Hi ATLC2015, One of the things we discussed a lot on when travelling with a group or family would be whether the service or bnb apartments make better monetary sense. We came to the conclusion quickly that if there's going to be some things we don't want to have to stress about like safety, toiletries, booking changes, etc, best to stick to hotels. Great thing about Japanese hotel establishments is that they do outfit their rooms with a lot more amenities. Suggest you "shop" around for hotel deals available on Trip Advisor. Hotels are preferable for me in the less bustling areas too because there are less chances of having hiccups at the last-minute with bookings. And, if you are travelling with family, settle in a lot quicker too. 😉 Oh yeah, if you have an allergy to pollen, you definitely should think of an air ioniser which are normally available in the Japanese hotel rooms.