Spring is the best season to go traveling and popular inns will see a reservation-rush. So here are some great places to plan ahead to stay on a visit. If it's a budget trip, try a hotel in Hakone for less than a 10,000 yen (S$ 146) a night.

To get to the very cheap inn in Hakone, take a 1 hour 20 minutes train ride on the Romance Car from Shinjuku. Stop at the terminal, Hakone Yumoto station and head to Gora hot springs, some 40 minutes from Hakone Yumoto by the slow mountain railway which offers a great chance at scenery-watching along the way.

Walk to the inn from the station which is some 5 minutes away. “Gora Style" is a stately building that looks more like a luxury apartment than a hotel. The reception is situated at the 2nd floor so take the lift. If you don't to be disappointed at the desk, book at least 2 months ahead as it's fully booked most of the time. The hotel was renovated from a rest center for board members of a company but still keeps touches such as the original luxury furniture. The place is tranquilwith only 7 guest rooms on offer for leisurely privacy. Rooms are large, Japanese style ones with views to the mountains of Hakone and is priced at only 9450 yen (S$ 138) all year around. While at the inn, you can enjoy the famous Gora hot spring, visit the 1914 Hakone Gora park for a cup of tea in the garden or try various craft work such as sand blasting glass. Dinner is served at the restaurant in the hotel and consists of a menu of fresh seafood including hot pot.

The next morning breakfast is served buffet style with 18 kinds of healthy dishes. Often visitors end the visit by booking the next, to get in early. So plan your visit inadvance too!

The next destination and hotel is for couples looking for a getaway. At the famous Yunobu hot spring, a special package with deluxe meals is offered to only one couple per day. If you're heading from Osaka catch the Sanyo bullet train to Okayama. Catch a bus to the hot spring where the nearby inn which offers a superb "good couple" package to only one couple per day. From the station stop along the way to discover Bizen pottery with 1000 years of history. The authentic pottery style is distinct for its non-use of glaze and colour. The biscuit-fired pottery gives the colour due to clay, used which contains a lot of iron. Try your hand at making your own pottery which will be fired and sent to you one month later. Head out after that to meet your reservation at Yunago at the north of Okayama prefecture. The area is famous for its hot spring in the mountains. The inn which stands along a river from the 'Heron Fountain' offers "the good couple package" that is 12,200 yen (S$ 178) per person, per night.

This includes two meals and any free extras. The visit begins with a commemorative photo taken of the couple, which serves later as a gift. If it’s in the off-season, the first couple who book the package get to stay at a special room with comes with a massage chair, a home theater system, a window that looks out to a the famed heron fountain of the area and a barrel bath. The good couple package is on at weekdays, but still people rush to reserve the special room package. If you don't get a chance to get the couple special there is the standard room package still available. This offers guests a nice retreat to enjoy the outdoor hot spring. At dinner time, one benefit offered under the good couple package is the private corner in the restaurant set aside for dining. Dinner includes a menu of more than 22 dishes. The colourful and appetizing dishes marked by their unique tastes and preparation styles explains just why this inn is selected as one of the best 100 food inns in Japan. Breakfast of the food-inn is another highlight with fresh Japanese rolled omelet, very tasty silky tofu and nine other dishes. Guests leave with their check-in photos in a special frame and a pair of Bizen tea mugs.

The next location is about 1 hour 10 mins from Shinchitose airport by train. The Tomamu station on the Sekishosen line is positioned in the center of Hokkaido, the land of severe cold. With temperatures of -6 degrees Celcius staying at an ice hotel is the last place dreamt of. But it's unforgettable. Take a shuttle bus from the train station to the Alfa Resort Tomamu, distinct with its giant towers which are in fact giant hotel buildings. It's a ski area so expect a host of leisure facilities such as banana boat riding,in the snow, a dip into the open air bath or wave-riding at the wave swimming pool. Known as one of the best resorts in Hokkaido with high-rise rooms with awesome views, visitors should not miss the chance to try out a special hotel room that guests can only check into at 5pm. Book way ahead if you want to stay at the "ice hotel" at the resort. The place is all made of ice from front lobby to furniture, which is kept at temperatures even lower than the -6 degrees Celcius outside.

The rare expeience starts from January till March with only one room per day available. The room comes with ice dining room and living room but no electricity. That means no TV sets, so the guests spend time talking or reading until it's time to retire in the bedroom fitted with sleeping bags that can withstand up to -30 degree Celcius and a fire for some warmth, just in case. Dinner at the ice hotel in Tomamu, Hokkaido is a full course of Hokkaido delights served on plates of ice. But there are also warm pot dishes such as Cheese fondue in the eight course meal that's served. At night, the fun continues with dog sledge rides or a visit to the Ice Studio to make ice creations by chiseling out a block of ice. Turn in for the night, tucking into the sleeping bags provided on top of the ice beds. But if the hard ice bed is too uncomfortable or too cold, make sure you also a room reserved at the Tower block as that will be a heated room. Breakfast is served at the scenic restaurant at the top of the Tower with 35 kinds of breakfast dishes served buffet style. To finish the journey, head to the top of the ski area by gondola where there is a lookout point which offers a great view but only when the weather is kind.