For years, Selection Privileges has been one of many best-value methods to ebook resorts in Japan with factors. This system has provided comparatively cheap but centrally situated award choices, making it my go-to loyalty program when visiting Japan.
Previously 4 years, I’ve redeemed Selection factors for 45 nights, together with 37 nights in Japan. That is largely as a result of whereas Selection Privileges elevated its award cap and pricing throughout many properties over the previous few years, this system largely spared its Japan properties.
Sadly, that is not fully the case. As LoyaltyLobby reported Saturday, Selection Privileges just lately elevated the price of award nights at some Japanese properties by as a lot as 200%. Nonetheless, once I took a better look, I discovered that it isn’t all unhealthy information: Some Selection Privileges properties in Japan now value fewer factors, and plenty of others seem to have stayed the identical. Here is what it is best to know.
Selection Privileges will increase value of award nights at some Japan properties
The worst of those Selection Privileges award night time will increase is in Tokyo and Osaka. As a reminder, you may test nightly award charges for every property by trying to find an award keep and searching on the calendar that masses.
Award pricing can range by night time at Selection Privileges properties, nevertheless it would not seem to range by night time at Selection Privileges properties in Japan.
Sadly, you may now have to redeem 20,000 to 30,000 Selection factors per night time to remain within the coronary heart of Tokyo.
To place these award charges as compared, I paid 8,000 factors per night time for an August 2023 keep on the Consolation Resort Tokyo Higashi Nihombashi; that very same keep would now value 20,000 factors per night time. In Could 2024 and January 2025, I stayed on the Consolation Resort Tokyo Kanda for 8,000 factors per night time; now, award nights on the property value 20,000 factors. And in February 2026, I booked a keep on the Consolation Resort ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for 12,000 factors per night time, however now, award nights value 25,000 factors.
The unhappy a part of these award pricing will increase is that many nights at these resorts do not carry excessive paid charges. For instance, you can ebook this night time on the Consolation Resort ERA Tokyo Higashi Kanda for $96 or 25,000 factors. When you redeem factors for this night time, you’d solely get 0.38 cents per level in worth (effectively beneath the 0.6 cents per level quantity famous in TPG’s June 2026 valuations).
The price of Selection Privileges award nights additionally elevated in Osaka on the centrally situated Consolation Resort Osaka Shinsaibashi. I stayed at this property for 8,000 factors per night time in Could 2023, however now, it prices 20,000 factors per night time.
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The variety of Selection Privileges properties in Japan which have considerably elevated their award charges is small, however the properties that elevated considerably are most of the ones I’ve stayed at over the previous 4 years.
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A number of Selection Privileges properties in Japan now value fewer factors
Curiously, I did discover a number of Selection Privileges properties in Japan that now value fewer factors. For instance, I’ve seen award nights for 12,000 or 16,000 factors on the Consolation Suites Tokyo Bay throughout the final yr. Nonetheless, award nights at this property — which is effectively situated for visiting Tokyo Disney — now value simply 8,000 factors per night time.
Weekend nights typically value $171 at this property, that means you’d get 2.14 cents per level in worth when redeeming Selection factors.
Likewise, I stayed on the Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino in February 2024 for 16,000 factors per night time. Now, this property is bookable for 8,000 factors per night time.
I am not 100% assured this drop occurred inside the previous few weeks, however I’m assured the Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino value greater than 8,000 factors per night time earlier this yr.
Many Selection Privileges properties in Japan nonetheless value 8,000 factors per night time
It is also value mentioning that the overwhelming majority of Selection Privileges properties in Japan nonetheless value 8,000 factors per night time. You may see ample properties bookable for 8,000 factors per night time within the area surrounding Tokyo and Nagoya, for instance.
So, it is nonetheless doable to reliably get award nights in Japan for 8,000 Selection factors per night time if you choose your locations rigorously and keep away from Tokyo and Osaka. However, even within the case of Osaka, you can keep in Shin-Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto for simply 10,000 factors per night time (which is affordable, particularly in Kyoto).
Associated: How (and why) to plan a ski journey to Niseko, Japan, with factors and miles
Backside line
Selection Privileges is not the simple reply it as soon as was for reserving centrally situated award stays in Tokyo and Osaka. With some properties now charging 20,000 to 30,000 factors per night time — even when paid charges are comparatively low — I will probably ebook cheap enterprise resorts corresponding to APA Resorts or Toyoko Inn extra typically in these cities.
However this is not a motive to jot down off Selection Privileges in Japan fully. There are nonetheless loads of 8,000-point properties, and some resorts — together with Consolation Suites Tokyo Bay and Consolation Resort Sapporo Susukino — might now be higher Selection candy spots than earlier than.
The sensible takeaway: Do not assume Selection factors are the best choice in Japan, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka. Examine paid and award charges, run the cents-per-point math and contemplate close by cities or much less apparent locations the place cheap award nights should provide outsize worth.
