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Tokyo<\/a> is the largest city in the world, home to a whopping 37 million people in the metro area. The city is incredible, amazing, and bewildering. But massive.<\/p>\n In terms of neighborhoods, there are 14 urban hubs spread out across the megalopolis. There are also 23 wards \u2014 five of which make up the central part of town \u2014 and, within those wards, hundreds of neighborhoods. <\/p>\n But, as a visitor to the city, there are only a few areas that are ideal to stay in. You don’t need to go through all the centers and wards. In my view, there are only about eight areas worth staying in. <\/p>\n Here is my breakdown of those eight best neighborhoods in Tokyo for visitors (as well as suggested accommodations in each) so you can figure out which area is right for you. <\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Shinjuku<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Unplan Kagurazaka<\/a> \u2013 The dorms here all have self-contained bunks complete with a comfy mattress, light, power outlet, and security box. The hostel also has a common room, shared kitchen, and active bar\/restaurant.<\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Hotel Century Southern Tower<\/a> \u2013 Request as high a room as possible at Hotel Century, located just a few minutes walk from Shinjuku Station, and you\u2019ll be rewarded with a fantastic view of the Shinjuku skyline. The spacious guest rooms have a desk and a couch. The hearty breakfast buffet is included. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Hilton Tokyo<\/a> \u2013 A 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, the Hilton Tokyo is a swank and sleek hotel bathed in soft, off-white hues. The guest rooms are loaded with all the amenities you\u2019d expect from a luxury hotel, including posh bath products and ultra-fast Wi-Fi. If you can nab an upper-floor room, the views are spectacular. It doesn\u2019t appear at first that Shibuya would be a good candidate for the budget-minded traveler, but there are some really nice, affordable hostels here, and the thoroughfares are sprinkled with above-average street food. Plus, the eye-candy spectacle of it all means that you can just plant yourself somewhere and spend hours beguiled by the extravaganza that is Shibuya \u2014 all without spending a dime. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Shibuya<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Almond Hostel & Cafe<\/a> \u2013 This fun and relaxed hostel has mixed and female-only dorm rooms. The sleeping quarters consist of private cubby-hole-like areas for maximum privacy. Each pod has a light, an electrical outlet, hooks for hangers, and a shelf. <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Shibuya Creston Hotel<\/a> \u2013 While a little bland, this hotel is clean, comfortable, affordable, and in a great location. Rooms have coffee- and tea-making machines and complimentary bottled water. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Cerulean Tower<\/a> \u2013 Set in a high-rise building in the center of Shibuya, Cerulean Tower starts on the 19th floor, so you\u2019re guaranteed a great view from your room, which will be large and come with Japanese green tea sets, a chaise lounge, mini-bar, and luxe bath products. The hotel also has eight different restaurants and bars. Staying in Ueno means you\u2019ll be mere steps from the biggest and best museums. But it\u2019s not all museums here. In addition to the great park, Ueno is a fabulous dining destination too. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Ueno<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Grids Hotel and Hostel<\/a> \u2013 Located right across from Ueno Station, Grids is smack in the center of the action. The wood-paneled dorm rooms are clean and modern, and each bed has a light and power outlet. The toilets in the shared bathrooms are of the super-high-tech Japanese variety. <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Centurion Hotel & Spa<\/a> \u2013 Just a few minutes walk from several subway stations and a train station, Centurion is an oasis. The spacious rooms have tea kettles and coffee makers, the bathrooms feature luxury bath products, the in-house eatery focuses on steak, and the spa uses natural spring water. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Mimaru Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi<\/a> \u2013 The rooms at this property are extra-large; some have four futon beds, and others have kitchens and dining tables. Bathrobes and slippers in each room make the stay that much more comfortable. And the location is hard to beat. Best Places to Stay in Roppongi<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Hotel Villa Fontaine Tokyo-Roppongi<\/a> \u2013 There are not a ton of budget options in Roppongi, but Villa Fontaine makes up for it by offering superior service and clean, comfortable rooms with fridges, humidifying air cleaners, AC, electric kettles, and TVs (and bidets). <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi<\/a> \u2013 Set in a sleek high-rise tower, Mitsui Garden is an excellent spot in which to lay your head. Rooms come in varying sizes \u2014 there\u2019s one with a \u201csuper king\u201d bed that could fit a large family \u2014 and all are equipped with instant-coffee machines, green tea, fridges, electric razors, pajamas, and a bidet in the bathroom. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo<\/a> \u2013 Housed in the top eight floors of one of the city\u2019s tallest skyscrapers, the Ritz-Carlton is one of the most luxurious spots in Tokyo. There are seven restaurants and an entire floor dedicated to wellness and working out. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, some with stunning views of Mount Fuji. Even the basic rooms are huge and laden with all the posh amenities you\u2019d expect from a hotel of this caliber. And if all that shopping builds up an appetite, Ginza boasts an amazing collection of restaurants. Not surprisingly, it\u2019s easy to break the bank here at counters serving some of the best sushi you\u2019ll eat in your life. But if you look a bit, there are ample affordable ramen and soba places, izakayas, and yakitori restaurants scattered around the district. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Ginza<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel<\/a> \u2013 Imano has comfortable dorm-style rooms, in which each bed is in a pod-like setting. So expect to get some extra privacy here \u2014 as long as you don\u2019t mind sleeping in a pod. Each has its own lights, outlets, shelves, and a comfortable mattress. There is also a larger room for traveling families and a few private rooms, as well as a communal kitchen and a comfortable common lounge. <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: The Celestine Ginza<\/a> \u2013 The 104-room Celestine is located in a tower on a street flanked by shops, restaurants, and bars so it\u2019s right in the middle of the action. The rooms are fairly large and have desks, minibars, and spacious bathrooms. Some have floor-to-ceiling windows; others have comfortable sofas.<\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Hyatt Centric Ginza<\/a> \u2013 The 164 rooms at this property are understated but filled with comfortable luxury amenities. BeeKind bath products, Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso coffee machines, and, of course, stunning views of Ginza and beyond make this one of the poshest spots in town. There\u2019s also a celebrated restaurant and a 24-hour gym in the hotel. But there\u2019s more to this neighborhood than just historical sites. Hoppy Street is fringed with indoor and outdoor pubs; Nakamise Street is the same but for shopping. There\u2019s also the historic Hanayashiki amusement park, and, in neighboring Ryugoku, you can witness sumo wrestlers practicing. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Asakusa<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Plat Keikyu<\/a> \u2013 Conveniently located across from Akasaka Station, Plat is bathed in a lot of wood, giving it a very homey feel. The hostel has private and semi-private rooms, as well as 12-person dorm rooms (and also a 12-person female-only dorm) with semiprivate pods that have lights and outlets. <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Asakusa View Hotel<\/a> \u2013 This unique property tries to take you right into the heart of historical Tokyo. Expect to find geishas strolling by as if the 19th century never ended, as well as a theater for performing traditional Japanese plays. The rooms are comfortable and simple, bedecked in dark woods and boasting bathtubs, TVs, and kettles for sipping green tea. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Asakusa Excel Hotel<\/a> \u2013 A nice, luxurious base for a stay in Asakusa, this hotel has a huge gym, a laundry room, an upscale Japanese restaurant, and even a cigar bar. The 487 rooms are all a bit on the smaller side, but they make up for it with some of the most comfortable beds around. Best of all, many of the hip thrift stores are still here. So you can stay in Shimokita and go shopping during the day and then hit up the great restaurants and bars that have opened up relatively recently. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Shimokitazawa<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: The Wardrobe Hotel<\/a> \u2013 This hostel has private rooms and a large dormitory for those on a serious budget. As is the case in many hostels in Japan, the sleeping situation in the dorms is pod-like: each guest gets their own individual pod with a light and outlet \u2014 and therefore, a lot more privacy than your average hostel dorm room. <\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: The Mustard Hotel<\/a> \u2013 Opened in late 2021, the 60-room Mustard is a minimalist boutique hotel in the center of Shimokita. Naturally, the guest rooms have record players with a selection of vinyl. The on-site caf\u00e9 serves up third-wave coffee to locals and visitors alike. <\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Yuen Bettai Daita<\/a> \u2013 Located just to the west of Shimokitazawa, this is a ryokan-style property (meaning a traditional inn). There\u2019s even an onsen (hot spring) in the hotel. The guest rooms are minimalist in the Japanese manner, but oh-so-comfortable at the same time. The on-site traditional Japanese restaurant\/teahouse is worth staying in for. The neighborhood is host to classic traditional sites as well as tall glass skyscrapers. So it\u2019s old and new, traditional and contemporary. Home to Tokyo Station, the National Museum of Modern Art, the Tokyo International Forum, and scores of shopping centers, galleries, and restaurants, Marunouchi is just a short train ride to the rest of Tokyo. <\/p>\n Best Places to Stay in Marunouchi<\/strong>:<\/p>\n BUDGET<\/strong>: Hotel Metropolitan<\/a> \u2013 Marunouchi doesn\u2019t have a lot of affordable accommodation options. Hotel Metropolitan may not have hostel prices, but for a bit more than an average hostel, you can stay in total comfort here. Located in a tower across from Tokyo Station, the rooms here are on the smaller side but have bathtubs, bath products, flat-screen TVs, and free bottled water and green tea (plus electric kettles).<\/p>\n MID-RANGE<\/strong>: Marunouchi Hotel<\/a> \u2013 It\u2019s hard to get more Marunouchi than this hotel. The property has a few nice restaurants, including French, Japanese, and teppanyaki ones. The large standard double rooms have massive beds, plus enough amenities to make any traveler feel relaxed and comfortable.<\/p>\n LUXURY<\/strong>: Four Seasons Hotel at Marunouchi<\/a> \u2013 You can expect to be pampered at his posh, centrally located, five-star hotel. The rooms are huge, and many have great views of Tokyo Station and beyond. There are only 57 rooms at this boutique Four Seasons outpost, so expect to get all the attention you want here. The in-house eatery fuses French and Japanese cuisines to great fanfare. <\/p>\n Tokyo<\/a> is massive. There are few other places where I really need to emphasize that the location you choose to base yourself is of utmost importance. This way, you won\u2019t spend so much time traversing the city on the subway. <\/p>\n But don\u2019t be too concerned about it, either. Tokyo is great for just wandering too, taking in the organized chaos that is the world\u2019s biggest \u2014 and busiest \u2014 metropolis.<\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> For more hostels, here is a complete list of my favorite hostels in Tokyo<\/a>. <\/p>\n Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Japan Rail Pass<\/a> if you’ll be traveling around the country. It comes in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes and can save you a ton of money! <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/media.nomadicmatt.com\/2023\/Tokyo_V2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nNeighborhood\n<\/div>\n\nBest For\n<\/div>\n\nBest Hotel\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShinjuku\n<\/div>\n\nSightseeing\n<\/div>\n\nHotel Century Southern Tower<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShibuya\n<\/div>\n\nBudget\n<\/div>\n\nShibuya Creston Hotel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nUeno\n<\/div>\n\nMuseums\n<\/div>\n\nCenturion Hotel & Spa<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nRoppongi\n<\/div>\n\nNightlife\n<\/div>\n\nMitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGinza\n<\/div>\n\nShopping\n<\/div>\n\nThe Celestine Ginza<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAsakusa\n<\/div>\n\nHistory\n<\/div>\n\nAsakusa View Hotel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nShimokitazawa\n<\/div>\n\nHipsters\n<\/div>\n\nThe Mustard Hotel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMarunouchi\n<\/div>\n\nConvenience\n<\/div>\n\nMarunouchi Hotel<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\nSee More hotels<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Where to Stay for Sightseeing: Shinjuku<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nShinjuku is fascinating. It\u2019s like Tokyo in microcosm. Sparkling skyscrapers, temples, placid parks, hip and traditional restaurants, chaotic street crossings, and the busiest train station on the planet \u2014 it\u2019s all here. There are nearly a dozen and a half Michelin-starred restaurants in the neighborhood, as well as scores of narrow-laned swaths lined by diminutive bars and street-food eateries, namely Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho. Shinjuku is also home to an LGBTQ+ district. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Budget Travelers: Shibuya<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nWhen most non-Japanese people think of Japan, particularly Tokyo, they think of Shibuya \u2014 whether they know it or not: the bright flashing lights, the glass skyscrapers, the sidewalks crammed with people, the mesmerizingly busy intersections with pedestrians marching in every direction. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Museums: Ueno<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nThe Tokyo National Museum, the Ueno Royal Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Shitamachi Museum are but a few of the museums that are sprinkled around Ueno \u2014 mostly Ueno-koen, the Central Park\u2013like swath of greenery that is the center point of the neighborhood. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Nightlife: Roppongi<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nHome to the iconic Tokyo Tower, the Mori Art Museum, the Roppongi Hills, and Tokyo Midtown shopping\/entertainment complexes, Roppongi has a little something for everyone. But if you\u2019re into nightlife, it\u2019s particularly great. When the sun sets, the clubs and bars shine \u2014 everything from wine, craft beer, and liquor bars to clubs where you can dance until the sun rises. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Shopping: Ginza<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nIf you\u2019re looking to max out your credit card in Tokyo \u2014 and it\u2019s certainly not a challenge to do that \u2014 polished and posh Ginza is the place, Its streets are flanked by upscale shops for all the household-name designers, as well as some Japanese ones that might be unfamiliar to you. Whatever the case, you can spend days here jumping from boutique to boutique, immersed in all the latest styles and trends. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for History Lovers: Asakusa<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nAsakusa-jinja, one of Tokyo\u2019s greatest Shinto shrines (from the 17th century), the imposing neo-Baroque imperial palace, and a handful of other stunning shrines contribute to the historical makeup of tranquil Asakusa. If you come to Tokyo to delve into the history of this fascinating city, Asakusa is the place to plant yourself for a while. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Hipsters: Shimokitazawa<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nOnce the one-stop neighborhood to go thrift-store shopping in Japan, Shimokitazawa has changed a lot in the last five years. Shimokita, as locals call it, has been transformed into a district for people who love indie film, indie bookshops, hipster caf\u00e9s, and cutting-edge restaurants. <\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nWhere to Stay for Convenience: Marunouchi<\/a><\/h3>\n
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\nIf you can\u2019t figure out a neighborhood to stay in because you\u2019re too little (or too much) of a foodie, history buff, shopper, nightlifer, etc., then just shrug and put yourself in Marunouchi. Geographically, it\u2019s in the center of it all. <\/p>\n\nBook Your Trip to Tokyo: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nUse Skyscanner<\/a> to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. <\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nCheck out my resource page<\/a> for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. <\/p>\n