abmj-jr

Very good advice from AA above. Budget hotels in Japan tend to feature tiny rooms in general and even tinier bathrooms. I am pretty mobile but very tall. Using the bathing facilities tends to be a challenge.

FlitBen

There are inexpensive eats around the Mitsukoshi store aside from Yoshinoya beef bowl. There's an Ootoya casual diner and a Suhi Sen across from the corner of Mitsukoshi, an Ippudo ramen near the Kabukiza theater, a Ginhachidon donburi and Tenya Tendon clustered around McDonald's Ginza. There are also several yakitori and soba joints nearer Higashi-Ginza station.

The Chuo Dori main road is pedestrian-only on weekends all the more senior-friendly on those afternoons. Convenience stores are everywhere and great for light breakfasts and late-night snacks, especially their creamy deserts.

allset2travel

Sorry return here a bit late. You have had very helpful suggestions from this forum!
My bold. I meant Fushimi-Inari Shrine. Not to miss. However, be aware that some sections are somewhat hilly (but gently so).
Credit card "foreign transaction fees" are totally depends on the terms and conditions of the card that you use. So call card company to find out for sure.

allset2travel

+1.
Speaking as a former employee of a Japanese multi-national whose office/factories are located in Kawasaki.

evergrn

Kawasaki is only the next stop after Shinagawa on Tokaido line. It's essentially part of Tokyo. Kawasaki used to be our go-to base for many of our Tokyo visits until a few years ago (now we like staying at high-end places), and we found it to be a perfect balance between convenience and good cost saving. To avoid congestion, just take the train between 9.30a-5p. If you take Yamanote or any inbound trains from Shinagawa before 9am, you'll run into the same congestion issues.

I agree that most visitors will find Shinagawa more convenient than Kawasaki. I personally would also rather stay at IC Strings or even Keikyu EX over Nikko Kawasaki. But the OP seems to be leaning towards budget hotels and he's got mom who's mobility-impaired. Hotels in Kawasaki are generally even cheaper than those in Shinagawa. And in Kawasaki, you've got Hotel Nikko and Mets Hotel, both of which are right next to the train station. There's also a lot more to do/eat in Kawasaki Station area than in Shinagawa.

evergrn

These are all good points.

fandi

I'll spend time to read all your recommendations carefully. My mom didn't want me to push her wheelchair so she always said she was fine when we walked long distances in the Italy trip (I ended up pushing the empty wheelchair most of the time just in case she needed). In that trip, she never showed to me any pain sign but I know back home she is afraid of walking long distances every time we go out. She told me she wishes she got knee replacements.
I ended up booking Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Kyomai Inn in Kyoto. They are about 800m from the stations and my mom said she can handle those.
My dream is to show my parents 3 places in the world: Italy/France and Japan. Now only Japan left in the list and I'm done.

LapLap

That’s the thing, if you are in Shinagawa you won’t be so reliant on public transport early in the morning, and the station is such a nexus that it is a heck of a lot easier to board a train with a wheelchair as so many people will be getting out there.
The trains towards Tokyo are already full by the time they reach Kawasaki.

Shinagawa also has the advantages of Toei buses that start at Shinagawa, and taxi fares will be a lot more reasonable than they would be from Kawasaki.

As I said, it really is not one of your finest ideas, not for this situation. I’ve been through the frustration of being unable to board any trains whilst in a wheelchair (I even had to abort a meeting with jib71). A crow picking apart a cable or a person under the tracks and the OP is stuffed.

LapLap

I recommend she wears steel capped shoes when using Ikebukuro station. Not a glib remark, I am deadly serious. And sadly comes from experience.

fandi

Sorry but why would she need steel capped shoes?

fandi

Can we fold the wheelchair? (But we still have 3 luggage as we come from Tokyo to Kyoto and vice versa)

LapLap

Because of the amount of people who ram into your feet with their bodies, suitcases and umbrellas when you are in a wheelchair and trying to get around in Ikebukuro Station.

LapLap

If the trains are full it won’t really matter whether you can fold a wheelchair or not, so I am not sure if I understand your question.
Travelling from Kyoto to Shinagawa or Tokyo stations should not present problems as you will be travelling on the bullet train. It is the local services (Shinagawa or Tokyo station to Ikebukuro) which may be difficult. This will depend on the time of day and other factors. Please ask for assistance at the ticket gates when entering the station, they can escort your mother to the train in her chair and ensure there is someone to help her out when she arrives at your destination. Folding a wheelchair on local transport should not be necessary and may cause problems. On the other hand, a folded chair may make a Shinkansen journey more comfortable.

As for luggage, please note that there is a very affordable and effective “takkyubin” service provided by several companies (your hotels and the dedicated airport desk will know what to do) which can transport your cases for you. If you organise your luggage adequately you can keep the amount of luggage you need to carry to a minimum. Use of takkyubin is so wide spread that you will see few Japanese Shinkansen travellers carrying much baggage with them - their cases will be waiting for them at their lodging.
For example, send the suitcase you need in Kyoto there directly from your arriving airport. Then have the hotel in Kyoto send it straight to your departing airport. The case you need in Tokyo can be sent on to the hotel you will be staying in for your final evening so that it doesn’t need to be hauled to Kyoto. Alternatively, send it directly to the departing airport and travel back from Kyoto with only one case with the overnight necessities the three of you need.

fandi

Will things less crowded or better organized if I pick a hotel within walking distance of Shinjuku station?

LapLap

Shinjuku is the most crowded station in Tokyo and Ikebukuro the second most crowded.
Only thing is that Shinjuku is considerably larger than Ikebukuro. This dilutes the intensity of the crowds a little, but it does create its own problems as it is notoriously difficult to find ones way around this mega station.

My husband reminded me that although Shinagawa Station is one of the easiest to navigate, the walk up to the Grand Prince Takanawa Hotels and the Marriott Sakura Tower does involve a climb up a moderately steep hill. (It’s a completely flat walk towards the IC Strings on the Konan side of the station). Shinagawa is a bit hillier than Shinjuku, so there is that downside.
Taxis are particularly easy to get at Shinagawa Station though, so this problem can be disappeared for under 800yen. Walk towards the station is all downhill.