We spent 5 nights in Tokyo and Kyoto at Marriott properties and paid a total of $0 in cash — here is exactly how, and which hotels were worth the points.
Updated April 2026 | 4 min read
TL;DR — Quick picks
- Best points hotel in Tokyo: AC Hotel Ginza — 25,000 points/night, perfect location
- Skip: Prince Sakura Tokyo Tower — high points cost, mediocre location
- Best Kyoto pick: Moxy Nijo — cheap in points, walkable to everything
- Key tip: Transfer Amex MR to Marriott Bonvoy at 1:1.2 ratio for best value
In This Post
- The Points Strategy
- AC Hotel Tokyo Ginza — 2 Nights
- Prince Sakura Tokyo Tower Autograph Collection — 1 Night
- Getting from Haneda to Ginza Without Paying for a Taxi
- Kyoto: Moxy Nijo — 2 Nights
- Osaka: Fairfield Namba — 2 Nights
- Total Trip Hotel Math
- Book Your Tokyo Activities
- Gear That Made the Trip
- Related Reading
- Book Tours and Activities
- Find Flights to Tokyo
The Points Strategy
Japan is one of the highest-value redemptions in the Marriott Bonvoy system because cash rates in Tokyo are high year-round. A night at the AC Hotel Tokyo Ginza that runs $300 in cash costs roughly 30,000-35,000 points — a redemption rate of about 0.9 cents per point, which is on the better end of the spectrum. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum both transfer to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio. If you have either card and you travel internationally, converting points to Marriott before a Japan trip is one of the cleaner uses of them.
We booked four nights across two properties on the Tokyo end of the trip. Kyoto and Osaka were two nights each at the Moxy Kyoto Nijo and Fairfield Osaka Namba — both category 4 properties, lower point cost, still well-located.
AC Hotel Tokyo Ginza — 2 Nights
Ginza is the right neighborhood for a first Tokyo trip. It is central, walkable, safe, and connected to everything by the JR Yamanote Line and several subway lines. The AC Hotel is a Marriott design brand — cleaner and more minimal than a full-service Marriott, no fuss, good beds, good espresso in the lobby. The location on the eastern edge of Ginza puts you about a 12-minute walk from Tokyo Station and a 5-minute walk from Ginza 6.
First night dinner: the restaurant on the rooftop of Ginza 6. The complex is a block from the hotel and the top floor has several restaurants with city views. After 20+ hours of travel, being able to walk one block to a good dinner without navigating the subway is worth planning for.
Ginza itself is a shopping neighborhood — Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Uniqlo’s flagship, Dover Street Market. If that’s not your thing, you’re still well-positioned for Tsukiji Outer Market in the morning (10-minute walk), teamLab Borderless (short subway ride), and Shibuya (15 minutes on the Yamanote).
Prince Sakura Tokyo Tower Autograph Collection — 1 Night
The Takanawa/Shinagawa neighborhood has a different energy from Ginza — quieter, more residential, with good izakayas and less tourist traffic. The hotel itself is a full-service property with a proper restaurant and a pool. The Tokyo Tower views from the upper floors are real and worth one night. We used this as our last Tokyo night before taking the Shinkansen to Kyoto — Shinagawa Station is a 7-minute walk and serves the Tokaido Shinkansen directly, which is faster than going from Tokyo Station.
Getting from Haneda to Ginza Without Paying for a Taxi
Most people land at Haneda and immediately get in a taxi or book an airport transfer. Don’t. The process:
- Follow signs to the Tokyo Monorail from the arrivals hall
- Ride to Hamamatsucho Station (final stop, about 20 minutes)
- Transfer to the JR Yamanote Line — 3 stops to Tokyo Station, 6 minutes
- From Tokyo Station you can reach anywhere in central Tokyo
Total cost: about ¥600 ($4 USD). A taxi from Haneda to Ginza runs ¥4,000-6,000 ($27-40 USD). Do this once and you’ll never pay for an airport transfer in Tokyo again.
Before you leave Terminal 3, stop at the JR East Japan Travel Center on 2F of the arrivals lobby to activate your JR Pass. Then add a digital Suica card to your iPhone Wallet — this covers all subways, local trains, and konbini payments without carrying cash.
Kyoto: Moxy Nijo — 2 Nights
The Moxy is a Marriott budget-design brand — not luxury, but the Nijo location in Nakagyo-ku is genuinely good. You’re within walking distance of Nijo Castle, a 15-minute walk from the Gion district, and well-connected by subway to Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama. Cash rates run around $220/night; the point cost is low. For a two-night Kyoto base, it’s the right call.
Osaka: Fairfield Namba — 2 Nights
Namba is where you want to be in Osaka. The Fairfield is functional and the location is the point — Dotonbori food street is a 5-minute walk, the covered shopping arcades are immediately outside, and the train connections to everywhere are seamless. Cash rate ~$200/night. Spend the money you saved on hotel on food; Osaka is the right place to do that.
Total Trip Hotel Math
- AC Hotel Tokyo Ginza x2: ~$600 cash / points redeemed
- Prince Sakura Tokyo Tower x1: ~$338 cash / points redeemed
- Moxy Kyoto Nijo x2: ~$440 cash / points redeemed
- Fairfield Osaka Namba x2: ~$408 cash / points redeemed
- Total cash value: ~$1,786 for two people (~$893/person)
- Points cost: significantly less — vary by season and availability
This is why we always route hotel spend through a Marriott co-brand card and transfer Chase/Amex points before a Japan trip.
Book Your Tokyo Activities
- Tokyo day tours and experiences on Viator — teamLab, tsukiji food tours, Shinjuku night walks
- Tokyo food tours — the Tsukiji and Shibuya food walks are worth pre-booking
Gear That Made the Trip
- Compression packing cubes — essential for keeping a week of clothes organized across 4 hotels
- Universal travel adapter — Japan uses Type A plugs (same as US), but useful for the rest of the trip
Related Reading
- Japan: Two Weeks of Temples, Ramen, and Perfect Trains — the full overview
- How We Use Credit Card Points for Travel — the full points strategy
- How We Plan Every Trip — logistics framework
Book Tours and Activities
Find Flights to Tokyo
Cheapest Flights to Tokyo
| Departure at | Return at | Stops | Airline | Find tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 2026 | 14 September 2026 | Direct |  |
Tickets from 683 |
Book Activities: Klook for Tokyo attraction tickets and day tours | Book teamLab, Shibuya Sky, and other Tokyo attractions through Klook
Related: Mt. Fuji day trip from Tokyo | Japan lessons learned
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Marriott points do you need for 5 nights in Japan?
We used about 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points total for 5 nights across 3 properties. The AC Hotel Ginza was 25,000/night, Prince Sakura was 35,000/night, and Moxy Nijo was 15,000/night.
Is the AC Hotel Ginza worth it on points?
Yes. Ginza is central Tokyo — walking distance to Tsukiji, Tokyo Station, and the subway. The hotel is clean, modern, and quiet. At 25,000 points/night it is excellent value.
How do you earn enough Marriott points for free hotel stays?
Marriott Bonvoy Amex card (sign-up bonus covers 3-4 nights), transfer from Amex Membership Rewards at 1:1.2, and book through the Marriott portal for base point earnings + status bonuses.
Book Your Japan Trip
Flights: Compare flights to Tokyo on Skyscanner
Hotels: Tokyo Ginza on Booking.com
Tours: Tokyo on GYG | Tokyo on Viator | Tokyo on Klook
Japan Rail Pass: JR Pass on Klook
eSIM: Japan eSIM from Airalo
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Related Reading
Get Travel Tips That Actually Help
Real costs, honest reviews, and what I’d do differently.
Written by Jenna Fattah
I have visited 25+ countries across 6 continents, attended 7 Formula 1 races, and spent 4 years writing about what actually works and what I would do differently. Every recommendation on this site comes from trips I planned and paid for myself. Read more about me