Which neighbourhood to stay in tokyo

Though both nodes on the Yamanote line, Ebisu and Meguro aren't frenetic hubs. The sights here are smaller and generally uncrowded. Ebisu and Meguro — both stops on the convenient Yamanote line but without the overwhelming crowds and disorienting stations of Shinjuku and Shibuya — make great bases. Ebisu in particular has a dynamic dining and bar scene that's worth checking out even if you pass on the sights. In fact, this is the one occasion where you may have to contend with crowds: popular restaurants and bars are packed most nights of the week.

Ebisu has a lively bar scene that is particularly popular with young professionals. Most places are small often just a counter and it's fun to bounce from one to the next.

Shibuya hits you over the head with its sheer presence: the continuous flow of people, the glowing video screens and the tangible buzz. All of this is summed up by its top attraction, Shibuya Crossing. It's a neighborhood that is currently undergoing a massive transformation, evidenced by new developments like Shibuya Stream. A short train ride away, Shimo-Kitazawa offers an alternative vision of Tokyo: what it might look like if hippies — not bureaucrats — ran the city.

Shibuya is a neighborhood that gets a late start. Come for lunch or later: Shibuya is, above all, an entertainment district and it really comes alive at night.

There are dance clubs, live-music venues, theaters and movie theaters galore. Bars and karaoke parlors stay open until dawn. Shibuya has several new accommodations, among them boutique hotels, flash-packer hostels and cabin-style capsule hotels. If you're keen to immerse yourself in urban Tokyo and its nightlife, Shibuya makes for a great base, and it's got great transit links, too.

For food, hang out around Shibuya Center-gai and it's all fast-food joints, cheap izakaya and chain restaurants aimed at a younger, cash-strapped crowd not a bad thing! Getting around in Tokyo. It's also Tokyo's real-life catwalk, a world-renowned shopping destination where the ultra-chic and chic in training come to browse and be seen.

Many boutiques here have been designed by influential architects. Neighboring Aoyama is a shopping and dining district for the city's fashionable elite.

Harajuku is a neighborhood that rewards an early start. Shopping is, of course, a major attraction for many, locals included. Harajuku is famous for being the place that foreign franchises drop their first Tokyo outlet, which attracts buzz and some huge lines. Harajuku and Aoyama have very few sleeping options, which is a shame because both districts would be attractive places to stay, with their cafes and restaurants, as well as good transportation access on both the JR Yamanote line and the subway.

As befitting a shopping district, Harajuku and Aoyama have lots of great, inexpensive lunch spots covering a variety of cuisines. Both neighborhoods become pretty quiet after the shops close for the day. There are a handful of glowing windows after dark, but you have to know where to find them.

Today they feel like time-capsules of mid 20th-century architecture and urban planning. What makes this part of Tokyo so fascinating is that each of the neighborhoods has, somehow, organically developed its own particular culture.

As these are largely residential districts, there are few must-sees; rather, exploring this area west of Shinjuku is about getting a feel for Tokyoites' Tokyo. The one big attraction out here is the enchanting Ghibli Museum. Given that these are residential neighborhoods, it would be tempting to write them off as sleepy; however, they are anything but. Each has its own nomiyagai eating and drinking area that draw locals in the evenings. Staying in West Tokyo can save you a little money, as chain hotels are a little cheaper out here.

It's also a chance for a more local experience because these are largely residential neighborhoods. Shinjuku is a whole city within the city.

Developed in the latter half of the 20th century, it's become widely synonymous with Tokyo itself. The breadth and scale are simply awesome — more than three million people a day pass through the train station.

Shinjuku works neatly as a day-to-night destination. Start with the skyscraper district of Nishi-Shinjuku. One of the most most popular areas in the city, Shibuya is a popular place to stay in Tokyo.

Youthful and hip, Shibuya is a favourite hangout spot for trendy locals. There are tons of funky shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars, not to mention a heap of terrific things to do and see. This bright and modern studio sleeps three guests and is located just 5 minutes from Shibuya Station. The main attractions are within walking distance, and the rest of Tokyo is easily accessible by train.

The apartment features a kitchen and laundry facilities, so you can enjoy all the comforts of home on your travels. The Millennials is an awesome hostel which lets you live comfortably for an unbelievable price! Offering Smart Pods, the accommodation provides guests with private and functional sleeping areas.

The best thing about Millennials has to be the free beer, which is unlimited throughout your stay. This comfortable accommodation in Shibuya boasts an onsite restaurant and a variety of room options. Each one has a private bathroom and a kitchenette, and even its own washing machine for total convenience.

Shibuya is an enormous neighborhood, so there are a variety of districts to choose from. Some of these include:. Check out our ultimate guide to traveling Japan on a budget! Completely different from the rest of the city, Tokyo Bay and the connected island of Odaiba is the best place to stay in Tokyo for families. Theme parks and activities will keep the whole family entertained for days on end, and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some downtime on the beach.

This modern area feels more like a resort than part of a huge global city. Sleeping up to 10 guests, this Airbnb near Tokyo Bay is ideal for groups and families visiting Tokyo. Guests will be provided with all the essentials, including a kitchen and laundry facilities. Although located a short distance from Tokyo Bay hostels are somewhat lacking in this area , this capsule hotel in Tokyo is easily connected to top attractions by public transport.

There are single-sex dorms available with beds in total , and a beautiful rooftop terrace to chill and look over the city. Situated less than a ten-minute walk from the beach, the modern hotel has a selection of rooms to suit different group sizes.

There are a variety of restaurants and bars on offer, as well as a fitness centre and a swimming pool. There are child-friendly services, as well as free shuttles to Tokyo Disney Resort. Ginza is by no means budget-friendly. As one of the richest neighborhoods in Tokyo, Ginza is the epicenter for all things luxurious, classy, and chic.

High-fashion retailers line the streets here and upscale restaurants serve exorbitant dishes that cost more than most could ever afford.

The district itself a bit of tourist attraction by now and is still worth experiencing. You can do all the window shopping and people watching you like here, as there are endless supplies of both here. This newly-built apartment in Ginza is bright and spacious. This flagship hostel of the Wise Owl chain is stylish, immaculate, and has pretty damn comfortable beds.

Although the hostel is situated on the edge of Ginza, the location is still very accessible. The Hatchobori train station is pretty much around the corner, which is a great means of visiting the rest of the city. Considering how crazy expensive Ginza is, the Hotel Gracery is relatively cheap. Rooms have all the basic necessities, so you can enjoy a comfortable stay. It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash or a passport copy.

Never get caught with your pants down again! Unless you want to. The real area for all things counterculture in Tokyo is the Shimokitazawa district! In fact, this neighborhood was founded from grassroots ideas, originally being the quarters for rural farmers escaping to Tokyo from the fields. Where Daikanyama and Shibuya are defined by boutique stores and charming little coffee joints, Shimokitazawa has gritty street art and dusty vintage shops. This hostel in Shimokitazawa is ideal for travelers looking for a quiet stay in Tokyo.

It provides relaxing accommodation and a small green oasis in the centre of the city. This awesome ryokan near Shimokitazawa provides authentic accommodation in Tokyo.

Featuring free wifi and a hot steam bath, the ryokan also offers an Asian breakfast each morning. When springtime rolls around, this district goes absolutely nuts as local Tokyoites pile into Meguro to see the blooming cherry blossoms.

The Meguro River runs through the middle of the neighborhood and is lined with over of these trees. When the cherry blossoms are over, Meguro is a laid-back residential area. Combine those with an interesting selection of museums, and Meguro offers plenty to keep you occupied. This trendy accommodation in Meguro is newly renovated and stunningly detailed. It sleeps four guests and includes a kitchen, washing machine and wifi. Shinsen gourmet street is walking distance from the property, as well as other major shopping areas.

While this hostel is technically located in Shibuya, it skims the northern edge of Maguro and is the only backpacker lodge in the area. That being said, you can now benefit from the best of both worlds! You can drink and party in Shibuya and then have a chill day in Meguro, which is a win-win if you ask me. This hotel is in a quiet area, and is recommended for two travelers.

Rooms are bright and modern, and full of amenities to make your stay comfortable. There are a number of supermarkets close to the hotel, as well as museums, parks and shrines. Akihabara is ground-zero for all things anime, manga, and video gaming! Akihabara aka Electric Town is a very active place — full of costumed hospitality workers with the sounds of arcades and video games in the background. Ueno is an older part of town, known more for its old temples and traditional bars.

This quaint apartment in Tokyo is suitable for two guests and contains all basic amenities. This hostel provides private rooms and cosy bunks in dorm rooms. This is an all-around excellent hotel that provides awesome service and comfortable rooms for a great price. The style is a bit more old-school, but everything runs very smoothly.

This is the place where Tokyo punk rock was born! Picture giant robots fighting in your head while backed by epic guitar chords. While punk rock may not be as popular as it once was, underground music still reigns supreme in this part of Tokyo. There are clubs and bars everywhere playing all kinds of genres, from Japanese metal to house to electronic.

Situated in Koenji, this flat has two bedrooms and sleeps up to five guests. Despite this, the apartment is slightly off the beaten path, so you can rest comfortably. Top Edge is a relatively new hostel in a Tokyo neighborhood. This hostel does everything right — welcoming staff, excellent location, and an onsite bar that does not disappoint.

How often do you have the opportunity to sleep inside a piece of art? BnA Art Hotel Koenji provides a unique experience by allowing local artists to paint the inside of guest rooms here. A portion of the room rate goes to supporting the artists, and also provides guests with comfortable accommodation.

Tsukiji hosts one of the largest and most important fish markets in all of Japan. For almost a century, the enormous Tsukiji Fish Market has provided Tokyo with nearly every kind of seafood product imaginable. You can find just about anything here, from the finest cuts of maguro bluefin tuna to live tako octopus to creamy hotate scallops.

Wherever there is seafood being imported, there are shops preparing it as well. Even as vegetarians we had a vast amount of choice within a minute walk of our apartment from high-end kaiseki to vending machine ramen joints. There is something for every taste and budget. See my guide to vegetarian restaurants in Tokyo for more details. There are lots of things to do in Shinjuku :. Read my guide to cool things to do in Tokyo for more details. Shinjuku is extremely well connected for exploring the city.

There are also metro lines, direct access to the airport on the comfortable Narita Express, and direct access to Hakone perfect if you want to take a day trip to see Mount Fuji. If you are looking for nightlife, Shinjuku has plenty of options. The most atmospheric place to bar hop is the unique Golden Gai, a network of narrow lanes with dozens of tiny bars. There are huge electronics shops like BIC Camera and Yobobashi where you can find an incredible range of computer and camera equipment; department stores like Takashimaya and Isetan for clothes, homeware, and fantastic food basements; and Uniqlo for affordable but quality basic clothing.

For more details see our guide to the best things to do in Shinjuku including shopping, views, parks, and crazy cultural experiences. Read our Japan Accommodation Guide for details on the range of options.

When choosing where to stay in Shinjuku, keep in mind the different areas—west of the station is the business area, east is for shopping and nightlife, and northeast is the Kabukicho red light district and Golden Gai for nightlife and entertainment.

Anywhere within a minute walk of the main Shinjuku train station would be ideal. The cheapest are studio apartments that are very small you have to pay a lot for space in Tokyo but usually well-equipped with a washing machine, tiny kitchen, and WiFi. They usually have self-check-in and hosts provide detailed instructions on how to find the apartment. Search for apartments in Shinjuku here.

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