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Where To Stay In Tokyo

Where should you stay in Tokyo? In this section, I’ll give you my picks for the best, most convenient and most interesting neighborhoods in Tokyo as of February 2025.

Panoramic modern city skyline aerial view of shinjuku area under bright blue sky and sun in Tokyo, Japan[West Shinjuku area: voyata / Shutterstock.com]

The Takeaway

As of February 2025, the following are the best, most convenient areas to stay in Tokyo, listed in order of preference:

The Details

Tokyo is a huge city. In fact, it’s better to think of Tokyo as a group of cities connected by a great transport system. Thus, it’s really important to choose a good area in which to stay.

I’ve stayed in apartments and hotels all over Tokyo. For me, there are three criteria I look at when choosing a hotel:

Without a doubt, the best parts of the city are those near Tokyo Station and in the two big urban hubs on the west side: Shinjuku and Shibuya. Between Tokyo Station and these two hubs you’ll find Roppongi, which despite not being on the Yamanote Line is a great place to stay because of all the restaurants and attractions nearby. Another great area is the Ginza/Hibiya area which is within walking distance of Tokyo Station and crammed with good shops and restaurants.

At the end of this page, you’ll find a map that shows exactly where all these places are located.

The Best Places To Stay In Tokyo

Here is my list of the best places to stay in Tokyo, listed in order of preference. I include my favorite hotels in each district on this page. For complete lists of Tokyo’s best hotels, all personally inspected, divided by price category, visit my Tokyo Hotels page.

Skyscrapers of the Shinjuku city skyline, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, on a bright, blue day [Towers of West Shinjuku: r.nagy / Shutterstock.com]

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is the best place to stay in Tokyo, especially the places located on the calmer west side of the station. This is one of the city’s biggest transport hubs and it’s on the all-important Yamanote Line. There are several huge department stores, huge electronics shops, literally thousands of restaurants, and Tokyo’s best bookshop: Kinokuniya. Plus, there are plenty of sights nearby. The only caveat is that if you don’t like crowds, you might consider somewhere quieter like Ebisu, Meguro or Daikanyama.

Key Points

  • Positives: great transport connections, amazing shopping and dining
  • Negatives: east side can be a bit overwhelming for kids
  • Best for: young people, foodies, shoppers and bar-hoppers

Our top hotel picks in Shinjuku are

Corner guest room in the Kimpton Shinjuku hotel, Tokyo, Japan, with contemporary interior design with double bed, L-shaped leather sofa, and corner seating area [Kimpton Shinjuku]

Corner guest room on the upper floors of the Hotel Century Southern Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, with chaise longue and armchair, looking out on the city skyscrapers and large park area [Hotel Century Southern Tower]

Twin guest room in the Sotetsu Fresa Inn Higashi Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, with padded headboards and strip lighting above the pillows, brown carpet with sprial geometric patterns [Sotetsu Fresa Inn Higashi Shinjuku]

Family room in the Mimaru Tokyo Shinjuku West hotel, Tokyo, Japan, with two sets of twin beds, long dining table with sofa seating, and contemporary update on traditional minimal Japanese style [Mimaru Tokyo Shinjuku West]

  • Family: Mimaru Shinjuku West - The Mimaru Tokyo Shinjuku West is THE BEST FAMILY HOTEL IN TOKYO. It’s got a great location in west Shinjuku, which is our favorite place to stay in the city, and it’s got a variety of large rooms (apartments?) with simple cooking facilities and comfortable beds. And the rates are very reasonable. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

You may also want to check out the Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku, which offers great family rooms at amazingly reasonable rates.

For my list of Shinjuku’s best hotels in all price ranges, see my Shinjuku Places To Stay section.

Brightly illuminated Tokyo Station and surrounding office buildings viewed from Marunouchi Exit at night [Tokyo Station and Marunouchi Area: Camera Papa / Shutterstock.com]

Tokyo Station/Marunouchi Area

The Tokyo Station/Marunouchi area is not only the city’s main transport hub, it’s a great place to stay. In fact, I am tempted to rate this as the best place to stay in the city. It’s a very close second. Here, you’ve got the most important train station, including the terminal station of the Tokaido shinkansen line (for easy access to Kyoto etc). And, within easy walking distance you’ve got all the city’s main department stores in Ginza, Nihombashi etc. And, the area is literally awash with restaurants. Nearby, you’ve got the Imperial Palace and adjoining parks. And, best of all, the streets around here (especially in Marunouchi) are broad and pleasant.

Key Points

  • Positives: transport hub of Tokyo, great shops, restaurants and hotels
  • Negatives: can feel a little dead in the evening
  • Best for: almost anyone, especially those looking to do a lot of exploring

Our top hotel picks in the Tokyo Station/Marunouchi area are

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo -- Tokyo Station and Marunouchi District [Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo]

Double corner guest room in the Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo, Japan, with large double bed facing a freestanding TV and wall-length corner windows overlooking illuminated night view of the city [Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo]

Simple double room in the Smile Hotel Nihombashi Mitsukoshimae, Tokyo, Japan, with bed, desk and mirror, fridge, and TV [Smile Hotel Nihombashi Mitsukoshimae]

Clean, contemporary double guest room in the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo, Japan, with L-shaped desk with work chair and stool, fitted chest of drawers, armchair, and bright view of the shinkansen train lines [Four Seasons Hotel at Marunouchi]

If you’re a traveler who wants the conveniences of home, check out the excellent Ascott Marunouchi Tokyo, which offers great serviced apartments. And if you’re on a budget or traveling with the family, check out the karaska hotel colors Tokyo Yaesu, which offers connecting rooms and reasonable rates just steps from Tokyo Station.

For a list of my favorite hotels in this area, see my Tokyo Station/Marunouchi Places To Stay section.

Aerial view looking down on the famous Shibuya Crossing and illuminated buildings at twilight in Tokyo, Japan [Shibuya in the evening: f11photo / Shutterstock.com]

Shibuya

Shibuya is another huge shopping and transport hub on the west side of the Yamanote Line. It’s pretty similar to Shinjuku and the reasons I rate this highly are the same as for Shinjuku: convenient transport connections (including the Yamanote Line), plenty of shops and restaurants, and lots of attractions. It’s just slightly less busy than Shinjuku and a bit more youth oriented, in case that matters.

Key Points

  • Positives: fun, trendy, great shopping and dining
  • Negatives: station area is almost always crowded
  • Best for: families, young people, shoppers

Our picks for the best hotels in Shibuya are

Large double suite in the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, with huge bed, various cushioned seating areas, and wide windoes offering city views [Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel]

Twin guest room in the Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, Japan, with joined twin beds with two sofa chairs at the foot and bleached wooden floors, as well as city views [Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya]

  • Mid-Range: Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya - With a central Shibuya location, attentive staff, great boutique style and comfortable rooms, the Indigo is one of the best hotels in Shibuya and a great choice for those in the market for a stylish upper mid-range hotel in Tokyo. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Pink neon and atmospheric lighting as people relax in the lounge of The Millennials capsule hotel in Tokyo [The Millennials Shibuya]

  • Budget: The Millennials Shibuya - The Millennials Shibuya is best described as a “boutique capsule hotel.” It’s great for those who want to be right in the heart of the action in Shibuya and for those who really want to meet other travelers. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Also be sure to check out the Hyatt House Shibuya, which opened in 2024. It offers apartment-style accommodations and is great for those traveling with the family.

For a list of my favorite hotels in Shibuya, see my Shibuya Places To Stay section.

Tokyo Tower lit up in orange with Christmas illumination at Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan and time lapse light trails from the traffic [Roppongi with Christmas decorations and Tokyo Tower in background: Knot Mirai / Shutterstock.com]

Roppongi

Roppongi is another great place to stay. In fact, I am sure there are plenty of Tokyoites and regular visitors who would rank this at #1. The only thing that stops me from doing so is the fact that Roppongi is not on the Yamanote Line. I do a lot of moving around when I’m in Tokyo, so being on the loop line is important. If you don’t plan to do so much bouncing around, then Roppongi might well be your first choice. If you rate great dining, exciting nightlife and plenty of attractions highly, then you should strongly consider staying in Roppongi. This is the sexiest and most cosmopolitan part of the city. It’s where the big money (both Japanese and foreign) eats and drinks.

Key Points

  • Positives: sexy, glamorous, dining and nightlife
  • Negatives: not on the Yamanote Loop Line
  • Best for: young people, fine diners, clubbers

Our top hotel picks around Roppongi are

Large double guest room in The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo hotel, Japan, with bed and twin armchairs, brown striped carpet, and wide windows with nighttime city views [The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo]

Compact twin guest room in the Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo-Roppongi, Japan, with two beds, separated by a three-man sofa, opposite a wall-mounted TV, and pleated curtain drawn against the window [Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo-Roppongi]

Simple double guest room in the Hotel Asia Center of Japan, Tokyo, with large double bed facing a wide window overlooking the city at night [Hotel Asia Center of Japan]

Loft room in The Lively Tokyo Azabujuban hotel with four large bunks and stylish living area [The Lively Tokyo Azabujuban]

  • Boutique: The Lively Tokyo Azabujuban - A short walk south of Roppongi — one of Tokyo’s most happening nightlife districts — the Lively is a beautiful island of style in a quiet area. With great service and an intimate feeling, the Lively feels like it should cost significantly more. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

For a list of my favorite hotels in Roppongi, see my Roppongi Places To Stay section.

A street scene in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, with pedestrians walking along in the middle of the road between the tall buildings [Chuo-dori closed on weekends in Ginza: yy_Apartment / Shutterstock.com]

Ginza/Hibiya

Ginza and Hibiya are two districts a short walk south of the Tokyo Station Area. Hibiya is famous for its expansive park while Ginza is known as an upscale shopping and dining area. Both are great choices for those who want to avoid the really busy hubs like Shinjuku and Shibuya. And for easy access to transport, you’ll find it hard to beat these two attractive districts.

Key Points

  • Positives: close to Tokyo Station, great shopping and dining
  • Negatives: can feel more like a shopping district than a neighborhood
  • Best for: older travelers, well-heeled travelers

Our top hotel picks around Ginza and Hibiya are

Double guest room in The Peninsula Tokyo hotel, Japan, with large double bed behind a wide sofa and coffee table, adjacent to dining table and big windows overlooking the river [The Peninsula Tokyo]

Guest room in the Gate Hotel Tokyo, Japan, with bed facing free-standing TV unit, L-shaped sofa and armchair, as well as wall-sized corner windows [The Gate Hotel Tokyo]

  • Mid-Range: The Gate Hotel Tokyo — The Gate Hotel Tokyo is a smart new hotel with a super-convenient location within easy walking distance of Tokyo Station, Yurakucho and Ginza. Rooms are spacious, the restaurants are smart and the service is excellent. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Compact twin guest room in the Remm Hibiya Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, including two beds with orange styling, relaxing chair, purple dotted carpet, and curtained window [Remm Hibiya Hotel]

Comfortable living area with chairs and table and a panoramic city view of Tokyo from the huge corner windows in a suite in The Blossom Hibiya hotel, Tokyo, Japan [The Blossom Hibiya]

  • Serviced Apartment: The Blossom Hibiya - If you’re looking for a great mid-range hotel close to transport, you’ll love the Blossom Hibiya. It’s rare to find this level of style and comfort so close to Tokyo Station and the Loop Line. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com..

For a list of my favorite hotels in Ginza, see my Ginza Places To Stay section.

Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo, Sumida River, Chuo district, Japan, with oriental japanese garden during Hanami, and the Hama Rikyu contrasting with the skyscrapers of the adjacent Shiodome district [Shiodome district seen from Hama-Rikyu Gardens: Benny Marty / Shutterstock.com]

Shiodome

A short distance south of Tokyo Station, Shiodome is a tight collection of high-rise office and hotel towers. It’s a short walk from here to Shimbashi Station, which is only two stops from Tokyo Station on the Yamanote Line. So, it’s not too inconvenient. And there are some good places to eat around here.

Key Points

  • Positives: convenient to Tokyo Station and Haneda Airport
  • Negatives: relatively few shops and restaurants
  • Best for: business travelers, solo travelers

Our top hotel picks around Shiodome are

Living area of a Conrad Tokyo hotel suite with sofa and armchair around a wall-mounted TV, separate sleeping area beyond, and dining area beside the window overlooking the nighttime bay [Conrad Tokyo]

  • Luxury: Conrad Tokyo - Located in Shiodome, with a commanding view over Tokyo Bay, the Conrad Tokyo is a fine luxury hotel with an attentive staff and ripping views from the rooms. Read our review or view on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Double guest room in the Royal Park Hotel the Shiodome, Tokyo, Japan, with wide double bed sat beneath the wall-length corner windows, overlooking the city at night, and reflected in the gold-effect wardrobe doors [Royal Park Hotel the Shiodome]

Large guest room in the Hotel Villa Fontaine Shiodome-Tokyo with large mattress on a built-in wooden platform, over patterned rug, and with desk area, twin easy chairs and coffee table, and platform beside windows overlooking city greenery [Hotel Villa Fontaine Shiodome-Tokyo]

For a list of my favorite hotels in this area, see my Shiodome Places To Stay section.

Aerial view of the Ebisu area of Tokyo, with skyscrapers and train lines, and other buildings [Aerial view of Ebisu: TAGSTOCK1 / Shutterstock.com]

Ebisu, Meguro and Daikanyama

Ebisu and Meguro are two small urban hubs on the southwest side of the Yamanote Line. Daikanyama is a small hub just west of Ebisu. These three areas are considered the most desirable places to live by Tokyo’s fashionable and wealthy elite. There are a few hotels in these areas that allow you to enjoy the things that locals love: great cafes, hip restaurants and bars, boutique shopping, and pleasant strolling on attractive streets.

Key Points

  • Positives: fashionable, hip, low-key
  • Negatives: expensive for shopping and dining
  • Best for: solo travelers, couples, hipsters

Our picks for the best hotels in Ebisu, Daikanyama and Meguro are

Double guest suite in The Westin Tokyo hotel, with sofa and armchair around a coffee table, dining area beside window view of Tokyo greenery, and adjoining room with double bed [The Westin Tokyo]

Twin guest room in the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo, with two wide beds and dining area beside balcony window [Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo]

Simple guest room in the Hotel Mid in Meguro Ekimae, Tokyo, Japan, with pink bed and matching desk with anglepoise lamp, and shelf above bed with small vase of flowers [Hotel Mid in Meguro Ekimae]

For a list of my favorite hotels in this area, see my Ebisu, Meguro and Daikanyama Places To Stay section.

Large office buildings in front of Shinagawa Station in Tokyo on a sunny day [Shinagawa Station area: OFFICE TK / Shutterstock.com]

Shinagawa

Shinagawa is a major transport hub at the southern end of the Yamanote Line. It’s not the most exciting district, but it’s right on the loop line and the Tokaido Shinkansen line, so it’s quite convenient to stay here (especially if you plan to hop on and off the shinkansen). There are several excellent hotels here that take advantage of the area’s excellent transport connections.

Key Points

  • Positives: transport hub, direct train to Haneda Airport
  • Negatives: not many things to see or do
  • Best for: business travelers, frequent flyers

Our picks for the best hotels in Shinagawa are

Twin guest suite in the Conrad Tokyo hotel with large living area with sofa and armchair, cherry blossom carpet, and glass unit with bath and large illuminated mirror, as well as separate room with two beds [Conrad Tokyo]

Twin corner guest room in the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, with two wide beds, and sofa against the wide red window length sofa and view overlooking the city [Shinagawa Prince Hotel]

Angular twin guest room in the Hotel 1899 Tokyo, with two large beds, contemporary interior stylings with green patterns, wall-mounted TV unit and windows spread across two walls [Hotel 1899 Tokyo]

For a list of my favorite hotels in this area, see my Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa Places To Stay section.

Tokyo Places to Stay Map

Click the menu icon on the top left of the map to see the name and ranking of each Tokyo district. On this map, the colors indicate the following:

Yellow: most desirable
Red: desirable
Purple: acceptable
Light gray: less desirable
Dark gray: only in a pinch

Types Of Accommodation In Tokyo

Tokyo has an incredible range of places to stay. The city has some of the best hotels in the world (with prices to match) and yet there are tons of perfectly acceptable business hotels that cost far less than their equivalents in other developed countries. And, yes, there are ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) in Tokyo, but not that many of them (Kyoto is the place for ryokan).

Hotels

Tokyo has a fantastic selection of hotels in all price ranges.

  • The city’s luxury hotels are on par with the best hotels anywhere. For more information, check out the Best Tokyo Luxury Hotels page.
  • The best value can often be found in mid-range and so-called “business hotels,” which are small but efficient hotels that often offer great rates. For more information, check out the Best Tokyo Mid-Range And Business Hotels page.
  • There is also a range of boutique hotels in Tokyo.
  • Tokyo is a great city to visit with kids. But, where should you stay? See my Best Tokyo Hotels For Families page.
  • If you’re looking for a romantic hideaway in Tokyo, you’ll be spoiled for choice. See my list of The Most Romantic Hotels In Tokyo, all personally inspected.
  • Finally, you might be surprised at just how cheap some of the city’s budget hotel rooms are. And, the quality is surprisingly high. For more information, check out the Best Tokyo Budget Hotels page.

Also see our overview on the Tokyo Hotels page.

You can check current Tokyo hotel availability at Booking.com and Agoda.com.

Ryokan

Because Tokyo was bombed flat during WWII, there aren’t many traditional accommodations left in the city. However, you can still find some ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) in the city.

These are our picks for the best ryokan in Tokyo:

  • Tokyo Station Area: Hoshinoya Tokyo - Hoshinoya Tokyo is the finest ryokan in Tokyo. Full stop. If you’re looking for Japanese-style luxury accommodation in a very convenient location, it’s a fantastic choice. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
  • Asakusa Budget: Ryokan Asakusa Mikawaya Honten - The Ryokan Mikawaya is a mid-range ryokan located a stone’s throw from Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. It’s got spacious Japanese-style rooms which can easily accommodate families. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
  • Asakusa Mid-Range: Ryokan Asakusa Shigetsu - With a superb location just around the corner from Senso-ji Temple, the Asakusa Shigetsu is the best ryokan in Asakusa. It’s a great place to sample the ryokan experience in Tokyo. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
  • Asakusa Luxury: Ryokan Kamogawa Asakusa - With a superb location in Asakusa, the moderately-priced Ryokan Kamogawa Asakusa is our favorite ryokan in Tokyo. The rooms are perfect for families who want to stay together. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
  • Ueno: Ryokan Katsutaro - A short walk from Ueno-koen Park, the Ryokan Katsutaro is a friendly little ryokan that offers traditional rooms at reasonable rates. Rooms here can accommodate up to four people, making it a good choice for families. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.
  • Yanaka: Annex Katsutaro Ryokan - Located in Yanaka, one of Tokyo’s most traditional neighborhoods, this fine budget ryokan is the perfect place to sample the ryokan experience in Tokyo. It’s a modern building but the rooms are ryokan style. Read our review or view on Booking.com and Agoda.com.

For more information, check out the Tokyo Ryokan page.

If you’re not going to visit Kyoto and you really want to try a night in a ryokan, then by all means, stay a night or two in a ryokan in Tokyo. But, if you are going to visit Kyoto, you might want to have your ryokan experience in Kyoto. For details, visit our Kyoto Ryokan page.

Guesthouses

In addition to hotels and ryokan, there are quite a few guesthouses in Tokyo that cater to budget travelers and backpackers. You’ll find most of them in the old parts of town like Asakusa. We recommend K’s House Tokyo Oasis.

Capsule Hotels

You’ve probably heard of capsule hotels, those ultra-cheap and efficient accommodations designed for salarymen who’ve gotten drunk and missed the last train home. They usually consist of narrow coffin-like capsules and a common bathing area. Most are only for men, but there are a few that also accept women (and have women’s only floors). For our picks, check out the Best Capsule Hotels In Tokyo page.

Peak Season: March-April and November

A FRIENDLY WARNING: Tokyo accommodation gets booked out months in advance for busy seasons like the late March to mid-April Tokyo cherry blossom season and the November fall foliage season. Book well in advance for these times.

You can check current Tokyo hotel availability during March, April and November on Booking.com and Agoda.com.

Visiting Kyoto?

If you’re visiting Kyoto as well as Tokyo, be sure to check out my Where To Stay In Kyoto page on Inside Kyoto’s companion website, InsideKyoto.com.

Visiting Osaka?

Similarly, if you’re visiting Osaka, see my Where To Stay In Osaka page on InsideOsaka.com.

Where Are These Places Located?

  • Open the Tokyo map
  • You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
  • Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
  • Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
  • If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

Tokyo Vacation Checklist

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