Originally Posted by
abmj-jr
There is no "Nozomi Rail Pass."
But some travel agencies offer Kyoto packages (including trains and hotels) that can offer roughly equivalent savings as getting a JR pass and booking hotels separately. Some of those deals are with Nozomi trains.
Originally Posted by
abmj-jr
If they stay in Tokyo that first night, I'd suggest one of the "Prince" hotels near Shinagawa Station.
At the $200+ to $250 price range I'd take a look at The Strings (by Intercontinental) hotel near Shinagawa Station or the Marunouchi Hotel near Tokyo Station. I think they're more comfortable than the Prince hotels - and the ease of access to the stations is very good.
With The Strings, you can earn IC points.
The area near Tokyo Station has more atmosphere than the area around Shinagawa Station. You can find some late night restaurants and bars in the Shin Marunouchi buillding and so on. But both neighbourhoods are business districts - not entertainment districts. The downside is that Tokyo station is stormy sea of humanity in the morning. (Shinagawa station is more like a flooded river of humanity - at least it's all flowing in one direction).