Hakone Palace Hotel

hotel

Hakone Palace Hotel is the perfect place to view Mt. Fuji reflected in Lake Ashinoko. However, if you are unlucky like us, and end up in a typhoon, this hotel is a fantastic place to wait out the storm. We happily spent endless hours in the onsens. The outdoor hot spring is set in rock and surrounded by a lush garden, while the indoor onsen and facilities are highly luxurious. At night, we rented videos from the front desk to watch in our comfortable, spacious rooms. Other features include a pool, tennis courts, and a green house. 04-604-8501 $$$

Kamakura Park Hotel

hotel

Choose a Japanese or Western style room here, where all the rooms have views of the ocean which is right across the street. Kamakura's famous temples are accessible from here by foot, and the train station is also a 10 minute walk away. Dine in the comfortable elegance of the hotel's French Bistro or Japanese crab restaurant, then relax in the open-air bath or jacuzzi on the hotel roof. 04-6725-5121 $$$

Sunroute Hotel

hotel

Friendly, affordable and convenient. The SunRoute is a cheap taxi ride from Kyoto Station, and a short stroll away from Kyoto's main shopping and dining area along the Kamogawa River. If you're coming from Tokyo, package deals including shinkansen (bullet train) ticket and hotel accommodation are a great deal. You will have your choice of hotel and the SunRoute is a top option! 07-5371-3711 $$

Crown Plaza Tokyo Metropolitan

hotel

The Crowne Plaza is only a 3 minute walk to Ikebukuro Station and Metro Plaza's shopping area, but you may end up spending more time inside the beautiful hotel itself. The entrance's unique architecture leads you into a lively lobby and lounge area fronted by a soothing interior waterfall along the large windows. There are many restaurants to choose from, and even the food in the casual lobby restaurant is impressive. After dinner, you can enjoy unlimited drinks for Y2000 at the debonair Orient Express Bar with the coupon you receive upon check-in. Other amenities: pool, business center, shopping.03-3980-1111 $$$

Shinjuku Prince

hotel

Standing tall at the forefront of Shinjuku's red light district, Kabukicho, the Shinjuku Prince gives hotel guests not only a simple, reasonably priced room, but a look into another side of Tokyo. Just out the front of the hotel, the lewd and seductive side of Kabukicho is intermingled with numerous restaurants and bars in this historical nightlife quarter. And when you've had enough of the neon, retreat to the Prince Hotel's 25th floor Chatelaine lounge for a view of the nightscape from above. The Seibu Shinjuku PePe Shopping Complex is also adjacent to the hotel. 03-3205-1111 $$