Any Hotel/Ryokan recommendations for these cities would be greatly appreciated. We will be travelling Sept. 2018
I am trying to keep somewhere between $300 and $450 / night if that is possible for a nice hotel (4-5 star). I say this because I have been looking at some nice ones but they range from $900-$1600 for the same room throughout one week. Unfortunately now it seems as if all Hotels are copying the airlines, trying to maximize rates on an hourly or daily basis. This would be for this Sept. so I am not sure if there will be any deals the closer we get to this date. It seems as if the promotions that are available in Europe this year are not available in Japan.

Are there any agencies/sites that may have access to better rates? Virtuoso does not seem to have any better rates, but just have more amenities, such as room upgrades and food allowance.

Have you looked at booking.com?

I'd second kja's suggestion to try Booking.com
We've used it and have been satisfied with the range of choices and options
Japan is tourism is booming so as September gets closer the prices will be going up not down.
I just went to booking.com to check your destinations and some hotels are already sold out for September.
You can tweak the filters for the price range, rating score (8+ is probably a good bet), cancellation policy and type of accommodation.

A hotel in Tokyo we enjoy is The Richmond Premium Asakusa, you can read the reviews and details.
Hope you find something acceptable

You mean US$ and an exchange rate of about 110 JPY/USD? I just checked Hilton, Starwood, and Hyatt and all of their hotels are within or below your price range for a 3-night stay starting 9/9, with two exceptions. The Conrad Hilton and the Park Hyatt are above your range but still below $470 without advance purchase.

I have found that hotel prices change like crazy, from one minute to the next, as far as what I have experienced with booking them particularly in Tokyo and Kyoto. But, I ended up with really good prices for my 4-5 stars, but I was persistent and checking out online prices regularly. I book the majority of my vacations on Expedia and have been quite satisfied.

Good luck, trying to find a 4-5 star hotel in Kyoto or Tokyo within your desired price range, which raised my eye, although for last summer I did get the 5-star, FS-Tokyo-Marunouchi for $395. per night (all taxes/ fees included, breakfast buffet included and a spa credit). I got it on Expedia. The price had fluctuated from over $525. a night (no breakfast and no taxes/fees included) to the $395. that I finally ended up with and for the exact same type of standard room.

For this upcoming trip this summer, I have also gotten good deals, but for more than what I paid last summer.

As for which sites that might have better rates, for me it's more about being persistent and checking prices regularly than hoping for a site with a better rate. I book 1-3 major overseas vacations per year and have found what works best for me and bookings over decades of regular travel.

Good luck in your search.

Happy Travels!

True about Virtuoso, and also about Amex Platinum. Rates swing so widely in Japan, more so than I've encountered in Europe. I've been using Virtuoso quite a bit in Europe and in the US for high-end hotels, but again, they will not find any "deals' other than the perks you mention. but at least you get the gerenous breakfasts...and sometimes a dinner at the hotel for two.

Ekscrunchy: The hotel prices in Japan also swing way more than the prices in S.E. Asia as I have been spending the last 19 years of extended vacations there. Also the prices can be really out of whack for prices in different seasons. An example of this is a 5-star in Kyoto in April with prices at around $1500-$1,800 compared to costing in the high four hundred to low five hundred range for the same room in summer and I've found the same with the four stars. Even the price of my 3-star in Kyoto was way less in summer than in April and I realize that it's hot in summer, but it's hot in a lot of places around the world, but I have never found such a difference in prices in a lot of other countries that I have been to. And I agree with you about the comparison between hotel prices in Japan and Europe as I have been doing Europe regularly since the early 70s.

Happy Travels!

In Tokyo, I usually use hotwire, you don't know the name of the hotel but its pretty easy to work it out, the hotels are a fraction of the cost that are mentioned above

As for Hotwire, well, I just put in my exact dates for this summer for Kyoto and the room prices were the exact same price on Expedia and Hotwire. I also just put in the dates for my hotel in Tokyo and both the Hotwire and Expedia prices were the same. As for both of those specific hotels, the hotel name was printed on the Hotwire page.

Happy Travels!

<<I also just put in the dates for my hotel in Tokyo and both the Hotwire and Expedia prices were the same. As for both of those specific hotels, the hotel name was printed on the Hotwire page. >>

The name of the hotel is not printed on the hotwire page, that's the whole point of it, you don't know which hotel you are going to get when you select the hotel with a Hot Rate. They have improved the chances of knowing which hotel it is by saying its 1 of these 4

They do show hotels in the traditional way which you can book and I am not surprised they have the same pricing as expedia as it is the same company

I thought that it was the same company as Expedia as their webpage also pops up when I go on Expedia. Now that you mentioned that one needs to request a Hot Rate, for a possibly reduced price, then I will put in my dates again and see what happens.

Happy Travels!

Like the Westin in Tokyo. Large rooms, should be in your price range. Close to a train station and subway stop. Department store next door and lots of restaurants in the area. Residential so not dead at night.

It's no mystery about the hotel prices. Japanese are well known for their attentiveness to the seasons, in restaurants, in marketing products, in hotel prices, in fashion, etc.

April, sakura/cherry blossom season, has always been a very pricey period. Weather is less fine in hot summer months so prices drop. We from afar just have to deal with these fluctuations and plan accordingly.

I realized that cherry blossom season was a popular time and that there would be price increases, but when I first had looked at possibly going in April 2017, it would have been almost the end of April and that year the cherry blossom blooming season, according to the map I saw, didn't appear to be during the heart of my planned time.

As for the OP's planned time to be in Japan, I didn't realize that late August/ September were times that were high season and with the types of hotel prices that the OP is quoting which are quite similar to the April prices that I saw for late April 2017. It's just interesting to me how the prices hike the way that they do in comparison to other countries that also have festive seasons. Since I still work, but part-time, I can't just vacation at any time of the year and need to plan according to when I can get off work.

Happy Travels!

Thank you everybody for the responses.
I finally got a great deal thru Amex Plat. for the FS in Tokyo
I just need to find some good hotels/ryokans for Kyoto and Kanazawa. I think I am now leaning towards just one night in an Onsen or Ryokan, I think that is enough of the experience for me. Any suggestions?
Also as far as high end hotels in Kyoto, FS does not have any deals, they are now at the very high end of the spectrum- Any thoughts?

Many will say that the experience of being away traveling is not thru high end hotels, but at this stage in life, I have "been there , done that" as far as Hostels, back packing, cheap hotels in my younger days.

Good that you got FS-Tokyo for a good price. I also have AmPlat, but still mostly use Expedia as I like to be on top of being able to check regularly on prices and since my MacBook Air is nearby, I can check at different times whereas travel agents have a lot of clients to take care of.

I had planned to stay at 2, new hotels in Tokyo on this upcoming summer trip, and booked them and paid for them. They are both a 5-minute walk from the FS-Tokyo as I like staying in Marunouchi. But, then about 2 weeks ago, a good rate popped up on Expedia for the FS-Tokyo and I canceled the other two hotels and got an immediate full refund. I then booked the FS for both my 5 nights upon arrival into Tokyo and my 4 nights after my 10 nights in Kyoto and before flying home. For both stays, I got breakfast buffet included which I didn't get at the other two hotels and the price wasn't that much different to get the FS over the two other hotels that I had previously booked and also at a good price. I'll still be only a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Station which will be quite handy as I have bought my Shinkansen train tickets to and from Kyoto.

It's too bad that you weren't able to get the FS-Kyoto, but as prices seem to change every other minute, you never know what rate might pop up. That's how I ended up there both last summer and will end up there this summer and for a week. I book my hotel rates with the full-refund cancelation policy and then when something better might pop up, I just go online and click the hotel cancelation button.

As for folks who think that the experience of being away traveling is not through high-end hotels, well that's a bunch of crap as far as I'm concerned. I never understood that rationale as how does where one stay have to do with what experience in a country one will have? I've been out traveling the world, almost annually, since I was 17 and have also done a whole lot of been-there-done-there accommodation experiences and staying at more upscale hotels now has not changed how I experience a destination one bit, except for maybe getting a better night's sleep and better food so that I can go out and hit the streets all day and night just as I did when staying at the been-there-done-there accommodations. The type of accommodations that I seek out, depends on where I'm going as I still also stay in 2-3 star hotels and Airbnb depending on where I'm vacationing.

Have fun in Japan. Glad it has worked out for you so far.

Happy Travels!

Thank you Guenmai
Any recommendatios for Hotels/Ryokans in Kyoto or Kanazawa, if we dont get the FS in Kyoto? I'll try Expedia for FS Kyoto and see what I get.

In April, we stayed at Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel Sanraku in the Japanese style room, overlooking the park. We stayed in the comfortable Japanese Tatami room while our friends stayed in the western style rooms. We really enjoyed our room though the WC room & shower/sink room had low lighting. Everything from the staff, the onsen, the buffet breakfast and even the gift shop was very good. We really enjoyed our stay there and could walk everywhere, though we did take the circular bus as it was raining. We would stay there again.

The Nomura samurai house was so very interesting but we unfortunately did not get to the geisha area. Kenrouken garden was in full splendor with full on cherry blossoms and my husband raved about the 21st Century Museum of Modern Art.

I haven't stayed in ryokans as that's not my personal preference.

As for hotels in Kyoto, as I mentioned in Flygirl's original thread, I stayed at 4 different hotels during my 9 nights in Kyoto last summer 2017. They were Hyatt Regency, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and Royal Park. Flygirl recently returned from her Royal Park stay, less than a week ago I think it's been, and mentioned that she would stay there again. I figured that she would like it which is why I highly recommend it to her.

I am in Tomorrowland

The Royal Park is in the heart of downtown Kyoto. I liked it too, but personally prefer staying in Higashimaya where both the Hyatt Regency and Four Seasons are and walking distance from each other.

I like the Hyatt Regency's summer, weekend barbecue buffet dinner which is only done in summer. The food was really good and there were food items that I could actually eat as I stopped eating meat/poultry in the 1970s. But, there was plenty of grilled fish and lots of vegetable salads and other delicious food. I like the Hyatt Regency in general and had a very pleasant stay there.

https://kyoto.regency.hyatt.com/en/h...-bbq-2018.html

Although, I check out of the Hyatt Regency on one of the days of the barbecue buffet and check into the Four Seasons, up the street, I still e-mailed them last week to make a reservation for the summer barbecue buffet. They e-mailed me back right away and sent my dinner reservation. I'll just walk down to the Hyatt Regency, from the Four Seasons for the barbecue buffet dinner.

The Hyatt Regency sells out summer barbecue, buffet dinner reservations very fast. Plus, those who stay at the Hyatt Regency get a special price for the barbecue buffet dinner over non-guests. Also while at the dinner, last summer, the Maiko was in the lobby performing. I made my dinner reservation for 5:30 which is when the buffet starts. It was packed.

As for the Royal Park, I have booked it for 3 nights on this upcoming trip, but will be using it as my day time, resting room while also booked at a hotel in Higashimaya. So, for 3 days I will have overlapping hotels on the same day. But, I got the same kind of single room, that I had last summer and for $103.(total price). Since I do quite a bit of shopping downtown, I figure that I can go back and forth to that room and drop off stuff, rest, take a nap, shower, watch a little TV, elevate and rest up the bad knee after walking for hours, do laundry as they have laundry facilities, stay out late at night if I want, and then taxi back to Higashimaya to my regular hotel to sleep. So, I'll take 3 days, out of my 10 nights in Kyoto, to also have a room at the Royal Park and get what I need to get done downtown without having to move luggage from one hotel to the other. Plus on check-in day at the Royal Park, I'm having my personal guide/ driver pick me up at my hotel in Higashimaya and after we finish our 4-hour tour by car, he will drop me off at the Royal Park where I will check in and rest up there and then go out in downtown Kyoto. Then, later that evening, I will eventually go back to Higashimaya by taxi.

My driver/guide and I had a similar plan last summer, but with luggage as I booked my tour on check out day at the Hyatt Regency and my guide/driver just put my luggage into his trunk and then we drove over to the Ritz Carlton and dropped it off, told them that we'd be back in 4 hours and then went off on our 4-hour tour. We finished the tour when it was time for check in at the Ritz Carlton and upon arrival, I was told that my room was ready. Easy. This time there will be no luggage transfer from Higashimaya to the Royal Park as my luggage will still be at my hotel in Higashiamaya.

Of my above 4 hotels, the only one that I wasn't that impressed with, overall, by the end of my stay was the Ritz Carlton.

I was just on Expedia last night and out of curiosity looked up the prices of the Hyatt Regency and standard rooms popped up at $250. a night (no breakfast) and for August. I already have my reservation and with breakfast included. But, I continue to check prices up until right before I leave as if there are any price drops, then I can rebook at even a lower price.

Hope you find what you're looking for and at the price that you're seeking.

Happy Travels!

My experience in Tokyo and Kyoto:

The first hotel, Marunouchi Hotel near Tokyo Station, was perfectly located for arrival into Tokyo Station off the Narita Express (and leaving on the Shinkansen the next day) and a nice, if utilitarian, hotel room.I got the large double room because I prefer having a lot of space and an extra bed for staging my stuff. It was a large room (not massive, but large) and the bathroom was nice sized. I think I paid around 350 bucks, give or take.

My RPH hotel room was also large. Larger than the above, including two beds. Very nice bathroom and even bigger than the MH above. What a great location. Having visited Higashimaya the day before I left, though, I would have to say my next visit will likely be to stay there. Although the RPH really was so well located. Easy walk to two subway stops, easy walk to lots of things centrally - but getting away from central was prettier! I like what Guenmai does - and she's right, the laundry is a nice bonus. I want to say I paid under 170 a night for the room. Dollars

My stay in Tokyo the last three nights I made a superb find. By accident - I didn't see it mentioned here anywhere.

I found the Shinjuku Granbell hotel and what a great location and my room was TOPS. My room was almost 500 square feet and was like a studio apartment - big windows and very bright. King size bed and a huge flat screen TV, table and two chairs, vestibule when you first walk in, kitchenette with washer/dryer, large shower stall, huge deep soaking tub which had a big window overlooking the skyline, overall the bathroom was huge but also a part of the room too, only the toilet and shower had a door the rest of it was open. I had lounge access (which just meant a place to sit and have snacks/drinks on the house) and the hotel also had a nice rooftop terrace so I had a nightcap each night. I paid under 400 a night for all that. The hotel wasn't service oriented though. It didn't have a porter for instance. It was kind of like those young/modern/hip hotels you'll find in NYC - very nice and well appointed, but you aren't going to be pampered. Which is just fine. It was a short walk to Golden Gai and to Kabukicho. Excellent location.