For years, Choice Privileges has been one of many best-value methods to e-book accommodations in Japan with factors. This system has provided comparatively cheap but centrally situated award choices, making it my go-to loyalty program when visiting Japan.
Up to now 4 years, I’ve redeemed Choice points for 45 nights, together with 37 nights in Japan. That is largely as a result of whereas Choice Privileges increased its award cap and pricing throughout many properties over the previous couple of years, this system largely spared its Japan properties.
Sadly, that is not solely the case. As LoyaltyLobby reported Saturday, Alternative Privileges lately elevated the price of award nights at some Japanese properties by as a lot as 200%. Nonetheless, after I took a more in-depth look, I discovered that it isn’t all unhealthy information: Some Alternative Privileges properties in Japan now price fewer factors, and lots of others seem to have stayed the identical. This is what it is best to know.
Alternative Privileges will increase price of award nights at some Japan properties
The worst of those Alternative Privileges award night time will increase is in Tokyo and Osaka. As a reminder, you may test nightly award charges for every property by trying to find an award keep and looking out on the calendar that hundreds.
Award pricing can range by night time at Alternative Privileges properties, nevertheless it does not seem to range by night time at Alternative Privileges properties in Japan.
Sadly, you will now have to redeem 20,000 to 30,000 Alternative factors per night time to remain within the coronary heart of Tokyo.
To place these award charges as compared, I paid 8,000 factors per night time for an August 2023 keep on the Consolation Resort Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi; that very same keep would now price 20,000 factors per night time. In Could 2024 and January 2025, I stayed on the Consolation Resort Tokyo Kanda for 8,000 factors per night time; now, award nights on the property price 20,000 factors. And in February 2026, I booked a keep on the Consolation Resort ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for 12,000 factors per night time, however now, award nights price 25,000 factors.
The unhappy a part of these award pricing will increase is that many nights at these accommodations do not carry excessive paid charges. For instance, you might e-book this night time on the Consolation Resort ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for $96 or 25,000 factors. In case you redeem factors for this night time, you’d solely get 0.38 cents per level in worth (nicely beneath the 0.6 cents per level quantity famous in TPG’s June 2026 valuations).
The price of Alternative Privileges award nights additionally elevated in Osaka on the centrally situated Consolation Resort Osaka Shinsaibashi. I stayed at this property for 8,000 factors per night time in Could 2023, however now, it prices 20,000 factors per night time.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
The variety of Alternative Privileges properties in Japan which have considerably elevated their award charges is small, however the properties that elevated considerably are most of the ones I’ve stayed at over the previous 4 years.
Associated: Travel to Japan with points and miles: Best ways to redeem your rewards for flights and hotels
Just a few Alternative Privileges properties in Japan now price fewer factors
Curiously, I did discover a number of Alternative Privileges properties in Japan that now price fewer factors. For instance, I’ve seen award nights for 12,000 or 16,000 factors on the Consolation Suites Tokyo Bay throughout the final 12 months. Nonetheless, award nights at this property — which is nicely situated for visiting Tokyo Disney — now price simply 8,000 factors per night time.
Weekend nights usually price $171 at this property, that means you’d get 2.14 cents per level in worth when redeeming Alternative factors.
Likewise, I stayed on the Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino in February 2024 for 16,000 factors per night time. Now, this property is bookable for 8,000 factors per night time.
I am not 100% assured this drop occurred inside the previous couple of weeks, however I’m assured the Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino price greater than 8,000 factors per night time earlier this 12 months.
Many Alternative Privileges properties in Japan nonetheless price 8,000 factors per night time
It is also value mentioning that the overwhelming majority of Alternative Privileges properties in Japan nonetheless price 8,000 factors per night time. You’ll be able to see ample properties bookable for 8,000 factors per night time within the area surrounding Tokyo and Nagoya, for instance.
So, it is nonetheless attainable to reliably get award nights in Japan for 8,000 Alternative factors per night time if you choose your locations fastidiously and keep away from Tokyo and Osaka. However, even within the case of Osaka, you might keep in Shin-Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto for simply 10,000 factors per night time (which is cheap, particularly in Kyoto).
Associated: How (and why) to plan a ski trip to Niseko, Japan, with points and miles
Backside line
Alternative Privileges is not the simple reply it as soon as was for reserving centrally situated award stays in Tokyo and Osaka. With some properties now charging 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time — even when paid charges are comparatively low — I will seemingly e-book cheap enterprise accommodations reminiscent of APA Resorts or Toyoko Inn extra usually in these cities.
However this is not a motive to write down off Alternative Privileges in Japan solely. There are nonetheless loads of 8,000-point properties, and some accommodations — together with Consolation Suites Tokyo Bay and Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino — might now be higher Alternative candy spots than earlier than.
The sensible takeaway: Do not assume Alternative factors are the best choice in Japan, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka. Evaluate paid and award charges, run the cents-per-point math and think about close by cities or much less apparent locations the place cheap award nights should supply outsize worth.
Trending Merchandise
