How far out do Japan hotels open reservations?
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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How far out do Japan hotels open reservations?
Odd question, that I can't find an answer for.
I'm looking several months ahead (I like to just get trips planned and not worry about it later) and all my preferred hotels for late April 2018 are showing "no availability" on every booking site, including their own.
The booking sites do turn up a smattering of hotels, but very few and nothing I'm interested in. My optimistic side says "just wait awhile", and my pessimistic side says "maybe they're really booked."
I suspect that the properties I'm looking at just haven't opened up those dates for reservations yet, is this typical for Japan? Most parts of the world we travel in open rooms for reservations many months in advance. What's typical in Japan?
I'm looking several months ahead (I like to just get trips planned and not worry about it later) and all my preferred hotels for late April 2018 are showing "no availability" on every booking site, including their own.
The booking sites do turn up a smattering of hotels, but very few and nothing I'm interested in. My optimistic side says "just wait awhile", and my pessimistic side says "maybe they're really booked."
I suspect that the properties I'm looking at just haven't opened up those dates for reservations yet, is this typical for Japan? Most parts of the world we travel in open rooms for reservations many months in advance. What's typical in Japan?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2013
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In Japan lodging properties start opening for a reservation three to four months in advance. It is not unusual when search for availability more than four months in advance then the search often result in a hotel with no availability or only a rack rate (i.e. most expensive rate) is available.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2008
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You are looking far too early.
Many still stick to the 90 day rule. You can generally find more availability 90 days and less, although if you are travelling at super busy time (say Kyoto for cherry blossoms) you may find looking 6 months out is good as well.
For April 2018 , I would start looking in October and the earliest.
Many still stick to the 90 day rule. You can generally find more availability 90 days and less, although if you are travelling at super busy time (say Kyoto for cherry blossoms) you may find looking 6 months out is good as well.
For April 2018 , I would start looking in October and the earliest.
#4
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In Japan lodging properties start opening for a reservation three to four months in advance. It is not unusual when search for availability more than four months in advance then the search often result in a hotel with no availability or only a rack rate (i.e. most expensive rate) is available.
You are looking far too early.
Many still stick to the 90 day rule. You can generally find more availability 90 days and less, although if you are travelling at super busy time (say Kyoto for cherry blossoms) you may find looking 6 months out is good as well.
For April 2018 , I would start looking in October and the earliest.
Many still stick to the 90 day rule. You can generally find more availability 90 days and less, although if you are travelling at super busy time (say Kyoto for cherry blossoms) you may find looking 6 months out is good as well.
For April 2018 , I would start looking in October and the earliest.
#5
Join Date: May 2016
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If it makes you anxious, make a flexible booking for a hotel that does open up its rooms earlier -- usually international chain hotels, in my experience -- and cancel later when you find better options. Bookings in Japan are generally 100% cancellable with no charge until 2-3 days before check-in time.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,371
I said this in another thread recently. The hotel reservation situation in Jpn has changed just over the past few years. Many hotels are now taking bookings up to a year in advance, even more 9 months out, probably vast majority by 6 months out, and I think only a small number of places are still making you wait until 3 months prior. The latter category is probably mostly smaller ryokans and such.
If you do a search for Shinjuku in late March on Rakuten, you will see many hotels in various categories with availabilities (APA, Keio Plaza, Hyatt Regency, etc, etc). If you back up further to late Jan, every hotel I can think of in Shinjuku shows up with available rooms.
Prices that you see many months out may actually not come down much, if at all. At least that's been my experience. And it could go up. I'm seeing 24k yen at Hyatt Regency and 19k at Century Southern Towers for next Jan. I don't think you're ever going to see rates much lower than that at those places. I booked my Noboribetsu Onsen ryokan in Jan for my July stay that I just completed. I kept checking the rates, and it just stayed the same until it started to go up around May.
So, in general, you should start looking and then book somewhere 6-9 months out. If it's peak season, like foliage in Kyoto or something, book even further out and snatch whatever is available. For ryokans and onsen places, start looking ~9 months out but then you may not be able to book the place of your choice until 3-6 months out. You can always cancel (read the cx policy, of course).
If you do a search for Shinjuku in late March on Rakuten, you will see many hotels in various categories with availabilities (APA, Keio Plaza, Hyatt Regency, etc, etc). If you back up further to late Jan, every hotel I can think of in Shinjuku shows up with available rooms.
Prices that you see many months out may actually not come down much, if at all. At least that's been my experience. And it could go up. I'm seeing 24k yen at Hyatt Regency and 19k at Century Southern Towers for next Jan. I don't think you're ever going to see rates much lower than that at those places. I booked my Noboribetsu Onsen ryokan in Jan for my July stay that I just completed. I kept checking the rates, and it just stayed the same until it started to go up around May.
So, in general, you should start looking and then book somewhere 6-9 months out. If it's peak season, like foliage in Kyoto or something, book even further out and snatch whatever is available. For ryokans and onsen places, start looking ~9 months out but then you may not be able to book the place of your choice until 3-6 months out. You can always cancel (read the cx policy, of course).
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
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When do hotels upload their rates?
Hi,
I'm looking to visit Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto .... end of next March.
As it is cherry blossom season I want to reserve my rooms etc early but I seem to be too early as most hotels do not even show a rate / show NA or no free rooms .... some bigger western chains pop up but that might just be the most expensive rack rates .....
When should I start shopping for hotels in earnest?
I'm looking to visit Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto .... end of next March.
As it is cherry blossom season I want to reserve my rooms etc early but I seem to be too early as most hotels do not even show a rate / show NA or no free rooms .... some bigger western chains pop up but that might just be the most expensive rack rates .....
When should I start shopping for hotels in earnest?
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
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I'm looking too, for the end of April. The hotel I'm looking at currently has rates loaded through mid-February, so it looks like it's about 6 months out.
I agree with what you say about the western chains where they are showing availability.
I agree with what you say about the western chains where they are showing availability.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
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Most Japanese hotels start taking reservations from 3 to 6 months ahead. There is wide variance so you really need to check each one in which you might have an interest. I wouldn't even be looking for next April now. Maybe late September/early October to start looking.
Understand that some of the most exclusive places have preferred customers who have standing reservations from year to year. That is unlikely to affect tourists.
Understand that some of the most exclusive places have preferred customers who have standing reservations from year to year. That is unlikely to affect tourists.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,371
This very topic was discussed in another thread recently.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ervations.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...ervations.html
#14
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,371
My recent experiences still are in line with what I said above in post 6.
Not sure about Rugby World Cup dates specifically, but plugging in a random date (Oct 1st) on Hilton app brings up all kinds of availability although rates seem higher than usual.
Not sure about Rugby World Cup dates specifically, but plugging in a random date (Oct 1st) on Hilton app brings up all kinds of availability although rates seem higher than usual.