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Futon, Onsen, and Dinner in Japan
Futon, onsen, and dinner are the three reasons I choose to stay at ryokan over other lodging facilities. Usually at ryokan, you get to sleep in a tatami room in futon. Since I usually sleep on a bed at home, it is a great feeling to kind of return to my Japanese roots and sleep in a futon. Futon at…(238 words)
GenS
Excellent quality for the price
Japanese business hotels are intended for businesspeople on business trips. Most people in Japan when on business are riding the trains, so the hotels are generally located right outside the station.For about an average of 5,000 yen for one person per night, you can get a decent room, and often…(123 words)
KurtisW
Cozy Places to Stay for Foreigners in Japan
The very strict laws about hotel licenses in Japan require all serviced apartments to rent from only one month or longer. These are fully furnished, have cleaning service and best of all a 24 hour toll-free hotline in English so that if you need assistance during your stay, there is always someone …(169 words)
Warm up yourself in winter!
We don’t have snow all over Japan. Those who live in areas with a little snow cannot be too excited when it snows. They will dare to go freezing outside to enjoy Yuki-gassen (snowballs) or make a snowman. Before they know it, they can be sweating while playing in the snow.(52 words)
OKAKI-sun
Enjoy Japanese confectionary in Autumn!
We have the four seasons in Japan. Autumn is the season where you can enjoy a variety of Japanese confectionary created based on unique foods and sceneries in Autumn. Japanese people enjoy such special sweets by putting them on their favorite dishes or taking pictures as one of precious ways to app…(64 words)
OKAKI-sun
Go out in Yukata!
I would recommend to enjoy Hanabi (fireworks), popular summer event in Japan. Since you wish to enjoy Japanese summer style, find a nice “yukata” for yourself to truly enjoy Japanese summer! Don’t forget to enjoy some “Kakigori” (shaved ice), “Ramune” juice(lemon pop juice) and “Watagashi”(cotton c…(73 words)
OKAKI-sun
Here's a nice list
There are hotels all over Tokyo, but it might be good to have an idea of where you want to go, or be situated in before you show up in downtown with all of your luggage. It can be quite frustrating to not have a hotel in mind. After all, who wants to wander around only to find a hotel in the area i…(144 words)
KurtisW
The Grand Hyatt Hotel at Roppongi Hills is always a lovely place to visit
If you want to feel particularly cool and enjoy a fantastic view of the full stretch of Tokyo out towards Yokohama, The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Roppongi Hills is a really nice place to be. The Oak Door restaurant/bar is a place where a lot of business people from Tokyo gather on Thursday and Friday ni…(75 words)
Aron
Oak Door Roppongi Hills (Grand Hyatt Hotel) also has lovely scallops
When you go to the Oak Door cafe in Roppongi Hills don't forget to order the amazing scallops. On top is crushed garlic, parsley, cilantro and herb-butter on rare, hard-to-get ~seared~ Hokkaido scallops. Perhaps, I'm crazy... I shaved off tiny bites and savored every tiny morsel. However to my dism…(78 words)
Kong
If you stop by the Aqua Lounge at the Imperial Hotel, please say Aloha!
The Aqua Lounge at the Imperial Hotel Tokyo is the perfect place to get away from the busy day of hustle and bustle at the office.I try to entertain the audience with lush and vibrant music on Piano, Vocals ranging from Jazz Standards, Popular, R&B, Funk, Smooth Jazz, and above all.. Hawaiian M…(200 words)
anuhea808
Lockers of Convenience
Have you ever wonder why the locals do not carry their heavy bags of shopping and belonging when they are in the city? Solution ? Lockers @ the stations ! Most big stations have these lockers tucked at the corner. One simply put the stuff in the locker, insert some money ( JY300 or JY400 depending …(72 words)
imkate
Be flexible and plan ahead!
Rule number one: plan ahead. It's possible to do Tokyo affordably, but cheap accommodation gets booked up fast. If you want a super-cheap place, be prepared for tiny spaces and locations that are less than ideal.If you're REALLY strapped for cash, you'll either need to stay overnight in a manga…(325 words)
lrnelson
New Years
New Years is a family event so there are not many tours or much excitement surrounding the new year like there is in the US. My family makes mochi and then we head to Kiyoshikojin Temple (http://www.kiyoshikojin.or.jp/en/) for hatsumode (first temple visit of the year) early in the morning. Som…(103 words)
Jeff Aasgaard
Guest house Shinagawa shuku - Best access from Haneda Airport!
It is near Shinagawa Station (10-minutes walk distance), easy access from the airport and perfect connection to the city of Tokyo. Reasonable for backpackers : 3,000 yen per night for dormitory and 3,500 yen for private single. I've heard the staff members are very friendly! You can visit many trad…(83 words)
EmiOnishi
Air bnb taking Tokyo by storm
Did you know you can find thousands of places to stay in Tokyo that are NOT hotels, guest houses, or commercial properties. Hosts all over the city are now posting up rooms, studios, and apartments to reserve for your visit to Japan. Check out You can search by neighborhood and many hosts will also…(143 words)
LShannon
Wi-Fi for travelers in Japan: Getting out and about (2 of 2)
So, you logged on and were able to touch base with home. Great. Now, you’re ready to leave the airport. What do you do? Well, keep your device in airplane mode. Remember, you will still be hit for international roaming charges if you go over the Japanese networks. So, to answer the last que…(314 words)
jdlawrence
The Beast and the Beauty!
Japanese modern urban architecture is not always a success. Buildings of the 1980’s are not «just getting old». They are old, and crumpy and you can see that they are aching. And, yes, they are quite ugly. You can pick them out quite easily: very squared, monotone, and covered either with colored …(431 words)
Claire
Need a Calm, Safe and Sound Harbour in the middle of Roppongi?
Roppongi at times can be particularly busy, unkempt and full speed ahead when it comes to business and leisure hour pursuits. It's on the go 24/7 and if you don't get your bearings right it can be a somewhat overwhelming place say the least! For first time tourists and businessmen alike one of …(602 words)
Andrew Grimes
Enospa Sojourn Part 1: “Far from the madding Tokyo crowd at Enoshima Island Spa”
Some days, even on one of those lovely sunny mid-winter days that Tokyo is often blessed with, it can still feel too close and up in your face to contemplate another day of stress and strain in the maddening Tokyo streets. When you feel like that, especially when mulling over your first cappucc…(359 words)
Andrew Grimes
Staying in Roppongi, without its inconvenient: the H&R Roppongi
Last week, I had to finish up a tough work, and heavy jogging was not helping structuring my mind, as it usually do. I needed something else so I decided to monaster up myself, away from the office, away from home, in a place where I would find time and atmosphere to struggle through the work succe…(330 words)
Claire
The pleasure of Kagurazaka: The Agnes Hotel
No matter if you are a first time visitor or a veteran, The Agnes Hotel and Apartments is a pleasure. A small hotel with an excellent bar and restaurant, the elegant Kagurazaka quarter is there for you to explore. It is a 5 minute walk from Iidabashi Station served by the JR Sobu Line and 4 metro…(91 words)
Woody
Fujiya Hotel: A Resort Hotel in Hakone, a Hot Spring Resort Outside Tokyo.
Wherever you are in the Fujiya Hotel you are traveling through time, everyday time of course but eras of the passed times that this hotel has lived through since 1878.In Autumn it is mellow, warm daytimes and some of the most beautiful 'changes of the autumn leaves' you can ever hope to see. Al…(500 words)
Andrew Grimes
Public bath !
In Japan, you still find many public baths. They usually look like ordinary houses, very humble and discreet but if you look for them you can see them.Public baths are different from onset, their hot spring cousin in the sense that they are using normal water and they are open to everyone w…(318 words)
Claire
Business hotels - more than business
As a frequent traveller, I need to minimize the fuss when booking business hotel.What I want is very simple; close to the train station or airport, clean room, free wifi, hot shower, decent AC, wide & comfortable bed, enough space to put my large size suitcases, little desk to get some work done,…(286 words)
ISoffice
Izu Hokkawa Onsen Bousui: A Heavenly Onsen in Japan,
My first experience at Bousui was just 5 years ago and then the second was last month. In 2006 I was a newbie exploring the Hokkawa Hot Spring district , in 2014 it was my second visit as a devoted fan of hot spring perfection wanting to share this haven with my life partner and best friend.htt…(1039 words)
Find Your Zen at Roppongi Hotel S
To cap off my birthday weekend, my husband and I enjoyed a night at Roppongi Hotel S at the artfully designed Hotel & Residence Roppongi. We stayed in one of the Japanese-style rooms, called Zen, which was designed to promote relaxation and meditation. I have to say, they delivered on their promise…(549 words)
Petra
Stay at Your Home Sweet Away From Home
I recently required a place to stay at to finish up some work-related projects, but I dreaded the distractions from working at home. I needed somewhere that was enough like home but far enough away from it where I could seriously knuckle down, concentrate, and get things done. I thought about becom…(506 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
How Japanese spend New Year's Day lately....
Well, you may be a bit disappointed. But these days, more and more family stay away from home for the New Year's days. As you may know, New Year's Days is much more important than Christmas (or Hanuka or whatever you call "happy holiday") holiday season. Everybody takes at least these three-day …(397 words)
KIH
Kusatsu Onsen: Rated No.1 of Japan’s 100 Best Hot Springs for 12 consecutive years ! (3/3)
Karuizawa is another great sightseeing spot as a nice resting point following a relaxing visit to Kusatsu Onsen. Karuizawa is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Japan. There is a Summit planned for next year (2016) in Japan and Nagano Prefecture is proposing Karuizawa town as a candid…(715 words)
ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP
Online Booking Site for accommodations in Tokyo at the lowest price
Hello.Do you know an online booking site to make a reservation for hotels and guest houses in Tokyo at the lowest price? The website is “Tokyo Hotels” . This is a price comparison site to help you find the most reasonable hotels by comparing the price of frequently used sites such as Agoda.com,…(122 words)
OH
Popular ski resorts in Japan
The “ski-hotels.jp” provides information about the popular ski resorts in Japan such as Niseko , Sapporo , Hakuba , Yuzawa , Zao and Nozawa Onsen , and recommended accommodation of the area.You can compare the price of accommodations listed in more than 30 online room-booking websites and find th…(76 words)
OH
Take in the Mountains, Hot Springs at the Palace Hotel Hakone
When my sister and her family visited last year, we decided to crowds and commotion of central Tokyo for a night and enjoy a bit of nature. We chose to stay at the Palace Hotel Hakone for its beautiful scenery and onsen, or hot springs.Situated in the Sengoku-hara Highlands, the hotel is only a sho…(319 words)
Petra
Home Sweet Home Revisted: Hotel Style
Are you looking for a quaint yet classy place to stay in the middle of downtown, Tokyo? Do you want a touch of Japanese traditional with hints of Western modern? Look no further, Hotel & Residence Roppongi is the place for you.This was my second time to stay at H&R Roppongi. I wrote about my fi…(624 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
8 Hotel: A cute, convenient place to stay at in Fujisawa
If ever you need to stay in-or-around the Fujisawa area (think Enoshima, Kamakura, Odawara), then 8 Hotel could be just the place for you. 8 Hotel is a no-frills boutique budget hotel, perfect for a one-night stay for single travelers or couples who don't mind sharing close quarters.Located jus…(217 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Staying in Kusatsu
“Irrashaimase!” They were expecting us? We were surprised to see that the two greeters at Hotel Sakurai seemed to be expecting us. At least they didn’t look surprised to see not 1, but 2, foreigners pull up in their car. As they guided us to our parking space and to the main hotel lobby o…(228 words)
Alana
Onsen Tradition in Kusatsu
One of the oldest and most reputed onsens in Japan, Kusatsu was a favourite of the 5th and 8th shoguns ( it’s said that they transported waters to their castle in Edo). The onsen, while being preferred by Japanese for more than 1000 years, is relegated to a paragraph at best in the leading English…(315 words)
Alana
Recharge in Luxury at the Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Being sick is no fun at all, especially when there is work to be done. Thankfully, the last time I found myself ill in Tokyo, I was checked into the Hyatt Regency hotel and it proved to be a perfect place to get some rest during a hectic week.Located in Shinjuku, the Hyatt Regency Tokyo isn't f…(347 words)
Petra
Japan offers you a "Retreat of the Heart"
I read recently about how it is very important to be able to retreat within yourself. Are you able to do that? Do you find peace and calm for retrospection as you walk around, take care of daily tasks or ride a bus?If you are like me, I bet a lot of the time, you are kind of on alert. One of my…(637 words)
Tips for Staying in a Japanese Hotel
To properly enjoy Kusatsu Onsen, you really should make it an overnight trip. Staying for two or three days allows you the chance to fully explore the town and enjoy the benefits of the hot springs. Believe me, you’ll leave feeling like a new person.When booking your accommodations, there are t…(337 words)
Petra
We call this paradise
There are parts of Japan that are still a relic. Indications of the Bubble "Jidai" are easily accessible places on the map, by their very nature, many rail roads go to them.Some of these places are being rejuvenated by the new people that populate them.Places like Minakami. Places like Tenj…(66 words)
scramjetmach9