Where to Stay in Tokyo: Best Areas & Hotels

Tokyo may be a sprawling, futuristic metropolis, but the core of the city, from its historic riverside origin to all its popular shopping areas, can be explored in an afternoon. With careful planning and by choosing a hotel that puts you close to the sightseeing you want to do, this high-energy city becomes more manageable, whether you are on a family vacation or a couples getaway.

Marunouchi is the area in the heart of the city surrounding the massive Tokyo Station. It and its neighbor Ginza are home to most of the city's luxury shopping and luxury hotels. Marunouchi's proximity to the central train station also makes it easy to return to, and hard to get lost from. No matter where you are in the city, you're usually only one or two trains away from Tokyo Station.

Moving outwards, Shinbashi is where much of the city's business is done, like lower Manhattan. There are hotels, restaurants, and shops here, but most businesses cater to the huge crowds of office workers who descend on the area each workday.

The Akihabara area is also called "Nerd Village," as it's filled with electronics stores, as well as businesses catering to the world of anime, manga, and cosplay. Kanda and Ueno are the next parts of the city, walking away from its core, and they are filled with many smaller shops and businesses, culminating in the wonderful Ameyoko open-air street market.

Roppongi is another popular area of the city for tourists; it's also filled with shopping malls, luxury apartments, restaurants, and theaters. Harajuku is known for its unique street style and boutiques. It's an area of Shibuya, the city's main shopping and entertainment district.

Where to Stay in Tokyo for Luxury

Tokyo skyline and Mount Fuji

The Marunouchi area is known as one of the best places to stay in Tokyo and where you'll find most of Tokyo's luxury hotels. Adjacent to Tokyo Station and right next to Ginza, the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, Marunouchi makes a great base that allows you to easily explore the city, whether by foot and train or via a Rolls-Royce limo.

For the ultimate luxury experience in Japan, the Aman Tokyo provides a personal, bespoke itinerary based on your desires. The luxury hotel is in Nihonbashi, the area right next to Marunouchi and considered the historic center of Tokyo. The hotel's The Restaurant by Aman presents Italian food from the Veneto, served high above the city.

The Aman specializes in creating truly memorable guest experiences with options including a visit to the Tsukiji fish market with the hotel's chef or an iaido lesson to learn the ancient art and etiquette of samurai combat.

Another good option is the stylish Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo. This luxury hotel is right next to Tokyo Station and offers guests a trackside greeting service. The hotel's restaurant, Piacere, has what many people consider the best Italian food in the city, and the Piedmontese chef travels throughout Japan sourcing special local products.

The rooms and suites are larger here than most of the city's luxury hotels, and the service, as you find at every Shangri-La property, is warm and deeply personal.

The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo is in Roppongi, the heart of the city's newest entertainment district. The hotel takes up the top nine floors of a 53-story office building and has a sky lobby on the 45th floor. Because it's on a hill, the rooms and public spaces offer commanding 360-degree views of the city.

Try to book a room on a Club floor, as they offer some extra amenities and access to the hotel's expansive Club Lounge, which has five daily food services. The Ritz-Carlton is part of a large development called Tokyo Midtown, and the building and surrounding complex has some great shopping and a gourmet market.

Another great luxury hotel is The Peninsula Tokyo. The hotel is also in Marunouchi, but it's directly across from the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park, a few blocks from Ginza and the train station. The hotel's Peninsula Academy offers guests the opportunity to train with the hotel's executive chef to learn to make the two most famous types of traditional Japanese food: sushi and tempura. The ultra-modern spa and indoor pool add to the luxurious environment. These luxury hotels also have special romantic offerings for couples.

Where to Stay in Tokyo: Mid-Range

Ginza area streetview

By foregoing the more well-known Western hotel chains and going with an Asian or Japanese brand, it's possible to find comfortable accommodations without breaking the bank. Rooms in Shinbashi or Shiodome, areas of offices and office workers, are a great value because they're not popular for tourists. As they're well-served by Tokyo's public transit system, staying there still puts you close to the city's most popular attractions, like shopping and museums.

For good value in the very popular Ginza area, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier has great rates; a central location; and clean, stylish rooms. It's also on the route of both the Haneda and Narita airport bus lines and close to trains and subways.

For a more upscale hotel, the Royal Park Hotel The Shiodome delivers what you might expect from a five-star luxury brand at about half the price. The Ginza-adjacent property has stylish but small rooms and offers a full range of luxury hotel services (concierge, business center, gym, pool, restaurant) for an excellent price.

It's also a short walk from the huge Shimbashi station and close to the Tsukiji commercial seafood market, a must-visit for foodies. The Shiodome location is more corporate than touristy but offers some great dining and shopping, all within a block or two of the hotel.

If your travels take you near Haneda Airport, the Hotel Mystays Haneda offers clean, contemporary accommodations and easy access to the airport via subway or a free shuttle. There's a restaurant that serves both Western and Japanese cuisine, with extended hours to accommodate late arrivals and early departures. Reasonable room rates and its proximity to the airport make it worth checking out even for long layovers.

Where to Stay in Tokyo on a Budget

Akihabara area sign

It's possible to find budget hotels in central Tokyo, but in most cases you'll have to sacrifice space and amenities. While not as compact as the city's famous capsule hotels, cheaper accommodations will usually come with a small, self-contained tubless bathroom and room space barely larger than the beds. Most hotels will have Wi-Fi, but don't expect a restaurant on the property or room service.

For some excitement, the Akihabara area is known for anime, manga, and cosplay cafes. Locals refer to it as "Nerd Village," and it's also home to some of the city's best budget hotel bargains.

The Hotel Dormy Inn Akihabara is a few blocks from Akihabara station. Most room rates include breakfast, and the hotel offers both a Western and a Japanese breakfast option.

The Akihabara Washington Hotel is in the heart of the electronics district, also close to Akihabara station. If you're looking for a taste of Western culture, the hotel even has its own Denny's.

For a nice, modern, budget hotel experience in Kanda, the area next to Akihabara, the Hotel Mystays Kanda delivers clean but compact guest rooms. The staff speaks English well, and travelers may appreciate that the hotel is a ten-minute walk from the Kanda station in a very residential area. It's an opportunity to interact with more locals than tourists.

Where to Stay in Tokyo for Families

Statue of Liberty in Odaiba area

Tokyo is very kid friendly, and the Tokyo Bay area is especially great for families. Only ten minutes by taxi from central Tokyo (or even less by train), the area includes several enormous shopping malls and amusement parks.

This part of Tokyo is all reclaimed land from the bay, and you'll find more green and outdoor space than the central part of the city. It's a great area for jogging and walking, too. The Odaiba and Tokyo Bay area also has the city's only public beach, which can provide a wonderful break from the urban chaos.

The InterContinental Hotel Tokyo Bay offers the brand's legendary luxury and value, along with an ideal waterfront location right next to the Rainbow Bridge. All the hotel's rooms and suites have views of the water, and the level of service is seriously five-star, with surprisingly reasonable room rates.

Another great family hotel in the Tokyo Bay area is the Dai-Ichi Hotel Tokyo Seafort. This mid-range hotel offers excellent value for money with very nice sea-view rooms. There's also a large buffet restaurant serving both Japanese and Western cuisine.

The Hilton Tokyo Odaiba is also in the Tokyo Bay area on the huge, man-made island of Odaiba. Steps away from the U-line train, which links with Central Tokyo, this seafront hotel is one of the area's larger properties. The size brings a range of dining options and activities. They're also what's called a Tokyo Disney Resort Good Neighbor Hotel and have a free, daily shuttle service to and from the park. The hotel has some fantastic suites, some with grand pianos and others with outdoor Jacuzzi tubs on their balconies.

Where to Stay in Tokyo for Couples

Chidorigafuchi Park with cherry blossoms

Fans of the movie Lost in Translation still make a pilgrimage to the Park Hyatt Tokyo decades after the film came out, and the hotel has a certain sexiness about its five-star interior. The elegant rooms and suites feature stunning panoramic city views from floor-to-ceiling windows, and we recommend booking one with a view of Mount Fuji as well.

Don't skip a visit to the spa, where the lap pool is enclosed in a glass atrium that is particularly impressive after dark, when the lights come on in the city. The spa area also features hot baths and saunas. For dining there are a number of restaurants, including one offering high-end Japanese.

In the historic Nihonbashio neighborhood, the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo has a sky-high romantic vibe that begins in the lobby on the 38th floor of the tower the hotel occupies. Set on the top nine floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, this five-star hotel is stylish and modern with lots of appeal. It also takes advantage of the amazing city views, with couches pushed up against floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the rooms and suites.

Don't skip the spa, which has won many awards - book a treatment in the Matsukaze Suite, where you can soak in a bath fronting walls of windows. There are also excellent restaurants, including French fine dining.

Dating back to 1915, The Tokyo Station Hotel is a landmark five-star hotel attached to the city's famed Central Train Station. Beyond the original redbrick facade, the hotel has European modern rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and a tasteful color scheme.

Couples will love the amenities away from the rooms as much as they like spending time in them. There are multiple restaurants to choose from and a luxe spa with hot tubs and saunas.

Where to Stay in Tokyo near the Airport

Tokyo's Haneda Airport

Tokyo's international airport is about 70 minutes by car from the city, which makes it inconvenient if you have a late night arrival or have an early morning flight to catch. Many people also end up in Tokyo for a half day or overnight layover and don't want to sleep on the airport floor. In this case booking a hotel near the airport makes a lot of sense. And there are plenty of choices, including a number inside the airport itself.

Located at the end of the airport's Terminal 2, the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu is as close as you get. A shuttle runs between the airport's three terminals. It offers modern soundproof rooms. If you're traveling with kids, there are interconnected room options. Amenities include a restaurant, 24-hour check-in, and a hot tub.

Also inside the airport, the Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda is connected to the departure lobby of the international terminal. It has retro eclectic decor in its rooms and suites, which are clean and comfortable. There is a restaurant on-site, and massage services can be arranged.