Japan Hotel Rates Hit September Record

Above, Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hotel rates in Japan hit a record in September due to the tourism boom.

Rates went up an average 12.6% according to Nikkei Asia. For American travelers, that isn't too bad of an increase considering that the dollar and yen exchange rate is around ¥152 per dollar in Tokyo.

They reported:

TOKYO -- The average hotel rate in Japan increased 12.6% on the year in September to 19,381 yen ($127) per night, led by an influx to tourists from overseas, new data from analytics company STR shows.

Cities popular with foreign travelers, like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, helped drive the average rate up to its highest for September in data going back to 1996.

The number of foreign visitors in Japan was up 31.5% on the year on the first days of the two three-day weekends in September. Still, hotel rates rose less than during longer holidays, having little effect on stays by domestic guests.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Sees First Snow of the Season

Above, snow in the street in front of my hotel in Tokyo in 2014. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This story brought back memories of nearly four years ago when I was in Japan when two unusually heavy snowstorms hit Tokyo.

The Japan Times reported:

The capital saw its first snowfall of the season on Sunday as cold air gripped eastern Japan with the approach of a low pressure system, the Meteorological Agency said. 

Snowfall was observed in the Otemachi business district, where the Meteorological Agency is located, around 8:30 a.m.

To read more, go here. 

"How To Catch The Keisei Line From Narita"

Above, the Keisei Line ticket counter below Terminal One at Narita Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I book a room at my preferred hotel in Tokyo, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, I generally take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station rom Narita Airport to catch a connecting subway to my hotel. If no rooms are available there (due to different reasons), I have stayed in the Ueno or Asakusa areas of Tokyo. This happened the last two times I visited Japan. If this is the case, I would take the Keisei Line from Narita to Ueno Station and take a quick cab ride to my hotel either in Ueno or Asakusa.

Above, the Keisei Skyliner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The most memorable ride I had on the Keisei Line was in February 2014 when I was stuck nearly for 24 hours on a Keisei Line train midway between Narita Airport and Tokyo due to an unusually heavy snowstorm that arrived almost at the same time as I did.

Above, the Keisei Line train I was stuck in due to a heavy snowstorm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on "How To Catch The Keisei Line From Narita".

It starts with:

If you’re going to be taking the Keisei Line from Narita Airport to your accommodation in Tokyo, you might want to give this walk-through a read first. To make your experience as smooth and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a guide on getting from Point A (the Arrivals hall) to Point B (your destination). Let’s go! 

What a lot of travelers to Tokyo don’t realize is that Narita Airport is actually in Chiba—that’s the next prefecture over. Getting from the airport, which is out in the sticks, to the big city can take a little longer and be a bit more complex than expected. Luckily, both the Keisei Line and Japan Railways run trains throughout the day, including dedicated airport expresses. If you’re happy to pay for speed, Keisei’s fastest option, the Skyliner, can get you to downtown Tokyo in as little as 41 minutes. There are also a number of other ways to get from Narita to Tokyo.

To read the article, go here. 

Foreign Visitors Discovering Japan's Business Hotels and Hostels

Above, a typical single room at the Tsukuba Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With increasing numbers of foreign tourists flocking to Japan, the resulting demands for accommodations are putting strains on the Japanese hotel industry. But, foreign tourists are discovering Japanese business hotels and hostels.

The Japan Times reported:

With the drastic increase in tourism, the lack of lodging in the nation’s biggest cities, particularly Tokyo and Osaka, is providing a major opportunity for those running two types of accommodations: “business hotels” and hostels. 

Japan’s so-called business hotels are known for offering simpler rooms at more affordable prices than typical hotels. While they were traditionally patronized by budget-minded Japanese businessmen, frugal international travelers have caught on and are now among their major patrons in bustling Tokyo. 

Hostels, on the other hand, are not familiar to many Japanese but are frequented by foreigners on shoe-string budgets searching for something beyond the ordinary hotel experience.

The only business hotel I've stayed in while in Tokyo (in 2005 and 2014) was the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno section of the city. The rooms are tiny (I had a work cubicle about the same size as the main room), but the prices were very reasonable. The rooms were a tight squeeze, especially with my big suitcase. The only window in the room was in the bathroom.

Above, a different view of a single room at the Tsukuba Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan's Business Hotel Alternative

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel, a business hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those of you who are considering a trip to Japan, but feel you cannot afford to stay at a hotel. Well, Japan has many options on accommodations, including the business hotel

Gaijinpot.com has an article on business hotels that prospective tourists should take a look into.

They begin with:

Visitors to Japan face a myriad of options for temporary accommodations. You could attempt to emulate the experience of Bill Murray in Lost in Translation by staying at the high end Park Hyatt in Shinjuku or splurge on a traditional Japanese ryokan which may cost ¥25,000/person/night (but typically includes two meals), go the budget route of staying at a capsule hotel for only ¥2000/night or even try your luck at one of the ubiquitous “love hotels” (best done with a fellow traveler!). 

While all of these would provide a unique experience and are, therefore, certainly recommended, where should you stay if you plan to visit the country on business and want a reliable, no frills hotel but don’t want to break the bank? The answer is to do what the locals do and book yourself into what’s simply called a “business hotel” to enjoy a terrific value. Business hotels are, by the way, not just for business, although don’t expect a pool!

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo Cheapo: Is Japan Expensive?

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno area of Tokyo last February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the most talked about topics when it comes to Japan and costs is that "Japan is expensive."

To put that misconception to rest, Tokyo Cheapo has an article discussing this "lie" and they also present people with the facts.

They begin it with:

People say Japan’s expensive, which is crazy. But then people say lots of things—like Japan’s “high-tech” and “polite,” so clearly their minds are all mixed up after their round-the-world tour … like, What country was that? Denmark? Singapore? Switzerland? Wasn’t everybody wearing lederhosen and yodeling? Drinking cocoa with mini marshmallows? Well, all right, maybe it was Japan. Ah, Harajuku, how I love your alpine ways.

Included in the article are common prices in Japan such as hotel rooms, dinners, hot spring spas and other things.

Speaking of hotel rooms, the Tsukuba Hotel (a business hotel) only charges ¥4,400/night for a single room with bath and free Wi-Fi. ¥4,400 converts to $37.02 at today's exchange rate. Expensive?

To read more, go here.

Tokyo Snow A Year Ago

Above, Keisei Line trains stuck in a station in Chiba Prefecture. My train is on the left. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo received its first snowfall last Friday and Saturday. Several news organizations posted photos of the the snow taken at different points in the city.

They all brought back memories of last February 8 when I arrived at Narita International Airport to find myself having a difficult time getting a train out of the airport and when I did, I ended up getting stuck in a train car (at least we were at a station where food and restroom facilities were available) for 16 hours due to the snow.

Above, snow in front of a Tokyo supermarket. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I knew beforehand that Tokyo gets snow on occasion, but the snowfall that week was unusually heavy (there were two big storms and some smaller flurries in-between) and the city didn't seem to know how to cope with it. I was surprised that I didn't see any snowplows out clearing the streets. Could it be that Tokyo doesn't have any?

Above, the Toho Studios Godzilla statue and snow remnants. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At least the snow made the trip a little more interesting (not that it was necessary to do so) and I managed to get some photographs of it.

Above, the second big storm hit Tokyo on February 15. This is a view of it from my hotel window. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the street in front of Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno the morning after the
second big snowstorm of the week to hit Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

U.S. Ranks Low In Quality In Hotel Wi-Fi

Back in 2007 and 2010, I went to Japan with my laptop computer for downloading photographs and for Internet access. Previous to this, I had to use the hotel's computers (some were free to use, while others charged a fee). Unfortunately, they were useless for posting photographs online.

Also, I was at the mercy of the fussy Japanese keyboards. They would work in English, but if I hit a wrong key or something, they would revert to Japanese.

I figured I'd bring my laptop with me so I could get free Internet access through my own machine. But the fly in the ointment was that I had to plug in my laptop to their system and my plug-in cables did not match theirs.

During last year's trip to Japan, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno who had free Wi-Fi available. Unfortunately, their system wasn't that good as the signal from their routers had a tendency to fade in and out (they were set up in each floor's hallway across from the elevator). Still, it was better than what was available during prior trips.

The Los Angeles Times has an article on worldwide rankings of hotel Wi-Fi systems. Oddly, the U.S. ranks low, and even behind Russia, of all places.

They wrote:

Bad news for hotel guests who love to update their Facebook status, stream YouTube videos and upload Instagram photos: When it comes to quality wireless connections at hotels, the U.S. ranks 40th worldwide, behind South Korea, Poland, Vietnam, Mexico, Russia and India, among many others.

The good news is that the U.S. ranks high in giving out WiFi free of charge. 

The ranking comes from a new study by Hotel WiFi Test, a site that takes WiFi data from travelers to gauge Internet speeds at hotels around the world.

 To read the full article, go here.

Gaijinpot's "10 Cheap Accommodation Options In Japan"

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When one is planning a vacation in Japan (or anywhere else, for that matter ), one of the things that are looked into are accommodations.

I usually first plan out what places I want to go to and then look into what's available for a place to stay.

As far as Tokyo is concerned, my favorite place is the Hotel Asia Center of Japan. Unfortunately, they were all booked up last year when I went to Japan. So, as a back-up, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno. I stayed there in 2005.

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel last February. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Gaijinpot.com has a list of 10 cheap accommodation options that may come in handy for those who are planning their vacations.

The article begins with:

Finding a short term place to stay in Japan can be expensive. GaijinPot has a listing of short term apartments but if even these prices are too high for you, I have listed 10 options below for free or very cheap places to stay in Japan.

 To read more, go here.

Tokyo Cheapo's Guide To Mobile Wi-Fi

Above, my room at the Niigata Dormy Inn with my laptop on the desk. Alas, I couldn't use the room's
Internet connection as the plugs were incompatible with my laptop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan may be one of the most high-tech countries in the world, but when it comes to having Wi-Fi (free or otherwise), they are a bit behind.

However, they are catching up (even more so now that they've landed the Olympic Games for 2020) with the rest of the world.

During my last trip to Japan, I had no problem concerning Wi-Fi. The hotel I stayed at in Ueno, the Tsukuba Hotel, had free Wi-Fi. At least they made it into the 21st Century. There was also Wi-Fi at Toho Studios that Jonathan Bellés made use of during his interview sessions.

That was not the case in 2010 when I was in Tokyo and Niigata. Both hotels I stayed at had free Internet, but the connecting plugs were not compatible with my laptop computer. I had to resort to using the coin-operated computers at the Tokyo hotel and the Niigata hotel's two free computers in the lobby to get online.

The only places where I was able to use my laptop for the Internet were at Starbucks Coffee or Tully's Coffee in both cities.

Funny thing, in 2007, I was able to get a Wi-Fi connection in Kumamoto at the ryokan I stayed at.

Tokyo Cheapo has posted an article on where to get connected.

They wrote:

Arriving in Tokyo, you may be excited to see all the cool high tech stuff that’s just a part of everyday life here in the eastern capital. But then when you stop in at a café and pull out your phone to update everyone on all the things you’re eating, seeing, and the ways you’re winning at life… there’s no wifi. What the–? Yup, while it’s getting better, Tokyo is still not a very connected city in terms of public wifi. Read on for cheapo tips and tricks on catching a signal while in Tokyo.

 To read more, go here.

How Fast Is Your Hotel's Wi-Fi?

Above, a room at the Niigata Dormy Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my February trip to Japan, I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno section of Tokyo.

The hotel was familiar to me as I stayed there in 2005. My usual accommodations are at the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, but they were all booked up during the time of my trip.

The Tsukuba Hotel does have free Wi-Fi, but it is very slow and signal losses were frequent. That is the subject of an article in Travelpulse.com, "How fast is your hotel's Wi-Fi? Here's how to find out."

The article states:

With free Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet being among the most requested amenities by guests, it’s more important than ever to track hotels’ Wi-Fi service. 

And Hotel WiFi Test, a website that tests and predicts Wi-Fi speed, is holding hotels accountable in that regard. 

Hotel WiFi Test has recently unveiled a Wi-Fi prediction system for properties it hasn’t tested yet. 

The prediction system, which currently assesses Wi-Fi speed for over 108,000 properties worldwide, ensures that Hotel WiFi Test covers more of the globe. By looking at the cities, countries and hotel chains that regularly boast the fastest Wi-Fi speeds, the site can predict what the speed will be at a given property. For example, Hong Kong generally provides faster Wi-Fi service than a destination like Las Vegas, while Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is generally known for having faster Wi-Fi than a lot of other chains.

Having fast and reliable hotel Wi-Fi has become very important to business travelers, who have to remain in contact with clients and the home office. It is also very important to vacation travelers who, for varying reasons, have to remain in contact with family members back home or with friends.

To read the full article, go here.

Six Tokyo Business Hotels

Above, the Skytree. One of the listed hotels has a view of the tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My preferred hotel in Tokyo is the Hotel Asia Center of Japan. It has nice rooms, laundry, free bottled water and a nice restaurant with western or Japanese-style breakfasts. It is also centrally located in Tokyo and near the Ginza Subway Line.

Unfortunately, the hotel was fully booked during the time I was to be in Japan in February. So, I decided to stay at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno. I was familiar with the Tsukuba Hotel as I stayed there in 2005. But, I have since decided that I will need to find more reasonably-priced hotels in Tokyo, in case I run into the problem of a fully-booked Hotel Asia Center of Japan, to use as back-ups.

Rocket News 24 has a December 2011 article on six business hotels in Tokyo that may be worth a look into.

Keep in mind that the prices have changed, with or without the recent hike in the consumption tax (8%) and the current foreign exchange rate of the dollar (which is much better than when the article was written). I will be doing a blog article on budget or business hotels with more up-to-date prices soon. This will give you an idea on some budget hotels, what they look like and charge.

The article begins with:

When deciding to travel in Japan we are faced with a rather large assortment of hotels that don’t exist in our home countries, one of which is the “business hotel”. The label of business hotel may conjure up images of the infamous “capsule hotels” for some, while for other’s it may have the sense of a dank, narrow, room that was occupied by the cast of Mad Men. I suspected such things at first until, in an effort to save money, I bit the bullet and tried a few out. 

I can now confidently say that despite their label, business hotels are actually rather comfy – some of them downright elegant! 

These hotels don’t skimp on the amenities. For instance, it wouldn’t be hard to find a business hotel that offers air conditioning, humidifier, or even an air purifier. Most have fairly spacious bathrooms and offer a complimentary breakfast. Even if you are just looking for a place to have a brief romantic rendezvous, a business hotel can be a cheaper alternative to a dingy motel or robotic love hotel. 

Let’s take a look at 6 prime business hotels that can be found in the Tokyo area. All hotels charge rates less than 3,500 yen (US$44.80) per person when two people are staying in the room at a rate of 7,000 yen total ($89.60).

 To read the full article, go here.

What Do People Want Most In Hotel Perks?

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What are the most sought-after perks people look for when choosing a hotel to stay at?

Condé Nast Traveler has an article on just this subject.

They found:

As it turns out, good food—namely, a complimentary breakfast—is the No. 1 perk travelers want from a hotel, with an in-hotel restaurant coming in at No. 2. (Free Wi-Fi, of course, wasn’t far behind, because how else will you post all those beach pics to Facebook?).

If I remember correctly, the only hotel I stayed at that had a complimentary breakfast was the Washington Hotel in Nagasaki, Japan (I checked their website and it appears this is no longer offered, but they do have free wired Internet). Most hotels also had an in-hotel restaurant and free Wi-Fi (the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno has free Wi-Fi and the Hotel Asia Center of Japan has free wired Internet and a restaurant). I have not yet stayed at a Japanese hotel with a swimming pool (pools must be a rarity in Japan).

I've stayed at very few hotels in the U.S. since the advent of the Internet and Wi-Fi. The only ones that immediately come to mind pertaining to Wi-Fi are the Crowne Plaza O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois and the Blake Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both charge guests for Wi-Fi. If this is any indication, it appears Japan's hotels are more generous when it comes to Wi-Fi. Both of these hotels do have swimming pools and restaurants (although pricey).

To read the full Condé Nast article, go here.

UNGCC and Tsukuba Hotel

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel last month. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After I posted the photo at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno, Tokyo at The Monster Move Fan's Guide To Japan Facebook page, Andrew Nguyen asked if Tsukuba was the main headquarters of the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasure Center (UNGCC).

Having not watched the Heisei Series of Godzilla movies for some time, I could not recall if this was the case. I then Googled and found that it was.

According to this page (cached) of the University of Kansas:

...in 1993, the Heisei series depicted G-Force units under the control of a United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center in Tsukuba, Japan.

I stayed at the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno back in October 2005. As my usual hotel in Tokyo, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan was fully booked at the time of my Japan visit last month, I stayed at the Tsukuba. Godzilla had nothing to do with my hotel choice. It is interesting that the name of the hotel is the same as the UNGCC headquarters location.

Great catch, Andrew!

At The Tsukuba Hotel

Above, Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii and Armand in the lobby of the Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno, Tokyo.

It has been a little over a month since I left Japan. Time sure does fly!

I don't believe that I posted the above photo before. It is of Jonathan Bellés, Yoshikazu Ishii (assistant special effects director of Godzilla Final Wars) and myself at the Tsukuba Hotel lobby in Ueno the night of Bellés's arrival in Japan. I had arrived in Japan a few days before and we met up in the hotel lobby that evening. Bellés had a much easier time getting into Tokyo than I did and arrived that afternoon from Spain.

Bellés was in Japan to conduct interviews and to visit Hiroshima for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

Japan Booking Completed

Above, the Tsukuba Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Besides reading about how screwed up the Obama Administration has made the U.S. healthcare system, foreign policy (should we really feel better that Vice President Joe Biden is in Asia this week?) and pretty much everything else, I made my hotel and airline reservations for next year's trip to Japan.

The only snag about that was the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, my favorite Tokyo hotel, was all booked up. Granted, I could have put myself on a waiting list in case a room should become available, but I prefer a certainty about my accommodations. So, I opted instead to stay at the Tsukuba Hotel in the Ueno area of Tokyo, where I stayed in 2005.

The Tsukuba Hotel is a business hotel and their rooms are small, but I don't need a lot of room, just a place to sleep and clean up. It is a subway stop or two away from Asakusa's Nakamise Street and, also, Kitchen Town (where I plan to pick up some cutlery for my "roomie").

I will be working on gathering more material for an updated The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan and helping out producer/director Jonathan Bellés as he conducts interviews for his documentary, Godzilla and Hiroshima: The Rise of the Kaiju Eiga.

Above, my 2005 room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The airline I will be flying on is United. This'll be my first time with them since 2005 (I think). The last several trips have been via Korean Air. I go with the best price, rather than with any particular airline. I got a good price on the base ticket: $160. But the taxes and fees made the total amount shoot up to over $800. If I had gotten a ticket for a base price of $480 (which was the next available price), the total would have been about $1,200. At least the room rates I got (¥4400/night) will make the airfare bite a little less.

What's A Japanese Business Hotel?

Above, the room of the business hotel I stayed in.  It was slightly
larger than my work cubicle back in the U.S.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

You've probably heard of Japanese business hotels, but wondered what they are and what amenities they have available for the traveler.

Above, the bath was just big enough for
one person.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally, these hotels are all over Japan and they provide the salaryman accommodations while away from home on business.

According to Japan-guide.com:

Business hotels can be found readily across Japan, providing economical and no-frills accommodation to travelers. The charge is typically between 5,000 and 10,000 yen per night for a single room, and many hotels also have a few twin or double rooms for typically 7,000 to 12,000 yen. Although rooms are relatively small, they are usually clean and well kept, with an attached bathroom.

Basic amenities such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, razors, cotton buds, shower caps and towels are normally provided. Most rooms also come with a television, an air conditioner, a telephone, a hairdryer, an empty refrigerator and a water boiler with complimentary green tea bags.

As the above states, the rooms are small. I stayed at one business hotel in Ueno, Tokyo in 2005, the Tsukuba Hotel. I stayed in the smallest hotel room I've ever seen. The accompanying photos attest to that. It could be a problem for one who is claustrophobic and can give the feeling of "bouncing off the walls." But I don't choose a hotel to just sit in after traveling thousands of miles. It served the purpose of a place to sleep and to clean up. Plus, it was cheap (about $50 U.S.). It was better than staying in one of Japan's famous capsule hotels. (It was in this hotel room that I experienced an earthquake for the first time in Japan.)

Above, a view looking towards the bathroom.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The only window in the room was in the bathroom, and that had a lovely view of the neighboring building just across a narrow passageway. In the lobby, a room was set up with two computers for Internet access for the hotel's guests to use (navigating the Japanese keyboards were a bit of a challenge).

Still, the management was quite efficient and helpful. I enjoyed my stay there.

So if you don't mind a small room, a business hotel is the economical way to go.

"26 Amazing Things About Japanese Budget Hotels"

Above, Tsukuba Hotel, a budget/business hotel in Ueno, Tokyo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan Today has an article on "26 Amazing Things About Japanese Budget Hotels."

They start it with:

TOKYO —Having a hard time deciding the accommodation for your holiday in Japan? Tight on budget, but don’t want to sacrifice comfort? Don’t worry, because Japanese budget hotels are cheap (usually about 3,000 yen per person, per night) and yet provide top-notch service. You probably won’t find anything that is more value for money than this in other countries.

The 26 items are interesting, but I and most of the people commenting on the article disagree with some of those items.  None have found budget hotel rooms for ¥3,000.  They are more like ¥4,000-7,000.  I did find a ¥3,000 room in Kyushu (generally ryokans can be found at this rate outside of Tokyo, but a lot of seaching is necessary).  

The Tsukuba Hotel in Ueno (pictured above), a budget/business hotel, was around ¥4,000 when I stayed there in 2005.  It is near the Inaricho subway station on the Ginza Line.

Still, the article is worth a look.  To read it, go here.  Be sure to read the readers' comments.