Hey,
I'm planning on getting over to Japan next week (late June/early July) and heading to the Izu-hanto and Takayama region first.

Just wondering whether people thought it would be necessary to pre-book accomodation for this time of year? It seems therres a lot places to stay, but not a great deal of budget accomodation. I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum, so do you think it's worth getting my hands on a bed in a backpacker place now, or just show up on the day?

Thanks for the help.

Is this your first trip to Japan? It isn't like the rest of Asia where there are backbacker places all over the place. Low end business hotels may be your cheapest options, but will not be your most pleasant. A minshuku might be a pleasant alternative. Finding one where you want to be will take some hunting as they don't generally have English websites...most don't have a website at all. Tourist Info counters may be able to help with something like that.

Takayama has a number of places that cater to foreigners on a budget, the Rickshaw Inn for example. Though it isn't any special holiday time in Japan right now, many places other than business hotels do not like guests just showing up without a reservation. Even last minute travellers make a reservation as late as 30 minutes before arrival.

Thanks for the quick reply!

Yeah this is my first time, sorry, I should have clarified, when I said backpacker places, I didnt necessarily mean hostels, I just meant places on a backpacker budget.

Ive been looking into minshuku in the lonely planet at the moment, and yeah, you're right, it seems like most places don't have websites, or at least ones in English.

I was thinking that being summer, Izu Hanto in particular would be pretty full. Do you think its worth booking accomodation through the tourist information offices before I get over there, or just head to the tourist offices once I'm there, and then sort it out? (personally I'd much prefer the second option, but I dont want to have to stay at a really expensive place if all the budget places are booked out).

Thanks for your help Kim

They may not all be booked out, but be prepared to find that the places are not at all like budget places in other places, nor are they as numerous. Plan on spending at least ¥4500 per night, probably more. You'll never have to stay at a really expensive place as there are business hotels everywhere whose purpose is to lodge travellers/businessmen who need a room at the last minute for a cheap price and don't care about space or amenities. You can even negotiate price if you like.

I am glad to see a first time Japan visitor getting off of the Tokyo - Kyoto path. You will have a very interesting trip I think.

In truth, I am doing the Tokyo-Kyoto route afterwards. But this is the sidetrip I wanted to take first to see a bit of the natural beauty in the peninsula, and then the cultural side in Takayama. It's gonna be great yeah

I'm leaning towards just rocking up to the tourist info places, and working it out from there. Spontaneity is much more fun!

thanks so much for the advice.

I advise booking your lodging before you depart for a location. If you arrive in Takayama and all the budget places are booked then you will have to take what you can get. By not booking at all in advance you are increasing the chance that you will be forced to take more expensive lodging than you want. OTOH, I was able to get a room on a Saturday at Sosuke minshuku in Takayama by inquiring at the visitor center in front of the JR station.

As long as he doesn't care if he ends up staying in a low grade business hotel then there are no worries. Even the most remote places have a business hotel or two of such low quality that it never fills up. That would be the choice if for some reason all other options were taken.

If you have somewhere in mind that you want to stay, or require a certain level of spaciousness and smokelessness...then booking is best.

Well yeah, to be honest I don't have a place in mind, and I'm not fussy when it comes to space etc, its more cost thats the main concern. I have a very high tolerance for other people's idiosyncracies!

KimJapan, just wondering if you could help me - i get into tokyo at about 7pm, then i plan on going to shimoda the next morning by train. any suggestions on where to stay in tokyo, i won't be up to much that night, just somewhere to walk around and grab a bite to eat, relatively close to the train station?

Thanks again, you are the guru!

That's a pretty long journey!

If you land in Narita at around 7:00 pm, you can count on not being to a hotel in Tokyo (Ueno station area or Tokyo station area for the Shinkansen Hayate to get you close to Shimoda, then change to a local) no earlier than 9 pm, more like between 10 and 11 pm would be more like it.

You might want to consider staying in Narita...you could then take the Narita Express to Tokyo station in the morning and get the shinkansen from there. Holiday Inn is about 6400 yen single. Narita View Hotel has good rates as well. Other options typically well below 10,000 yen/night are Marroad International, Narita Excel Tokyu, the Narita Airport Rest House (right in the airport).,.I'm sure there are more.

Of course, there are options around Ueno and Tokyo stations as well. APA hotels are probably around that area - they are everywhere. Reservations made on their Japanese language site are the best prices.

I personally wouldn't bother leaving the airport area until I'd had some food and good sleep, then I'd do the trip all in one.