Let’s stick to this point.
Our National Day is not like others’. The three-year pandemic already made other countries forget about hiking prices specifically for Chinese travelers during the Golden Week.
For most travel destinations, National Day is not a peak season.
Where am I going this National Day?
Honestly, I haven’t decided yet. The reason I haven’t decided is why I have pre-held a bunch of hotels. If I had made up my mind, I would have booked the hotels more specifically.
99% of these held reservations are for pay-at-arrival, and 100% have free cancellations several days in advance without any fees.
First, hold the hotels, then match them with discounted flight tickets (if you can find any). Wouldn’t that make planning a National Day trip easy?
Let me share some of the ones I’ve held.
The hotels I held are all top-notch, the kind that can be described as “stays of a lifetime.” The prices of these hotels are definitely cheaper than Atlantis in Sanya during National Day.
Instead of squeezing with everyone in the country where hotels and flights are expensive, going abroad during the holidays is a better choice.
Noto Peninsula, Kagaya
During National Day, 74,800 yen (about 3,750 RMB) for two people, one night with two meals included.
The booking screenshot is below, not only is it pay-at-arrival, but it can also be canceled three days in advance for free. Isn’t it great?
No exaggeration, Kagaya often ranks first among various Japanese hot spring hotels. Kagaya is hailed as the originator of female staff service in Japan, with their hallmark being their excellent service.
A stay at Kagaya with two meals for 74,800 yen a night is truly not expensive.
Kagaya’s hot spring is also fantastic, with a history of 1,200 years, the only sea-view hot spring in Hokuriku. You can enjoy soaking in the hot spring while feeling the sea breeze and admiring the beautiful scenery of Nanao Bay and Noto Island.
Reservation website (booking is very simple, if you can access it, you can definitely book it).
https://www.kagaya.co.jp/tw/
However, a friendly reminder: although payment is made in-store and there’s no need for any credit card guarantee beforehand, it’s advisable to set an alarm. If you decide not to go, please, please remember to cancel in advance.
Mutual respect and integrity go a long way.
Kagaya’s Sister Inn, Ae no Kaze「あえの風」
During National Day, the price is 115,000 yen (approximately 5,770 RMB) for two people for two nights, including daily breakfast and dinner.
The booking screenshot is as follows:
Ae no Kaze「あえの風」 is just a 2-minute drive (or a 7-minute walk) from Kagaya’s main building, so staying one night at each or combining one with two nights is convenient.
The main building is more expensive, while the sister inn is cheaper. Therefore, I chose one night at the main building and two nights at the sister inn.
I stayed here 4 years ago and absolutely loved it back then.
This inn has been rated the number one hot spring inn in Japan for over 30 consecutive years, making it the ultimate lodging experience.
During dinner in the evening, you can watch the “Five Gods Taiko Drums,” which is an intangible cultural heritage of Ishikawa Prefecture, up close, and enjoy original dances by the “Setsugekka Troupe” as well as the traditional “Nanao Bon.”
Ae no Kaze「あえの風」 is also a sea-view hot spring.
The booking website is
https://www.aenokaze.jp/
Again, there is no need for prepayment; you can pay when you get there. Japanese hot spring hotels are genuinely considerate. The dinner included with the stay is fantastic.
Anyway, I’ve got it on hold. If I can get a cheap plane ticket to Osaka during National Day, I will take the Osaka-Kanazawa-Noto Peninsula route.
I’ve also held two nights at Kaishu in Shirahama, Osaka. Although both Shirahama and the Noto Peninsula are not far from Osaka, they are in opposite directions, so the chance of choosing one over the other is quite high.
When booking Kaishu in Shirahama, make sure to book a premium room type. The advantage of this place is the sea view. I booked a 41㎡ sea-view room with an open-air bath for two nights, costing 139,000 yen (approximately 6,944 RMB), which includes daily breakfast and dinner.
If you opt for a standard room, it will be much cheaper.
I’m not exaggerating; Kaishu in Shirahama is ranked first among hot spring hotels there.
The booking screenshot is as follows:
However, Kaisyu requires a credit card guarantee (free cancellation available up to 7 days in advance). I set a reminder for myself; it will alert me 30 days, 15 days, and 7 days in advance.
I’m just worried I’ll forget due to my poor memory.
Kaisyu official website
https://www.hotespa.net/hotels/kaisyu/
As for another plan, I’m considering flying to Tokyo, then visiting Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji, and finally returning to Tokyo.
After all, the best hot spring in the Tokaido area is in Hakone, while the best scenery in the Tokaido region is by the lakeside of Kawaguchi beneath Mt. Fuji.
Unfortunately, currently, the only direct flights from Hangzhou to Japan are to Osaka and Tokyo.
Hakone FUFU
During the National Day holiday, it costs 147,400 yen (approximately 7,469 RMB) for 2 people for 2 nights, including daily one-night-two-meals package.
Here’s the booking screenshot:
I stayed at this FUFU recently and absolutely loved it. Sadly, I only stayed for one night that time.
This is almost an unbeatable deal. You should know that during the pandemic in 2021, the FUFU Hakone I sold was snatched up in no time! It was 3,669 RMB per night for the one-night-two-meals package back then. This time, the price hasn’t increased much.
I’m keeping some details about this FUFU under wraps because I’m currently writing about it and will share more later.
I’ve stayed at quite a few one-night-two-meals hot spring hotels in Japan, and FUFU’s cuisine ranks first. Additionally, all rooms at Hakone FUFU are private hot spring suites.
Hakone FUFU official website
https://www.fufuhakone.jp/tcn/
Payment is also made at the hotel without any need for a guarantee. With the National Day Hakone FUFU prices like this, as long as the flight tickets to Tokyo aren’t outrageously priced, I’m definitely going.
Hakone Suishoen
Similarly, I also checked the prices for Hakone Suishoen. While it’s not named FUFU, it is the first hotel of the FUFU Hotel Group, and I stayed there recently as well. It’s superb.
The price for October 2-4 is 158,400 yen (about 7,960 RMB) for 2 people for 2 nights, including daily one-night-two-meals package.
Sure, here is the detailed translation of the provided Chinese text into English, maintaining the original meaning and tone, and ensuring good readability. Each paragraph is separated by two line breaks as requested.
—
I will also write this one well.
Hakone Suishoen official website
https://www.hakonesuishoen.jp/
Payment is also made at the hotel.
I haven’t booked my desired hotel at Fuji Kawaguchiko yet.
There are no rooms available at Fufu Kawaguchiko, and there are no rooms on the Hoshinoya official website either (Hoshinoya offers a 30% discount if booked 60 days in advance, and a 40% discount for staying three consecutive nights. It’s quite cost-effective when combined, but it cannot be canceled).
My most desired hotel, where you can enjoy a hot spring bath with a view of Mount Fuji and lie in your room to see Mount Fuji, is Kukuna. Unfortunately, there are no rooms available.
This is the downside of paying at the hotel. Whether Japanese or foreigners, they will hold the room first.
By the way, Kukuna at Kawaguchiko also allows you to hold a room without any loss. This hotel has a high cost-performance ratio, and all rooms offer an unobstructed view of Mount Fuji.
Official website
https://www.ubuya.co.jp/
As a last resort, I booked two nights (October 4-6) at Konansou in Kawaguchiko. The price for two nights with breakfast and dinner is 105,600 yen (approximately 5,275 RMB).
This is really a backup option. If I can get a room at Fufu or Kukuna, I will definitely cancel Konansou and choose them.
Konansou official website
https://www.konansou.com/cht/
There is no need to worry about not having a room in Japanese hotels because many people like me hold rooms in advance. Once they confirm their travel plans change, they will cancel.
So, refreshing frequently is the key.
By the way, I also held two nights at Kaifutei in Atami during the National Day holiday. The price is very cheap.
143,000 yen (approximately 7,144 RMB) for two people for two nights, including breakfast and dinner each day. Kaifutei only has four rooms, which is extremely rare.
I’m not exaggerating, but in my mind, it ranks first among seaside hot spring hotels.
—
I hope this translation meets your requirements. If you need any further assistance, feel free to ask!
The booking screenshot is as follows:
If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll opt for Atami + Hakone; they can be combined into one trip anyway.
Let me show you Kaihourou, a work by Kengo Kuma. It has just four rooms, making you feel like you’re in an art space.
Here’s the view from the Kaihourou restaurant.
Another restaurant looks like this; with just four rooms, the dining experience is almost exclusive.
The rooms also offer stunning sea views.
On the official Kaihourou website, you can pay at the hotel and cancel without penalty:
https://www.atamikaihourou.jp/tcn/
So, why do I recommend everyone book via the hotel’s official website in Japan?
Firstly, the cancellation policy is better. Japanese hotels value integrity, and the majority allow you to pay at the hotel.
Of course, there are some exceptions due to their high reputation and limited room availability, which require prepayment (such as Asaba, Zaborin, Hoshinoya, and the Hoshino Resorts series). Their cancellation policies are also less lenient.
