What is the best area of Tokyo to stay in?
By Grace Reveley. Updated January 2026
Tokyo lies at the head of Tokyo Bay on the central coast of Honshu, the largest island in Japan. In 2025, Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million visitors [1] Japan National Tourism Organization - Inbound Statistics and half of them visited the capital [2] Japan National Tourism Organization - Visitor Distribution .
As the premier destination in the country, Tokyo sees the majority of its visitors stay for more than 4 nights. This massive influx of tourism helped the surrounding Kanto region reach an astonishing 58 million accumulated foreign national guest nights in 2024 [1] Japan National Tourism Organization - Inbound Statistics .
From anime to ramen, and from wide open parks filled with cherry blossoms to history rich museums, this enchanting city offers a fusion of the past and the present. Tokyo is made up of many areas that each hold shops, bars, restaurants, local attractions, and more. You can explore Shinjuku, the home of the explorer, or Harajuku, the home of the Meiji Shrine. There is also Akihabara, where all things technology and anime combine, and Ginza, which is a dream for any shopping lover. Each area holds everything from hidden shrines to dog cafes, making it the perfect city to explore.
Shinjuku is the best area to stay in Tokyo as you can start exploring as soon as you step out of your hotel, with shops, bars, restaurants and neon lights on every corner. With its huge station taking over 2 million passengers a day around Tokyo, it’s a perfect base to explore the rest of this magical city. From hostels to 5* hotels, Shinjuku suits every budget, making it great for both friends and families. Whether you’re in Tokyo to shop, delve into the history and culture or just try delicious ramen, Shinjuku is the perfect base for your Tokyo adventure.On the map,which shows the most convenient area to stay in Tokyo, you can see a selection of some of thebest located hotels.
On the map, which shows the most convenient areas to stay in Tokyo, you can see a selection of some of the best located hotels.
Practical Information for Visiting Tokyo
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Country: Japan - View all our our destinations for Japan
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Region: Kantō
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Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
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Language: Japanese
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Best time to visit:
- March to May for cherry blossoms
- September to November for autumn foliage
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Climate: Humid subtropical
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Airport: Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) / Haneda Airport (HND)
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Getting around: Extensive train/subway system; buses, taxis, and ride-hailing apps widely available
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Good to know: Peak tourism seasons are cherry blossom (Mar–Apr) and autumn (Oct–Nov); stations can be very crowded
Related destinations: Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima
Where to Stay in Tokyo: Quick Overview
- Shinjuku → Best area overall, central, great for tourists and first-time visitors
- Shibuya → Trendy, nightlife, shopping, foodies
- Nihonbashi → Historical area, luxury shopping, food lovers
- Ginza → Upmarket shopping, dining, entertainment
- Roppongi → Nightlife, bars, restaurants
- Harajuku → Fashion district, pop culture
- Akihabara → Electronics, anime, game lovers
- Ueno → Cherry blossoms, museums, parks
- Asakusa → Sightseeing, temples, shopping
- Odaiba → Panoramic views, futuristic malls, shopping
- Shiodome → Skyscrapers, business, modern attractions
Our Favourite Hotels
These are our 3 favourite hotels in Tokyo
The Okura Tokyo
The Okura offers a rare level of warmth and stylish, classic service that never feels stuffy. The rooms are incredibly generous for Tokyo, featuring breathtaking views and amazing baths with city-facing windows, all just steps from several metro stations.
BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel
Bellustar features breathtaking views and a prime location, with spacious rooms and amazing bathtubs designed for relaxation. The staff provides exceptional, personalized service, and the executive lounge offers a wonderful selection of complimentary snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand
Keio Plaza is set in an upscale district near major attractions and offers a seamless Disney shuttle service. The club lounge and breakfast provide a great variety of Japanese and Western dishes, while the rooms feature wonderful city views. The staff is highly professional and offers unique cultural touches like traditional tea ceremonies.
Shinjuku, the best area to stay in Tokyo for tourists and first time visitors
First Time / Tourists / Entertainment
Explorers will love staying in Shinjuku, with hundreds of activities that can be found right on your doorstep. You can find activities such as fantastic free city views at the Tokyo Government Metropolitan Building to Golden Gai, where tiny restaurants and bars welcome guests for a night of local entertainment, to having a picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. You can visit Omoide Yokocho, a narrow alleyway filled full of red lanterns, offering traditional Japanese pubs to experience drinking like a local in old Japan,
If you’re looking for something completely different, head to the Robot Restaurant and prepared to be wowed by neon lights and a live robot perfoamnce as you eat your dinner, not something you do every day. Just a short walk from Shinjuku will take you to Tokyo’s Korean town, where you can enjoy a Korean hot dog or watch a K-pop performance.
Other areas to stay in Tokyo
Shibuya
Nightlife / Shooping / Foodies
Home to the famous scramble crossing and beautiful, boutique shops, Shibuya is the place to stay for those who want to be in the thick of Tokyo’s atmosphere. Directly south and just a 7-minute train away from Shinjuku, Shibuya’s location is perfect to explore the wider Tokyo with direct train links all over the city. This area is popular with younger people due to its trendy fashion scene, great bars and lively streets.
No stay in Shibuya would be complete without a visit to scramble crossing, where people, cars and bikes cross a small intersection in their thousands. Experience scramble crossing by Go Kart, as you dress as Super Mario whizzing through the streets, a truly unique way to cross. After a busy day in Shibuya and for those who love manga, there is a cafe on every corner packed full of manga to read while you take a well-earned break with some delicious food.
Nihonbashi
Shopping / Foodies / History
Nihonbashi is where old meets new, a perfect place to stay for history and food lovers. Nihonbashi blends modern architecture with glimpses of culture. It’s home to museums such as The Mitsu Memorial museum and streets that show remnants from the Edo Period, it’s easy to explore both old and new Tokyo here. Visit Nihonbashi’s symbolic bridge, lined with bronze lions and dragons dating back to 1911, where Tokyo measures all its distances from. For those who love shopping, you will find Tokyo’s oldest department store in Nihonbashi called Mitsukoshi dating back to 1673.
Nihonbashi holds some of the best gourmet restaurants in Tokyo, these can be found in the fish market. Being in the heart of Tokyo, Nihonbashi offers very high-end hotels, so those on a budget, look away now. Exploring further afield, you will find the Imperial Palace a short distance away, a great place to explore and wander the high-end streets close by.
Ginza
Upmarket Shopping / Dining / Entertainment
Ginza is Tokyo’s fashion centre, perfect for those who love to shop. Offering both designer luxury and famous fashion brands, Ginza is famous for high-end luxury and its polished appearance that starts from the main shopping street of Chuo-Dori. Ginza has large shopping centres such as Ginza Six which holds over 240 stores and Ginza Wako, a traditional Japanese department store, so shopping isn’t in short supply. The high-end restaurant scene can be found in Ginza, with a huge range of luxury restaurants such as Armani Ristorante and the Bvlgari La Terrazza Lounge.
Ginza is also home to Kabukiza, Tokyo’s traditional Kabuki theatre. This all-male theatre offers performances stretching back over 400 years to new contemporary theatre. Ginza also has many other attractions such as the Police Museum, run by the local police and art galleries such as Gallery Shukado which hosts a variety of Japanese paintings and antiques.
Roppongi
Nightlife / Bars / Restaurants
Home to the best nightlife in Tokyo, Roppongi is the place to stay for those who come alive at night. Get your dancing shoes ready, as Roppongi is home to some of the best bars and clubs in Tokyo. Explore the famous Roppongi Hills, which is full of restaurants, shops and bars and great views of cherry blossoms in March and April in its garden complex. See Roppongi and the surrounding areas from above at the Tokyo Tower, offering unobstructed views of the city.
Roppongi art triangle is home to world-renowned art galleries such as Mori Art Museum, The National Art Centre and the Suntory Museum of Art, which offers a modern-day twist on Tokyo’s art scene. With Akasaka, just a short walk away and famous for its many attractions, you can visit the Hie Shrine, famed for its orange gates, the Akaska Palace, Sensō-Ji, the famous Buddhist temple complex and the Edo Tokyo Museum.
Harajuku
Fashion District / Pop Culture
Harajuku is home to Meiji-jingū, one of the most famous shrines in Tokyo, making this area the perfect base for culture enthusiasts. The neighbouring Yoyogi park leads you to the Meji-jingū shrine, this walk is beautiful as you pass shrines, old barrels of sake with beautiful inscriptions and well-kept flora and fauna. Harajuku shopping scene is quirky and full of independent shops, start at Takeshita Dori, the main shopping street and make your way through hundreds of shops as you walk. Accommodation can be limited in Harajuku so book in advance to avoid disappointment.
The neighbouring city of Shibuya is home to the famous scramble crossing where cars, bikes and people cross in their thousands. To get the best view of the madness, head to the local Starbucks above the crossing for a free view of everything below. Shibuya is packed full of shops and restaurants to take a break in from this busy part of Tokyo.
Akihabara
Electronics / Anime / Game Lovers
Akihabara is the perfect place to stay for anime and game lovers due to its huge technology department stores and multi-level game arcades showcasing Japan’s oldest and newest games. With great value accommodations and links to the surrounding areas using the JY train line from Akihabara train station, it’s a perfect base to explore close to home and further afield. Akihabara is also home to Kanda Myojin Shrine, which dates back as early as the tenth century and has the largest manga and anime shop in the world, Mandarake, making it a great place to stay for families.
Exploring a little further afield is Kōrakuen, this neighbouring city, which is home to beautiful parks such as Koishikawa Botanical Gardens and Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo Greenway that offer snippets of the Edo Period and there is also a good chance to see cherry blossoms here in March and April.
Ueno
Cherry Blossoms / Museums
Heading to Japan in March or April? Then Ueno is the best place to stay to see the cherry blossoms. Home to the large Ueno park, cherry blossoms here aren’t in short supply. Explore the local wildlife in the park, with animals such as snapping turtles and a variety of birdlife, giving you a little oasis in the heart of the city. To explore Ueno park further, why not hire one of the paddle boats on Ueno’s Shinbazu Pond and tour the park from a different angle.
Ueno is also home to multiple activities such as The Ueno Royal Museum, The National Museum of Western Science and even Ueno Zoo, Japan’s first zoological garden. Ueno also has beautifully decorated shrines such as Kaneiji Temple and Toshogu Shrine. With charming local restaurants and shops by day, Ueno is a little quieter at night, however, has fantastic transport links so you can explore the rest of Tokyo’s fantastic food scene.
Asakusa
Sightseeing / Shopping
Asakusa is the place to stay if you love shrines, sushi and sensational views. Located 25 minutes away from Shinjuku by train, Asakusa is famous for Sensoji, the Buddhist temple dating back to the 7th century. When you visit Sensoji, don’t forget to visit the Nakamise shopping area, located on the walk up to the temple where there are over 250 metres of stalls selling snacks and souvenirs. Also home to Asakusa shrine, Hozomon and Sanja Matsuri, Asakusa is great for exploring Tokyo’s culture.
To get another view of Asakusa, why not kayak or take a river cruise down the Sumida river that runs on the edge of this area, an activity that can be done by day or night. If you are looking to see Asakusa from above, head to the Tokyo Skytree for panoramic views of the city. Recently built, the Tokyo Skytree is the tallest building in the country and the second tallest in the world.
Odaiba
Panoramic Views / Shopping
Odaiba is home to 5 giant malls, futurist art displays and a whole host of shopping making it perfect for young couples and friends to stay. From Shinjuku, Odaiba can be accessed by the rainbow bridge or a 13-minute train into Tokyo Bay. Odaiba or Daiba for short has great hotel options which have a huge range to suit everyone. Odaiba has the popular Mori building in the Digital Art Centre, where over 60 interactive art exhibitions are on display to immerse yourself in.
Odaiba gives you the chance to relax after a busy day sightseeing in one of their many Onsens. Similar to hot springs, an Onsen is a traditional Japanese hot bath famous for its relaxing properties and soothing atmosphere. Odaiba also has great shopping in the VenusFort, this shopping centre is designed like medieval Europe offering a wide range of shops in a wow factor setting.
Shiodome
Skyscrapers / Business
Shiodome is one of Tokyo’s newest areas, being transformed from a wasteland into a small city of skyscrapers and gardens, this area is perfect for those visiting Tokyo on business. You may also stay in Shiodome if you’re looking for a sophisticated area with lots of restaurants, shops and bars to enjoy. Just a short train ride away from Shinjuku, Shiodome is not only famous for its skyscrapers but its beautifully landscaped gardens, Hama Rikyu. Formerly part of a feudal lord’s residence, it now is open for the public to enjoy views over Tokyo Bay.
While staying in Shiodome, you must visit the former Shimbashi Station building that has been built as a replica of the first railway station in Japan. It gives an insight into the history of the railway line in their museum. After you visit the station, head under the railway tracks for affordable eating, hang out with the locals and try some of Tokyo’s best beer.
Our recommended hotels in Tokyo
Use the interactive map to navigate through our recommended hotels in TokyoNote: Hotel prices can change daily due to promotions, seasons, and demand. Our $ - $$$$ scale shows the overall cost range rather than exact prices.
