It's ok not booking everything in advance. Not in February, anyway. There are travel agents at the train stations that will book your rooms for a small fee. I am under the impression that lodging at Koyasan is limited, so you might want to book that in advance. Also I tend to book in advance when I know where I want to stay, like Momiji-so which I can recommend as did TravelTrio.
http://gambo-ad.com/miyajima/english...ji-so/info.htm
I haven't stayed at any budget places in Tokyo unless you count the Holiday Inn Metropolitan in Ikebukuro which was ok.
Budget lodging info is here: www.itcj.jp
http://gambo-ad.com/miyajima/english...ji-so/info.htm
I haven't stayed at any budget places in Tokyo unless you count the Holiday Inn Metropolitan in Ikebukuro which was ok.
Budget lodging info is here: www.itcj.jp
Biggsy: Ueno is not "far out" in any way at all. It is right on the Yamonate JR train loop that goes around Tokyo in a circle, through most of the major neighborhoods where many sites and attractions are. Uneo also has the park.
Actually there is not an overwhelming amount of info on this forum on budget accomodations in Tokyo; many posters here go a bit higher in class. But there have been some recommendations. I would suggest checking www.japan-guide.com, as that forum has a more bdget-minded group than this one (I love both forums and use and participate in them both extensively). Put "tokyo budget hotel" in the search box on japan-guide.com's question forum.
I am picky about accomodations because to me they do matter to my mood and are more than a place to sleep. Here is one place in Tokyo that I found recommended on here that I researched and seriously considered staying in:
Author: Mara
Date: 05/09/2005, 02:21 pm
I stayed at the Annex Katsutaro last year on my first and (so far) only trip to Japan. I was very happy there. The room was a nice size, private bathroom, tv with CNN Japan, fridge, tea pot, etc in room. It was a residential neighborhood and convenient to the Nippori station on the Yamanote line and the Sendagi subway station. The rooms are Japanese style, that is, futon on the floor and low table with cushion on the floor as pictured. I don't know if that would be an issue for your older travelers or not. I highly recommend it if that is not a problem. Enjoy Japan! I am hoping to go again in the fall this time to Kyoto.
Mara
Actually there is not an overwhelming amount of info on this forum on budget accomodations in Tokyo; many posters here go a bit higher in class. But there have been some recommendations. I would suggest checking www.japan-guide.com, as that forum has a more bdget-minded group than this one (I love both forums and use and participate in them both extensively). Put "tokyo budget hotel" in the search box on japan-guide.com's question forum.
I am picky about accomodations because to me they do matter to my mood and are more than a place to sleep. Here is one place in Tokyo that I found recommended on here that I researched and seriously considered staying in:
Author: Mara
Date: 05/09/2005, 02:21 pm
I stayed at the Annex Katsutaro last year on my first and (so far) only trip to Japan. I was very happy there. The room was a nice size, private bathroom, tv with CNN Japan, fridge, tea pot, etc in room. It was a residential neighborhood and convenient to the Nippori station on the Yamanote line and the Sendagi subway station. The rooms are Japanese style, that is, futon on the floor and low table with cushion on the floor as pictured. I don't know if that would be an issue for your older travelers or not. I highly recommend it if that is not a problem. Enjoy Japan! I am hoping to go again in the fall this time to Kyoto.
Mara
Biggsy
emd has pasted in my post above about where I stayed in Tokyo two years ago. Another budget idea is the Toyoko Inns, a chain of business hotels all over Japan. The website is toyoko-inn.com and you can reserve online starting 60 days before your arrival. I am thinking of staying in one of their Kyoto hotels this April.
Enjoy your trip!
PS I checked and phaff is not in the online Scrabble dictionaries!
emd has pasted in my post above about where I stayed in Tokyo two years ago. Another budget idea is the Toyoko Inns, a chain of business hotels all over Japan. The website is toyoko-inn.com and you can reserve online starting 60 days before your arrival. I am thinking of staying in one of their Kyoto hotels this April.
Enjoy your trip!
PS I checked and phaff is not in the online Scrabble dictionaries!
Mara, I am hoping you go to Japan a little later in April and we can hook up. Maybe for a game of scrabble (my daughter and I travel w/a magnetized traveler's version), where you can only use Japan travel words...
Eileen
Eileen
Sorry, emd, my dates are pretty much set in stone. I don't have the energy to email scores of hotels with new dates - maybe next year when it will be your son's turn again 
You are right about faffing - I play scrabble online with a friend and it is in one of the dictionaries. However I don't think there are three F's in the game so you'd have to use a blank.
You are right about faffing - I play scrabble online with a friend and it is in one of the dictionaries. However I don't think there are three F's in the game so you'd have to use a blank.
4/8 - 4/23. Arrive Narita, make way to Kyoto (and Shikoku from there, returnign to Kyoto), fly out of Narita.
We will just miss each other. But as you said, there is next year to look forward to!
We will just miss each other. But as you said, there is next year to look forward to!
