I booked myself a last minute trip to Tokyo for my 30th birthday, I’m a guy and looking at Shibuya or Shinjuku (at least for the first couple of nights and then maybe somewhere quieter).
Any tips on specific hotels? Maybe unique ones? Max max budget is 150USD but below 100’s ideal. I’ll be wandering the city, reading/writing, into films and art, nature, pretty big drinker but not really dancer/clubber, would love to meet people in spite of the language barrier (i’ll learn by next time but it’ll be a lot of google translate this time since so last minute)
Any tips appreciated, thank you!
EDIT: Looking at Galois, Sotetsu Gran Fresa, Shinjuku Prince, Peti Bali, APA, Washington. If anyone favors or hates any of these please let me know!
32 comments
kayak can help you A LOT!! i booked my hotel at the millennials shibuya for only $46/night (for 5days), because i’m budgeting and not picky where i sleep, it’s a very central location in shibuya and everything is nearby. i would say the concept of the hotel is pretty unique.
I would look into hostels if you’re looking to meet people. I’ve stayed at this one in Asakusa a few times: https://www.hostelworld.com/st/hostels/p/67481/nui-hostel-and-bar-lounge/
There are a ton of options, though!
Check out Tokyo’s Couchsurfing group, too. They have a bunch of events that are frequented by locals, ex-pats, and travelers. I’ve made some friends that way while living there.
Happy 30th Birthday!
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* Post on the monthly meet up to find like minded people
* Avoid the Kabukichō Red Light District – especially the bar touts (just say no and walk away)
* The good bars don’t need touts to pull customers in
* It’s fine to stroll around and stuff but don’t follow people in b/c they will spike your drink and steal your credit card
* Take a day trip out to Hakone from Tokyo – Plenty of things to do
Agoda is king for last-minute discounts in Japan.
I’d visit Golden Gai, and go bar hopping. You can always meet interesting people that way. Also after a few beers, everyone can communicate.
Sounds like you need to go for a few drinks in a host club.
Happy birthday.
Look into the Japanese business hotels. There are tons of them In the Shinjuku area.
As other have suggested, look at Agoda, Expedia etc… And even google maps can help narrow down hotel choices to a specific area.
Stay away from touts, and just ignore them.
I can recommend Sotetsu for hotels, they’re really basic and barebones but they are clean and cheap. I’ve stayed at Sunroute Plaza (Sotetsu) and Sotetsu Fresa Ginza, both were great for the price.
Just so you know, APA is a very xenophobic/ racist company. They’ve had some shady scandals involving putting very anti Chinese books in hotels room (example, books claim the Nanjing massacre never happened) and they’ve never really addressed it.
https://matcha-jp.com/en/12191?fbclid=IwAR2KSc8CJdCu7xGf-z0geFvPt4EMss60vTzPaJouzZ5ej1X5KTx7O2uVRLw
Come here for photo shoots
For something really central in Kabukicho, I suggest Hotel Gracery which might just barely be in your price range if you book well in advance. The new Hotel Amanek is also very central but a bit more expensive. The thing I like about both of these hotels is that they have the Japanese-style shower/bath where it is in a completely enclosed “wet room”. Whatever you choose, generally the earlier you book the cheaper it will be.
For a place to go drinking solo, the best area I’ve found after numerous trips to Tokyo is Golden Gai, which is nearby the above hotels. Generally social environment with a mix of foreigners and locals many of whom are happy to chat.
Enjoy man!
For sure Ginza ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I don’t actively seek out people to meet when I travel, but I had a good experience at Omoide Yokocho. No one there tries to pull you into their shop, you just find a seat at one of the shops and enjoy yourself. It felt like mostly tourists but there were plenty of locals there as well, and people were just hopping between shops. I ended up taking a seat next to a couple from the UK and a local salaryman. The shop had multiple cooks preparing skewers, and the four of us were seated around one cook so it was easy to chat with each other as well as with the cook. We all just ordered a few drinks and let the chef pick out random skewers to serve us.
Definitely much better than Golden Gai where you get harassed by a tout every five feet.
Im also going for my 30th birthday in November! Happy Birthday and have fun!
Agoda is a good spot, but you can usually find the APA Hotels for your budget, APA’s have always done very well for me. In addition to Shibuya/Shinjuku (Golden Gai is great), check out Roppongi. Plenty of bars like Propaganda, Ibex, Rakkan, Lua Bar, Bar Quest, and A-Life are all good places and foreigner friendly. There are lots of bad stories about Roppongi, but simple common sense will help you anywhere you go. Plenty of people on the street trying to get you to go into their places with promises of free drinks, etc., just stick to the places above and you’ll be fine. Don’t go down the alleyways and don’t take drinks from anyone except a bartender.
Edit: Also, check out “Tokyo Pub Crawl”. They visit a number of places for a fixed price and you get to meet tons of foreigners and locals alike. It’s a great time.
I hope you have a happy 30th birthday. And welcome to travelling in Japan. If you want cheaper hotels, picking a chain hotel is a good choice. Japan’s local brands APA Hotel, dormy inn, Toyoko inn are good choices.
Take care and have a good trip!
The tiny hole-in-the-wall bars with ~5 seats are great since it’s easier to start a conversation if you’re alone and if the barkeeper speaks English they will probably be happy to talk.
Like Maid Cafès or Hostess Clubs have their whole thing of the workers paying attention to you but it’s honestly extremely superficial and can drain your wallet really fast.
Thumbs up on Sotetsu Fresa, we had a good experience at a Nagano location so I would choose that chain in other cities in a heartbeat. Huge thumbs down on APA, the owner is a religious zealot and any money not going to them is good. But I would also add to balance price with location – you can find hotels in Shinjuku and Shibuya that are quieter and wouldn’t need a switch to a different neighborhood mid-week if you book just a block or two outside the hotspots instead of right smack in the middle of them. You won’t have to walk all that much farther for a better price and quieter experience, and e.g. you can still walk easily to Omoide Yokocho from the west side of Shinjuku station. We stayed at Hotel Kadoya which may or may not break your price range, but there were easily four additional hotels of varying rates in the same block.
I stayed in ueno cuz I had the Tokyo wide pass. I wish I spent more time in Shibuya and Shinjuku. I also spent a good amount of time in Ginza.
If you stay in Shinjuku by yourself and have two hours in the afternoon or early evening, check out Shinjuku New Art. Best 50$ you’ll ever spend.
Find an Onsen for real!!! Splurge on an Onsen at least for a day or two. They have some “public” Onsen as well – happy travels!
did the same thing! Kanazawa is a beautiful part of Japan that’s a couple hours away from tokyo. the kenrokuen garden is beautiful af! I can’t remember where I had stayed at but it was a hostel.
Airbnb!!!! Just finished a 14 day trip with 3 friends and we used Airbnb which averaged about $34 a day.
Since you’re solo it’ll probably be more expensive but Airbnb is your best bet for a place that’s private with decent space that isn’t a capsule lol,
Also if you want bang for your buck do Osaka or near Shin-Osaka station and take the train everywhere
The last time I was in Tokyo I stayed for a few days at the [Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku](https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/onsen-ryokan-yuen-shinjuku.html), which was not only within your price range (but that was a few years ago, and I reserved through [Booking.com](https://Booking.com) – not sure anymore, though) but had a great view (especially from the onsen baths on an upper floor), a great restaurant on the main floor, and was well-situated (just a few blocks of a couple of stations and near Shinjuku Gyoen) – highly recommend it!
Given your budget though, if you don’t mind branching out to nearby neighbourhoods, I also recommend considering Ueno (I’ve also stayed at [Hotel New Ueno business hotel](https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/new-ueno.html?aid=390156&label=duc511jc-1DCAsodUIKdWVuby1ob3RlbEgzWANoJ4gBAZgBMbgBF8gBDNgBA-gBAfgBAogCAagCA7gC6aybpwbAAgHSAiQ5YjdhOGMwMy1jOWVmLTQwOTYtOWU5Mi1kOTQzNWY0MGNjZTLYAgTgAgE&sid=2dc8023261af47840f8c27dd899bb1f0;checkin=2023-09-06;checkout=2023-09-07;room1=A;homd=1;srpvid=cddf1c74e6130033;srepoch=1692849816;atlas_src=hp_iw_title) – it’s clean, simple, good service – and for the price you can’t beat the location near Ueno station, Ameyoko, the Yamanote line and Ueno park).
Enjoy your trip (I’m jealous) and happy 30th! 🙂
Nothing really to contribute except to say that I will also be celebrating (or rather not celebrating) a solo birthday when I’m in Japan in October. Happy Birthday, and hope you have a time!
I’ve stayed at Shinjuku Washington once, I lasted one night and ended up leaving to find another hotel. At the time it was fully booked, the walls were paper thin and I could hear everyone and everything – woke up at 3am to someone using a hair dryer. They are also very small rooms which is probably not a problem for a solo traveler (it was rough for my husband and I plus all our shopping).
I’ve also stayed in the heart of Kabukicho, unknowingly at the time that it’s the red light district. I am female, but never felt unsafe, I walked around at night alone at some times too (blissfully unaware lol). Just follow the basic rule of never follow anyone into a bar and you’ll be fine. If anything, it makes for an interesting nightlife!
Avoid APA hotels. They basically support the Asian version of holocaust deniers. There is literature of it in their rooms. Look it up
Otherwise Japan is a great place to have a solo birthday. Lots of bars. Also make sure to get on the line group. I’m sure people traveling will want to celebrate with you
Also spending my 30th in Tokyo in October! I got an AirBNB though for a fair price around 100/night in Shinjuku.
I don’t have any tips for you. But, happy birthday!🥳
Depends on likes and wants.
I just spent my bday there solo and I went down to Ito to Izu Shaboten zoo. Cuddled some capybara then stayed in Hakone for hot springs. Was a fabulous time.
Days before in Tokyo, was in Ginza and I simply walk the streets and parks. Nothing better IMO
Highly recommend APA hotels. Very clean and spacious enough.
You’re travelling and on an online platform with people from all over the world, still doesn’t cross your mind to add in the currency your budget is in?