Where to Stay in Tokyo: The Best Areas for a First Visit

Tokyo is huge, but you do not need to stay in the perfect spot. The train network is so good that almost anywhere central works. What matters most is being close to a station, and picking an area whose mood suits you: neon and late nights, or quiet streets and early starts.

Tokyo's best areas at a glance

Our tip: Prices jump at cherry blossom time, Golden Week and in autumn. Book two to three months ahead for those dates.

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is the easiest answer for a first trip. Its station is the busiest in the world, which sounds scary but means trains to almost everywhere, including direct buses to Mount Fuji and the Romancecar to Hakone. Around it you will find department stores, ramen counters, the tiny bars of Golden Gai and the free observation decks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

• Stay here if: you want lots of choice at night and a central base for day trips.
• Quieter pockets: the west side near the skyscrapers, and around Shinjuku Gyoen and Shinjuku-sanchome.
• Know that: Kabukicho, just north of the station, is lively and safe for visitors but very loud after dark.

Shibuya

Shibuya is the Tokyo of the postcards: Shibuya Crossing, giant screens and rooftop views from Shibuya Sky. Harajuku and Omotesando are a short walk or one stop away, so it is great for shopping and cafes.

• Stay here if: you want energy, fashion and easy evenings out.
• Know that: it is a valley, so some hotels involve a walk uphill, and weekend nights get very busy.

Ginza and Tokyo Station

This is central Tokyo at its most polished: wide streets, flagship stores and calm evenings. Tokyo Station has the shinkansen to Kyoto and the north, the Narita Express and cheap buses to Narita. It is the best base if you are taking early trains or travelling with children.

• Stay here if: you value calm nights, easy transfers and a short walk to dinner.
• Nearby: Nihonbashi and Hatchobori are a little cheaper and still very central.

Asakusa and Ueno

The east side of Tokyo feels older and more relaxed. Asakusa wraps around Senso-ji, with rickshaws, craft shops and views of Tokyo Skytree. Ueno has the park, the national museums and the Ameyoko market street.

• Both have plenty of good value hotels and hostels.
• The Keisei Skyliner runs direct from Narita to Ueno in about 40 minutes.
• Trains from Haneda run straight through to Asakusa without changing.
• Shinjuku and Shibuya are 25 to 35 minutes away, so evenings in the west mean a longer ride home.

Other areas worth a look

• Ikebukuro: a big shopping and entertainment hub with lower hotel prices, good for families.
• Roppongi and Akasaka: international, upscale and lively at night, with art museums nearby.
• Shinagawa: handy for Haneda Airport and the shinkansen, though a bit business-like.

Which area suits you?

Tips for booking a Tokyo hotel

• Check the walking time to the station, not just the station name. Five minutes is ideal.
• Rooms are small. A standard business hotel double is often 11 to 15 square metres, so look at the floor area if you have big suitcases.
• Families should search for triple or quad rooms, or apartment-style hotels. Many standard rooms only take two people.
• Check-in is usually from 3pm. Hotels will happily store your bags if you arrive early.
• Tokyo adds a small accommodation tax of a few hundred yen per night on most rooms.

Our tip: Not sure how many nights you need? Our free itinerary maker suggests a split and lets you note your hotel for each city.

We check this guide regularly. Prices, rules and services in Japan can change, so confirm with the official sources below before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.