Making Hotel Reservations In Japanese Hotels And Inns

Travel agents can make hotel reservations at hotels and larger inns. If you book through the overseas offices of the large Japanese travel agencies (JTB, Kintetsu, etc.), the rate is often cheaper than the full price rack rate that we list. Contact numbers for these agencies are under organised tours. Ask for the seasonal specials when you use large travel agencies in Japan. There are also several services to assist the individual traveler:

Welcome Inn Reservation Center
This service, organized by the International Tourism Center of Japan. makes reservations for overseas visitors at small inns and inexpensive hotels throughout Japan. Obtain a brochure from JNTO overseas offices. From outside Japan, you can request reservations by mail, fax or email: Welcome Inn Reservation Center, c/o International Tourism Center of Japan. Bl. Tokyo International Forum, 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 10 Tel (03)3211-4201, Fax (03)3211-9009. Email: wirc@www.jnto.go.jp. You can also access information through the JNTO home page: http:// www.jnto.go.jp.

Once you arrive in Japan, you must go in person to their reservations counter at the Tourist Information Center in Tokyo or Kyoto to book rooms:

Tokyo Tourist Information Center: Bl, Tokyo International Forum, 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100. Open 9:15am to 4:45pm, Mondm through Friday.

Kyoto Tourist Information Center: 1st floor, Kyoto Tower Building. Higashi-Shiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600. Open 9am to 4:30p?n. Monday through Friday.

Japanese Inn Group
This association of inexpensive small inns and minshuku goes out of its way to welcome foreign tourists. The association issues a brochure that is available at overseas JNTO offices or from the association itself. The brochure has a photo and map for each inn and lists its facilities. You are not required to eat meals at the inn. You can book a room by mailing or faxing the reservation form directly to the inn; you’ll receive a confirmation. These accommodations tend to be basic but friendly, clean and comfortable.

Write to or call: Japanese Inn Group Head Office, c/o Sawanoyc Ryokan, 2-3-11 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110. Tel. (03)3822-2251, Fax (03)3822-2252. JNTO has information on theJapanese Inn Group on its home page: http://www.jnto.go.jp.

Japan Minshuku Center
They book reservations for minshuku throughout Japan, but you can also make reservations directly with the inn. Bl, Tokyu Kotsu Kaikan Building 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Tel. (03)3216-6556. English is spoken. Open 10am to 7pm. Closed Sunday.

Youth Hostels
National Office: Suidobashi Nishiguchi Kaikan, 2-20-7 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101. Tel. (03)3288-1417.

Reservations can be made on the internet: http://www.999.com/JYH/ JYH+ENGLISH/jyh. html.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
JNTO - the Japan National Tourist Organization - has offices throughout the world. They have brochures and maps and are helpful in answering your questions.
The North American offices are:

New York: One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY10020. Tel. 212/
757-5640

Chicago: 401N Michigan Avenue, Suite 770, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel. 312/
222-0874

San Francisco: 360 Post Street, Suite 601, San Francisco, CA 94108. Tel. 415/989-7140

Los Angeles: 624 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 1611, Los Angeles, CA. Tel. 213/ 623-1954

Toronto: 165 University Avenue, Toronto, Ont. M5H 3B8. Tel. 416/366-
7140

JNTO also maintains offices in Sao Paolo, London, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney.