Where to Stay in Tokyo? ULTIMATE GUIDE (Avoid making a Mistake) JAPAN GUIDE 2025
If you are planning a trip to Tokyo and wondering where to stay? It’s not just about location. Your choice should match your travel style, budget, and what you want to explore!
In this video, I break down 10 popular Tokyo areas + 5 wildcard locations to help you find the perfect place to stay. I’ll also share a star rating for each area and reveal ONE HUGE mistake you don’t want to make when booking your hotel!
00:00 Where should you stay in Tokyo?
Top 10 Tokyo Areas to Stay In:
00:39 Shinjuku – The heart of the action! Perfect for first-timers & night owls.
01:21 Asakusa – Traditional charm, great for history lovers & families.
01:57 Shibuya – Young, trendy, and iconic—shopping & nightlife paradise.
02:40 Ueno – Culture + budget-friendly! Museums, parks, & local vibes.
03:27 Ginza – Luxury, fine dining, & high-end shopping.
04:01 Akihabara – The ultimate Otaku paradise for anime, gaming, & tech fans.
04:31 Ikebukuro – Affordable alternative to Shinjuku, home to Sunshine City.
04:59 Roppongi – International vibes + top nightlife spot.
05:30 Odaiba – Futuristic waterfront, great for families & relaxation.
06:06 Tokyo Station – Business hub + best base for day trips & shinkansen travel!
5 Wildcard Areas You Should Consider:
06:53 Sugamo – “Grandma’s Harajuku” for a peaceful, old-school Tokyo experience.
07:27 Hamamatsucho – Best area for Haneda Airport access! Tokyo Tower & waterfront views.
08:09 Gotanda – Hidden gem with easy transport & local vibes.
09:02 Shin-Okubo – Tokyo’s Korea Town with K-pop, food, & nightlife.
09:41 Shinagawa – Underrated travel hub with shinkansen access & budget hotels.
10:26 Rating system
11:08 A Huge Mistake to avoid
💡 Tokyo Travel Tip:
Stay near a train station! Tokyo is HUGE, and your location should fit your itinerary & transport needs. Don’t make the mistake of booking a hotel too far from key stations!
Which Tokyo area sounds best for you? Let me know in the comments!
#TokyoTravel #WhereToStayInTokyo #TokyoHotels #JapanTrip #TokyoGuide
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27 Comments
in a couple of weeks will be staying In Asakusa south of the station (with kuramae nearby )
last trip and this trip coming up in July, I am staying in Morishita. 5 minute walk to the metro line for the Oedo and Shinjuku lines. 40 minute to Asasuksa and Akiharabara so a good area for as it is quiet too
If I have to stay in Tokyo these days (and I'm not just there for Disney) I'm looking for something around Kanda or Ueno station.
Kanda is a gem within walking distance of Tokyo and Akihabara stations, but out of the crowds of both.
My recommendation though : Get out of Tokyo!! Go where the hoards of tourists are not.
thumbs up for content otherwise lacking on youtube (the rating system/charts really informative!)
I did my study abroad near Gotanda Station and I definitely agree with the advice!
I wouldn't mind being out in Koto/Odaiba it's one area that I didn't spend a lot of time in that area on my last trip or use the Tokyo Monorail and the area does have a lot of big flashy resort accommodations I like.
Sugamo, the jewel of Tokyo 💎
Found the Sugamo (/Otsuka) area on the Yamanote line on my 8th stay in Tokyo. Best place I've stayed. REAL local vibe, quieter, cheaper restaurants and shops, thrifts, street market 3-times each month, JR rail, Subway and Sakura Tram. The hustle and bustle of Tokyo is only a few stations either direction without being constantly in it.
It's a real advantage to be able to start your day and end each day in the quieter area of Sugamo 👍 #1
Well put together informative video !
Stayed in japan last year october and can confidently say that Ikebukuro is truly under rated. I loved the city and while most spots like akihabara was little was away i found reasonable alternatives in Ikebukuro honestly every time i go to Tokyo i will stay Ikebukuro because of my experience and everything that was to offer there.
We usually stay near Kanda Station. 15 minutes walk from Akihabara and Tokyo station, one stop at Yamanote. A VERY quiet place, they are mainly offices, quite cheap and very well connected.
I always love hearing Sugamo get a shoutout! Those grandmas know what's up!
I'm planning a trip to Tokyo in spring of 2026 and have found a very very cheap option in Jinbocho that has rather good reviews. It's right next to the station and seems very convenient. Any comments on that area? Anything I should know
I’ve now stayed in: Ueno, Shimbashi, Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Ryogoku, and inside Tokyo Station my last few trips to Japan. Thanks for the tips!
It'll be our first time going to Japan this November and planning to stay in Shibuya, very close to the Scramble Crossing. Can't wait! 🇯🇵
Sugamo en next door Otsuka are perfect. Have stayed there many times.
I enjoyed the original version. Was an excellent cliffhanger!
We stayed in asakusa and it was so nice and the train line direct to Narita made the difference at the end of the trip, would recommend this area
Deciding between shimbashi and kabukicho. I don't want to get scammed or pay more in shinjuku so I'm thinking shimbashi but maybe it's too non touristy? I'm not going out much maybe only for a couple beers and food at night. Any advice?
Sakura is overpriced..
Airola is cheap and also referral links.
I use that Disney girls links, two weeks data is less than $10.
Bargain!
Well, cause I never considered transportation, and most of my Tokyo stays were longer than the average vacation traveller. When on my initial vacation type trips chose accommodation based on price and closeness to something we wanted to see. My main goal was to get out of the city in two days. My last two trips were for stay of a month or three. I chose based on price and the area became secondary. My time ha a place I liked buy was a bit farther from a train or metro station then I would have liked. So, I'm going to consider this guide when choosing my next roosting location. Why, cause with Japan, there's always going to be a next time.
As a solo traveler, I recommend Anshin Oyado Shinjuku, it's a capsule hotel with tattoo friendly bathhouse. Plus the city night life around the area never rests.
Great analysis, thank you! I need some advice: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (mistake turkey blossom warfare blade until bachelor fall squeeze today flee guitar). How can I transfer them to Binance?
Surely not Roppongi.
We've decided to split our stay between Asakusa and western Shinjuku; both anime/gaming nerds in our 30s who are interested in culture and history so we prioritised travel access, not too overwhelmingly busy, photography, and character goods 😄 I had looked at most of the places you mentioned and feel confident about our choices after watching, thank you!
i just book in asakusabshi for my next trip, also nice place,good prices, cheers
I should have mentioned that each of these areas have “Satellite stations” that are also worth checking out! The list is endless and the combinations limitless! Have you subscribed? Hehe
Thanks for this video
Very helpful
My 3 times in tokyo I've stayed in ikebukuro, must say I love it but this list definitely is useful for future trips