FTers, can you please shed any light as to why rates are so high, and the hotel sold out often on late October and November? Some nights are over $1,000, while guaranteed availability is half that on others.

It's our first time to Japan and we want to split 5-7 nights at the HR Kyoto and the PH Tokyo but I've given up trying to find dates at the HR.

We may consider the St Regis Osaka, but which property is best for those wanting to juxtapose Tokyo with another city? I've read all 30 pages, and the wiki and I'm getting the impression that Kyoto is surrounded by sights we would want to visit.