Solid but inexpensive hotels in Tokyo
Feb 28, 2022 | 6:16 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: HK
Programs: CX, TG, MF, Accor All, Hyatt
Posts: 17
For those of us who will have to start paying for hotels as borders open up due to decimated points balances thanks to lack of work travel during COVID, what recommendations do you all have for cheaper hotels in great locations but won't break the bank for more than 2 weeks of staying? Especially, hotels different from the standard western ones (Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Continental, etc...)
I have a Moxy Kinshicho stay coming up soon, using the last of my Bonvoy points, and was able to get a fairly good price. Nice hotel. That said, I will be back in Japan often and left consulting during COVID, so travel will be very limited with the new job and I what few points I get back will be coming from credit cards.
I'm looking for hotels with maybe basic amenities, comfortable bed, a desk and good Wi-Fi to work from with my laptop, but most importantly centrally located in a great neighborhood and near train stations.
I know this is kind of broad, but I'm hoping to see lots of recommendations, based on experience, that people can use for when they're booking their trips going forward.
Thanks!
I have a Moxy Kinshicho stay coming up soon, using the last of my Bonvoy points, and was able to get a fairly good price. Nice hotel. That said, I will be back in Japan often and left consulting during COVID, so travel will be very limited with the new job and I what few points I get back will be coming from credit cards.
I'm looking for hotels with maybe basic amenities, comfortable bed, a desk and good Wi-Fi to work from with my laptop, but most importantly centrally located in a great neighborhood and near train stations.
I know this is kind of broad, but I'm hoping to see lots of recommendations, based on experience, that people can use for when they're booking their trips going forward.
Thanks!
Feb 28, 2022 | 6:57 am
#17
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: New York, UA Plt 2MM Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 600
No recommendations but a big thank you to all that posted some. I've been planning a Cherry Blossom Bucket List trip to Japan since 2020 (now hoping for 2023) and these recommendations will come in handy. (BTW: It looks like they have reinstituted limited shuttle service from the Park Hyatt to Shinjuku station, but only on weekends and holidays. It's a long walk carrying nothing, but with luggage it's a huge trek, I guess Hyatt figures if you can afford to stay there, you can afford a cab to and from the station.
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/ja...transportation ).
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/ja...transportation ).
Feb 28, 2022 | 8:19 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,081
Kinshicho's been on my list of areas to look for a hotel as it has a lot of activity but a little less touristed. It's near a Seijo Ishi and has a lot of food & shopping options. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/33337468-post12.html Er, I admit I go there for the several rather large 100 yen chain stores.
Feb 28, 2022 | 10:29 am
#20
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: BKK
Posts: 521
Pre-pandemic I would stay at the APA hotels a few times a year - I would second them as a recommendation. Tons of locations all over and very consistent.
The Prince hotels are also nice, I have gotten booked there a few times. There aren't as many and they are slightly nicer in the lobby areas but the rooms are pretty standard business hotel fare.
The Prince hotels are also nice, I have gotten booked there a few times. There aren't as many and they are slightly nicer in the lobby areas but the rooms are pretty standard business hotel fare.
Feb 28, 2022 | 10:47 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,545
Me personally, though this thread isn't meant to be specific to me, I like to jump to trains and ride them to random towns and cities. I'm a huge train fan, so any train time I can get, especially middle of the day when it's not like a can of sardines is great, especially in the summer when it's hot and humid.
Do you ride the regional or private trains more than shinkansen or JR Express? I've also taken a look at Tokyu line towards Setagaya & Kawasaki, Keio out towards Kichijoji for the commute hub near core Tokyo life. I also see another Hotel Mets on top of JR Mizonokuchi out that way so that chain might fit your proximity interests https://www.hotelmets.jp/en/index.html
Feb 28, 2022 | 11:01 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 128
I stayed at the "Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza" a couple of years ago and it was decent.
The standard Japanese hotel room is quite a bit smaller than what you'd expect in the west. But I remember the Daiwa Roynet hotel being spacious even by western standards. And the room even came with a massage chair! I think we paid $140usd/night.
Also a tip for booking Japanese hotels is to look no further than 3 months in advance. Most hotels do not list availability until then, so there will severely limited supply and/or weird prices until 3 months out.
The standard Japanese hotel room is quite a bit smaller than what you'd expect in the west. But I remember the Daiwa Roynet hotel being spacious even by western standards. And the room even came with a massage chair! I think we paid $140usd/night.
Also a tip for booking Japanese hotels is to look no further than 3 months in advance. Most hotels do not list availability until then, so there will severely limited supply and/or weird prices until 3 months out.
Feb 28, 2022 | 1:20 pm
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,081
Do you ride the regional or private trains more than shinkansen or JR Express? I've also taken a look at Tokyu line towards Setagaya & Kawasaki, Keio out towards Kichijoji for the commute hub near core Tokyo life. I also see another Hotel Mets on top of JR Mizonokuchi out that way so that chain might fit your proximity interests https://www.hotelmets.jp/en/index.html
Feb 28, 2022 | 5:04 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: HK
Programs: CX, TG, MF, Accor All, Hyatt
Posts: 17
I find the APA chain to be pretty good as well. I've also stayed at Toyoko Inn and Tokyu and find them in the same clean, convenient, but small range.
One tip is that if you're not signing up for their membership programs. I know Toyoko Inn gives discounts to members. If you don't, booking through hotels.com gives a straight-forward stay 10 nights get one free scheme.
One tip is that if you're not signing up for their membership programs. I know Toyoko Inn gives discounts to members. If you don't, booking through hotels.com gives a straight-forward stay 10 nights get one free scheme.
Mar 1, 2022 | 1:28 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Heart of the Sioux Empire
Programs: Delta 1MM/PM, BAEC GGL, Asiana Diamond Plus(Lifetime), AC *Tangerine
Posts: 1,014
I'll add my 2 cents (pence, sen) in for APA as well. Used to stay at the several of them in Shinjuku as well as around Akihabara and Ochanomizu. As noted rooms are a bit small by western standards but there's enough space as long as I wasn't dealing with a lot of drawing or multiple computers at the same time.
Mar 21, 2022 | 2:18 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 2,081
I ended up deciding on staying in Tokyo for my late June/early July trip instead of going to Hokkaido, assuming tourists are allowed to enter by then. I booked the Akihabara Washington Hotel, right across of the Akihabara station. Tiny room, but only $47/ni and a great location. Has anyone used this hotel who can give an opinion on it? And if so, how was the WiFi at the hotel and was there a place to work from, desk or table?
Mar 22, 2022 | 3:42 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Diamond., Hyatt Disc., Choice Plat., UA Silver/KE/AK/DL
Posts: 1,980
Right-Wing Hoteliers in Japan Anger China With Radical Historical Views https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/b...hotel-apa.html
Choice Hotels are small but the breakfast, washing machine and lounge spaces can be nice. Great deal if using points.
Daiwa Roynet are good.
My Stay and Keio Presso Inn are cheap and decent.
AirBnB is tricky. There are some good ones that would be ideal for a longer stay, but many of the cheaper ones have problems (not evident in picts).
Last edited by armagebedar; Mar 24, 2022 at 10:08 pm Reason: removed header html
Mar 22, 2022 | 9:04 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / RSW Up in the Air avoiding the Snowflakes
Programs: UA GS 1.8MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriott LT, Accor P
Posts: 8,117
When my wife's parents come to visit us in Tokyo they stay across the street from us at the Dormy Inn Hatchobori- the rooms are typical Japanese small but they are fine -- and they love the "Onsen" that is at the property as well as being right next to Hatchobori Station which allows easy access to multiple lines -- or you can easily walk to Ginza or enjoy a walk on the Sumida River. Prices are always reasonable (for Tokyo lol) and it's clean and well kept. Plenty of decent restaurants as well (which is one of the many reasons we live in the neighborhood).
Last edited by bmwe92fan; Mar 22, 2022 at 9:14 am
Mar 27, 2022 | 12:56 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 21,780
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/psi/en/ebisu/
Looks pretty nice for under 10,000 yen. in Tokyo. Another one opening in Kyoto next week.