The Greatest Neighborhoods for Your Go to

Posted: 3/24/2023 | March 24, 2023

Tokyo is the most important metropolis on the planet, dwelling to a whopping 37 million individuals within the metro space. The town. Unimaginable, wonderful, and bewildering. However huge.

When it comes to neighborhoods, there are 14 city hubs unfold out throughout the megalopolis. There are additionally 23 wards — 5 of which make up the central a part of city — and, inside these wards, lots of of neighborhoods.

However, as a customer to town, there are just a few areas which can be best to remain in. You don’t must undergo all of the facilities and wards. For my part, there are solely about eight areas value staying in.

Right here is my breakdown of these eight greatest neighborhoods in Tokyo for guests (in addition to instructed lodging in every) so you’ll be able to determine which space is best for you.

However, first, listed here are some frequent questions I get requested about staying in Tokyo that I need to reply:

What’s the very best neighborhood for sightseeing?
Shinjuku is a busy, centrally positioned neighborhood that has sufficient points of interest to awe any customer — particularly a first-time customer.

What’s the very best neighborhood for vacationers on a price range?
Shibuya is a full of life, action-packed a part of city that additionally occurs to have some good hostels, low-cost eats, and inexpensive nightlife choices.

What’s the very best neighborhood in Tokyo for museums?
Positioned in and round the principle park in Ueno are a number of the metropolis’s greatest museums. If you wish to spend a day or three going museum-hopping, that is the place to do it.

What’s the very best neighborhood for nightlife?
When the solar goes down, Roppongi comes alive. It’s already a buzzing neighborhood, however at night time the bars and golf equipment open up and fun-seeking locals gravitate right here.

What’s the very best neighborhood for purchasing?
Upscale Ginza is without doubt one of the world’s most well-known purchasing districts. Everybody from legendary, household-name worldwide designers to native up-and-coming ones have shops right here.

What’s the very best neighborhood for foodies?
Maybe essentially the most bustling district within the busiest metropolis on the planet, Shinjuku can be an excellent place for hungry food-loving vacationers, as it’s dwelling to swaths of bar-and-restaurant-flanked lanes.

What’s the very best neighborhood for historical past?
Asakusa is a central neighborhood that additionally occurs to be one of the crucial conventional. When you’re in search of outdated Edo — the erstwhile identify of this metropolis — you would possibly discover it in Asakusa.

What’s the very best neighborhood for hipsters?
Shimokitazawa, referred to as “Shimokita” to locals, has been reworked in recent times right into a go-to spot for hipster cafés and cinemas.

What’s the very best neighborhood total?
Marunouchi is smack within the middle of all of it. It’s not essentially loaded with all of the points of interest — in spite of everything, that is Tokyo, so that they’re unfold out — but it surely’s geographically best and has just a little little bit of one thing for everybody.

So, with these questions answered, right here’s a breakdown of every neighborhood, with instructed lodging, so you realize exactly the place to remain in Tokyo:

The place to Keep for Sightseeing: Shinjuku

Shinjuku is fascinating. It’s like Tokyo in microcosm. Glowing skyscrapers, temples, placid parks, hip and conventional eating places, chaotic road crossings, and the busiest prepare station on the planet — it’s all right here. There are practically a dozen and a half Michelin-starred eating places within the neighborhood, in addition to scores of narrow-laned swaths lined by diminutive bars and street-food eateries, particularly Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho. Shinjuku can be dwelling to a LGBTQ+ district.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Shinjuku

• BUDGET: Unplan Kagurazaka – The dorms right here all have self-contained bunks full with a comfortable mattress, gentle, energy outlet, and safety field. The hostel additionally has a standard room, shared kitchen, and lively bar/restaurant.
• MID-RANGE: Lodge Century Southern Tower – Request as excessive a room as attainable at Lodge Century, positioned only a few minutes’ stroll from Shinjuku Station, and also you’ll be rewarded with a unbelievable view of the Shinjuku skyline. The spacious visitor rooms have a desk and a sofa. The hearty breakfast buffet is included.
• LUXURY: Hilton Tokyo – A ten-minute stroll from Shinjuku Station, the Hilton Tokyo is a swank and modern lodge bathed in smooth, off-white hues. The visitor rooms are loaded with all of the facilities you’d anticipate from a luxurious lodge, together with posh bathtub merchandise and ultra-fast Wi-Fi. When you can nab an upper-floor room, the views are spectacular.

The place to Keep for Finances Vacationers: Shibuya

When most non-Japanese individuals consider Japan, notably Tokyo, they consider Shibuya — whether or not they comprehend it or not: the intense flashing lights, the glass skyscrapers, the sidewalks filled with individuals, the mesmerizingly busy intersections with pedestrians marching in each course.

It doesn’t seem at first that Shibuya could be a superb candidate for the budget-minded traveler, however there are some very nice, inexpensive hostels right here, and the thoroughfares are sprinkled with above-average road meals. Plus, the eye-candy spectacle of all of it means that you would be able to simply plant your self someplace and spend hours beguiled by the extravaganza that’s Shibuya — all with out spending a dime.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Shibuya

• BUDGET: Almond Hostel & Cafe – This enjoyable and relaxed hostel has blended and female-only dorm rooms. The sleeping quarters consist of personal cubby-hole-like areas for max privateness. Every pod has a lightweight, {an electrical} outlet, hooks for hangers, and a shelf.
• MID-RANGE: Shibuya Creston Lodge – Whereas just a little bland, this lodge is clear, snug, inexpensive, and in an excellent location. Rooms have coffee- and tea-making machines and complimentary bottled water.
• LUXURY: Cerulean Tower – Set in a high-rise constructing within the middle of Shibuya, Cerulean Tower begins on the nineteenth flooring, so that you’re assured an excellent view out of your room, which might be massive and include Japanese inexperienced tea units, a chaise lounge, mini-bar, and luxe bathtub merchandise. The lodge additionally has eight completely different eating places and bars.

The place to Keep for Museums: Ueno

The Tokyo Nationwide Museum, the Ueno Royal Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Artwork Museum, the Nationwide Museum of Nature and Science, the Nationwide Museum of Western Artwork, and the Shitamachi Museum are however a couple of of the museums which can be sprinkled round Ueno — largely Ueno-koen, the Central Park–like swath of greenery that’s the centerpoint of the neighborhood.

Staying in Ueno means you’ll be mere steps from the largest and greatest museums. However it’s not all museums right here. Along with the good park, Ueno is a superb eating vacation spot too.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Ueno

• BUDGET: Grids Lodge and Hostel – Positioned proper throughout from Ueno Station, Grids is smack within the middle of the motion. The wood-paneled dorm rooms are clear and fashionable, and every mattress has a lightweight and energy outlet. The bathrooms within the shared bogs are of the super-high-tech Japanese selection.
• MID-RANGE: Centurion Lodge & Spa – Only a few minutes’ stroll from a number of subway stations and a prepare station, Centurion is an oasis. The spacious rooms have tea kettles and occasional makers, the bogs characteristic luxurious bathtub merchandise, the in-house eatery focuses on steak, and the spa makes use of pure spring water.
• LUXURY: Mimaru Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi – The rooms at this property are extra-large; some have 4 futon beds, and others have kitchens and eating tables. Bathrobes and slippers in every room make the keep that rather more snug. And the situation is tough to beat.

The place to Keep for Nightlife: Roppongi

House to the enduring Tokyo Tower, the Mori Artwork Museum, the Roppongi Hills, and Tokyo Midtown purchasing/leisure complexes, Roppongi has just a little one thing for everybody. However in case you’re into nightlife, it’s notably nice. When the solar units, the golf equipment and bars shine — every little thing from wine, craft beer, and liquor bars to golf equipment the place you’ll be able to dance till the solar rises.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Roppongi

• BUDGET: Lodge Villa Fontaine Tokyo-Roppongi – There aren’t a ton of price range choices in Roppongi, however Villa Fontaine makes up for it by providing superior service and clear, snug rooms with fridges, humidifying air cleaners, AC, electrical kettles, and TVs (and bidets).
• MID-RANGE: Mitsui Backyard Lodge Roppongi – Set in a modern high-rise tower, Mitsui Backyard is a great spot wherein to put your head. Rooms are available various sizes — there’s one with a “tremendous king” mattress that would match a big household — and all are outfitted with instant-coffee machines, inexperienced tea, fridges, electrical razors, pajamas, and a bidet within the toilet.
• LUXURY: Ritz-Carlton Tokyo – Housed within the prime eight flooring of one of many metropolis’s tallest skyscrapers, the Ritz-Carlton is without doubt one of the most luxurious spots in Tokyo. There are seven eating places and a complete flooring devoted to wellness and figuring out. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling home windows, some with gorgeous views of Mount Fuji. Even the essential rooms are large and laden with all the luxury facilities you’d anticipate from a lodge of this caliber.

The place to Keep for Purchasing: Ginza

When you’re trying to max out your bank card in Tokyo — and it’s definitely not a problem to do this — polished and posh Ginza is the place, Its streets are flanked by upscale outlets for all of the household-name designers, in addition to some Japanese ones that is likely to be unfamiliar to you. Regardless of the case, you’ll be able to spend days right here leaping from boutique to boutique, immersed in all the most recent types and developments.

And if all that purchasing builds up an urge for food, Ginza boasts an incredible assortment of eating places. Not surprisingly, it’s straightforward to interrupt the financial institution right here at counters serving a number of the greatest sushi you’ll eat in your life. However in case you look a bit, there are ample inexpensive ramen and soba locations, izakayas, and yakitori eating places scattered across the district.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Ginza

• BUDGET: Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel – Imano has snug dorm-style rooms, wherein every mattress is in a pod-like setting. So anticipate to get some further privateness right here — so long as you don’t thoughts sleeping in a pod. Every has its personal lights, retailers, cabinets, and a snug mattress. There’s additionally a bigger room for touring households and some non-public rooms, in addition to a communal kitchen and a snug frequent lounge.
• MID-RANGE: The Celestine Ginza – The 104-room Celestine is positioned up in a tower on a road flanked by outlets, eating places, and bars so it’s proper in the midst of the motion. The rooms are pretty massive and have desks, minibars, and spacious bogs. Some have floor-to-ceiling home windows; others have snug sofas.
• LUXURY: Hyatt Centric Ginza – The 164 rooms at this property are understated however full of snug luxurious facilities. BeeKind bathtub merchandise, Bluetooth audio system, Nespresso espresso machines, and, in fact, gorgeous views of Ginza and past make this one of many poshest spots on the town. There’s additionally a celebrated restaurant and a 24-hour health club within the lodge.

The place to Keep for Historical past Lovers: Asakusa

Asakusa-jinja, one in all Tokyo’s best Shinto shrines (from the seventeenth century), the imposing neo-Baroque imperial palace, and a handful of different gorgeous shrines contribute to the historic make-up of tranquil Asakusa. When you got here to Tokyo to delve into the historical past of this fascinating metropolis, Asakusa is the place to plant your self for some time.

However there’s extra to this neighborhood than simply historic websites. Hoppy Road is a fringed with indoor and out of doors pubs; Nakamise Road is similar however for purchasing. There’s additionally the historic Hanayashiki amusement park, and, in neighboring Ryugoku, you’ll be able to witness sumo wrestlers training.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Asakusa

• BUDGET: Plat Keikyu – Conveniently positioned throughout from Akasaka Station, Plat is bathed in a whole lot of wooden, giving it a really homey really feel. The hostel has non-public and semi-private rooms, in addition to 12-person dorm rooms (and in addition a 12-person female-only dorm) with semiprivate pods which have lights and retailers.
• MID-RANGE: Asakusa View Lodge – This distinctive property tries to take you proper into the center of historic Tokyo. Look forward to finding geishas strolling by as if the nineteenth century by no means ended, in addition to a theater for performing conventional Japanese performs. The rooms are snug and easy, bedecked in darkish woods and boasting bathtubs, TVs, and kettles for sipping inexperienced tea.
• LUXURY: Asakusa Excel Lodge – A pleasant, luxurious base for a keep in Asakusa, this lodge has an enormous health club, a laundry room, an upscale Japanese restaurant, and even a cigar bar. The 487 rooms are all a bit on the smaller aspect, however they make up for it with a number of the most snug beds round.

The place to Keep for Hipsters: Shimokitazawa

As soon as the one-stop neighborhood to go thrift-store purchasing in Japan, Shimokitazawa has modified quite a bit within the final 5 years. Shimokita, as locals name it, has been reworked right into a district for individuals who love indie movie, indie bookshops, hipster cafés, and cutting-edge eating places.

Better of all, most of the hip thrift shops are nonetheless right here. So you’ll be able to keep in Shimokita and buy groceries through the day after which hit up the good eating places and bars which have opened up comparatively not too long ago.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Shimokitazawa

• BUDGET: The Wardrobe Lodge – This hostel has non-public rooms and a big dormitory for these on a critical price range. As is the case in lots of hostels in Japan, the sleeping state of affairs within the dorms is pod-like: every visitor will get their very own particular person pod with a lightweight and outlet — and subsequently, much more privateness than your common hostel dorm room.
• MID-RANGE: The Mustard Lodge – Opened in late 2021, the 60-room Mustard is a minimalist boutique lodge within the middle of Shimokita. Naturally, the visitor rooms have file gamers with a collection of vinyl. The on-site café serves up third-wave espresso to locals and guests alike.
• LUXURY: Yuen Bettai Daita – Positioned simply to the west of Shimokitazawa, this can be a ryokan-style property (which means a standard inn). There’s even an onsen (sizzling spring) within the lodge. The visitor rooms are minimalist within the Japanese method, however oh-so-comfortable on the identical time. The on-site conventional Japanese restaurant/teahouse is value staying in for.

The place to Keep for Comfort: Marunouchi

When you can’t determine a neighborhood to remain in since you’re too little (or an excessive amount of) of a foodie, historical past buff, shopper, nightlifer, and so on., then simply shrug and put your self in Marunouchi. Geographically, it’s within the middle of all of it.

The neighborhood is host to basic conventional websites in addition to tall glass skyscrapers. So it’s outdated and new, conventional and modern. House to Tokyo Station, the Nationwide Museum of Trendy Artwork, the Tokyo Worldwide Discussion board, and scores of purchasing facilities, galleries, and eating places, Marunouchi is only a brief prepare journey to the remainder of Tokyo.

Greatest Locations to Keep in Marunouchi

• BUDGET: Lodge Metropolitan – Marunouchi doesn’t have a whole lot of inexpensive lodging choices. Lodge Metropolitan could not have hostel costs, however for a bit greater than a mean hostel, you’ll be able to keep in whole consolation right here. Positioned in a tower throughout from Tokyo Station, the rooms listed here are on the smaller aspect however have bathtubs, bathtub merchandise, flat-screen TVs, and free bottled water and inexperienced tea (plus electrical kettles).
• MID-RANGE: Marunouchi Lodge – It’s exhausting to get extra Marunouchi than this lodge. The property has a couple of good eating places, together with French, Japanese, and teppanyaki ones. The big normal double rooms have huge beds, plus sufficient facilities to make any traveler really feel relaxed and comfy.
• LUXURY: 4 Seasons Lodge at Marunouchi – You’ll be able to anticipate to be pampered at his posh, centrally positioned, five-star lodge. The rooms are large, and plenty of have nice views of Tokyo Station and past. There are solely 57 rooms at this boutique 4 Seasons outpost, so anticipate to get all the eye you need right here. The in-house eatery fuses French and Japanese cuisines to nice fanfare.

Tokyo is very large. There are few different locations the place I actually need to emphasise that the situation you select to base your self is of utmost significance. This fashion, you received’t spend a lot time traversing town on the subway.

However don’t be too involved about it, both. Tokyo is nice for simply wandering too, taking within the organized chaos that’s the world’s largest — and busiest — metropolis.