A guide to where to stay in Tokyo: the best areas and hotels

From high-tech enclaves to peaceful, bayside sleeps, these are the best places to stay in Tokyo.

The Japanese capital is getting ready to shine in the spotlight, as 2020 brings the Olympics to Tokyo. Whether you’re planning a trip to watch the sport or you’re just taking a holiday in the next year or so, these are the best hotels in Tokyo and the best places to base yourself.

More like this: Why 2020 is the best time to visit Japan

Hotels in Ginza

Best area in Tokyo for: glitz and glamour

If wide, tree-lined avenues and high-end designer stores are your thing, Ginza is the best place to stay in Tokyo for you. This is luxury central, with glitzy shopping malls and some of the most expensive and luxurious hotels in town. Don’t miss a kabuki (traditional Japanese theatre) performance at the 19th-century Kabuki-za Theatre.

Stay at:the Imperial Hotel - serving up first-class luxury since the 1800s, this gorgeous, historic hotel is a sublime place to stay in Tokyo. Expect elegant decor and an astonishing array of dining options.

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Homely ryokan in Japan from £50 per night

Check out Tokyo's best ryokan – traditional Japanese inns – for 2020.

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Incredible luxury hotels in Japan

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Hotels in Shinjuku

Best area in Tokyo for: entertainment

Everything from tiny, unique bars to glittering department stores and chaotic video game arcades, Shinjuku is wild - in more ways than one. Come here for fun nights out in the Golden Gai - a ramshackle collection of tiny bars - and to play nostalgic games until the early hours at the multistorey SEGA arcade, then clear your head the next day in the gorgeous National Garden. For dinner, head to Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) for incredible yakitori (grilled food).

Stay at:Park Hyatt Tokyo - west of the main Shinjuku station, this is the best option in the part of Tokyo, and is possbly one of the best hotels in Japan. You might recognise its bar from the film Lost in Translation - the views are fabulous.

More like this: 14 beautiful photos of Japanese cherry blossom

Hotels in Shibuya

Best area in Tokyo for: only-in-Japan moments

Swish shopping malls and lovely park temples make Shibuya a delightful place to base yourself, but Harajuku - one of the most fascinating streets in this end of the city - is a whole other world. This is where Tokyo’s cool kids come to hang out, wearing elaborate, colourful costimes and snacking on seriously sweet snacks like candy floss and near-luminous ice cream.

Stay at:Trunk Hotel - a stunning design hotel with upcycled furniture made with Japanese materials and seriously cool vibes. Book a room with a balcony for a little outside space, or the balcony junior suite if you’re travelling with the kids. The bunk beds here are super fun.

Hotels in Imperial Palace

Best area in Tokyo for:

This serene expanse of glorious greenery is a welcome breath of fresh air in Tokyo - a city that runs on organised chaos. Stroll along the moats and bridges that criss-cross this park, and admire the Imperial Palace from afar (you can only enter on specific days throughout the year) as you wander. There are a couple of interesting museums in this area too, including a science museum great for kids and the National Museum of Modern Art.

Stay at:The Tokyo Station Hotel - seriously convenient, with trains direct from the airport, this high-end, historic hotel is delightful. There’s a spa here too, so wind down with a massage after a busy day’s sightseeing.

Hotels in Uneo

Best area in Tokyo for: museums

A little out of the way, up in northern Tokyo, Ueno is one for the museum buffs. Up here you’ve got easy access to the Tokyo National Museum - where you’ll find all manner of historical Japanese artifacts - the Metropolitan Art Museum anda natural history museum, all within the confines of a gorgeous, sprawling park.

Stay at: Hoshinoya Tokyo - a striking, Japanese design-led hotel with minimalist decor and exceptional food.

We continually check thousands of prices to show you the best deals. If you buy a product through our site we will earn a small commission from the retailer – a sort of automated referral fee – but our reviewers are always kept separate from this process. You can read more about how we make money in our Ethics Policy.

Stunning hotel deals in Japan

Homely ryokan in Japan from £50 per night

Check out Tokyo's best ryokan – traditional Japanese inns – for 2020.

booking.com

|

Traditional hospitality from

|

£50

View Deal

£50

|

Traditional hospitality from

|

booking.com

Incredible luxury hotels in Japan

Experience the peak of luxury Japanese style and hospitality with the finest five-star hotels in Tokyo.

|

Stunning luxury from

|

£200

View Deal

£200

|

Stunning luxury from

|

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Hotels in Odaiba

Best area in Tokyo for: high-tech fun by the sea

Just a short ferry ride or futuristic train journey from mainland Tokyo, Odaiba island is far more laid-back place to spend a few nights. Surrounded by the royal blue waters of Tokyo Bay, it feels much more open than much of the main city, but still has plenty of the high tech wonder. Pop into the Kawasaki exhibition to have your portrait drawn by a robot, and head to the Toyota Showcase to see the latest in Japanese car technology (and test drive some new vehicles). There’s plenty of great food here too, especially at the Tokyo Ramen Kokugikan Mai, where ramen chefs face off to make the best bowls of comforting noodles.

Stay at:Hilton Tokyo Odaiba - a reliable, familiar hotel overlooking the boats going back and forth in Tokyo Bay.

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Lottie Gross

Lottie is an NCTJ-trained journalist, an experienced travel writer and an expert in creating compelling digital content. 


Lottie has been in the travel writing business for nearly a decade and has writing and photography bylines at The Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, the i and National Geographic Traveller. She's done broadcast work for BBC Radio 4 and have contributed to a number of guidebooks and coffee table titles during her career.