A great link, mrakant.

Beside this Nihonbashi unit, there is one at Shiodome (see the link). This Villafontaine Shiodome is right next to another hotel, Park Hotel. This Park Hotel is a stop for a JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) or Hatobus tour stop. I think you can just hop on to the bus if you have a reservation. (There's also another hotel, Royal Park Hotel near it. This is also probably a stop for those bus tour services.)

Shiodome is a new development area but is very close to Ginza the shopping area in Tokyo. Yurakucho Station, serving Ginza, is one station away.

I also like Kichijoji, too.

And I also think summer is not the best time to visit Tokyo. It's horrible, unless you like heat and humidity. I really want to get out of here in July, August and early September.

This sounds like a great first trip! Japan was my first time abroad when I was 19 and, having never really been outside of Oregon, I found it to be quite a shock. It's now 12 years later and I try to visit every couple of years. Tokyo is truly a magnificent city. Here's my advice re the hotel:

Having lots of spending money is imperative in Tokyo, more so than almost any other location. Since you are only going for two weeks, I would suggest spending less on your hotel and saving the extra for sightseeing and, more importantly, trying as much Japanese food as possible. I spent a summer at the Asia Center of Japan which ranges from 6,000-10,000 per night, depending on the type of room you want. See: http://www.asiacenter.or.jp/
I stayed in the single room without a private bath and thought it was just fine for the money. The rooms are tiny, even more so than other rooms in Japan. However, they are clean and comparatively cheap. This hotel is also only a short (read cheap) subway ride from Shibuya and Harajuku, a couple of the cooler areas in town for young people. It's also walking distance to Roppongi, which may or may not be your scene (lots of drunken American military guys). There are lots of similarly priced business hotels out there - I usually use this one because it's easy to get home cheaply if I miss the last train.

I would also highly recommend trying to make a few Japanese contacts before hitting the ground there. Tokyo is a huge city and I found it difficult to meet local Japanese people outside of the school or work context. Having a local there to take you to an izakaya or a great local restaurant will make your trip much more memorable.

Edited to correct (large) error in price.

For that kind of money I'd expect something more than a single room without a private bath.

Asia Center is centrally located, yet the place is very quiet, too, esp. on the weekend. They've renovated the building.

Here are some other FT threads you might find useful ....

Language

Inexpensive Eating Ideas

Fish Market Info

Stuff to Do in Tokyo (ignore the underlying drama of the OPs experience)

This is just a few of the many threads on a variety of boards within FT - its a great resource. Enjoy your trip.

No kidding! The amount should have read 6,000-10,000. Sorry for the error.

I've never seem much in the way of discounts at this time, myself. But sfkittee is quite right to point out how hot and humid (mushiatsui) it will be. Don't bite off more than you can chew with regards to physically moving around, I'm half Spanish and positively thrive in hot weather, but I find the summer in Tokyo to be unbearable. Just roaming around for half an hour exhausts me and I need to spend a good long time under an airconditioning unit before I can begin to recover.

rjque mentioned the Asia Center of Japan, but added an extra 0 to the prices (making them comparable to staying at the Hyatt, well spotted Pickles) and I can heartily recommend this place as good value for money.

Near Shinjuku San Chome, http://hotel-parkinn.com offers equally good value - although there is something a little dispiriting about the place - kind of like a decaying Love Hotel. It is clean, the beds are comfortable, but the decor is a bit eighties in that weirdly glossy, trying to be classy, Love Hotel style. It seems to be popular with young Tokyo-ites, although I've also seen older ladies in Kimonos walk through the lobby as residents.

Do bear in mind that most of the cheaper Hotels will want payment upfront.

I've mentioned my trip to Takao San (a mountain) which is a VERY affordable day trip from Tokyo, so you may want to consider going there as a respite from the 'mushiness' of the city when it feels particularly oppressive.

I know if I was going back to Japan in the summer, I'd spend the minimum amount of time possible in Tokyo and head up to Hokkaido in the far North, or visit Mountain areas.

dup of an earlier post, deleted

[QUOTE= I spent a summer at the Asia Center of Japan which ranges from 6,000-10,000 per night, depending on the type of room you want. See: [url]http://www.asiacenter.or.jp/[/url]

This is where I first stayed many many years ago

Somehow I find the idea to spend more than a few days in Tokyo without a clear purpose intimidating. It might be more rewarding if you'd sign up for Japanese lessons, Calligraphy or Tea Ceremony classes or similar especially if you plan to stay the majority of two weeks in Tokyo. Or maybe you could offer to write an article or do an interview for your local or school paper.

I am doing the exact same thing as jfhslvds during spring break this year. I am going for one week and have never been to Tokyo. Airfare is set, and I will have some friends studying abroad there that can help me out. I am still working on a hotel. This topic has been very helpful for a Tokyo first timer student.