Hotel prices in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto exploding

[DrGear]

We've been prepping our trip for March/April again this year and while I knew that hotel prices in Japan had gone up, the amount honestly shocked me. A property we booked for 3 nights in Tokyo last year for $547, is now $480 PER NIGHT. The dates are almost identical, the dollar is at the same value. The mass shortages of staff and huge influxes of tourists to these areas have caused massive increases.

Thankfully we spend a lot of time outside the normal areas and when you leave the typical Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima areas, the prices return to more reasonable. A similar hotel in Fukuoka was only $150 a night and a rural ryokan was only $600 a night for both of us inclusive of breakfast and dinner.

My advice to anyone going to Japan is avoid the major cities. There's a massive country there with so many great places to visit without the huge crowds and your wallet will thank you.

 

[markis10]

Not surprising hotels are going up, all those tourists have to sleep somewhere:



Fortunately Tokyo still has good options for $120 a night in August which is my next sojourn

 

[DrGear]

Not surprising hotels are going up, all those tourists have to sleep somewhere:

View attachment 431031

Fortunately Tokyo still has good options for $120 a night in August which is my next sojourn

Yeah, the numbers are going wild but they're confined to the 4 main metro areas. Over 95% of foreign tourism is staying in those specific areas.

There's nothing we could find under $140 a night that was suitable for two people. Even my friends over there tried finding us some stuff with the local hotels by phone call and nobody had anything at prices comparable to last year.

Meanwhile, no issue finding great places to stay in Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Beppu or anywhere else out there.

 

[markis10]

What dates in Tokyo?

 

[DrGear]

What dates in Tokyo?

26/3/25-1/4/25, then it's off to Kyushu. We go there 1-2 times a year for holiday and I also do some business while I'm there.

 

[Jleno]

I just checked an exact same booking I did in October last year for October this year - almost 3 times the price now!

 

[markis10]

26/3/25-1/4/25, then it's off to Kyushu. We go there 1-2 times a year for holiday and I also do some business while I'm there.

Peak season with cherry blossom etc, my usual is $200 a night

 

[brett-au]

Hopefully it's caused by people coming to Japan for the expo.

 

[elanshin]

Hint: Yokohama is only a 35-45min train ride from most Tokyo locations (and in its own right one of the biggest cities). You can get some very good prices there.

But yes late Mar to probably May this year will be chockers with cherry blossom season and world expo.

 

[DrGear]

I just checked an exact same booking I did in October last year for October this year - almost 3 times the price now!

Yup, it's not just the 'peak' seasons now. Even the quieter periods like deep winter and peak summer are double or more on a year ago.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 3:12 PM

Hint: Yokohama is only a 35-45min train ride from most Tokyo locations (and in its own right one of the biggest cities). You can get some very good prices there.

But yes late Mar to probably May this year will be chockers with cherry blossom season and world expo.

Even Yokohama is way up on last year as we stayed there last year too.

EVERYWHERE is double or more the same period as last year in the popular metro areas. Friends of mine who live there are struggling with business trips across the country because of how much its increased in the last 12 months.

 

[DrGear]

Hopefully it's caused by people coming to Japan for the expo.

Unfortunately not, it's across all the metro areas and has been going up for the last 12 months.

 

[frodo]

Peak season with cherry blossom etc, my usual is $200 a night
View attachment 431033

And even that has gone up from last year. I stayed there for a few nights from 20 March 2024 and it was 13k-14k yen a night then (although who knows, maybe prices closer to the end of March may have been higher).

Agree about Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto hotels, the average price has gone up significantly from 1-2 years ago.

2022 was the best time to visit, imagine getting these rates today (Intercontinental Tokyo Bay)...

 

[DrGear]

And even that has gone up from last year. I stayed there for a few nights from 20 March 2024 and it was 13k-14k yen a night then (although who knows, maybe prices closer to the end of March may have been higher).

Agree about Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto hotels, the average price has gone up significantly from 1-2 years ago.

2022 was the best time to visit, imagine getting these rates today (Intercontinental Tokyo Bay)...
View attachment 431139

I know, right? That's why I'm grateful we spend so much time outside of Tokyo and the metro areas. A nice hotel in Kumamoto for 2 nights was about ¥14000 a night. Nagasaki, even less at ¥10000. We got 2 nights in a nice ryokan in Kurokawa Onsen town for $600 a night for two people with the full dinner experience and private outdoor bath in the room.

This is why I always say to people go outside of the golden route and you'll find fewer crowds, better prices and some real beautiful scenery and nice places to stay.

 

[markis10]

Think the IC strings was sub $300 when I visited with my son in 2019, it was $650+ when I was back there this time last year.

 

[DrGear]

Think the IC strings was sub $300 when I visited with my son in 2019, it was $650+ when I was back there this time last year.

I was expecting some increases last year vs when we went in 2019, but the 12 month increase is a whole new level. My friends who live there and need to travel for work are finding it harder and harder because they earn in ¥ but the hotels are priced for international tourism.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

So are there any alternative locations for these cities? I'm interested in going to Osaka for Expo 2025 later in the year. Would i be better to stay in Kobe for example?

 

[DrGear]

So are there any alternative locations for these cities? I'm interested in going to Osaka for Expo 2025 later in the year. Would i be better to stay in Kobe for example?

I mean, if you're going to visit Osaka for the expo, you're going to have to stay in the area unless you want to spend a chunk of time travelling each day. Kobe is ok for staying but due to its proximity is still on the pricier side.

I'd recommend getting the expo stuff out of the way then spend the rest of your time elsewhere. Not too far from Osaka is Okayama, and places like Yamagucki, Kurashiki and others on the Sanyo shinkansen line which are nice places to visit. Hire a car for a few days and hop across the bridge to Shikoku, or head north to places like Tottori. Spectacular scenery, great food and super affordable.