Family Japan Trip in August for First Time - Hotel Planning Advice
 

First, thanks to all who replied to my other thread about where to go for the summer. As you can see from the title of this post, we are off to Japan. Officially we have never been to Japan (I had a plane change at the airport once) so it is all new to us.

I am needing help with hotels right now. There are 4 of us which is making things difficult since I cannot seem to find a reasonable room for 4. It is myself, husband, teenage daughter, and teenage son.
All hotels that I have reserved so far can be canceled if I find something better
So far I have this:
Arrive Tokyo on August 5th (late afternoon)
Plan to stay in Tokyo area for 1 night and then go to Kyoto the next morning

Aug 5th: I have booked Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo for 2 rooms for a total of $262 for the night . The main problem is that these rooms have double beds. Really need twin beds since sharing a bed with my teenage daughter has not worked out well in the past. They have twin bed rooms available for $190 per night per room which is too much.
My main goal is get conveniently on the train to kyoto the next morning but also have a good area that we can go to dinner/wander when we arrive that night. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

August 6th: take train to Kyoto for a stay of 2 nights. I have booked Citadines Kyoto Karasuma-Gojo (2 rooms) which is great EXCEPT they are smoking rooms. Not sure that we can stand the smoke. So I need to look at alternative hotels.

August 8th: Leave to go to Disneyland. Staying 2 nights at Hilton Tokyo Bay. We wanted something close so we could go back to hotel during the day if we wanted to.

August 10th - August 16th in Tokyo . We actually leave at 12:05 am on August 17th. Right now I have 2 different hotels on hold. The Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku for $1476 total (2 rooms) but it is for queen beds and so I back to the problem of sharing with my teenage daughter.
The other is Hotel Monterey Hanzomon for $1360 total. I have twin beds in these 2 rooms but the hotel does not specify smoking or non-smoking so I back to the smoke thing.

I am having a really difficult time finding reasonable rooms for the 4 of us. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated !!

I did find out after we bought the plane tickets that it is Obon week Aug 10th - 17th so that changed our plans somewhat. It is the main reason that we are going to Kyoto and Disney the first week then doing Tokyo (with some day trips) on the second week.

Most "double beds" in Japanese hotels are smaller than double beds in American homes or hotels There's a goiod chance that you won't be happy with them, though I have heard good things about the Hotel Ryumeikan. For that first night, you might also look at hotels in Shinagawa (the Prince chain operates a couple of reasonably-priced hotels there) -- Shinagawa is extremely easy to reach from either Tokyo airport, and all trains to Kyoto stop in Shinagawa. That said, Shinagawa is not an especially interesting neighborhood in itself.

It's difficult if not impossible to find rooms accommodating 4 in Japan. Better resign yourself to 2 rooms.

I've found that booking sites like Agoda, etc., don't always show as many room types and smoking options as the hotels' own web sites.

Have you considered renting a traditional apartment, in Kyoto? I looked at lots of gorgeous machiya rentals online, and only decided against because the prices make more sense when shared between 4 rather than 2. Many have two bedrooms / sleeping spaces and 4 or more single futons that you make up on the floor. The best quality futons are very comfortable.

Most machiya will only rent for a three day minimum. Here is one in Kyoto where you can get two rooms for a reasonable price but three day minimum.

https://www.kyotomachiyastay.com/ind...cation/koke-an

What about the Citadines in Shinjuku for your return to Tokyo?

http://www.citadines.com/en/index.html

You will be traveling to Japan in the hottest most humid month of the year....be prepared.

Aloha!

Thanks for your replies! I had looked at Citadines Shinjuku for Aug 10 - 16th but they are booked up. I had thought about an apartment rental in Tokyo but not sure how to find a reputable one.
Thanks for the rental idea in Kyoto - unfortunately the only one available for our dates is the Iho-an which says 4 people but shows only 1 bed. I assume that the other is a pull out couch. Really need at least a couple of twins so my daughter can sleep by herself (She has issues with insomnia).

Any other ideas?

http://www.japan-experience.com/rent...apan?ap=j0095g

Aloha!

Thanks for the japan-experience link. Unfortunately again all booked up for our time period :(

Have you tried these sites yet?

http://www.japanican.com/hotels/

http://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/

http://www.tatami-guesthouse.com/

Many of the machiya I looked at for Kyoto had more than one room and multiple single futons. I used sites such as:

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/asia/japan/kyoto

I didn't look at minimum night booking requirements as I was intending to book for 5-7 nights anyway.

You might want to check this hotel out. My wife and I stayed there last May and found it convenient.
Hearton Hotel Higashishinagawa
Also for other hotel needs consider Toyoko or Dormy chain hotels with two twins.
Have a great trip

You are trying to optimize bed type, nonsmoking, and price, and all for a time part of which is a key holiday period.

Something's gotta give, and I suggest you bite the bullet and accept smoking rooms, but pack nonaerosol Febreeze spray packed into checked luggage. You won't do better in your situation than something like Citadines Kyoto.

Beyond that, price. You have quite a long list of constraints, and you are booking during at least a partial holiday period. Yet you state that $190 per twin room that fits your requirements in Toko is 'too much.' I think you are burning the candle at both ends. Exhale, and then revise your budget.

Letsgothere,

Any luck with reservations yet? I can give specific hotel sites if your still having a problem finding something.

Aloha!