Booking reservations in Japan

We need to book well in advance of our stay and can’t find an email address that works for the hotel. Reached out to their social media as well. Tried Trip Advisor.

Which city, and what hotel brand are you at? Marriott, etc.? Reservations didn't seem to be common unless you were with a company renting out a floor of a restaurant or similar, at least in Tokyo.

The Japanese Concierges were 100% the most effective way to do this. "I need to buy a present for my X year old, where should I go?" You'll get a card to give to the taxi driver written in Kanji, walking directions printed out, etc.

Most of the Japanese working in these roles are far better at reading English than they are listening to us rattle it off. I've worked with people that can't *speak* English nearly at all, but if I write the email/IM properly, they'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

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You have Amex gold or platinum? Their concierge service is outstanding.

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I have the gold, never thought of using it for that. Can you give a quick rundown based on your experience how those calls/requests go?

Marriott hotels. Problem is, I can’t contact them. Only one email address was found and it was rejected.

There are a few things the wife wants to do and need reservations. Some of these things don’t release available reservations until a month before the date and they fill up quick.

So timing is an issue as well. Mainly in Kyoto at the moment.

Use Marriott concierge to get to the actual hotel concierge. It's *much* easier after you book, because then you're not asking theoretical questions of a stretched staff.

If you're Titanium, use this.

I wouldn't worry too much, finding outstanding chow in Japan is not hard at all. Worst case, the concierge is going to send you to a place that is cheaper, and more fun, even if it's not wife Instagram "show off worthy." That's a lot of the fun in Japan, is finding an awesome place jammed above a pachinko parlor that no white person has been to in over a month.