Thanks, tp & kja -- I am hearing this about Shinjuku and I appreciate your comments.

I agree about Shinjuki. I have no desire to stay there. I stay in Marunouchi as my hotel is a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Station's south-Yasu exit. Plus, it's only about a 15-minute walk to Ginza as I've walked to Ginza from my hotel. Shinjuku is fine when I need to go there to two major department stores where I shop, but as for staying there, it's not for me. I'm more than happy to return back to my quiet hotel in Marunouchi.

Happy Travels!

Okay, I canceled the hotel in Shinjuku - I hate the vibe everyone has described.

Yestravel: I stay at the Four Seasons-Marunouchi. It's a 5-minute walk from the South Yasu exit out of Tokyo Station and on the same street. They can run some very good specials there. I check regularly.

I've stayed at that hotel 3 times since Summer 2017. I just pulled up my Expedia account and in Summer 2017 I got a Deluxe room, with buffet breakfast included and other ammenities, for $364.25 a night and the Deluxe rooms are the smallest rooms at 474 square feet which is huge for Japan.

In summer 2018, I got the deluxe room for $442.88 with breakfast buffet included and then stayed there again, during the same summer, and got a Premier room (560 square feet) and breakfast buffet included for $446.37.

Right now I'm holding out in hope that the prices fall for this summer 2019. They usually fall around 1-3 months before my scheduled check in dates. And the above rates were the free cancelation rates. For me, I like space in my hotel rooms and that hotel prides itself on having space. I'll be in Tokyo for 4 nights at the beginning of my stay, but have tentatively booked the Station Hotel connected to Tokyo Station. Then, at the end of my trip, I'll have 7 nights in Tokyo and am holding out for the Four Seasons Hotel. Last summer, I also tentatively booked the Station Hotel and then the Four Seasons prices dropped and I booked it instead. The Station Hotel wasn't that much cheaper than the Four Seasons on that particular booking.

They're building a new Four Seasons hotel closer to the Imperial Palace area and it will open in a couple years, so there will be two Four Seasons hotels. I'll try out the new one, but am perfectly happy with the Marunouchi location as it's a small, old-school style boutique hotel thus just the right size for my likings. Plus the lobby is on the ground, street level which I like. Fast access to outside.

I can walk to Ginza quite easily plus when I need to take transportation from Tokyo Station, there's a hidden passage way, about a 2 minute walk at the back side of the hotel and which leads right down into Tokyo Station. I didn't even realize it was there until one day a staff member walked me to it, put me on the train, waited until the train left before leaving, and headed me in the direction of the station which stops at Disney Sea. Very convenient and only around a 35-minute trip. The service is tops at the hotel. When I check out, and am headed back to Narita Airport, staff members will walk the guest to Tokyo Station, handle their luggage, help buy the train ticket, walk to the platform, and put the luggage inside of the train car and wait until the train takes off before leaving the platform. They are more than happy to provide such top service. My idea of a stress-free, relaxing vacation. Priceless.

Happy Travels!

Thanks, Guenmai. that certainly sounds like a great place to stay and what a price! I will keep looking as I have quite a bit of time until our trip. Would be nice to score the Four Seasons for $350 or so.

You probably won't get it for $350. But, since Japanese hotel pricing is totally cray cray, who knows, it might be possible. And if you can get it with the buffet breakfast included, that will save you a BUNDLE. Of all the hotels that I've booked, around the world, booking in Japan has been the biggest headache due to the insane hotel fluctuation in prices. But, I check Expedia regularly since Expedia has worked out really well for me personally. Plus, I can keep all my trip info in one place as I take 2-3 overseas vacations a year and at least one domestic one. I also check other website prices to compare prices and also the hotel's prices directly of which I've done a lot better booking on non-hotel websites.

Good luck. Keep your fingers crossed. :) Now, back to packing for New Orleans...Time to party and take care of some very important personal business there. :)

Happy Travels!

Thanks a lot. :confetti: I always look forward to the annual trip to NoLa.

One reason that I use Expedia a lot is that if I have to cancel, they refund really fast. I like to book my hotels and pay them in full, but with the liberal cancellation policy. Then, if a better deal pops up, I can click on cancel and they send an e-mail immediately and a few days later, my credit card company e-mails me that the refund has been issued. I also sometimes just call Expedia and mention that I'm on my computer and looking at a lower price and then they just handle the cancellation and re-booking on the spot. I've personally had great service with them and Lord knows I've booked tons of vacations and other types of trips through them for years. :)

Happy Travels!

Good to hear about Expedia.