Hotels in TDR vs Tokyo

[OldSchoolReasons]

Please realise that Air BnB is illegal in Japan. I wouldn't like to chance staying in one.

They're amending the law next year to make it easier for Airbnb type set ups to get a license, so I guess it depends when you go and where you stay.

 

[ko4211]

I have 3 children too and if I were you, I'd stay in one hotel during your stay in Tokyo. It will be more hassle and wasting your time packing and unpacking to just switch the hotels. My suggestion would be staying at one of Disney good neighbor hotels.
I personally like the Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay since it's right across from the Shin-Urayasu station (about 20 min train ride to Tokyo) and they have free shuttles to and from Disney every 15 mins. This hotel has a room capable of 6 and you can stay there $200~250/night, which is not that bad price. There are many convenience stores (one in hotel) and reasonable restaurants around the hotel too.

 

[MomoMama]

I guess that depends on where you plan to visit in Tokyo and how old your children are. I would want to avoid changing hotels to eliminate packing and unpacking. But I would also want to avoid rush hour train rides and changing trains multiple times with small children.

Many hotels around Disney seem to offer "family" type rooms, so you can all stay in 1 room. I also liked Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay for the convenience. There is a covered walkway to Shin-Urayasu station, and they say the train ride to Tokyo station only takes 17 min. There is a shopping mall and AEON next to the station too.
We stayed in a small regular room because it was just me and my daughter, but they have rooms called "Baby Sweet" and "Kiddy Sweet" that are designed for stays with babies and small children. There should be a small laundry room on the lobby floor. I did not check it out, as we didn't need it. 24-hour open Lawson convenience store inside the hotel was great.

Hope you will find the accommodations that meet your needs!

 

[AquaDame]

Personally I would do a split stay but that might depend on what you want to do in Tokyo proper.

We are heading over for two weeks in April and will be changing spots several times. First is in Shinjuku, then a place in Osaka, Hilton Bay Tokyo (if I end up not finding anything at a Disney hotel when I can finally book something) and then a place in Akihabara. Even going from one end of Tokyo to the other can take awhile - it is HUGE. When my brother and I chose to stay in Tokyo and train in the morning it took a good 45 minutes each way to get there from Hongo Sanchome station (we only spent one day at TLDR that trip since it was my first to Tokyo and we only had a week). If we went more than once staying at a more convenient spot would have been vital.

Airbnb does run in Japan but as another poster stated it is technically illegal. If there are complaints from neighbors or other problems with them they do get shut down and as such there is some risk involved in using them.

You may also want to look into an inexpensive option called a 'ryokan' if you don't need a western style room. They are inexpensive, often in quiet tucked away blocks along side tourist attractions and typically include breakfast. They are not typically luxurious but they are very distinctly Japanese. Just watch out that you have a private bath if that is something that is important to you. Many will also have 'family baths' that can be reserved for a specific time slot where you will have it all to yourselves. The water will be hotter than you are used to in the actual bath which is communal water (you bathe fully before you soak in them).

Rakuten or Jalan.net are both good sites to search on also - there is a box for 4 beds on jalan's search.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Split stay for sure. We do this every time and I feel like it is easier this way and it's never a hassle even with kids. Tokyo is big and depending on where you want to go, it could take you up to an hour to get there from tdr. Also keep in mind that it is rude to eat or drink on the normal trains so depending on your kids ages that could be a long time for them to wait while commuting. You will probably have to book two rooms with your larger family in Tokyo but you can get some good deals if you don't need a luxury hotel. In June we stayed at the mystays gotanda station. it had 3 beds and just over $100 a night. So two rooms would still be a good price. just remember that in Japan in most hotels children are considered adults after age 6 so you really need to be careful when booking.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Ryokan can be expensive very expensive and very upmarket. Minshiku are the cheap option. I studied Japanese for 5 years. This is the high end Michelin Guide. http://gm.gnavi.co.jp/restaurant/list/tokyo/all_area/all_small_area/all_food/2star/p2/
This is the Ryokan for kings and queens http://www.hiiragiya.co.jp/en/room/kyukan.html. http://www.cntraveller.in/story/japan-ryokan-experience/
JNTO is very helpful. I do not know if the kids will like the futon bed though. But I typically stay at high end places

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryokan_(inn)

You can get Japanese multi course meal called Kaseki

These are some ultra luxe Ryokan. Ryokan are traditional Japanese Inn
https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/search/results

 

[AdamEfimoff]

bump

 

[AquaDame]

Ryokan can be expensive very expensive and very upmarket. Minshiku are the cheap option. I studied Japanese for 5 years. This is the high end Michelin Guide. http://gm.gnavi.co.jp/restaurant/list/tokyo/all_area/all_small_area/all_food/2star/p2/
This is the Ryokan for kings and queens http://www.hiiragiya.co.jp/en/room/kyukan.html. http://www.cntraveller.in/story/japan-ryokan-experience/
JNTO is very helpful. I do not know if the kids will like the futon bed though. But I typically stay at high end places

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryokan_(inn)

You can get Japanese multi course meal called Kaseki

These are some ultra luxe Ryokan. Ryokan are traditional Japanese Inn
https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/search/results

Yeah... I was thinking more like this one we stayed at: http://www.homeikan.com/ - I remember them all being sub $150/night though I do not remember the names of the other ones.

 

[nutshell]

Absolutely do a split stay. That's what we do every time and we love it (family of four, wife from Japan).

 

[Jade-Elise]

I do not believe AirBnB is illegal, we had great discussions with friends in Japan and it seems like it was more frowned upon but not an illegal action. (if that makes sense). The train from Maihama to Tokyo/Shinjuku wasn't very long and from memory was quite cheap ($4 or something?)
We were able to get 50% off our room at Hilton and was very affordable for the 4 of us. We AirBnB in Shibuya, whilst I enjoyed it I wouldn't recommend the specific place we stayed at. I would much have prefered to stay in Shinjuku again. We were a bit far for my liking and we did get lost several times as the station has too many exits and is currently in the middle of construction! So I would avoid Shibuya or at least stay on the north west side of the station. We were south east and it was not so family friendly and on one occasion, we were quite scared for our well being.
Hope that helps a bit