Mara

That Arklead Guest House looks fine and is in a convenient area as well....go for it! I assume the price is not unreasonable. Of course, you can keep checking other sites to see if there are cancellations.

janisj

The Hyatt Regency in Kyoto was the first place I checked as after booking my flights (just because I can earn points) and it was totally booked up for my dates. That is when I went to booking.com I think I'll just stick w/ the guest house since you say its in a convenient location.

"try to rearrange your schedule so that you'll be in Tokyo over the weekend and Kyoto during the weekdays -- "

Can't really - the weekend is smack in the middle of my dates. Wish I could have planned farther ahead but this'll be fine.

Now I'm going to study a bit more in my new guidebook and try to get my head around the Tokyo neighborhoods before I book there.

("The decent flights that are either direct or have a one stop short layover from SFO to NRT . . ." I'm connecting through LAX-- from where I live it is easier to fly to LAX than drive to SFO)

mrwunrfl

I would check with a Japanese travel agent for that weekend.

This site offers shinkansen+hotel packages.
http://www.japanican.com/en/special/...sen/index.aspx

They show availability in Kyoto for a few hotels, including the Hotel Okura. The Okura website shows no availability.

I don't know how these TA packages work, either:

1) The agent is allotted a number of rooms reserved under a contract with the hotel and can sell them.
or
2) The agent depends on availability at time of booking.

mrwunrfl

You can get to Kyoto on JR on the 19th if you are up for it. Narita Express to Shinagawa then shinkansen to Kyoto.

Flying doesn't seem to be a good option. There is a Jetstar flight at 8:45 PM that gets to Osaka KIX at 10:15. The good news is that it is at the throw-away price of $48.22. The bad news is that the last Haruka limited express bound for Kyoto departs at 10:16 PM.

mrwunrfl

Buses from KIX- JR Kyoto station run late, tho I don't think I would want to actually do this:
http://www.kate.co.jp/pc/e_time_tabl...o_tt.html#from

Kathie

If you are a Hyatt Gold Passport member, you can ask that they wait-list you for a room.

Smeagol

Have you tried Agoda? I got rooms at a specific hotel I wanted in Burma this November when I couldn't get them anywhere else!

crosscheck

In Tokyo we love the Okura, in an a super convenient and leafy part of downtown, adjacent to Roppongi. Very walkable neighborhood where many embassies are located, with good access to transport, shopping, restaurants, parks and fabulous concerts at Suntory Hall. The hotel is an icon of midcentury design and due to be renovated soon (a controversial idea), so there are deals available - grab a room if you can.

ayalranne

Hi!

As far as I see your schedule, I recommend you to stay at 'The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo' which is very close to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. From Kyoto, an express train Nozomi or Hikari Shinkansen will take you to the station directly . When you return, you can get on the NEX (Narita Express) train from the station or Airport Limousine bus from the hotel to the Narita airport directly.

http://intercontinental-strings.jp/eng/index.html


As everyone suggested take Yamanote line to go sightseeing in Tokyo. (For example it will take only 10 mins from Shinagawa station to Tokyo station.)

https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/destinations/tokyo/

Have a great trip!

mrwunrfl

This is the thread that I was referring to when I posted this:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...booked-out.cfm

lcuy

I just peeked at the guesthouse description. It's not in a bad neighborhood, but their description of you being "steps away from Nijo Castle, Gion and Kiyomizu Temple" is a really liberal use of the term "steps". They are many blocks from any of these sites.

But, like most Japanese guesthouses, I'm sure it will be perfectly clean and decent.

thursdaysd

I enjoyed staying in Asakusa. I would call the place I stayed an inn, although it calls itself a ryokan - http://www.f-kamogawa.jp/english/ - very helpful staff.

I would also suggest agoda.com. Another alternative, if you are OK with basic but comfortable, is the Toyoko chain, which you can book direct in English and which has single rooms. The Dormy chain is perhaps a step up.

janisj

Thanks for all the suggestions -- I think I'll just stick w/ the Guesthouse. I'm sure it will be clean and serviceable (I'll know better next time )

Leaving in the morning for the UK so I'll wait til I get back to work on accommodations in Tokyo.

I'm sure I'll have lots more questions then.

kja

You could do worse, IMO!