If you are heading south, Hakata is a good place to be your base for a week or two. I rented an apartment from f-apartments. A reliable apartment supplier for foreigners, especially when you have no knowledge of Japanese.
Possible Day Trips using Hakata as your base:
1) Arita2) Nagasaki3) Hita4) Tosu Premium Outlet
5) Nakonoshima Island Park
Showing posts with label Accommodation in Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accommodation in Japan. Show all posts
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Japan Stay Club
If you plan to stay at any of the major towns in Japan for one week or more, perhaps you might like to consider booking an apartment. I booked an apartment from Japan Stay Club.
Before I decided to use that agent, I searched the net for reviews about that company. However I hardly found any! Many of us often worry about the RELIABILITY of the agent. This is heightened by the highly publicised online credit card scams. Most of the time to secure an apartment, the full amount will be deducted from your credit card prior to arrival! Therefore there is the lingering fear of possibly being cheated!
Here is my review of Japan Stay Club:
In order to secure an apartment by JSC, a full payment by credit card is necessary. In addition to the rental fees advertised, there are additional fees such as cleaning,insurance and misc fees. Based on my experience, I feel that the company is reliable. The interior of the apartments are exactly like the photos on the website! Most importantly they are clean and spacious, it beats staying in a hotel room!
Everyday items such as towels, toiletries, washing detergent are provided making it a comfortable home away from home! The lovely part of staying in an apartment is that they are often located in neighbourhood districts. Therefore you will be able to dine at eateries not found in any guidebook.
There are two ways to collect the key for the apartment. You can either get it from JSC's office or you can ask them to leave the key in the mailbox. I prefer the latter. I have rented 3 apartments from them and what I saw on the website was what I got! Maybe I was just lucky, leave a tag if you disagree! There is a saying - Do not judge a book by its cover. The exterior of the apartment may look run down, however the interior is fine.
Before I decided to use that agent, I searched the net for reviews about that company. However I hardly found any! Many of us often worry about the RELIABILITY of the agent. This is heightened by the highly publicised online credit card scams. Most of the time to secure an apartment, the full amount will be deducted from your credit card prior to arrival! Therefore there is the lingering fear of possibly being cheated!
Here is my review of Japan Stay Club:
In order to secure an apartment by JSC, a full payment by credit card is necessary. In addition to the rental fees advertised, there are additional fees such as cleaning,insurance and misc fees. Based on my experience, I feel that the company is reliable. The interior of the apartments are exactly like the photos on the website! Most importantly they are clean and spacious, it beats staying in a hotel room!
Everyday items such as towels, toiletries, washing detergent are provided making it a comfortable home away from home! The lovely part of staying in an apartment is that they are often located in neighbourhood districts. Therefore you will be able to dine at eateries not found in any guidebook.
There are two ways to collect the key for the apartment. You can either get it from JSC's office or you can ask them to leave the key in the mailbox. I prefer the latter. I have rented 3 apartments from them and what I saw on the website was what I got! Maybe I was just lucky, leave a tag if you disagree! There is a saying - Do not judge a book by its cover. The exterior of the apartment may look run down, however the interior is fine.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
OUGATOU HOTEL
Ougatou Hotel was my rest stop for the night, after visiting Matsumoto City. The ryokan is situated on the top of a Utsukushigahara Heights. More information about Matsumoto City & the Utsukushigahara Heights can be found at this link
If you love adventure and nature, the plateau is a beautiful place to visit. Make that spot your leisure escape, from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. The air fresher and it is a peaceful spot to enjoy the beauty of the seasons. Come face to face with grazing cows and recharge with a night's rest at Ougatou Hotel.
I caught the Ryokan's complimentary bus service from JR Matsumoto Station. Took us about 60 mins to get to the hotel. One beauty of travelling during the low season(April), was that I only had 3 other couples joining me at the hotel. Despite the low visitor numbers, the hotel's hospitality standards were impeccable! I have only praise for the staff! The warm hospitality and attention to details, simply made you feel at home.
What I liked about the Ryokan, is that it has 3 private open air baths and two indoor baths for the different genders. Don't oversoak or you will end up as "wrinkled prune" * Due to the high temperature of the water, oversoaking in the bath will result in red and wrinkled skin! Not exactly a pretty sight! Use the massage chair to knock away your tiredness and stiff shoulders from work stress! Enjoy the quietness of the night and the chilling night wind caressing your face, when you soak in the open air bath!
The ryokan has Western and Japanese style rooms. It has 4 levels and is handicap friendly with a lift to take you to the different floors. The are two viewing decks at the front and back, for you to enjoy the sunset and sunrise. Guests are given the option of whether they would like to have their meals in the hotel. Complimentary activities include, a slide show of photographs after dinner, a tour of the plateau in the morning, star gazing at night, wine tasting session to sample the wine made by the hotel and more. This hotel is usually packed during the busy season, so visitors are advised to make their reservations early.
View of the hotel and the surroundings
Dinner
A foggy, rainy and cold morning. I woke up specially to catch the sunset and this was the view that greeted me
Breakfast
Sightseeing on the Plateau in the morning
The bell tower
You might be interested in Matsumoto Castle
If you love adventure and nature, the plateau is a beautiful place to visit. Make that spot your leisure escape, from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. The air fresher and it is a peaceful spot to enjoy the beauty of the seasons. Come face to face with grazing cows and recharge with a night's rest at Ougatou Hotel.
I caught the Ryokan's complimentary bus service from JR Matsumoto Station. Took us about 60 mins to get to the hotel. One beauty of travelling during the low season(April), was that I only had 3 other couples joining me at the hotel. Despite the low visitor numbers, the hotel's hospitality standards were impeccable! I have only praise for the staff! The warm hospitality and attention to details, simply made you feel at home.
What I liked about the Ryokan, is that it has 3 private open air baths and two indoor baths for the different genders. Don't oversoak or you will end up as "wrinkled prune" * Due to the high temperature of the water, oversoaking in the bath will result in red and wrinkled skin! Not exactly a pretty sight! Use the massage chair to knock away your tiredness and stiff shoulders from work stress! Enjoy the quietness of the night and the chilling night wind caressing your face, when you soak in the open air bath!
The ryokan has Western and Japanese style rooms. It has 4 levels and is handicap friendly with a lift to take you to the different floors. The are two viewing decks at the front and back, for you to enjoy the sunset and sunrise. Guests are given the option of whether they would like to have their meals in the hotel. Complimentary activities include, a slide show of photographs after dinner, a tour of the plateau in the morning, star gazing at night, wine tasting session to sample the wine made by the hotel and more. This hotel is usually packed during the busy season, so visitors are advised to make their reservations early.
View of the hotel and the surroundings
Dinner
A foggy, rainy and cold morning. I woke up specially to catch the sunset and this was the view that greeted me
Breakfast
Sightseeing on the Plateau in the morning
The bell tower
You might be interested in Matsumoto Castle
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Accommodation in Japan - Tokyo
I have stayed at 4 locations around Tokyo - 3 Hotels Yaesu Terminal Hotel, Hotel Kazusaya and Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro AND a week long stay at Asakusa Weekly Mansion
The Selling Point of the Accomodations is:
1)The nearest station is a JR Station, additional cost was not incurred to get there.
Here's the ranking for the hotels, 1 being one that I will likely stay in when I return to Tokyo.
1) Hotel Kazusaya
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro(I will never return to this Hotel)
A)Evaluation Criteria - COST (3 Pax)
2) Hotel Kazusaya - Y13200-$16500 *Weekends have higher charge
3) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - above Y16500
1) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - Y12000
In terms of cost Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro is definitely the cheapest!
However if you pay Y1200 more, 1) you will get a toilet with a working butt washer(I have stayed in two rooms at Sakura Hotel and both of the butt washers did not work.), clean white walls (Sakura Room Walls reminded me of a school classroom, which had shoe and soccer ball prints on them!) and free newspaper!
Some readers may feel that they won't mind forgoing the perks above just to save Y1200, which they can spend on more useful means! That was why I also came up with another evaluation criteria.
B) Evaluation Criteria - Convenience
1) Hotel Kazusaya - Shin Nihombashi
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - Tokyo
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - Ikebukuro
Time Taken to move baggage from Station to Hotel
1) Hotel Kazusaya - 5 Mins
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - 15 Mins
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - 15 Mins
This factor should be taken into consideration especially for travellers with huge bags.
Do note that Ikebukuro Station is an extremely crowded station. During peak periods, travellers with large luggages might face slight inconvenience trying to get on the trains.
It takes around 20-30mins to get from Tokyo Station to Ikebukuro Station, therefore do factor the travelling time into account when you book the bullet train tickets leaving from Tokyo Station. Shinjuku Station is a Bullet Train Stop for some of the routes. If you are staying at Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro, you might want to consider boarding the train from Shinjuku instead of Tokyo.
If you are planning to stay in Tokyo for a week (7D,6N), you might want to consider renting a weekly mansion instead. The advantage is that you won't feel like a "caged bird"!
The Selling Point of the Accomodations is:
1)The nearest station is a JR Station, additional cost was not incurred to get there.
Here's the ranking for the hotels, 1 being one that I will likely stay in when I return to Tokyo.
1) Hotel Kazusaya
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro(I will never return to this Hotel)
A)Evaluation Criteria - COST (3 Pax)
2) Hotel Kazusaya - Y13200-$16500 *Weekends have higher charge
3) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - above Y16500
1) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - Y12000
In terms of cost Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro is definitely the cheapest!
However if you pay Y1200 more, 1) you will get a toilet with a working butt washer(I have stayed in two rooms at Sakura Hotel and both of the butt washers did not work.), clean white walls (Sakura Room Walls reminded me of a school classroom, which had shoe and soccer ball prints on them!) and free newspaper!
Some readers may feel that they won't mind forgoing the perks above just to save Y1200, which they can spend on more useful means! That was why I also came up with another evaluation criteria.
B) Evaluation Criteria - Convenience
1) Hotel Kazusaya - Shin Nihombashi
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - Tokyo
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - Ikebukuro
Time Taken to move baggage from Station to Hotel
1) Hotel Kazusaya - 5 Mins
2) Yaesu Terminal Hotel - 15 Mins
3) Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro - 15 Mins
This factor should be taken into consideration especially for travellers with huge bags.
Do note that Ikebukuro Station is an extremely crowded station. During peak periods, travellers with large luggages might face slight inconvenience trying to get on the trains.
It takes around 20-30mins to get from Tokyo Station to Ikebukuro Station, therefore do factor the travelling time into account when you book the bullet train tickets leaving from Tokyo Station. Shinjuku Station is a Bullet Train Stop for some of the routes. If you are staying at Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro, you might want to consider boarding the train from Shinjuku instead of Tokyo.
If you are planning to stay in Tokyo for a week (7D,6N), you might want to consider renting a weekly mansion instead. The advantage is that you won't feel like a "caged bird"!
Accommodation in Japan - Miyajima (Yamaichi Bekkan)
We stayed in YAMAICHI BEKKAN and we totally regretted it!
I booked it because I thought that it will be a traditional ryokan but we were in for a mega disappointment!
The exterior of the building was extremely run down and the interior was even worst!
The only traditional aspect of it was the futon, the soba husk filled pillow and the lack of an elevator!
We had to carry our luggages up 3 flights of stairs! It had a western style bathroom!
Charges are calculated by pax -7500yen + 5% tax not including breakfast or dinner! We ended up paying around around $300 for a room, which could only fit 3 futons and had hardly any room left to open our luggage!
My Suggestion for travellers is to stay in Hiroshima and make a day trip to Miyajima. It is quite troublesome to carry your luggage up and down the ferry for just one night.
I booked it because I thought that it will be a traditional ryokan but we were in for a mega disappointment!
The exterior of the building was extremely run down and the interior was even worst!
The only traditional aspect of it was the futon, the soba husk filled pillow and the lack of an elevator!
We had to carry our luggages up 3 flights of stairs! It had a western style bathroom!
Charges are calculated by pax -7500yen + 5% tax not including breakfast or dinner! We ended up paying around around $300 for a room, which could only fit 3 futons and had hardly any room left to open our luggage!
My Suggestion for travellers is to stay in Hiroshima and make a day trip to Miyajima. It is quite troublesome to carry your luggage up and down the ferry for just one night.
Accommodation in Japan - Hiroshima (World Friendship Centre)
If you are planning to stay in Hiroshima.I highly recommend that you stay at the World Friendship Centre.
"World Friendship Center was founded on August 6th, 1965 (exactly 20years after the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima), by Barbara Reynolds, to provide a place where people from many nations can meet, share their experiences and reflect on peace." (Taken off the website)
It is highly recommended to reserve in advance to avoid disappointment! The accomodation has only 4-5 rooms! The cost 3900 JPN per guest per night (1/2 price for children 2 to 11 years old; under 2-free)Includes Western-style Breakfast and High Speed Internet.* Note: you have to pay the cost in cash in JPY
The private rooms at the WFC enhances a foreigner's experience in Japan. Picture this in your mind - tatami mat lined room, japanese decoration, and the opportunity to sleep on a futon for a reasonable cost. Simply Awesome for a traveller on a budget! One advantage of staying at the WFC is that the couple who ran the place compiled a list of good and reasonably priced eateries around the centre! The only disappointment I had was that I could not try all the lovely restaurants recommended by the directors of the centre! The breakfast table can accomodate 6 guests, thus giving the guests at the centre a chance to interact with each other.
In the days leading up to 6th August, in memory of the fateful day the A Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Many activities are held along the river side. We managed to participate in an event and it was memorable! The participants came from different countries, some of us never experienced the horrors of WW2. Yet as our hearts and voices united to sing Amazing Grace, it was a beautiful declaration of the desire to have Peace and Harmony on this Earth!
The moonlight and spotlight casted an eerie glow on the Bomb dome!
When you stay at the WFC, the directors of the centre can schedule a personalised Peace Park Guide Tours for you and with advance notice can arrange for first hand accounts of Hibakusha.
Day trip from Hiroshima
Miyajima - We took a ferry across from the mainland to Miyajima and many sailboats dotted the sea! If you are holding a JR Pass the ride on the ferry is free! The ferry timing is quite frequent and the ride takes around 15 mins! From the ferry you can catch sight of the Floating Tori Gate!
Opinion on Hiroshima VS Nagasaki
If you have limited time in Japan and you are contemplating whether to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Having visted both places, I prefer Hiroshima. I found it easier to navigate round Hiroshima as the main attractions more conveniently located.
You might be interested in my post on Nagasaki
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