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If you’re going on a trip to Japan, odds are you’re starting in Tokyo. There may be the odd exception (I actually first landed in Osaka), but I’m sure you’ll get to Tokyo at some point!
Tokyo is one of my favourite cities in the world. I love it so much I’ve made it my home for the past 5 years. Why? It has a little bit of everything; history, food, nightlife, shopping, concerts, cafe’s, modern skyscrapers, historic temples, I could go on and on.
The trouble with Tokyo? It can be incredibly overwhelming. With how big it is, it’s hard to even think of it as just one city. And really, it’s not. Tokyo is the prefecture, and is made up of a bunch of smaller cities all squished together. Each station has its own, totally different personality, and can be both convenient or inconvenient depending on what you want to do.
So when people come to visit and ask, where’s the best place to stay in Tokyo? It can be really hard to answer! So instead, here’s my list of where to stay in Tokyo broken down by budget, and convenience depending on what your priorities are.
Shinjuku
For most people, I recommend Shinjuku as the best place to stay in Tokyo. Why? Endless reasons. But it generally, it has the best of all worlds. Easy access, great food, nightlife, shopping, and has all the Tokyo atmosphere you'd expect. Let's get a little deeper into it.
Why stay in Shinjuku
- Direct access from the airport
- It ‘feels’ like Tokyo (your first views of the city stepping out of the station will feel worth it!)
- Home to many top restaurants and bars
- Great nightlife
- Great shopping
- Home to one of Tokyo’s most famous gardens (Shinjuku Gyoen)
- Home to one of the best free views in the city (Government Metropolitan buildings)
- Easy/direct access to the rest of the city, as well as other surrounding cities such as Yokohama, Kamakura, Kawagoe, Hakone, and more)
- Options for a variety of budgets
- Very walkable
Why not to stay in Shinjuku
- Is not a great area at night for kids/families (the darker sides of nightlife, including the red light district, are very obvious at night)
- The station is very busy and easy to get lost in
- While some budget options are available, it’s still more expensive than the cheapest areas
The best Shinjuku hotel for every budget
The best luxury hotel to stay at in Shinjuku: The Park Hyatt
AKA the Lost in Translation hotel. It’s on the quiet side of the station, a bit of a walk but not too far. The view is fantastic and the hotel is just classic. Don’t miss the New York Bar on the 52nd floor!
*Note however, this hotel is currently closed for construction. It will open up again in October 2025. Until then, for the luxury Shinjuku option, check out BELLUSTAR TOKYO. It’s brand new and is in what I like to refer to as ‘the Frozen castle’. The location and view can’t be beat, and in an almost Vegas style feeling, the hotel building has everything you could need in a vacation without having to even step out the door!
The best mid-range hotel to stay at in Shinjuku: Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku
This hotel is gorgeous. It blends old and new, creating a modern, ryokan experience in the heart of Shinjuku, complete with an onsen on the rooftop. What more could you need?! This hotel is my number one recommendation for Shinjuku, and one of my top recommendations for Tokyo as a whole.
The best budget hostel to stay at in Shinjuku: Book and Bed Tokyo
This hostel, while still budget for Shinjuku, is also a place where you’re paying for the experience. At Book and Bed, you can sleep surrounded by books and manga, any true book lover’s dream. With manga pages hanging from the ceiling, and bunks nestled in between bookshelves, I can’t recommend this enough for the pure atmosphere of the place. A lot of the books are in Japanese, but they do still have a selection in other languages as well! And even if you can’t get a capsule for the night, you can still visit this hostel in the daytime and just pay by the hour to use the lounge or even a bed as well! Only con is the area can be kind of loud (it's right in Shinjuku), so bring earplugs.
Shibuya
The big question I get from a lot of people is Shibuya or Shinjuku? Either one is a great choice for convenience and availability of things to do in the area, but there are some core differences to be aware of. Shibuya is the younger, shinier cousin of Shinjuku. It’s more expensive, less grungy, and marginally cleaner. So it really depends on what you’re looking for!
Why stay in Shibuya
- Great area for guests of all ages
- It ‘feels’ like Tokyo
- Walkable to several top sights (Meiji Jingu, Shibuya Scramble, etc.)
- While slightly less convenient than Shinjuku for buses and trains, it’s a close second
- Excellent shopping
- Great restaurants and bars
- Great nightlife (younger than Shinjuku, very early 20’s heavy)
- Great cafes and desserts
- Very walkable
Why not to stay in Shibuya
- One of, if not the most, expensive areas to stay. No real budget options exist
- The station is very busy and easy to get lost in
- The streets can be very crowded
The best hotel in Shibuya for every budget
The best luxury hotel to stay at in Shibuya: Trunk Hotel
This is one of the trendiest hotels in the city, and for good reason. The location is perfect, the bar is a destination any day of the week, and with a generally cool vibe attracting digital nomads from around the city if not the world, it’s an iconic spot in Shibuya to base your Tokyo holiday.
The best mid-range hotel to stay at in Shibuya: All Day Place
This hotel is from the same group as Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku. They also do the Muji hotel in Ginza. I find the design of these hotels always outdoes their price range, and the experience is never disappointing. This one is in a great location too!
The best mid/budget-range hotel in Shibuya: Hotel Graphy
I'm breaking 'budget' into two since Shibuya doesn't have that many options at the really low range. So starting with a mid-to-budget range hotel! This hostel is in a great location, has dorms and private options available, and really gives the Shibuya/Tokyo feel. It’s also pretty new (opened March 2024), so all the amenities are fresh.
The best budget-range hotel in Shibuya: Almond Hostel & Cafe
This hostel is in just as good of a location as Hotel Graphy, but on the north side of Shibuya. It’s more in the Yoyogi area, which is known for having great cafe’s, izakaya’s and cocktails.
Roppongi/Akasaka
This area has a lot of hotels, so it comes up a lot as a possible option as well. However, I honestly don’t really recommend staying here unless you are big into clubbing or museums. And while those sound like great reasons to stay in Roppongi or Akasaka, the vibe is a weird mix making it less appealing than other areas. Full reasoning below:
Why stay in Roppongi or Akasaka
- Lots of famous museums in the area
- A paradise for high end shopping
- The new Roppongi Hills area is really nice
- Some great western food options if you’ need a break from Japanese food
- Lots of clubbing options for nightlife
Why to not stay in Roppongi or Akasaka
- Inconvenient train station (it looks central, but often requires transferring due to having less train lines go through each station)
- You have to watch out for scams and people trying to pull you into different bars or clubs as you walk down the street (also true in Shinjuku and Shibuya, but feels more so in Roppongi)
- Darker side of nightlife is also obvious here (red light, prostitution, people sleeping in the streets)
- Not very walkable
The best hotels in Roppongi and Akasaka for every budget
The best luxury hotel in Roppongi: The Ritz-Carlton
For classic Luxury, the Ritz-Carlton is a top choice. Located on the top 9 floors of the second tallest building in the city, you’re guaranteed amazing views along with gorgeous rooms and top tier restaurants and bars without ever even leaving the building.
The best luxury hotel in Akasaka: The Okura Tokyo
As a second option, if you’re looking for a Japanese luxury hotel then the Okura is the best choice in the area. Remodelled in 2019, there are now two towers, each with their own unique vibe. The first tower is a modern, 41-floor Prestige Tower, and the second is a traditional Japanese-style tower of 17 floors. A highlight of the hotel is the Okura Museum of Art, showing Japanese and East Asian art which guests get free admission to.
The best mid-range hotel in Roppongi: The Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi
While I haven’t stayed at this specific Mitsui Garden hotel, I have stayed at other branches around the country and have never been disappointed. The rooms are spacious, the service is great, the design hints towards luxury and I always leave with the feeling that I got great value for what I paid.
The best budget option in Roppongi: APA Hotel & Resort Roppongi Ekihigashi
APA is like the flashy Japanese cousin of the Best Western. It’s a chain that’s everywhere, it’s cheap, and it does the job. The rooms are small but it’s clean and well located. There are 3 APA’s in this area, this one is the nicest (I think) or the three but take your pick! APA Hotel Roppongi SIX is often a bit cheaper.
Asakusa
Asakusa is one of my favourite places in the city, and if you’re on more of a budget, I would say this is the place to stay for sure. If you’re looking for high-end luxury on the other hand, there are less options in this area. But, be careful with this one! Asakusa and Akasaka, while the words look very similar, are totally different places. While Akasaka is in the center/south of the city, Asakusa is in the northeast. So it’s a bit farther from places such as Shinjuku or Shibuya (about a 30-minute train ride), but it has quick access to places like Akihabara, Tokyo Station and Ginza.
Why stay in Asakusa
- Old Tokyo vibes
- Home to major attractions such as Sensoji Temple and Skytree (technically that’s across the river but)
- The Asahi Brewery is there
- Right near Kappabashi if you want to buy Japanese knives or other kitchenware
- Many affordable options
- Has a retro amusement park (Asakusa Hanayashiki)
- Great restaurants and izakayas
- Good place to shop for souvenirs
- Direct access to Nikko (one of my favourite getaways from Tokyo)
- Very walkable with some pedestrian only areas
Why to not stay in Asakusa
- Far away from major nightlife options
- Not as much modern shopping
- Very busy (in my opinion, it’s the most obviously touristy place in the city)
The best hotel in Asakusa for every budget
The best luxury hotel in Asakusa: Chyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa
I was torn between this one and the Kaminarimon Ryokan, but in the end chose the Chyashitsu for the vibes. Asakusa is brimming with old Tokyo feels, and this one gives me just a little more of those vibes than the Kaminarimon. And it’s a bit cozier? Completely biased opinion, but either would be a great choice for Asakusa. A fabulous breakfast is included with your stay, and if you want you can also opt in for the dinner as well. You can also book a room with your own private onsen (which trust me, after a long day of walking around Tokyo you are definitely going to need!)
Or a third option (in case you needed it…) - Sake Bar Hotel. I love Asakusa, so it was too hard to narrow these hotels down 😅
The best mid-range hotel in Asakusa: The Kanzashi Tokyo Asakusa
The Kanzashi is great for a budget-mid-range traveller as the location is great, the view is amazing, and the value for money is 100% there. The rooftop (particularly at night) is definitely the highlight.
The best budget hotel in Asakusa: Sakura Hostel Asakusa
This is one of the cheapest places to stay in all of Tokyo, and it’s one of my favourite hostels in the world. Why? Purely the vibes. I don’t know what it is about this place but the atmosphere is fantastic. I met friends here over 7 years ago that I still talk to. If you’re looking to do Tokyo on a budget and meet some cool people while you’re at it, this is the spot. I linked to Booking.com above because it's currently cheaper on this site, but this hostel can also be found on Hostelworld, so for the ultimate budget pick compare prices before you book!
Tokyo Station
Tokyo station is home to many hotels as it’s one of the major places to catch Shinkansen, but in my opinion, there is very little else to do there. The area is mostly full of office buildings, so the streets are dead and everything’s closed by the time the office workers go home. But most of all, for me at least, it lacks any of the Tokyo charm you can find elsewhere in the city. If you still want to be close to Tokyo Station I would recommend moving slightly further to Ginza, but let’s go through the pro’s and con’s:
Why stay near Tokyo Station
- You can easily catch the Shinkansen without having to transfer to another station
- Is close to the Imperial Palace
- Has a great stationary store (Haibara)
- Character street is a fun shopping area for character goods
- Easy access to Disney and Zozo Marine Stadium
- Convenient train access to the rest of the city
- If you’re looking for luxury, the highest concentration of luxury hotels are in this part of the city
Why to not stay near Tokyo Station
- There’s not much to do
- It’s dead at night
- Feel like you should be going to work
- It’s expensive
- The station is massive and very confusing
The best hostel near Tokyo Station for every budget
The top luxury hotel around Tokyo Station: The Hoshinoya
Most people would say the top luxury hotel around Tokyo Station is the Aman, but lately I’ve been hearing that the Hoshinoya actually offers a better experience for a much lower price. The main draw being the more Japanese experience that you’ll get at Hoshinoya. However, for guests looking for the highest quality of service from the staff, the staff at the Aman may be more experienced. But the highlights of the Hoshinoya are the food, where courses are served with French techniques blended with Japanese ingredients, the rooftop spa with onsen, and the general design and tranquility of the space. Pro tip: If the room says it includes Japanese style futons for the beds (for example, the Kiku) but you want a western style bed, you can just ask for one!
The top mid-range hotel around Tokyo Station: Hotel K5
This hotel is more on the luxury side than mid-range, but considering how expensive it is to be around Tokyo Station, for this area the price falls in the mid-range, and it’s a cool hotel. K5 is a Japanese owned, boutique hotel, which stands out amongst the chains that fill the area. The library cocktail bar Ao is a highlight, but not to be overshadowed by the taco’s and beer that can be found in the basement at the Brooklyn Brewery. Or for some coffee check out Switch, the plant swathed cafe on the first floor. Or for something a little special, the restaurant, Caveman, can’t be missed. For my personal recommendation, if I was going to stay near Tokyo Station, this is where I’d want to stay. Make sure to book far in advance though, this one books up fast!
The top budget hotel around Tokyo Station: Lyf Ginza Tokyo
Tokyo Station doesn’t have any hostels very close by and isn’t a very budget friendly area, so the best option is another APA hotel. But, if you’re keen to try something different, you can check out Lyf Ginza Tokyo. It’s not that cheap, but cheaper than most of the other hotels and you get a hotel that’s kind of funky. Alternatively, if you are willing to be a bit further away the closest hostel is the Imano! It’s pricey for a hostel, but it’s a nice one at least.
Akihabara
If you’re an anime or game fan, Akihabara is the place to be! It’s a pretty convenient station, and has lots to do in the area. The other option I will combine with Akihabara as they are walking distance apart is Ueno. Either one is a great option if you’re into anime, games, shopping (not luxury), izakaya culture, and more!
Why stay in Akihabara or Ueno
- If you like arcades, you will be in heaven
- Combing for anime merch in Akihabara can take all day, so you may as well stay there!
- Great izakaya’s and ramen shops in both places
- Both areas are fairly family friendly at all hours!
- Good places to thrift shop
- Easy access to other parts of the city
- Both have unique vibes as soon as you walk out your door
- Both are very walkable and have pedestrian only areas (Akihabara closes the street entirely on weekends)
- Ueno park is really nice and often has events
Why to not stay in Akihabara or Ueno
- Not as many hotel options as some other areas
- Akihabara’s Metro/JR station combo are a bit confusing to navigate
- The weekends and around rush hour can be really busy!
The best hotels in Akihabara and Ueno for every budget
The best luxury hotel in Akihabara: Artist Hotel BnA Studio Akihabara
This hotel isn’t necessarily luxury, but it’s a unique, boutique hotel that I couldn’t not recommend. There are 5 rooms to choose from, each designed by a local artist to represent the urban culture of Tokyo. By staying in the room, you also support the artist directly as the rooms operate on a profit share policy.
The best mid-range hotel in Akihabara: Hotel Resol Stay Akihabara
Located on the quieter side of the station, this little hotel has everything you would need! It’s cozy, clean, affordable, and in a great location!
The best budget hotel in Ueno: Grids Tokyo Ueno Hotel & Hostel
This hostel is in a fantastic location. Ueno is one of my favourite areas, and this is right in the center of it. It’s modern, and if you book in advance can have really good deals. But in case you are looking the week before the discount isn’t running, you can check out….
The best budget hotel in Akihabara: Cocts Akihabara
This one isn’t directly in Akihabara, but it’s still super close. It’s a 10 minute walk to Akihabara station or a 5 minute walk to Asakusabashi station. It’s kind of camping theme which is fun, and has a lower base price than Grids. It’s clean, has a cool vibe, and friendly staff!
Tokyo has so many places to stay, and really nowhere is a bad option. Every part of the city has something interesting to discover, and with potentially the best train system in the world, nowhere is that inconvenient. But if it were me? I would stay in Shinjuku or Ueno!
Mainly due to the variety of pricing options, things to do, and easy accessibility to the rest of the city. But for my budget traveller friends out there—Asakusa is your best bet! For my first trip to Tokyo, I stayed in Asakusa and couldn't have had a better experience.
And if you're looking for what to do while you're in Tokyo, don't forget to check out my ultimate 5 day Tokyo Itinerary! Or for all of Japan, I also have a 3 week guide and a two week guide with all the options needed to plan your perfect trip.
Last but not least, if you're coming to Japan, you're going to want an e-sim. It's way more convenient than having to buy a sim once you get there, and I find the wifi around the cities here is just not reliable enough which can make exploring really difficult unless you really know your way around. Even just for quick access to Google Translate, you'll want some data! I usually use Airalo when I travel, it's super easy, the rates are pretty good, and the service quality is good too!
Wander on friends, and see you in Tokyo soon!✨
