Best areas to stay in Tokyo

Top areas to stay in Tokyo

With its sushi and sumo, geisha and gardens, neon and noodles, there is always something exciting to explore in Tokyo. As you might expect of the planet’s largest metropolis, there’s also enough here to keep you entertained for a lifetime.

  1. Enjoy the buzzing nightlife of the Shinjuku neighbourhood
  2. Marvel at the vibrant area of Harajuku and its surroundings
  3. Enjoy the beauty of Asakusa
  4. Make the most of the Akasaka and Roppongi areas in Tokyo
  5. Head to Ueno for a pleasant stay in Tokyo

Ordered yet bewildering, Japan’s pulsating capital will lead you a merry dance: this is Asia at its coolest, prettiest and most eccentic all at the same time. Choosing where to stay in Tokyo is one of the most fun parts of your holiday here. Choose from the bright lights of Harajuku to the charming and historic neighbourhood of Asakusa. Take a look at our Tokyo holidays for some inspiration.

In collaboration with
Rough Guides

1. Enjoy the buzzing nightlife of the Shinjuku neighbourhood

No Tokyo neighbourhood has as evocative a name as Shinjuku, the very mention of which will conjure images of buzzing neon, teeming masses and drunken debauchery to anybody with more than a superficial knowledge of the city. Only 4km due west of the leafy tranquillity of the Imperial Palace, Shinjuku has a long and illustrious history of pandering to the more basic of human desires. This action-packed district has it all, from the love hotels and hostess bars of Kabukichō to shop-till-you-drop department stores and dazzlingly designed skyscrapers. Throw in robot performances, two-hour all-you-can-drink specials, Tokyo’s main LGBTQ bar stretch and teeming covered arcades, and you’ve still only just scratched the surface. It’s the best neighbourhood to stay in Tokyo for a memorable night out!

Vibe: Nightlife

While you’re there: Enjoy a free view of the city at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building which can be found in Shinjuku.

2. Marvel at the vibrant area of Harajuku and its surroundings

If it’s “wacky” Japan you’re after, Harajuku should be neighbourhood number one on your list - indeed, in terms of human traffic, there can be few more fascinating districts on the whole planet. Much of Tokyo’s youth culture starts here, on streets which often resemble densely populated catwalks, complete with zany clothing, hairstyles and accessories. In the surrounding flurry of quirky boutiques and cafés, you’ll be able to kit yourself out and dine in much the same manner as the local fashionistas. Shibuya, just south of Harajuku, is almost absurdly busy - a neon-drenched, kanji-splattered, high-rise jungle second only to Shinjuku for sheer eye-popping madness. East of Harajuku, those with gilt-edged credit cards will feel more at home among the antique shops of Aoyama and the big brand boutiques along Omotesandō, the area’s key tree-lined boulevard, often referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysées.

Vibe: Neon Tokyo!

While you’re there: Another vibrant area of Tokyo is Akihabara where you will find endless arcade games!

3. Enjoy the beauty of Asakusa

The capital of Japan boasts many wonderful neighbourhoods, but few score as highly as Asakusa for sheer charm, making it one of the best areas to stay in Tokyo. With its historic buildings, craft shops and ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), the area wears its tradition gallantly. Asakusa is best known as the site of Tokyo’s most venerable Buddhist temple,Sensō-ji, whose towering worship hall is filled with a continual throng of petitioners and tourists. Stalls before the temple cater to the crowds, peddling trinkets and keepsakes as they have done for centuries, while all around is the inevitable array of restaurants, drinking places and fast-food stands. To the east and across the river is Ryōgoku, a sort of sumo town, and is also home to the absorbing Edo-Tokyo Museum.

Vibe: Charming Tokyo

While you’re there: Don’t forget to go to an onsen, a neighbourhood bathhouse, while you’re in Tokyo. Head to Jakotsuyu for a soak.

4. Make the most of the Akasaka and Roppongi areas in Tokyo

At one time, Akasaka and Roppongi were pretty much all about nightlife - the former a nocturnal playground for bureaucrats and politicians, the latter an even more boozy place aimed at younger Japanese folk. In recent years, with the opening of complexes such as Tokyo Midtown, the emphasis has shifted to daytime activity. Roppongi is styling itself as Tokyo’s arts hub, home to the National Art Center, Suntory Museum of Art and Mori Art Museum, the last of which sits atop the area’s other megadevelopment, Roppongi Hills. Both districts have old-established attractions, too, such as Akasaka’s premier shrine, Hie-jinja; Zōjōji, near Roppongi, once the temple of the Tokugawa clan; and some pretty Japanese gardens. And while Tokyo Tower is no longer the city’s most elevated viewing spot, it remains an iconic landmark. There are plenty of accommodation options in the area, the B Roppongi is a great place to stay. It’s a boutique-style hotel that won’t break the bank!

Vibe: A blend of history and modernity

While you’re there: Head to the Kamiya bar for a drink. This is Tokyo’s first Western-style bar, established in 1880.

5. Head to Ueno for a pleasant stay in Tokyo

Directly north of Akihabara is Ueno, another of Tokyo’s teeming mega neighbourhoods. Around the area’s main park, Ueno Kōen, you’ll find a host of good museums, as well as a few relics from the vast temple complex at Kan’ei-ji, built on this hilltop in 1624 by the second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, to protect his castle’s northeast quarter. The prestigious Tokyo National Museum alone could easily fill a day, but there’s also the entertaining Museum of Nature and Science, the Museum of Western Art and the endearing Shitamachi Museum, which harks back to Ueno’s proletarian past. Much of downtown Ueno, meanwhile, has a rough-and-ready feel, especially around the station and bustling Ameyokochō Market. Further west, there’s a more sedate atmosphere in and around the ivory towers of Tokyo University.

Vibe: Plenty of attractions

While you’re there: Note that the Tokyo National Museum is home to the largest collection of Japanese art, plus an extensive collection of eastern antiquities.

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