The two-and-a-half-pearl Hotel JAL City Tamachi Tokyo is located in the commercial waterfront district and surrounded mostly by office buildings. It's an eight-minute walk from Tamachi train station. The 160 rooms are functional and on the small side, but are well-equipped with televisions, comfortable beds, and minibars. Hallways overlook a bright atrium with a courtyard wedding chapel. Two restaurants include a breakfast brasserie with a pavement terrace and a traditional Chinese dining room. Business travelers appreciate free Wi-Fi and a business room. Those looking for a similar value hotel in the business district, could compare rates with the Sotestsu Fresa Inn Tokyo Tamachi.

There are 189 guest rooms at this three-pearl property set in a quiet, residential area of central Osaka. Rooms are small and modern, but have air-conditioning, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Some have a small kitchenette. The hotel has a good Japanese restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a bar and outdoor terrace, and a self-serve laundry room. The property may not be close to tourist attractions, but it is well connected by public transport and is within a 10-minute walk of a number of subway stations. Those wanting to be closer to the sights in the Namba District could check out Cross Hotel Osaka as an alternative. 

The 179-room Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi is a two-and-a-half-pearl chain option in the Shinsaibashi entertainment district. It's surrounded by restaurants, bars, and shops, plus the subway is nearby for getting farther afield. Rooms are compact, but modern, and equipped with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and kettles for making tea and coffee. An American-style buffet breakfast is served daily for a fee, and limited parking is available on-site. There's not much else in the way of features, but most guests choose to stay here for the location and the reasonable rates. Travelers looking for more style and features at about the same price could check out the Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier, which has traditional Japanese baths, a restaurant, and a rooftop lounge.  

First opened in 2010, the 160-room St. Regis Osaka has quickly become one of the most famous luxury hotels in the city. Rooms have sophisticated decor with delicate Japanese details, upscale bathrooms with soaking tubs, and expansive city views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Personal butlers make each stay a breeze, offering top-notch services such as packing and unpacking, free morning coffee delivery, and free clothes pressing. With wonderful on-site amenities ranging from an exclusive spa to two excellent European-inspired restaurants, and a central location near high-end shopping and attractions, it’s hard to go wrong with the St. Regis. The Ritz-Carlton tends to be a bit pricier, and many prefer The St. Regis for its more modern decor.

An outpost of the well-known Okura Japanese chain, the 264-room Hotel Okura Fukuoka is a luxury property that's part of a large shopping and entertainment complex. It's just a two-minute walk from a subway station as well as being close to many tourist attractions. There are several on-site restaurants and bars to choose from, plus a health club, fitness center, pool, whirlpool, and sauna, though the use of these amenities incurs an extra fee. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with large windows and modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and minibars. Travelers could also compare rates with the Hyatt Regency Fukuoka a four-pearl chain property in the same neighborhood.

The mid-range, 423-room Canal City Fukuoka Washington Hotel is part of the huge Canal City Hakata shopping and entertainment complex. Located right in the city center near transportation links, this property is a convenient choice for business and leisure travelers alike -- two bus lines make stops in front of the hotel, and the train station is within walking distance. Rooms are clean and pleasant, although some can feel a bit cramped, especially the Singles. While there are smoking and non-smoking floors, a lingering smell of stale cigarettes permeates the hotel. And for a pleasant but no-frills hotel with few amenities, room rates are high, probably because of its Canal City Hakata location. Travelers seeking a more refined ambience at a similar price point should check out the Plaza Hotel Tenjin.