sundaymorning

Hi! I just started planning a trip to japan for next year. I'm looking at end of March to early April for two weeks. Is this a good time? This would be cherry blossom time right? I know for sure I want to go to Tokyo and Kyoto, I want to see Hiroshima park. Like I said I just started planning and I'm very excited. So any suggested side trips? How much can you see in two weeks? And hotels. I need something central to the sights, not crazy expensive,but not a hostel or capsule hotel. CLEAN and good location are my top priorities. I want to take beautiful pictures and really experience japan. Any suggestions/help? Anyone have an average cost of two weeks traveling japan?

kja

You might start with japan-guide.com and a search of this board (it's destination site, as well as trip reports and planning threads). A good guide book or two will also prove invaluable. With two weeks, you can see Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima; whether you have time for anything else -- and you could -- will depend on your interests. Hope that helps!

MFNYC

We just spent 3 nights in Ryokan Shimizu in Kyoto. It's a few blocks from the train/bus station. Besides being clean, quiet and convenient, it's quite charming and the staff there is delightful. It's very reasonable as well, and for another $10 you can get a traditional Japanese breakfast.

There is also a chain called Toyoko Inns. We stayed in one on the first and last nights of our trip. The first was across from Shinagawa station in Tokyo and the last was near Heneda Airport. Both were very clean, quiet and pleasant. The rooms are small, and the beds in both places were pretty hard, but overall it was great value (each about $95/night). They also include breakfast. We had breakfast at the first, and it was good. The second we left earlier than breakfast, but they had croissants to go and a free shuttle to the airport.

In Tokyo we stayed at the Century Southern Hotel which is not budget, but we got a pretty good deal, and it was lovely.

pinkpeony

You can check below website for tour or hotel.
www.travel.rakuten.com
www.agoda.com

jocundday

I'm going at the same time and have been doing research into business hotels in Tokyo. Try APA hotels, Tokyo Stay Inn, Toyoko Inn, and Route Inn. I'd urge you to book now, if you can, as the last week of March, first of April is both cherry blossom time and Spring school vacation. Some of the more desirable locations of the above chains are already booked full in Tokyo for our dates (and some chains will not accept reservations more than six months in advance and at least one--Toyoko--not more than three months for non-members of their affinity program).

tarutarusan

>Is this a good time?

Yes, best time for travel.

>And hotels
This hotels are good and have Japanese-style spa
↓
http://www.hotespa.net/dormyinn/en/index.html


>Any suggestions/help?
Check it ↓
http://japan-magical.blogspot.com

jobin

Holy crow! A chain hotel offering good value, but tiny rooms, at US95/nite? Seems outrageous. Are such high prices common even in smaller cities? I'm a step above the backpacker, like my own room at night, so US20 is about my limit. Are such rooms possible in Japan?

Kavey

Yes, accommodation prices are HIGH in Japan. Space is at a premium. On both our trips, we've found that we pay more in accommodation than we would elsewhere but much less on food. (Though drinks are a bit more).

The biggest question is whether or not you need en-suite bathrooms? If so, you're looking at that ball park for private en-suite bathrooms. If not, you can find cheaper as there are many inns that offer bedrooms only, and you use the shared bathroom facilities. These are super clean and include showers as well as large hot baths in which you can soak, though they do need a modicum of bravery to bare all in front of other (same-sex) guests.

You could also look at minshuku, bed and breakfast in someone's home. Again, I think you'll have your own bedroom but not necessarily a private bathroom.

Also look at capsule hotels, for teeny tiny sleeping capsule "room" and again, shared bathroom facilities.

The Dormy Inn chain is excellent. Small rooms by non-Japanese standards but we found them perfectly decent and the space is used very well. Very comfy beds, usually great locations and you have free ramen available after 9.30 in the evening, not that we ever got round to trying it. (We didn't have breakfast in house either, as it's cheaper to find a bakery or coffee shop nearby).

I would also recommend you use booking.com to find / book hotels. They often have great discounts (our Kyoto hotel was cheaper than I would have expected for quality/ location) and you don't pay until you get there. You can cancel up to three days in advance of your visit.