Because I decided to travel to Japan very late for the new year (I'm spontaneous like that!), most hotels during this period were all booked. The ones left were either too pricey and way above my price range or far away from the city center. If you are a seasoned traveler, you would know that staying out of the center has its own disadvantages.
For one, you'll likely to end up spending more on train, bus or taxi fares which can potentially make your travel more expensive. You will also need to wake up extra early during a day of sightseeing to account for travel time. You will need to check the availability of any transportation means after a certain time, say 11pm to 12am in the event that you plan to extend your hours of strolling or shopping around.
