For years, Choice Privileges has been one of the cheapest ways to book hotels in Japan with points. The program offers relatively affordable but centrally located rewards options, making it my preferred loyalty program when visiting Japan.
In the last four years, I have Choice points redeemed for 45 nights, including 37 nights in Japan. This is largely due to the fact that, although Choice Privileges increased its prize limit and the prices of many properties over the past few years, the program mainly spared its properties in Japan.
Unfortunately, that’s not entirely the case anymore. As LoyaltyLobby reported on SaturdayChoice Privileges recently increased the cost of award nights at some Japanese properties by up to 200%. Still, when I looked closer, I discovered that it’s not all bad news: some Choice Privileges properties in Japan now cost fewer points, and many others appear to have stayed the same. This is what you should know.
Choice Privileges increases the cost of award nights at some properties in Japan
The worst of these increases in Choice Privileges award nights are in Tokyo and Osaka. As a reminder, you can check the nightly award rates for each property by searching for an award stay and looking at the calendar that loads.
Award prices may vary per night at Choice Privileges hotels, but do not appear to vary per night at Choice Privileges hotels in Japan.
Unfortunately, you’ll now need to redeem between 20,000 and 30,000 Choice points per night to stay in the heart of Tokyo.
To compare these award rates, I paid 8,000 points per night for a stay in August 2023 at the Comfort Hotel Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi; that same stay would now cost 20,000 points per night. In May 2024 and January 2025, I stayed at the Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda for 8,000 points per night; Now, award nights at the property cost 20,000 points. And in February 2026, I booked a stay at the Comfort Hotel ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for 12,000 points per night, but now award nights are 25,000 points.
The sad part about these award price increases is that many nights at these hotels do not have high paid rates. For example, you could book tonight at the Comfort Hotel ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for $96 or 25,000 points. If you redeem points for tonight, you’ll only get 0.38 cents per point in value (well below the 0.6 cents per point figure stated in TPG’s June 2026 report). ratings).
The cost of Choice Privileges award nights also increased in Osaka at the centrally located Comfort Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi. I stayed at this property for 8,000 points per night in May 2023, but it is now 20,000 points per night.
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The number of Choice Privileges properties in Japan that have significantly increased their award rates is small, but the properties that have increased significantly are many of the ones I have stayed at over the past four years.
Related: Travel to Japan with points and miles: the best ways to redeem your rewards for flights and hotels
Some Choice Privileges properties in Japan now cost fewer points
Interestingly, I found several Choice Privileges properties in Japan that now cost fewer points. For example, I’ve seen award nights for 12,000 or 16,000 points at the Comfort Suites Tokyo Bay over the last year. However, award nights at this property, which is well located for visiting Tokyo Disney — now costs just 8,000 points per night.
Weekend nights typically cost $171 at this property, meaning you’d get 2.14 cents per point in value when redeeming Choice points.
Also, I stayed at the Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino in February 2024 for 16,000 points per night. This property can now be booked for 8,000 points per night.
I’m not 100% sure that this drop has occurred in recent weeks, but I am sure that the Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino was over 8,000 points per night earlier this year.
Many Choice Privileges properties in Japan still cost 8,000 points per night
It’s also worth mentioning that the vast majority of Choice Privileges properties in Japan still cost 8,000 points per night. Around Tokyo and Nagoya, for example, you’ll find numerous properties that can be booked for 8,000 points per night.
So it’s still possible to reliably get award nights in Japan for 8,000 Choice points per night if you select your destinations carefully and avoid Tokyo and Osaka. But even in the case of Osaka, you could stay in Shin-Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto for only 10,000 points a night (which is reasonable, especially in Kyoto).
Related: How (and why) to plan a ski trip to Niseko, Japan, with points and miles
In a nutshell
Choice Privileges is no longer the easy answer it once was to booking award-winning stays in central locations in Tokyo and Osaka. Since some properties now charge 20,000 to 30,000 points per night, even when the rates paid are relatively low, I will probably book budget business hotels like APA Hotels or Toyoko Inn more often in these cities.
But this is not a reason to completely rule out Choice Privileges in Japan. There are still plenty of 8,000-point properties, and some hotels, including Comfort Suites Tokyo Bay and Comfort Hotel Sapporo Susukino, may now be better places to choose than before.
The practical takeaway: Don’t assume Choice points are the best option in Japan, especially Tokyo and Osaka. Compare paid and award rates, do the cents-per-point calculations, and consider nearby cities or less obvious destinations where cheap award nights can still offer tremendous value.
