Hotels

Accommodations available in Japan range from Japanese-style inns to large Western-style hotels, in all price categories. Although you can travel throughout Japan without making reservations beforehand, it's essential to book in advance if you're traveling during peak travel seasons and is recommended at other times. If you arrive in a town without reservations, most local tourist offices -- generally located in or near the main train station -- will find accommodations for you at no extra charge. Note that in popular resort areas, most accommodations raise their rates during peak times. Some also charge more on weekends.

A note on reservations: When making reservations at Japanese-style accommodations and small business hotels, it's usually best if the call is conducted in Japanese or by fax or e-mail if available, as written English is always easier for most Japanese to understand. First-class hotels, however, always have English-speaking staff.

A note about taxes: A 5% consumption tax is included in all hotel rates, including those given in this book. However, upper-end hotels and some moderately priced hotels also add a 10% to 15% service charge to their published rates, while expensive ryokan will add a 10% to 20% service charge (in instances when hotels or ryokan include service charge in their rates, I indicate so in their individual listings). No service charge is levied at business hotels, pensions, and minshuku (accommodations in a private home) for the simple reason that no services are provided. In resort areas with hot-spring spas, a spa (onsen) tax of ¥150 ($1.45) is added per night. Tokyo levies its own local hotel tax (¥100-¥200/95¢-$1.90 per person per night). Unless otherwise stated, the room rates quoted in this guide include consumption tax but not service charge, onsen tax, or local hotel tax.

Finding A Hotel Or Inn

If you find all my recommendations for a certain city fully booked, or if you're traveling to destinations not covered in this guide, there are several ways to find alternative accommodations. High-end hotels and ryokan can be booked through travel agencies in Japan, including the ubiquitous Japan Travel Bureau.

For budget accommodations, at the top of my list are those that are members of Welcome Inns, operated in cooperation with the Japan National Tourist Organization. Some 700 modestly priced accommodations in Japan, including business hotels and Japanese inns, are members of Welcome Inns, with rates ¥8,000 ($76) or less for a single and ¥13,000 ($124) or less for a double. No fee is charged for the reservation service, though you are asked to guarantee your reservation with a credit card.

In addition to booking rooms via the Internet at www.itcj.jp, you can also book a room by appearing in person at one of the three Tourist Information Centers in Japan -- at Narita Airport (in the arrivals lobbies of Terminals 1 and 2); near Yurakucho Station in the heart of Tokyo; and at Osaka's Kansai International Airport. Reservations are accepted at the Narita TIC daily from 9am to 7:30pm; at the Tokyo TIC daily from 9:15 to 11:30am and 1 to 4:45pm; and at the Kansai TIC daily 9am to 8:30. You can also make Welcome Inn reservations at the Kyoto Tourist Information on the ninth floor of Isetan department store in Kyoto Station (tel. 075/344-3300; daily 10am-6pm, closed the second and fourth Tues of every month).

Finally, if you arrive at your destination and then discover you need help obtaining accommodations, most major train stations contain a tourist information office or a hotel and ryokan reservation counter where you can inquire about a place to stay. Although policies may differ from office to office, you generally don't have to pay a fee for their services, but you usually do have to pay a percentage of your overnight charge as a deposit. The disadvantage is that you don't see the locale beforehand, and if there's space left at a ryokan even in peak tourist season, there may be a reason for it. Although these offices can be a real lifesaver in a pinch and in most cases may be able to recommend quite reasonable and pleasant places in which to stay, it certainly pays to plan in advance.

Tips for Saving on Your Hotel Room

Although Japanese hotels have traditionally remained pretty loyal to their published rack rates, which are always available at the front desk, the recession has opened possibilities for bargains.

Always ask politely whether a room less expensive than the first one mentioned is available. Since there are usually many categories, ask what the difference is, say, between a standard twin and a superior twin. If there are two of you, ask whether a double or a twin room is cheaper. Ask whether there are corporate discounts. Find out the hotel's policy on children -- do children stay free in the room or is there a special rate?

Contact the hotel directly. In addition to calling a hotel's toll-free number, call the hotel directly to see where you can get the best deal.

Check the Internet. If the hotel has a website, check to see whether discounts or special promotions are offered. Some hotels offer discounts exclusively through the Internet.

Ask about promotions and special plans. Hotels frequently offer special "plans," including "Spring Plans," "Ladies' Plans," and even "Shopping Plans" that provide cheaper rates and services.

Remember the law of supply and demand. Resort hotels are more crowded and therefore more expensive on weekends and during peak travel periods such as Golden Week. Discounts, therefore, are often available for midweek and off-season stays.

Ask about hotel membership plans. Some chain business hotels offer hotel memberships with discounts on meals and free stays after a certain number of nights. Others, such as the New Otani, Okura, and the Imperial in Tokyo, allow free use of the hotel swimming pool simply if you become a member at no extra charge. Ask the concierge or front desk.

Ask the local tourist office whether there's a Welcome Card. Several tourist regions around Japan, including Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku), Fukuoka, Aomori Prefecture (Tohoku District), and Hiroshima, offer a free Welcome Card to foreign visitors, providing discounts on room rates in participating hotels. Find out more about Welcome Cards at JNTO's website (www.jnto.go.jp/eng/GJ/BTG/welcome_cards.html).