With the subsiding of the COVID pandemic, restrictions on international travel have been lifted. While the Japanese yen has declined in value, making visiting Japan cheaper for at least some visitors from abroad, bargain prices have been offset by higher fuel prices, leading to surcharges.
Thanks to the surge of travelers, reservations sites like Booking.com, Expedia, agoda, Hotels.com, Trip.com and others have been in high demand. Unfortunately some glaring disparities have surfaced between Japanese domestic booking sites and the foreign-based sites. Weekly Playboy (Oct 30) has brought in travel analyst Kotaro Toriumi to help readers sort things out.
According to Toriumi, some travelers who make use of foreign-based booking sites have been encountering problems. What kind of problems? Let's focus on one particular incident that occurred in Chiba Prefecture in August.
The consumer (nationality not stated) had reserved a besso (rural cottage) in Chiba Prefecture. When he followed the directions and arrived, all he found at the location was an empty house. There was an actual besso for rent, but it was at a different location, and moreover it was still being prepared for occupancy. The owner insisted he had yet to even register the facility online.
Apparently some scoundrel had lifted the photo of the besso, created a "nonexistent hotel," and posted it on a foreign site -- a clear case of fraud if there ever was one.
There are certain recognizable characteristics that set Japan's domestic reservations sites apart from foreign-based services. The questions raised are first, what is their business model? And second, why is it cheaper (in many cases) to use these services, instead of reserving directly with hotels?
"Line up the data on pricing, etc and you can compare for yourself," said Toriumi. "The sites are convenient and appeal to many users. Hotels that cannot attract enough customers on their own have a system in which they pay a fee in return for attracting customers to hotel reservation sites.
"Since the hotel reservation sites are engaging in price competition, hotels are obliged to set their prices lower, which is why the rates offered on reservation sites are cheaper."
So then what is the cause of the price disparities that have been popping up?
"The foreign-based sites conduct their own bargain sales, cutting rates by as much as 10% to 20%," explained Toriumi. "Prices may be determined by such factors as timing, when the prices are determined according to a reservation site's own decision.
"As overseas visitors to Japan have made a comeback, competition has been heating up, and foreign-based hotel reservation sites have added to their listings for Japan," he added.
Toriumi noted that Japanese domestic reservation sites are bound by strict regulations, such as the Travel Industry Law, and must adhere closely when listing prices. Auditors who spot discrepancies might perform checks, and if dissatisfied with their inquiries, they can insist on removal from listings. Another requirement is that listings of accommodation facilities can only be requested by hotel owners themselves, with third parties prohibited.
Whether contacting accommodations in Japan or overseas, if you're unsure of something and want to be certain, you can always fall back on the tried-and-true method of confirmation by telephone. And by that we mean voice phone and not a smartphone app.
Toriumi notes that price discrepancies between booking services and hotel companies are in the process of shrinking as many hotels have adopted the system of listing their "lowest possible room rate."
"And as regular customers, you can accumulate points or credits to your account. At the very least it's smart to check out the sites operated by the hotels themselves, just to confirm prices and other conditions."
To avoid troubles when using the foreign-based reservation sites, the first rule (and second rule too) should be "collect information." Japanese travelers uncomfortable with the system are referred to avail themselves of the more stringently regulated domestic sites. As Miguel de Cervantes wrote, "Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory."
© Japan Today
19 Comments
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Mr Kipling
Use the booking sires to get an idea of the price THEN contact the hotel direct to see if they can do better or match. Not always but usually they do.
commanteer
I have found the same when looking for vacancies. Booking.com might say they have no rooms, but sometimes a call to the hotel will reveal they do have a room after all.
Mocheake
I always use the Japanese sites when booking anything in the country. I've noticed many differences/discrepancies. Sometimes the Japanese sites will show rooms available and at lower prices, whereas on the other sites, there will be nothing listed. It's been like that for years.
bogva
Of course double checking is a must but phone call??? To a Japanese establishment???
That's why foreign sites are popular because Japanese are all in Japanese and translation is not always spot on. Calling a hotel can be hit and miss with even Engrish speaking staff difficult to understand.
And hotels are doing it to themselves offering big discounts to online sites while keeping their official site prices high (in most of the cases).
There are many bargains for pack tours - transportation plus lodging but that's usually only valid for the Japanese providers.
Elvis is here
Book direct with the establishment. DM works a treat if your oral skills are lacking.
wallace
Expedia and Book are good.
virusrex
If part of the information you are trying to confirm is that the staff can provide service in English the call can be an easy way to do it as well.
Elvis is here
Surcharged to high heaven and needless.
timeon
google, so criticized on another thread, works great for hotels (and especially flights). Just type the location (or for flights the two cities) and do a search, it will next ask you to input the date and other details, then it will show a list with hotels (flights). Upon choosing one, then you have the option of booking through different agents/sites, including directly with the hotel (or airline).
rainman1
I always book direct, if you see it cheaper elsewhere, I just call and they match. Also, ends up getting you status at some GOOD Hotel groups, I get next grade up room every time without fail at MO and FS group now along with a LOT of other benefits at MO.
rainman1
...Expedia are the worst. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. Looks good to start until the surcharges get shown later.
TrevorPeace
Just returned to Canada after a month in Japan. Dealt directly with hotels with no problems. Got my emailed confirmations without a hitch. But I've been doing that for the past 12 years. Maybe just lucky? I doubt it. As far as I'm concerned, booking sites are a joke and so are the Internet 'rating' systems that promote uncorroborated opinions. Garbage in, garbage out.
JeffLee
I don't trust the info in this tabloid article.
Why isn't it stated? Why isn't the "consumer" named? And why isn't the booking site operator named?
OK, who is this "scoundrel"? Did the magazine talk to him/her? What's their name and side of the story?.
Methinks, like little yarn is made up. When the media hide the such information, they can make up anything and get away with it.
I mostly use booking.com and Japan-based Jalan and also check the hotels' online sites. I do comparisons and rarely notice any significant price or plan differences. The only difference is that somethings booking.com's availability of rooms will be limited and will state "sold out" when they're available on Jalan.
Jim
The article is just trying to promote Japanese websites which are nowhere close to competing with international websites for bookings made by foreign tourists.
Japanese bookings websites of course take 99% of bookings made by locals or people living in Japan. But for tourists they rather book from booking.com, Agoda, Expedia or other sites which are popular in their own country since the language, price and fees breakdown and clarity is better.
If Japanese websites want to compete and get more customers from abroad then they need to broaden the language ability first as a priority and not only stick to Japanese language. Direct booking sites which many hotel sites offer ( in English as well ) are of course the safest but these do tend to have a higher rates though. And even though they say customer support has English language, good luck trying to call them directly and talk on the phone using English language!
Jind
I booked a room at a hotel from a foreign booking site in Morocco in a city.
Upon arriving, the hotel was closed for the season.
Another incidence that happened in Philippines.
The size of the bed may be different size for the same term.
I booked a single room as it was one night stay and was leaving next morning.
The single bed width was the size that be for a youngster and I was falling of the bed on every turn. A sleepless night!
Jind
Another thing.
The pictures of the Hotel and the rooms on foreign booking sites many times never look at the rooms in reality.
When checking in, in quite a few places, the rooms and the furniture look dated while the pictures on sites seem like when first the hotel was built.
I have also found while booking no smoking room in smoking countries still smell of cigarettes.
Nadrew
The hotel has a rack rate. This is the highest rate they want to sell and that’s what you get as a walk in. I’ve been advised by desk staff to book online and I have actually done that in the hotel lobby before I save. The BAR is the best available rate. Perhaps online booking sites will have these rates.
One thing to watch out for is dark patterns used by these booking sites. Apple product users get offered a higher price for example. Only 1 room left. Bumping the price the second time you view.
Redemption
Always use Hotels.com or similar and never had a problem. Prefer not to be carded upon check-in though.
OssanAmerica
I used to use Expedia years ago but now I only book direct with the hotel. Tel or email.