Hotels in Tokyo

Best time to visit Tokyo

Traditional Tokyo locals appreciate and celebrate the changing seasons through several cultural events and unique food festivals. The best time to visit Tokyo depends on what you wish to experience. From late March – early April, catch the cherry blossom season, and enjoy average temperatures of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. From September – October, enjoy plenty of sunny days, and watch the fall foliage create beautiful red and orange hues over the cityscape. In the winter months, average temperature ranges from 45 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Go skiing and snowboarding, and enjoy the Onsen (hot spring bath) during this time. Summer months from June – August are peak tourist season, and you should be prepared for long lineups to visit popular attractions. June – July experience plenty of rainfall but overall, the weather is hot and humid. Try to avoid traveling during Golden Week (a succession of public holidays from late April – early May) when large groups of local vacationers traveling in and out of town leads to longer travel times and steeper hotel rates.

Getting around Tokyo

Tokyo has a large and efficient public transport system. The subways are operated by Tokyo Metro and Toei Subways. The city’s busiest and most important route connecting popular neighborhoods and attractions is an above-ground loop line called the JR Yamanote Line. Fares for all subway lines are based on distance traveled, and the base fare starts at 170 JPY. Invest 500 JPY in a reloadable smart card such as Suica card or Pasmo card for discounted fares and easy access across multiple lines of trains and buses. While the bus network is dense, the route system is complicated. Most drivers do not speak English, and the signs are usually in Japanese. So, it is best if you rely on the subways. Boats are helpful for the destinations that are across Tokyo Bay or on the Sumida River. Metered taxis are expensive but easily available all over the city.

Best places to stay in Tokyo

A city that loves its ‘anime’ and thrives on speed, movement, and neon-lit consumerism, Tokyo attracts a diverse set of travelers. While shopaholics find their haven in Ginza, nightlife revelers enjoy the sleepless Shinjuku, traditionalists are enthralled by remnants of traditional Edo monuments and temples in Asakusa, and young pop-culture fans are attracted to all things hip and funky in Shibuya. Choose where to stay based on what you wish to experience in Tokyo.

Ginza

The upmarket Ginza streets are packed with modern high-rises, swanky restaurants and hotels, and a wide range of shopping venues that cater to all types of budgets. Most hotels in this neighborhood are rather expensive. Check out the Conrad Tokyo hotel, set in a modern high-rise above the Tokyo Shiodome, and stay in contemporary rooms and suites that feature minimalist Japanese design, modern amenities, and panoramic views of Tokyo Bay. For a mid-range budget option, look at Bay Hotel Tokyo Ginza, a capsule hotel with several modern amenities in the heart of Ginza.

Shinjuku

A neighborhood that quite literally never sleeps, Shinjuku features glitzy skyscrapers, multi-story department stores, ramshackle bars along Golden Gai, and the neon-lit nightlife district Kabukicho. It is also home to the leafy green park, Shinjuku Gyoen. Consider the Park Hyatt Tokyo, a luxury hotel occupying the upper floors of Shinjuku Park Tower, offering chic suites with modern décor, original art work, and fascinating views of Mount Fuji. For compact, stylishly designed mid-range budget rooms, check out Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, set in a modern high-rise. It is only a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku train station as well as the Golden Gai district.

Asakusa

Asakusa is a relatively quiet neighborhood, featuring plenty of low-rise buildings, and shops selling traditional Japanese handicrafts and souvenirs. This area is also home to the city’s most venerable temples, and a handful of the remaining Ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). Consider staying in Sadachiyo Sukerokunoyado, a traditional ryokan that takes you back to the Edo-era. The rooms feature floors covered in tatami (straw-mats), walls decorated with Japanese antiques, and sleeping arrangements on traditional bedding called futons. You can also relax in the Onsen (hot spring bath), and enjoy a traditional Japanese meal in the ryokan.

Shibuya

The birthplace of all consumer crazes in Tokyo, Shibuya is a hip neighborhood, and the hub for all things funky and innovative. Packed with quirky eateries, colorful cafés, and specialty stores that cater to young fans of gothic / zombie culture, this area is a youngster’s paradise. Stay in modern, uniquely-styled rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and designer furniture in the Trunk, a chic hotel in the heart of the lively Shibuya district. Check out the stylish rooms and suites in Shibuya Granbell Hotel, just a 3-minute walk from Shibuya train station.

Cheap hotels in Tokyo

Almost all accommodation in Tokyo is expensive but you can still find a bunch of hostels, guesthouses, and capsule hotels at convenient locations in most of the neighborhoods. In Asakusa, you have some stylish hostels such as the Retrometro Backpackers, and Khaosan World Asakusa Ryokan & Hostel. For traditional Japanese-style hostels, consider the Anne Hostel Asakusabashi or Guest House Shinagawa-shuku. Also check out capsule hotels such as Tokyo ¥1980 hotel or the Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel.

The fast-paced and ‘animated’ city of Tokyo is constantly buzzing with excitement. You will see streets filled with hordes of people who are always on the move, and loud, neon-lit billboards competing for eyeballs. Your Tokyo itinerary should include futuristic technology, ancient temples and monuments, parks and museums, lively markets, eclectic dining, and colorful nightlife.

• Admire the French Formal Garden, English Landscape Garden, and Japanese Traditional Garden housed within 144-acres of the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
• Visit the famous 1920-built Meiji Jingu shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
• Visit the site of Imperial Palace that is home to the Emperor of Japan and the royal family. While admittance to the actual palace is hard to get even weeks in advance, feel free to explore the East Gardens that are part of the palace complex.
• Visit the 1400-year-old Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in all of Japan. Admire the temple’s enormous entrance called ‘thunder gate’, and stroll down Nakamise Dori, the street leading to the temple, where you can buy souvenirs and consult local fortune-tellers.
• Visit Tsukiji Market early in the day to experience the full bustle of the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world. Dine at some of the best sushi restaurants here and enjoy the freshest fish possible.
• Ride up to the top of Tokyo Tower, a bright orange and white lattice tower, the 2nd tallest structure in all of Japan. Enjoy spectacular views of the city from the observation deck. On a clear day, you can also spot Mount Fuji in the distance.
• Admire the Japanese art, scriptures, crafts, and lifestyle at the Tokyo National Museum.
• Explore new and unique technology and gadgets at the fascinating Akihabara Radio Center.
• Learn about otaku and anime culture when you browse through dozens of specialty stores selling anime, manga, and other collectibles in the Akihabara district.
• Right across from Shibuya station’s Hachiko exit, observe the bold, flashy neon displays, and a dizzying movement of people walking across the Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest pedestrian crossings in the world.
• Attend an authentic Japanese event, and watch masterful moves by former champions at Ryogoku, the National Sumo Hall in Asakusa.
• If you are visiting Tokyo during the spring season, don’t miss a trip to the 19th-century, Ueno Park, where thousands of cherry trees are in full bloom at that time of the year. The park is also home to several museums, such as the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and National Museum of Western Art.