Thanks, thurdaysd, I’ll take a good look at the place. Asakusa sounds like a good place to start though the station sounds like it might take all our brain power to make sense of it!

I like it and see how it would work. I did much the same at the beginning of my first trip. It was 2 or 3 nights at Tokyo Hilton in Shinjuku, expensive but I wanted a definitely comfortable place to stay and knew what I would get. That was followed by 2 nights in Hakone at an inexpensive minshuku.

It is best to visit Hakone on weekdays as people in the megalopolis apparently like to visit on weekends. I saw a long line of cars going in as I was leaving on a Friday.

I haven't stayed in Asakusa or Ginza. I stayed near Tokyo station for two or three nights once because it was free with certificates and I was heading to Kanazawa next.

I've been staying in Shinjuku the last couple of trips. I like the Hyatt Regency which is across from the Hilton, both in relatively dead Nishi Shinjuku (nishi is west, of the station in this case). Both hotels are stops for the airport limo bus. There is less expensive lodging on the other side of the station (Higashi, east) and that area is more lively. Am thinking of staying in Kabukicho next time at the Gracery Hotel because that is where I end up going for dinner anyway. K-cho is north of the station (btw, kita is north and minami means south). Travel would probably be bus (or train) to Shinjuku and then taxi if the limo bus didn't go to Kabukicho.

Shinjuku station is convenient to both Hakone and Matsumoto. There is an Odakyu Railway direct train, the Romance Car (reservations required), to Hakone Yumoto. There is a limited express train, Super Azusa, from Shinjuku to Matsumoto. So, travel from Hakone to Matsumoto can be easy enough with/without a stay in Shinjuku in between. There is lodging near Hakone Yumoto station that looked interesting and they will pick you up from the station. Lodging on the Hakone Loop would be bus or the little train, or maybe taxi. More lodging along the road to and in Yumoto.

You are going to like visiting Hakone. You mentioned scenic vistas and there is none better in Japan than a view of Fujisan. With a two-night stay you have three chances of getting a day with a good view.

I have a post in moderation. Don't remember if I mentioned that main reason I chose the Hilton was because I wanted a Western bed. The minshuku in Hakone was futon with maybe a small table.

I know you prefer two-night minimum stays. The gassho zukuri in Shirakawago are minshuku and very basic, no beds (these days that might not be true. there are more places that offer Japanese-style and Western-style or combo where room is J-style but have Western beds (like the place I stayed in Beppu). Sleeping on a futon can be a bit rough and for that reason alone you would not want to spend two nights in a g-z in Ogimachi.

But, your travel to/from S-go is short. You have a multi-night stay before it. The next day would be easy to handle after a not-so-good sleep because it is a short bus ride to Kanazawa where you have a three night stay, presumably in a Western hotel. You should sleep well that night. There are hotels near Kanazawa station otherwise just taxi to keep it simple, or bus.

Ok, my career as a Shirakawago promoter is over. I promise.

I would start booking hotels now or soon. I just cancelled two reservations at Fukuoka Grand Regenct that I made many months ago at 18,000 and 20,000. Three nights starting March 29. I checked today and it is 30,000 with no points upgrade option.

Great info, mrwunrfl! I’m inclined to break up the Tokyo stay - first, I’ll need to run it by my husband, whose opinion may differ 😉, but I’ll suggest that this is easier than a day trip to Hakone! Truthfully, Hakone is too far and has too much to do for a day trip for us, so this is the only way we’d go to there.

mrwunrfl, I responded to your earlier post discussing the latest variation on my itinerary, and that post is in moderation. It was the only post I wrote this morning, too. Puzzling!

First reservations made, both cancellable:

1) First 3 nights of Tokyo: Hotel Grand Bach Ginza (good rates with booking,com)
2) Kyoto - last 6 nights of our stay : Cross Hotel (directly on site)

Most places I’m looking at aren’t open yet for booking. By then, I’ll make the decision whether or not we’ll break up our Tokyo stay for a stay in Hakone.

Exciting! I looked at the Cross Hotel for someone when we were there in 2019--it was nice.

Thank you! I’m going to keep my eye on the well-loved Hotel Mume, but I think it’s just beyond my budget. Right now, it’s way too early for reservations.

When booking lodging in Japan it is important to look for info about bed type and dimensions and room sizes. It is important to me, anway.

Double beds in Japan vary in size but that type might be ok for a Japanese couple when she is 5' 3" and he is 5' 7" (actual average heights). It might be good for a 6' 3" man if he sleeps solo and diagonally, ime.

The GB Ginza shows both. The smallest room is "Double B 23㎡" with "Queen size / Width: 151-180 cmx1". That bed would be 60x70".

Google says queen size is 60x80" and double is 54x75" and single is 39x75" and twin is 38x75"

The next two larger rooms are Twin 27㎡ and Twin 36㎡. Both beds being "Single size / Width: 90-130 cm×2"

That single bed size seems hard to believe. It would be only 51"

The hotel looks good. I didn't even look at location to subway and stuff, just the room info. Same price on their Japanese page where I noticed they have property in Kyoto and two other ciities.

I booked a double room in Toyama, not looking at bed dimensions. The front desk lady said they had a twin room for me. I expressed dismay but she said "You will be fine" and she was right. That bed was long enough and def not 51" long.

Thanks for the info, mrwunrfl. Again, very helpful. I’m looking at their breakfast offerings and I must say that they are…weird, at best. I’m probably going to change this reservation since the included breakfast of “wellness offerings” don’t really sound all that appealing.

Trying to keep the prices as close to $200/night as possible but that is a challenge!

Yes, I found breakfast in Japan was generally weird, possibly because I stayed mostly in hotels catering more to Japanese. I often bought yoghurt and OJ from the nearest convenience store and fed myself.

Its Tokyo. Maybe you can balance paying more there considering the lower prices elsewhere.
I saw that Wellness Food Concierge stuff and considered it a bit amusing but thought maybe it was a draw for you, but no.

Definitely not our style! But perhaps there’s just enough normal stuff to satisfy. We’ll see. Lots of places are still not available for booking yet. It’s a start.

thurdaysd, it may come down to doing it on our own, but we’ve found it’s nice to have something at the hotel because we’re not the get up and go types. We’re the get up and have our coffee before we think about anything types!

Good points mrwunrfl! One of my issues with finding places to stay in Japan was the bed sizes. We ended up alot with 2 large sized twin beds. Room size in the business hotels also tended to be small. Fine if you dont plan to spend much time in your room I guess.

progol, you’ll get used to Japanese breakfasts. Honestly, I didn’t find them weird. I want to return to Japan for the food, so healthy. And the cleanliness.

A misunderstanding! I don’t have a problem with a Japanese breakfast - the hotel’s description of a “wellness breakfast” sounded really weird. I’m not exactly sure what that is, but it doesn’t sound all that thrilling.

I picked up the supplies from one of the ever present convenience stores and ate in my room. I'm pretty sure there was usually some kind of kettle so you could make ersatz (aka instant) coffee.

You can expect to see a hot pot in the room but only tea, not coffee. You go to the combini the night before to get the UCC pour-over cup(s) of coffee and a pastry for breakfaat. Inspect the pastry package to make sure you know what is in it. Get the one with apple on the label to be safe.

Thanks for the suggestions, thursdaysd and mrwunrfl. I’m sure we’ll find out way through the breakfast. We both like tea, too, so we’ll adjust.

I'm wondering what time your flight would get into Haneda and if it's a long one. Also, have you been to Japan before? Tokyo is obviously a big city and, if you haven't been here before and are getting in late at night, I would recommend staying in Shinagawa rather than Ginza. The train from Haneda will take you to Shinagawa station. Cross the street, and you're at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. You should definitely be able to find something there for under $200. If you are looking for something a bit cheaper, cross the street and keep walking up the slope/hill to the Shinagawa Tobu Hotel.