for a tourist. Would disagree that it is better to stay near a subway stop as there are usually many more amenities as for shopping near train stations than subway stations. It is fairly easy to get to most places in Tokyo from either the train or subway but I would prefer to stay somewhere close to the Yamanote circle train line.
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Old Mar 26th, 2017, 07:05 AM
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We loved the Park Hotel in Tokyo--starts on 17th floor of a high rise. Lovely rooms at moderate cost.

We stayed at the Westin in Kyoto--not in love with the rooms or the cost of food (we got a lot of room service and split it) but very much liked the proximity to the Philosopher's path. Everyone seems to prefer the Hyatt and we will try this next time if $$$allow.
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Old Mar 27th, 2017, 12:09 AM
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Just came back from Tokyo and Kyoto. I have some favorites in both cities, but due to school spring break and the Hanami season starting, rooms were hard to book andI was forced to try some new places.

We stayed at the Hotel Aranvert, then Ryokan Hiiragiy in Kyoto. Hotel Aranvert was your basic Japanese Hotel. Clean, tiny rooms, nice staff, decent location, "spa" upstairs included. Restaurants, convenience stores all nearby. I think it was by a subway station, but with four us, we took cabs everywhere we didn't walk. I think our highest bill was about US$13, as cabs are cheaper than tokyo.

The Hiiragiya was gorgeous with fabulous staff and location. The rooms (we had two, one tatami and one western-ish beds) were quite large, both had small gardens and a deck, and both had great bathrooms with wooden furo, and terrific amenities.

In Tokyo, we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Tokyo Station. I was worried about the location, but it turned out to be great; right at the start of Ginza, so lots of food and shopping of all types nearby. It was a 4 minute walk from Tokyo Station, 30 second walk to Kobashi Station, and maybe a two minute walk to Ginza station. Tsukiji Fish market was a pleasant 15 minute or so walk.
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One of our rooms was really nice, the other somewhat dated, and the hallways had datedcarpets. They don't have an "official" club lounge, but with gold status we were able to stop anytime at a room near the front desk with drinks, snacks, fresh fruit, etc. It also included a buffet breakfast at the lava rock restaurant and free drinks and cooked snacks in the restaurant in the afternoon.

Hope to do a little trip report soon...
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Old Mar 27th, 2017, 07:41 PM
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My husband and I are pretty middle of the road when it comes to lodging. We opted for a hostel, hotel, capsule hotel, and ryokan while in Tokyo and Kyoto. We take public transit whenever possible when we travel so all of our accommodations were near the subway.

Here's our trip report for our 10-day Tokyo and Kyoto vacation:
http://fanofblank.blogspot.com/2014/...and-kyoto.html

Be prepared to small hotel rooms - our room at Royal Park Hotel was especially small. But it was all fine because we spent so much time out exploring the city.

Happy trip planning!
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 07:26 AM
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We stayed at the Hyatt in Shinjuku. It's a very nice area and has a subway station practically across the street. Within that area are a number of shops and restaurants so the location is convenient for that reason. If by any chance you or your husband or your child our baseball fans do you take in a game in Tokyo as it's a completely different experience there from the United States and a lot of fun and you would enjoy it I think.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 07:52 AM
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>

That statement has too much wrong about it to clarify in a short post. Simply stated "train stations" - meaning major JR mainline stations like Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Ueno, etc. - all have large department stores and various shops and restaurants in them. They also have a ton of restaurants nearby. Department stores in Japan not only sell consumer goods but also have major dining areas with a dozen or more dining options from casual noodle shops to major sit down meals. And the larger stations have multiple shopping areas or department stores or both (read: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Shibuya - all shot through with options). The same is true for Kyoto station (and Osaka and Shin-Osaka stations).

In addition all the major "train stations" in Tokyo have Tokyo Metro stations nearby or attached to them.
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Old Mar 29th, 2017, 08:37 AM
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Big Russ is correct. That is we took a tour one day to Mt. Fuji and connected via a bullet train to a station where we took a local train back to Shinjuku. Very easy really.
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Old Mar 31st, 2017, 08:49 PM
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Tokyo station is not a bad place to stay. The station is much easier to use than Shinjuku and there is a large underground shopping area towards the Ginza with lots of restaurants. Transportation easy with the Yamanote and Chuo train lines plus Marunochi subway line.
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Old Apr 1st, 2017, 12:45 AM
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On our first trip we stayed at the start at Shinjuku (having made a last minute change a few days before the trip when I discovered a public holiday was not on the first Monday of the month as usual but for some reason, on the second Monday of that month, meaning that Tsukiji would be closed both the two mornings of our stay, so no point staying in a hotel right next door to it!). And at the end, in Asakusa.

On our second trip, we did a night in Tokyo Station on arrival (not my cup of tea at all as an area, lots of shiny expensive shops, many of which are just the same old same old international brands). Good as a transport hub and good for finding food, but just didn't appeal to me.

On departure, we did a couple of nights at Ueno, this location is popular with some friends of mine but again, for us, on a purely person level, we didn't love it. I'd probably choose it over Tokyo Station, but not a favourite of mine.

On the latest trip, we returned to Asakusa as our Tokyo location of choice and were very happy we did, just really like being in this area which combines historic and low rise districts with modern Tokyo, and has lots of food options, is near to Kappabashi dori, is good for transport.

It really depends what you are looking for from the area you stay in. Is it primarily about transport connections, or about local cultural attractions, or about local shopping, or about food in the neighbourhood or something else?
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