Hi,
I have the following dilemma: I will be arriving to Tokyo on Tuesday for one night and I would like to use points to cover hotel stay. I am arriving by train from Hiroshima and departing next day from NRT (11:45am). There are the following hotels where I can book my stay:
Crowne Plaza Tokyo
Intercontinental Tokio Bay
Century Hyatt Tokyo.

Which one of these hotels has better connection to rail (given I arrive Tokyo station and probably would use it to go to NRT)
AX

If you're deadset on taking the train, choose the Century Hyatt and wake up early. The Narita Express leaves directly from Shinjuku Station at 7:07AM and 8:03 AM, otherwise, you have to pop over to Tokyo (about 15-20 minutes). The other hotels are a little more difficult, but none of them are especially "convenient" to Tokyo Station.

I'd actually recommend you consider the airport bus - http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/e/ . It's only 3000Y, and takes about 80-120 minutes depending on the hotel. However, they go directly from the hotels, so you don't have to run from the hotel to the train station and then hope you don't miss your connection.

No matter what, you're waking up early, and there's no way to avoid that.

BTW: No matter what, in all the cases, you'll have to do some walking (although I think the Yurikamome stops at the Intercontinental, you need to do the walking elsewhere on that one).

Here is a London analogy:

You're taking a train from Plymouth (Hiroshima) which will miraculously deliver you all the way to Liverpool Street station (Tokyo Stn)... and.you have a flight from Stansted (NRT) the next day... and your points could be used at a hotel 15 mins walk from Paddington (CH), a hotel near Baker St. (Crowne) or a hotel in a somewhat awkward corner of the docklands (IC) which can be reached by train with a couple of complicated changes - but is probably best approached by taxi.

If I were travelling with no luggage and I was desperate to save money I might stay at one of those places (prolly IC)... and suffer the additional transportation hassles.

But otherwise, I would be inclined to pay money for a hotel in a convenient place - Tokyo station area or Nippori or Narita.

Tokyo station has hotels nearby - but it's a premium price area. THe Marunouchi Hotel is (IMHO) a good enough level of comfort, unsurpassable convenience and OK pricing at about 21000yen for singles. At half that price you can stay at the business hotels on the Nihonbashi side or Yaesu side of the station. For better value options stay near Nippori station (and take the keisei line from Nippori next day) or stay in Narita City.

Alternatively, stay an extra night in Hiroshima and take the 07.55am flight to NRT.

Technically I think the Crown Plaza is the closest to a major train stations. The hotel is right next to Ikebukuro station. Walk across the street you're there. When you arrive you take the Yamanote from Tokyo Station to Ikebukuro. What's cool about Ikebukuro is it has a direct NEX connection to NRT. What's not cool is that it's limited service. You've have to take a 6:45AM train that would get to NRT a bit after 8AM.

You could bypass the NEX for any of the hotels if the time tables don't match up. I'd be extremely cautious about trying to take luggage on a non-reserve trains during peek times however. Trains are extremely crowed in the morning. You could take the Yamanote or similar line to Tokyo Station and connect to the NEX, IF and ONLY IF you had no luggage.

I'd second patchmonkey's suggestion. Take a look at the limo bus schedule and pick the hotel with the time table that best suites your needs. Unless you're in Japan with a JR Railpass the price between train and limo bus is pretty close.

If you are still considering the train, you can get reserved seats several days in advance. I highly recommend buying them in advance if you're on a tight time line. You can go to a travel office (JR or most Travel Agencies). I did that for my departure on my last visit. I had seats reserved all the way from Kyoto to NRT. It was like clockwork. If you get them at the travel agency all you have to do is tell them where you are, and what flight you're leaving on. They'll fill in the rest.

Stay at Narita (it's actually a fairly interesting temple town). It looks like you have Priority Club points, and there's a Holiday Inn there (and a Hilton if you have their points).

Actually, having taken the limo bus (my apartment was right across the street from the ANA Hotel in Akasaka), I would never take the train to the airport again unless I was picking up/meeting someone there. It was about the same cost with only 10% of the hassle (which was dragging my luggage across the street).

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that you should just avoid attempting the train at all on Tuesday and just go with the bus. Or, as someotherguy said, stay in Narita (it's actually supposed to be a nice town).

Indeed there is a Holiday Inn Tobu Narita. But, as it is only ￥6,700, I guess staying on points doesnt make any sense and I'd rather pay for one night.
in this case I will go directly from Hiroshima to Narita on Tuesday and will have hassle-free departure next day.

Interesting... if I will pay for standard room, will they upgrade Plat guest to deluxe room?

Thanks for the advice
AX