I also saw a split stay of 4 nts and 1 nt (both including Sat nights) at the same hotel less expensive by booking through two different sites. 4nt via the hotel direct member rate, 1nt via agoda. I don't know if it is just me but when a JP membership program advertises guaranteed best rate, I haven't found a way to submit a lower price match...

I compare hotels using google.com/travel -> Hotels tab, change to show total not nightly including taxes in JPY. This usually also unlocks that bonus agoda discount from SEO (search engine optimization). Will have to give trivago another whirl and try trip.com.

There was pretty decent parity on English and JP booking sites for business hotel prices on my most recent trip, sometimes with EN Expedia/hotels.com of Agoda beating out JP domestic website rates. The best deals used to be on JP sites, but it seems people have been finding more via EN & trip.com which makes sense based on the influx of travelers. I'd personally also be aware of neighboring country holidays especially when they overlap with Japanese holidays. For example China Labor Day May 1-5 2025 and Korea Children's Day May 6 overlaps with Golden Week April 29 - May 6.

I search hotels on domestic sites via kakaku.com and Jalan directly because kakaku doesn't check there. Domestic websites usually give me the most ryokan room options and week/month availability calendar which is helpful when planning a trip around specific ryokan stays or solo stays (limited availability on certain days). They also run various coupon campaigns you redeem ahead of time and can use during the sale window until the coupon count is exhausted. I've also noticed more independent lodgings present on booking/agoda which is available in English.

ETA: Jalan, Rakuten, Ikyu (the best web interface of these) also offer ryokan specific filters like in-room bath, private onsen, in-room/separate dining, (no) meal plans. Jalan also allows booking day rates and some kashikiri onsen reservations.

I don't find the dormy desktop website difficult to use but that's after dealing with all the other JP domestic booking sites with their various quirks. Safari translation also translates images which is useful when sites embed relevant details in an image.

Fantastic tips. Jalan was also good for ryokans for the reasons you noted.(Ok dormy I signed up for a membership and use my employers local number and they would know how to get a hold of me)

Great summary, freecia !

I've stayed at the Mitsui in Shiodome near Italia-Gai. While the triple room was small (it is Tokyo after all), I would say that it's fairly convenient and they replenish the canned water every day. They also tell you how busy the sento is from the TV (though it wasn't all that reliable)

There's a good proper coin laundry nearby so you won't need to deal with the weak hotel dryers.

Mitsui hotels are great but they are expensive for the days I'm looking at.

I would appreciate any recommendations for Comfort Inns in Tokyo - I am travelling as part of a family of four, with two adults and two children for 10 nights. I was planning to redeem points for two single rooms.

I had my eye on the Comfort Hotel Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi, but I was wondering if any other locations made more sense either from a rooms/amenities standpoint, or just when it comes to location and suitability for sightseeing?

Not quite sure of the room difference between the Inn or Hotel. Nevertheless , there are branches in Roppongi , 2 in Kanda area , Nihombashi ,Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and Tokyo Bay. Also a bit further a field in Yokohama.

Don't think the room size will vary too much. From the pictures they look like typical Japanese economy type business hotels except for the rooms at the Tokyo Bay location which is in Urayasu (Disney) Chiba.

So I'm checking places via kakaku. And then the rate I want links to Meitetsu Tourist Service. The price is almost too good to be true for the hotel. Assume it's all ok once I have a confirmation?

The Higashi Kanda property is a tiny bit nicer but Higashi Nihombashi is the most convenient for access to a station and getting to/from the airport.
The three properties are very close together in location and quality and with 10 nights, you may have to swap between them due to points availability anyway. I think single rooms are only for one person so you need a double room or a room with 2 beds.

Whoops - I meant single as in 'one bed' but yes, for 1+1 it has to be a double.

I have looked at the webpages + maps for each property and you are right, they all seem quite similar in terms of room size/quality. I guess it comes down to location and by all accounts including your own, it sounds like Higashi Nihombashi is ideal so I will just go with that one. They do have availability for 10 nights so I won't even have to move.

Thank you!

I do note that the Roppongi location has rooms with queen beds so that might be the only other one I would consider.

In the Haneda airport area, are the hotels that offer a free shuttle a lot more expensive than hotels which may be a 15-20 minute train ride? I have a mid-morning departure and don't want to be on a train during rush hour.

One more thing I should add is that (and I didn't realize this previously) the breakfast situation varies by Comfort Inn. Some include free continental breakfast, like the Comfort Inn Higashi Nihombashi. Others include it for an additional fee, while others don't appear to offer breakfast at all. So that can play into the decision as well.

Same situation here, I need to travel to Haneda airport from somewhere in Tokyo central between 8am and 9am. That's why I thought about staying in the Shinagawa/Sengakuji area or in the Hamamatsucho area in order to be onboard a Keikyu line train or the Monorail at their origin. Any ideas for hotels in those areas, preferably under 150 USD per night?

The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is less than a 5 minute walk from the station and very easy for getting to Haneda. Depending on time of year it should be under $150. Honestly, we really like staying in that area as it's less crazy than most of 'touristy' Tokyo but still has great transportation connections.

What is EN again?