Hey Fodorites!

My friend and I arrive in Tokyo next month for a 10 day visit. The only day we don't have accomdations planned for is the arrival day because we are unsure if we will spend the night in Tokyo or take the train immediately to Kyoto. How easy is it to find accomdations on the fly in either Tokyo or Kyoto? Any advice would greatly appreciated. We are on a budget, but would have no problem paying $80 - $100 per person for a night.

Thanks!

JW

It's generally fairly easy to find a place to stay as long as you aren't arriving on some big holiday or other special event. Narita airport has hotel help desks open from around 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM. The train station in Kyoto also has a tourist help desk, but I don't know the hours. Check out Toyoko Inns for clean, safe, inexpensive accomodations--we got rates there of between $80-$110 a night for a private bath double room including a simple breakfast.

What's the determining factor in whether you stay the night in Tokyo or go on to Kyoto? When will you determine it? I ask only because you might consider to reserve a place whose cancellation policy allows you to change your mind up until 4 pm or 6 pm the same day as arrival and at least you would have somewhere you know and what price and could cancel with just a telephone call.

Good advice!

That's precisely the issue. We arrive at 5pm, both arriving from two different destinations in the US, so I was leary of making reservations because we would get in right at or past the cancellation time. If we both arrive on time, most likely we'll just take the train to Kyoto, but if we're delayed, most likely the night will be spent in Tokyo.

When you arrive in the city of your choice you should visit the TI(tourist info) office in either the airport or train station and see what types of rooms are available to you in the city you are to sleep in rather than looking around yourself that late in the day.

Aloha!

Hi

Not sure I can help you out with the question about accommodation but I did go to both Tokyo and Kyoto a few years back and you can check out my trip reports on http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . Maybe that will give you guys an idea of what to expect Have a great trip.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Scheduled arrival at NRT at 5PM doesn't give you too much leeway in taking the train to Kyoto.

If you are using a JR Pass then you would have to get your pass and make the Narita Express at 18:52 and connect to a Hikari to Kyoto.

If you take a Nozomi shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa then you have about another hour before you have to get the N'Ex.

That is, if one of you arrives two or three hours late then you won't make it to Kyoto by train that night.

Might consider getting an airline ticket if both of you are flying on ANA or JAL.

Actually, flying is probably not a good idea. Like the train, a late arrival at NRT might cause you to miss the flight. But the airline might put you up for a night (JAL once got me a hotel in Shinagawa, travel, and meal vouchers when I missed a connection at NRT involving two different award tickets).