Hotels in Narita, Nagasaki, and Shinagawa

We stayed at these three places on an October ’06 trip to JAPAN.

• Holiday Inn Tobu Narita (320-1 Tokko, Chiba, Narita, 286-0106 Japan; phone 81-476-321234, fax 320617 or phone Holidays Inns at 888/465-4329 or visit www.holidayinn.com).

I booked via the Internet and couldn’t believe the price: ¥7,507 (about $66). I thought maybe it was for a single person, but upon receiving our bill it was really for a double.

This hotel is an excellent place to rest after the long flight from Los Angeles to Narita International Airport. There is a shuttle bus from the airport that runs every half hour from 6:30 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. and takes only seven minutes from Terminal 1 at the airport.

• JR Kyushu Hotel Nagasaki (1-1 Onouecho, Nagasaki 850-0058, Japan; phone 81-958-32-8000, fax 8001 or visit www.jrhotelgroup.com/eng).

¥11,340 ($97) per night. I booked this hotel via a phone call, but I wasn’t comfortable about the confirmation because the person at the desk didn’t speak very loudly and was not strong with English. After I got our Japan Rail Passes, I asked the agent if she would confirm the reservation; she used e-mail and got me a written confirmation.

The hotel is located just a few seconds from the train station, next to a shopping plaza and close to convenience kiosks. The shopping plaza has several restaurants on the top floor and a grocery store located in the basement where you can purchase take-out food. Also, streetcar stops are located across the street from the hotel.

• Toyoko Inn, Shinagawa (4-23-2, Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0074, Japan; phone 03-3280-1045, fax 1046 or visit www.toyoko-inn.com).

Sunday night, Oct. 22, we had a senior rate of ¥4,620 ($40), half the normal price, and Monday and Tuesday we paid ¥9,240 ($80) per night — booked via the Internet.

Located five minutes from the Shinagawa train station and close to the Yamanote J.R. line. Close to restaurants in the train station and on the main street. Also, there is a Wing department store located in front of the train station where you can get take-out food from the basement area and purchase groceries on the same floor.

BILL MATSUSHIMA

Torrance, CA