(j3.2006) (SC22WG5.3552) Good news on cheaper accommodation in Tokyo

[TAKATA Masayuki]

Dear WG5 & J3 members,

Like myself, some of you would be interested in cheaper accommodation.

I said, in Las Vegas, that the cheapest suggested hotel, Mielparque Tokyo, had 
only dial-up connection.  I noticed that they have improved the situation. 
Now, at the lobby on the 7th floor, the following services are available.
  a) desktop PCs for 100 yen per 15 min
  b) wireless connection for the HOT SPOT service
You can purchase a HOT SPOT 1-Day Passport Card at Prince Hotel, which is only 
5 min from Mielparque.  Ask the front desk when you need it.
http://www.hotspot.ne.jp/en/servicemenu/serviceplan.html

Their English page http://www.mielparque.jp/tky/eng.html doesn't tell the bed 
size of 96cm x 195cm (or 110cm x 194cm for Single A), and the room sizes, which 
I copy from their Japanese page:
  Single A  15m**2     8,778 yen
  Single B  12m**2     8,316 yen
  Twin A    20m**2    16,170 yen
  Twin B    17m**2    15,130 yen
(Don't worry about their language skill, just because their web site is poor.)

N1720 (List of Hotels in Tokyo near the Meeting Place) reflects the addition of 
the wireless service.  Reservation for Shiba Park Hotel has to be done using the 
form attached to N1720.  Other suggested hotels are to be reserved individually 
through internet.

You may start booking.  In particular, if you would like a strictly non-smoking 
room at Shiba Park, you should better hurry, because there are few such rooms.  
Japan is still a smokers' paradise, IMO.  As the minutes state, optional tours 
may take place either on Saturday 15 Nov or Friday 21 afternoon, or both.  Take 
this into account, when you make your travel plan.

Please feel free to ask me anything, if necessary, even before the official local 
arrangements document becomes ready.  As some of you have already known, it's my 
pleasure to help people understand Japan.

      --------------- * -------- * -------- * ---------------

I found a yet-cheaper type of accommodation, Weekly Center, which is not a hotel 
but a kind of apartment you LIVE for a short period.  You have to do yourself 
everything necessary for your stay, such as cleaning and washing.  Rooms are fully 
equipped for temporary habitation, including fast internet access for no additional 
charge.  Reservation can be made two months before the stay, through me.
http://www.weeklycenter.co.jp/tokyo.html (mostly in Japanese)

I am not planning to include information on Weekly Center into our official Local 
Arrangements document, because you definitely need a personal help (of myself) to 
use it.  If you are interested in it, please let me know.  I will give you details.  
I'm very curious about it.  Just try and enjoy it!

Candidates are:

Weekly Center Nippori
   About 17-min metro plus 10-min walk to the meeting place.  Easy and cheap access 
   (55 min, 1920 yen (*) by train and 10-min walk) from/to the airport.  The building 
   is just 1 min from my home, and you are assumed to go with me in the mornings, at 
   least on Sunday.  Everywhere in central Tokyo is about 30 min to reach from here.
   - Semi-double, without kitchen   4700 yen/day
   - Semi-double, with kitchen      5000 yen/day
   - Twin, with kitchen, 2 people   6700 yen/day in total (there are few twin rooms)
   (*) If you are arriving late, or departing early, 70 min, 1000 yen, using a slower 
       train without seat reservation.

Weekly Center Akihabara Part 1 & Part 2
   About 8-min metro plus 20-min walk to the meeting place.  Easy and cheap access 
   (65 min, 2070 yen (*) by train and 10-min walk) from/to the airport.  Many popular 
   places are within 20 min from here.  Akihabara itself is famous for the electric 
   and electronic town, and recently for anime shops and so-called "maid cafes".
   The metro goes to Daimon station, from which other hotels are within 5 min.
   - Semi-double, with kitchen (#)  5200 yen/day
   - Semi-double, with kitchen      5700 yen/day
   (*) If you choose the cheaper train mentioned above, 80 min, 1150 yen.
  (#) Other rooms have a Japanese bath, but this room has a shower only.

Prices above are inclusive of utility charges and tax (there is no "service" charge), 
and are per day, not per night; e.g. a 7-night stay is counted as an 8-day stay, even 
in case of a late check-in and an early check-out.  A single room is cheaper, but its 
bed would be too small for you, both physically and perceptually.  You cannot try this 
accommodation just one day; as its name indicates, you have to stay more than a week.  
The room is clean and small, and the trains are very crowded, of course, but would not 
be too hard for many of you.

Regards,

Makki

-- 
Takata, Masayuki: Professor
Edogawa University, Nagareyama, Chiba 270-0198 Japan
phone:+81-4-7152-0661ext546   fax:+81-4-7154-2490
http://www.edogawa-u.ac.jp/~takata/