Here Are the 9 Best Areas to Stay In Your Next Vacation to Tokyo

Japan is definitely a tourist favourite of first-time travellers. There are a lot of places in Japan that you can go to, but Tokyo is the country's most popular destination. As the capital of Japan, it is definitely a cultural hub for all things Japan—from the delicious Japanese food to its historic shrines, temples, and traditional Japanese inns. What makes Tokyo unique is that the areas are easily accessible through the city's subway station.

First-time travellers may need help in choosing where to stay in Tokyo, since there are just so many areas that one can explore in so little time. Which Tokyo neighborhood is the best to stay in? Should you stay in central Tokyo? Which Tokyo station is near your accommodation? Should you go for a luxury hotel, a great mid-range hotel, or a boutique hotel? We understand that there are tons of questions when choosing your Tokyo accommodation.

Whether you're game to stay in luxury hotels or budget hotels, here’s a guide to the nine best areas that you can stay in Tokyo to help you narrow down your options!

Want to see for yourself the classic Tokyo aesthetic with all the tall buildings and neon lights hovering over the hustle and bustle of the city? Shinjuku is definitely the area for all the classic Tokyo action!

The Shinjuku Granbell Hotel, Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, or Tokyu Stay Shinjuku are perfect hotels for their central location near known tourist attractions. Plus, you can use the Shinjuku station to get around.

There are a lot of activities that cater to different kinds of tourists. If you want peace and quiet away from the city, the best hotel you can stay in is the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, so you can be near the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden for a quick nature trip. Want to see the view of Tokyo from above instead? You can definitely visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory to take your Instagram-worthy photos!

Need a quick meal before continuing to stroll around Shinjuku again? Get a reservation at Mikado to enjoy some authentic Japanese food, especially their famous yakitori.

Meanwhile, a Shinjuku Golden Gai Bar-Hopping experience would be great for those who want to explore the Shinjuku nightlife filled with neon lights and street food vendors selling food to help ease the hangovers of the tourists in the area.

Lastly, if you have a penchant for arts and crafts, you can take a class to learn more about the somemono or the tradition of scarf dyeing in Shinjuku.

Of course, when in Tokyo, you can't miss out on going to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Disney Sea! Fortunately, in Shinjuku, there is a one-way transfer bus that takes you to both parks. Make sure to book a reservation in Tokyo Disney Resort, too, for a magical day in Disneyland!

Another popular area to stay in Tokyo is Shibuya. The area is known for the iconic Shibuya Crossing, the famous pedestrian crosswalk in front of the Hachiko Exit in Shibuya Station.

If you want to stay near the Shibuya Crossing, the Shibuya Granbell Hotel and The Millenials Shibuya Hotel are some of the best hotels you can choose. However, if you want to explore more of the temples and shrines, like the Tokyo Imperial Palace, then go for The Millenials Shibuya Hotel. Meanwhile, the Shibuya Creston Hotel is close to certain museums like the Tobacco & Salt Museum and the Toguri Museum of Art.

Similar to Shinjuku, there are a lot of entertainment options in Shibuya. If you want to shop 'til you drop, go to Shibuya 109 and get all the best deals on your shopping needs. You can also explore unique cafes and restaurants like the Hedgehog Cafe, where you can see and pet some hedgehogs while getting a drink. If you want an action-filled day, go to Shibuya's Street Go-Kart with your friends or family and live out your race driver dreams!

Don't forget to check out Shibuya Sky, located in the Shibuya Scramble Square building—another observation deck that lets you experience the views of the city in the heart of Tokyo.

Japan is also famous for its fascinating otaku culture. If you want to immerse yourself even more in the country's otaku culture—from anime to manga books, Akihabara is the perfect area to stay in Tokyo.

Japan is also known for the Tokyo Dome, a famous destination for various artists to hold their concerts. Staying in The Tourist Hotel & Cafe, MONday Apart Akihabara Southeast, and BnA Studio Akihabara are all just near Tokyo Dome. If you're on the hunt for the best hotels with free WiFi, no need to look far!

If you don't know where to start your adventure in Akihabara, you can book an Akihabara Day Tour, so you can tour the area. What makes this unique is that the tour guide is a certified anime lover!

You can also go on a thrilling adventure by Street Go Karting or even explore the rich history of the Kanda Myojin Shrine, too!

Lastly, cap off your Akihabara tour with an authentic Maid Cafe experience, where the servers dress up as maids that you would usually see in Japanese media!

The streets of Tokyo may be packed with a lot of people and buildings, but there is a certain glamour that exudes in Ginza. It's known for being the shopping district of Tokyo with its exquisite lineup of luxury shopping malls, department stores, and high-end restaurants and it's one stop away from Tokyo Station.

Looking for a modern hotel with spacious rooms, free WiFi, and near a Tokyo station? Booking your stay in Ginza's best hotels like The Square Hotel Ginza, SUPERHOTEL Premier Ginza, and The B Ginza will help you be in the centre of all the action.

Are you ready to do some shopping or even just window shopping for the whole day? Ginza High Street is definitely the place for you as it has so many boutique stores of your favourite brands such as Chanel, Bvlgari, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and much more. If that's not your thing, there are other activities you can do, like going to a Kabukiza, a theater where you can watch a traditional Kabuki drama.

Other than that, you can go to the Art Aquarium Museum to take a closer look at how they appreciate goldfish or you could go to the Hamarikyu Garden to take a quick nature trip before going shopping.

If you are someone who loves going out at night or exploring the art scene, Roponggi is the best area to stay in Tokyo.

Don't know where to stay in Roponggi? Book one of the hotel rooms at the Sotesu Fresa Inn, Mitsui Garden Hotel, or remm Roppongi. These are all just conveniently located near the Tokyo Tower, the second tallest structure in Japan, which is just a short walk going there.

Another tower to explore the city skyline from is the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. At the 52nd floor, you can capture more Instagram-worthy pictures of Tokyo from above.

However, the area is truly known for the Roponggi Art Triangle, a cluster of three important arts and culture institutes. These museums are the National Art Center Tokyo, the Mori Art Museum, and the Suntory Museum of Art.

When you visit the Mori Museum, don't miss out on the teamLab Digital Art Museum, which is an interactive digital museum good for all ages to go to!

Asakusa is also a good area to stay in Tokyo for Japan's traditional cultural scene. The area is rich with all these temples and shrines that will help you see how Japan was back then.

One of the famous temples known in Asakusa is the Senso-ji Temple and if you want to be near those areas, consider staying either at the Hotel MyStays Asakusa, Asakusa Kokonokurabu, or &And Hostel Asakusa Kappabashi.

Cap off your authentic traditional Japanese experience by renting out their traditional clothing, the kimono and yukata!

You will definitely get hungry exploring all these temples so head on over at the Asakusa Yokocho, a very vibrant and colorful food court located on the 4F of the Rakutenchi Asakusa. You can also go to a cafe filled with ninja cosplayers for a truly unique Japanese experience!

If you're feeling adventurous, go to the Tokyo Skytree or the Hanayashiki, which is the oldest known amusement park in Japan!

Don't forget to also go to Nishi Sando Shopping Street or the Asakusa Rox Shopping Center to buy some cool souvenirs for your friends and family! Tokyo isn't just a bustling metropolitan city though! While there are a lot of parks to visit and take a quick stroll in, you can also take a river cruise in Asakusa if boat rides are your thing.

Once you crossover from Asakusa to Odaiba, you will see that it is a hub of diverse entertainment like amusement parks, interactive galleries, shopping malls, and a whole lot more.

Booking your stay in the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba or Grand Nikko Tokyo Odaiba will let you be conveniently located to where the action is in Odaiba.

Amusement parks are unique to this area as well! Tokyo Joypolis is known as the largest indoor themed park in Japan—whether rain or shine, you don't have to worry about postponing your activities for the day.

Small Worlds Tokyo should be on your list as well since it's the largest indoor miniature themed park in Japan. Of course, you can't forget about going to LEGOLAND that's located in Odaiba!

Tokyo has no shortage of museums. Odaiba has some unique ones like Madame Tussauds Tokyo which is famous for creating wax figures of celebrities. Unko Museum is also an interesting museum to go to since it's poop-themed. You'll be seeing different shapes and colors of dung in there!

Meanwhile, if you go to teamLab Planets and Tokyo Trick Art Museum, you will be treated with vibrant and immersive art installations that will have you in awe of its beauty.

Harajuku is one of the most popular areas in Japan since it is the hub for Japanese pop culture. Not only that, but also the area is popular for boutique and thrift store shopping.

Staying at the Inn Harajuku or the Aoyama Grand Hotel will be an advantage because it is easy walking distance to where the action is in Harajuku itself.

As a whole, Harajuku is definitely overwhelming because of the many places and activities present in the area. If you want to take your time, you can definitely rent a colorful bike, true to Harajuku's vibrant aura, and take yourself on a tour of the area.

Harajuku is known for its shops, both big and small, and within the area you'll be able to tour around Takeshita Street, Tokyu Plaza, Jingumae Comichi, and Galaxy Harajuku.

If you like to stay cozy by yourself and be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ebisu is the best area to stay in Tokyo for you!

Staying in either the Itos Ebisu, Do-c Ebisu, or Prince Smart Inn will also get you easy access to the famous Shibuya Crossing, which helps you go to other areas in Tokyo.

Want to chill out by taking a short walk in the park? Visit the Yebisu Garden Place to immerse yourself in the tranquil vibes of the area!

Ebisu is actually known for developing the Yebisu Beer. If you're a sucker for unique cultural history, the Museum of Yebisu Beer is the best place to visit as it gives you a short trip down memory lane on how it was made. Not only that, but also the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum is located there which you can immerse yourself into Tokyo's photography scene.

Tokyo is definitely a cultural hub wherein you get to experience both the modern and traditional cultures of Japan. There is no one best area to stay in as every area there has a story to tell and as the saying goes, different strokes for different folks—whatever you like, no matter how weird it is, the huge city of Tokyo has it all!