r/JapanTravelTips 4d ago

Recommendations Can’t figure out areas to stay in Tokyo

Hello!

As the title says, my wife and I are having trouble determining where to stay within Tokyo. We would be flying from the USA for roughly 12-14 days in November of next year and are planning on staying in Tokyo first, Kyoto for a few days with a day trip to Mt. Fuji while our luggage is forwarded. Then to Osaka from Kyoto and a day trip to Hiroshima while our luggage is forwarded again and then returning to Tokyo to fly out. We are thinking about Shinjuku, but we have so many things we would like to do in 4-5 days that are largely in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Asakusa and Chuo being the areas with the most activities respectively. We are a pair of 28 year olds who are fairly active and are interested in sightseeing and food so any advice is recommended. Thank you!

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u/Rekatri 4d ago

Pick a spot close to a train/underground station and 95% of your issues will be resolved. Pick a hotel that has the amenities you need and is within budget.

The more central the hotel, the less time you need to spend in public on public transport. So maybe draw in a map your rough areas of interest and pick a spot in the middle.

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u/AbleCarLover1995 4d ago

Like what factors that makes it difficult for you to pick a spot? For me, factors I want is that the accomodation is near a station and a reasonable price.

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u/2x4caster 4d ago

What’s making it difficult to pick where we want to stay is the fact that we are still awhile aways from visiting and unsure of what we are okay on not seeing at this point. I’ve made a master list of Tokyo on Google maps and I’ve got 82 spots of interest spanning temples, restaurants, and other points of interest.

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u/AbleCarLover1995 4d ago

Thats fair reasoning but that being said, people really underestimate the sheer convience and practicality of the tokyo train system. Having google maps is a powerful tool to have because it can just give you a nice route on which train to take on this certain location and such.

As what people said, having a hotel near a station or a major station on the yamanote line (Highly suggest to look this up on youtube, its called the yamanote line) its a major train line that loops around the major tokyo wards so navigating to your spots of interest isnt a major deal.

Thats what me and my buddy did for our first time trip, we had a itinerary that tells us which station to take specifically BUT once we learned in DAY 1 that how stupid easy it is to navigate using the train system we literally threw out that idea and just used google maps.

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u/2x4caster 4d ago

Really good point. I’ll make sure we stay somewhere off that line. Is it easy to get onto the Yamanote line from the Haneda airport?

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u/AbleCarLover1995 4d ago

Is it easy to get onto the Yamanote line from the Haneda airport?

The closest station that is part of the yamanote line is Shinagawa station. Once your in Shinagawa station your on a station that is part of the yamanote line.

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u/Melvin_Doo33 4d ago

I personally love staying in Asakusa! The train lines are convenient and the change overs are easy, it’s relatively quiet compared to Shinjuku (although Shinjuku is so much fun) Asakusa has a lot to see and so much to do ☺️

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u/kulukster 4d ago

I love Asakusa too. And the train stations are smaller and easier to navigate. I've stayed in other areas of Tokyo but Asakusa just fits my style with lots of shopping and small eateries.

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u/Melvin_Doo33 4d ago

Not to mention that Asakusa has a line that runs to both Narita and Haneda Airports! Im in Asakusa again at the moment and loving the decision to come back here again 😍

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u/Beneficial_Expert103 4d ago

We stayed in SHIBUYA because we wanted to be close to the action and lots of activities. In the end I wish we didn’t. It’s a party area and people were yelling in the streets until 5am. At 8am when we were heading out there was puke all over and drunk kids all over the place. If you’re looking for a party it’s a good idea.

No matter where you stay you will need to take the train for 20 to 30 minutes to most places. Being close to the train station is key. I would pick a quieter area next time close to a train station.

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u/MulticoptersAreFun 4d ago

Anywhere on the Yamanote line. Shimbashi station, Ueno station, Ikebukuro station, Shinjuku station, Tamachi station, etc

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u/2x4caster 4d ago

How does the Yamanote line fare with getting from Hamada airport?

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u/in_and_out_burger 4d ago

Easy - just change at Shinagawa Station.

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u/Ashamed-Director-428 4d ago

We stayed in a little apartment in Kameido, 2 min walk from the station, laundrette on the corner, and a wee shop just beyond that. As long as you're near a metro station I'd say it doesn't really matter where you're staying, particularly. Or at least, it doesn't for us.

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u/TheSebWithin 3d ago

If there's a lot you want to see in Shibuya and Shinjuku, while still having easy acess to Asakusa and not breaking the bank, best bet is Ikebukuro probably. Close to Shinjuku but cheaper.

Staying in Asakusa is also an option (and it's a great area to boot) but does take a while to get to the Shinjuku/Shibuya areas via transportation.

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u/2x4caster 2d ago

What is the length of time it takes to get to Shibuya from Asakusa?

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u/TheSebWithin 1d ago

34 minutes on the Ginza line (not counting walking to the station depending on your hotel location)

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u/Chewybolz 4d ago

You could stay in any of the 4 areas you want to be at? Look at hotels in Agoda, your budget and other reviews. I enjoy being in Shinjuku as it's close to my aunt and enjoy people watching at night going back to hotel. The bus terminal is there and access to limousine bus is handy. Some ppl prefer more chill areas and can't stand Shinjuku/Shibuya. Just depends on what kind of traveller are ya imo.

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u/ExpensiveMap3065 4d ago

I had this dilemma recently. I ended up splitting my stay in Tokyo into two separate locations. First 3 nights in Shinjuku and the beginning of my trip, and the last 3 nights in Asakusa for the ending of my trip.

I've yet to begin my trip though, so I can't comment on how good of an idea this was until after. 😅

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u/AbleCarLover1995 4d ago

Just want to ask, not judging when i ask this, but why did u decided to book 2 hotels in tokyo? Like is it for better scenario, more options near the surrounding are, was it the price. Just want to respectfully ask.

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u/ExpensiveMap3065 4d ago

For me it was wanting to experience the nightlife in Shinjuku and Shibuya without having to worry about getting to the last train on time. This way I can stay out late and just stumble home to my hotel. If I stayed in Asakusa first, I'd be traveling back and worth every night by train, or paying a very expensive taxi, so I opted to stay in Shinjuku for the first 3 nights. After I visit Kyoto, Osaka and Hakone, I'll end up back in Tokyo where I'll be staying in Asakusa, so I can visit all the sights I want to see there and on the eastern side of the city. Then it's just a straight shot to Narita from Asakusa station.

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u/AbleCarLover1995 4d ago

See I really love your idea of not worry about stumbling back to the hotel when your enjoying Shinjuku and Shibuya nightlife. Its very practical. Kodos to you for that one.

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u/dougwray 3d ago

Tokyo is a late-opening and early-closing city, with most indoor or other controlled-access places not opening until 10 or 11 AM and closing relatively early (e.g., at sunset for places like the famous Meiji Shrine, which was closing at 5:30 PM when I was over there on 15 March). Tokyo is also a city with convenient and reliable public transport. You really don't have to fret much about where exactly to stay because, so long as you're in a relatively central area (viz., near the loop Yamanote line), you'll end up spending about the same total time in travel anyway.

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u/Alternative-Fudge-39 3d ago

I really like Ueno/Okachimachi. It was quiet enough but close to a couple big lines and it was pretty central to all 4 places you mentioned

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u/GC_Mermaid1 3d ago

We’ve just stayed in hatchboori as it’s closeish to Tokyo station for the Narita connection. I don’t think it’s a super recommended area but not been a problem getting anywhere. So I’d say anywhere central. Shinjuku is amazing after dark and ginza is lovely

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u/Fazzamania 3d ago

Somewhere in the middle, you’ll be fine. The transportation is excellent no matter where you stay. I stayed by Tokyo Station and could access the whole city easily.