Noboribetsu Grand Hotel

Located at 154 Noboribetu Onsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0592, Japan - this is an Onsen actually - a hot spring Onsen to be exact.  It has an indoor and outdoor onsen.

The outdoor hot spring were called, sulfur, salt and iron hot spring.

Rooms were nice and spacious but please keep in mind that the staff don’t speak too well in English although they do try to accommodate.

New Hankyu Hotel Osaka

New Hankyu Hotel Osaka is located at 1-1-35 Shibata, Kita-ku Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-8310 Japan - and most people I’m sure chose this hotel not because the rooms are pretty small but because it’s a hotel that is near a bus station that takes you directly back to the airport.   The New Hankyu Hotel is a no frill hotel but it is only a stone throw from shopping areas.

I guess if you are on a transit - it’s not such a big deal - but with no internet in the room or the public areas and you have to pay for watching local tv  - now that is bad.  Take note that some of the rooms had such bad cigarette smell - and even if you do request for a non-smoking room - it might still turn out to smell like one.  Not entirely the hotel’s fault, for some guests can be quite stubborn.  I wouldn’t mind staying there again - if I was in for a transit as the price was suitable for us at that time but if i had my kid with me - I wouldn’t stay in this hotel.

Hotel Ryumeikan In Japan, Tokyo

We stayed at the Ryumeikan Hotel for only 2 days - and when we first booked it - we didn’t really think that it was a boutique hotel - looking at its picture - but we were quite wrong.  The entrance of the hotel was quite plain as you can see here - but the inside was pretty decent and some rooms I were told later that they even had those clawfoot tubs that I loved.

Unfortunately, my room didn’t have the clawfoot tub but it was still a very nice tub - if I may say so myself.  Not the conventional tub and I prefer the oval shaped tub a lot better.  I liked the open concept window where I can enjoy the night light of tokyo while i enjoy a soak after a long day of shopping or working.

For the smaller room - they don’t have such a big washing area but still a very nice one - and I wouldn’t mind having a smaller wash area as long as I have one of those clawfoot tubs.

Love the room - they gave us a king size bed - but I didn’t quite like the carpeting as you can see in this picture.  But definitely loved the desk though - one can work comfortably here.

This is the upper lobby lounge of the hotel - you can have a drink here and meet up with your guests or just relax for the evening.  It is also the place where you can check in - and if you have luggage - you need to lug it up yourself.  The hotel is only 5 mins away from the train station and I loved it - very convenient to go anywhere downtown. The rates were good - so if you are in Tokyo - and want to stay comfortably - you may want to check out this hotel.

Best & Cheapest Hotel In Japan

While the Best Western is not such a popular hotel in Canada or USA - because it’s pretty old and a basic motel here - the Best Western Shinjuku Astina Hotel in Japan - is a totally different story.  We were quite hesitant to book this hotel because of its name but we were pleasantly surprised by how modern, clean and comfortable the hotel is.  So if you want a cheap, good and clean hotel that provides breakfast - choose this hotel - you can’t get a better deal than this in Japan.

The lobby of the Best Western Shinjuku Astina looks as good as any 4 star hotel in Canada - and I’m very impressed by the staff as well.

They even have toileteries in their bathroom - so you must be convinced now that this is a pretty cool hotel to stay in for your vacation.

The bathroom even looked better than the Westin in Canada.

The rooms that we’ve gotten were very spacious and we will be back to this hotel the next time we are in Japan - definitely value for money in Japan.

Disney Hotels

For those who’ve been to any disney hotels you know that you would love the ones in Japan too - I’ve compared the ones in Japan to the ones in USA - and they are definitely from the same brand of hotels.  From the restaurants to the service - to the room decor and furnishing plus not forgetting the cute mickey mouse toileteries.

My kid loved the toileteries so much, she asked if we could buy some home - which we did - but we didn’t need to buy them - the housekeeping department was so nice - they gave her some to take home.  The hotels service was good - and the restaurants were definitely catered for children.

Look at the Mickey mouse pancake and you will see how thrilled a kid can get in the morning for breakfast - and even for a fussy eater like mine - she woke up the next day - and dressed up in a hurry to have her mickey mouse pancake again.  We always have a good time in any Disney hotels - be it in USA or in Japan or anywhere around the world.  I’m glad we stayed within the Disney grounds every time we are in Disney for a vacation.

Hilton Tokyo

Hilton Tokyo is definitely a great hotel to stay when you are on vacation - we stayed for a few days when I first arrived in Japan and it definitely was expensive - but worth it. Located near Shinjuku - so it’s a great location if you are on vacation and doing a lot of shopping.

I loved that the bed was huge - and if you look at the windows - you would know that you are in Japan - I really loved the way the window folds - to block the sun.  Compared to the Hyatt Hotel - the Hilton seems to have bigger rooms.

Like all hotels in Japan - the bathroom is a wee bit small - but still very nice.

A view from our room.

From the Hilton Tokyo - the subway is about a 10 minutes walk - a good stroll for us - that’s for sure but some folks like to use the complimentary shuttle provided by the hotel.  The hotel staff were all very nice and very professional and speaks well in English - so you don’t have to worry if you need any help within the hotel.

Traditional Hotels In Japan

There are many kind of hotels in Japan - but even the most expensive ones will not give you the exact traditional feel of Japan till you’ve stayed in a Ryokan - a traditional japanese hotel - also known to as a B & B in the West.  Each ryokan is unique in their own ways - but most are beautiful with flowers, trees and shrubs all around the property  - some hanging on iron s hooks - while others are just potted around the ryokan.

Some even have an open air spa - like the Asaba Ryokan in Shuzenji Izu Japan - but this is a luxury ryokan and of course - it’s not cheap.  But most ryokan like the Asaba are pretty old and handed down for generations.  All of these ryokan - or traditional hotels are very personable and clean and comfy and all of them served breakfast - lunch and dinner.

Most ryokan have hot springs - not all but most - and I loved it so much - it was definitely an experienced for me.  The hot spring water is so good for your skin - so I’ve heard.

This is another Ryokan in Hakone  - it is called Hotel Senkei  - this place have a very nice hot spring.  And in all the ryokan that I’ve been to - they always provide you with a yukata.

I’m not very good sleeping on a tatami mat - truth be told - I rather a modern bed - that’s my only dislike of a ryokan.

For The Backpackers In Japan

There are several good and cheap backpacker’s hostel in Japan - and New Koyo is one of them - and the other that I’ve heard highly recommended in Tokyo was K’s House.   Near Asakusa - so you are actually nearby to just about everything in Tokyo.   They have just recently renovated the hostel a few years ago - so the rooms are quite comfortable and zen like.

This hostel is near Mount Fuji - and you can view a good view of the Fuji mountain from here - on good days.  Less than $50 a night - one can get free Wifi in the lobby area.

Lovely rooms - so for those who are on a budget or just want to save all their money to buy Hello Kitty stuff - these backpackers hostel are pretty good and safe.

Kyoto Tower Hotel

I love Kyoto tremendously - and while I was living in Japan for a short period of 6 months - I told myself that I could actually lived here.  Kyoto Tower Hotel is one of the best places to work for - because they even have disability insurance for their employees - so I’ve heard - all one need to do is go on the disability application online and apply for it.  It was funny how the Manager was telling us - I guess it is a comfort to know that you are being taken care of - if something do happen.  In Japan the medical cost can be quite hefty if you do not have health insurance.

We went to Kyoto by the high speed train aka the Shinkansen - Kyoto station is situated near the Kyoto Tower and hotel and everyone should come by and visit their rooftop garden and check out the awesome view from up there.  Of course, there is more to see in Kyoto - from temples to shop houses and eateries.  But we were only there for a day trip for a site inspection - so more on the hotel later.

Haunted In Japan

it was a funny story when I was in Osaka when one of my co-worker - pointed out that this hotel was haunted.  You see some woman got murdered here and her body was only found 2 days later.  How it is haunted I don’t really know - because there was no sighting of ghost at all.  But this is a love hotel - and before her body was found - it was rumored that other couples were frolicking in the same room that she was in dead.  So creepy right?  but yes! if you happen to be in Japan - Osaka - make sure you don’t stay in this love hotel - a Hotel Liebhaber.