Accommodation Tips.
#Handy Hotel Hints.
Consider the following tips for a smoother stay in Japan.
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Book early! With Japan becoming increasingly popular good value accommodation can fill up quickly, particularly during the sakura (cherry blossom) season and Autumn. It is best to avoid staying in Japan altogether during Golden Week, a holiday period held around the 29th of April to the 5th or 6th of May each year.
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Consider making your first booking at a place that can be reached as directly as possible. Having to make multiple transport changes to get to one's accommodation is not very convenient, especially when first arriving.
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Avoid booking non-refundable accommodation. Even the best-laid plans can suffer unwanted disruptions, so it's important to have the flexibility to change this aspect of one's itinerary as needed.
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Take screenshots of the Google map's location of any upcoming accommodation, making sure to include any nearby public transport services. These can help you find your place of stay should you happen to go offline at any point.
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Choose accommodation suited to your type of travel. For example, if you won't be at the accommodation for meal times then a hotel may be a more suitable option than a traditional ryokan. Similarly, you probably don't want to opt for staying in capsule hotels if you suffer from severe claustrophobia or stay at a party hostel if you require a decent night's sleep to function properly the next day.
#Note: Of course, it is worthwhile staying at a traditional ryokan at least once during your time in Japan - just be sure to make time to enjoy the experience properly.