One of the best-value ways to book hotels in Japan with points just got worse — but it’s not all bad

Choice Privileges has increased the cost of award nights at some Japanese properties by up to 200%, a change reported by LoyaltyLobby on Saturday. For years, the program offered a valuable way to book hotels in Japan using points, with relatively low award costs for centrally located accommodations. The author has personally redeemed Choice points for 45 nights over the past four years, with 37 of those nights in Japan, highlighting the program's previous appeal. While Choice Privileges had previously raised award caps and pricing for many properties, it largely spared its Japan locations until this recent adjustment. The most significant increases are observed in Tokyo and Osaka, where award nights can now cost between 20,000 and 30,000 Choice points per night. For comparison, a stay at the Comfort Hotel Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi in August 2023 cost 8,000 points per night, which would now require 20,000 points. Similarly, stays at the Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kanda in May 2024 and January 2025, which cost 8,000 points per night, now demand 20,000 points. Despite these substantial increases, the situation is not entirely negative. Some Choice Privileges properties in Japan now require fewer points for award stays, and many other locations appear to have maintained their previous point redemption rates. Award pricing for Choice Privileges properties in Japan generally does not fluctuate on a nightly basis, unlike some other locations where rates can vary.