so we have a trip that looks like this:

conrad tokyo 24/25 March

park hyatt hanozono 25 March to 1 April

conrad 3-6th

issue is what to do on 1/2nd april given the cost of the conrad on those dates is excessive - we’ve been to hakone (it’s an option but already looking busy) - are there any other places worth a visit for a couple of nights with easy access from haneda? We fly from CTS on the 1st. We have a 4 year old with us….

appreciate any tips or advice

Japanese school year starts on April. Usually, public schools are off on last week of March and first week of April, kids usually have two weeks off. Because of this tourist places can be busy on April 1 and 2 due to kids are out of school. Also end of March and beginning of April is cherry blossom season and there are large number of non-Japanese tourists will be visiting Japan. With these considered, hotels will likely be slightly higher in rate.

If you are looking for onsen (hot spring) area, since you mentioned Hakone, there are Kusatsu onsen, Kinugawa onsen, Izu peninsula, are all overnight destinations. Using shinkansen, overnight trip to Tohoku area is also possibility form Tokyo with a lot of Onsen.

If not Onsen, Matsushima near Sendai is a nice area. Because of Shinkansen, Kanazawa is now easy overnight destination from Tokyo. Karuizawa and Nikko are other overnight destination form Tokyo. Kiyosato in Yamanashi are mountain resort area, Kiyosato may be less frequented by non-Japanese compared to other locations I have mentioned.

If you have to fly the segment from CTS to HND, then an onsen hotel in Izu might be convenient. If you care more about ease of access from Haneda, then Kamakura might be a good option.

If you don't have to fly the segment from CTS to HND, I'd suggest looking at flights for some of the locations that Always Aisle mentioned - e.g. Fly to Sendai or Komatsu (for Kanazawa). CTS also has flights to Hiroshima, Fukuoka etc. You could also just spend a couple of days in Sapporo or Otaru.

have an F flex ticket so can push out the CTS HND leg which might make sense - what’s in Otaru?

Otaru is a port city about 30 min. by rapid train ride from Sapporo. Otaru is a tourist city and many at Sapporo make a weekend day trip to Otaru.

Hope I am not going off-topic, but about onsen town in the Tohoku area. Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata is very popular lately even among young people. Ryokans at Ginzan Onsen are usually booked solid these days. The reason for this popularity is that many believe Ginzan Onsen was used as a model for Studio Ghibli's 2001 movie Spirited Away. The director and the writer of the movie, Hayano Miyazaki, has not said Ginzan Onsen was used as a model for the movie but many believe and this popularity today. Ginzan Onsen is a traditional old fashion onsen town in a secluded area of Yamagata. Ginzan Onsen is not a resort setting by European or the U.S. standard in any stretch of the imagination. But there are enough daytime visitors who could not get a room at ryokans at Ginzan Onsen, Ginzan Onsen issues winter time advisory/warning for people visiting Ginzan Onsen as a day trip. I know, English is typical "Japanese English" but you get an idea.

thanks that looks lovely

any hotel recommendations in sapporo - they all look a bit basic.

Sapporo is a major metropolitan city in Hokkaido, but you will not find a hotel comparable to Conrad Tokyo. Yes, compared with Conrad Tokyo, hotels in Sapporo will be basic. Even Hilton Sapporo opening this year is actually a rebranding of Sapporo Park Hotel which opened 55 years ago.

These could be considered top in the Sapporo area.

Sapporo Grand Hotel: I stayed here. Possible that this is on the top level for hotels in Sapporo. Japanese Emperor has stayed here if that helps.
ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo
Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo

We took a day trip to Kamakura last week and it was very enjoyable. Easy walking city with interesting architecture, temples and musuems. Did you look at the Hilton Tokyo for those days - might be an option.