Western-Style Lodging
International Class Hotels
Japan's finest hotels have all the facilities and amenities that
you would righffully expect at any world-class hotel. These
top-end hotels cater to visiting corporate executives and
other overseas guests who can afford deluxe or first-class
accommodations. Services provided by English-speaking
staff people include "executive salon" secretarial services
and access to computers and facsimile transmission equipment.
The restaurants in these hotels are counted among the
finest in the major cities, with a variety of cuisines to choose
from. From shopping malls and cocktail lounges to room
service and interpreter service, these hotels can offer virtually
everything the guest could want or need. Most of them
provide direct limousine bus connections to the nearest
international airports.
A double or twin room at a deluxe hotel will cost an average 30,000yen
per night, and around 20,000yen at a first-class hotel. All member
hotels of the Japan Hotel Association maintain consistently high
standards of service and facilities.
Business Hotels
A somewhat less expensive accommodation favored by
many Japanese business travelers is the business hotel. As
a rule, they are smaller hotels with fewer amenities, including
no room service. Vending machines dispensing snacks
and drinks are installed on guest room floors. There is usually
one restaurant on the premises, and the hotel's location
is conveniently close to a railway station.
Reception clerks and other staff people do not usually
speak English, but the procedure for check-in and checkout
is much like elsewhere. Since these hotels are patronized
mainly by businessmen, the rooms are singles with
bath. The room charge is 7,000yen to 8,000yen on average.
Pensions
Modeled on their French namesakes, these establishments
feature a homelike atmosphere and hearty food-often
French cuisine-and are found at popular resort areas
throughout Japan. The typical pension has ten or so westernstyle
rooms and is managed by a married couple. Average
room rates are 8,600yen, including two meals. Pensions can
be an ideal choice of accommodation if you like indoor comfort
as well as an array of outdoor recreational options.
