Struggling with where to stay as a home base in Tokyo (Shinjuku? Asakusa? Somewhere else?)

38 comments

1. I stayed in Akihabara and found it to be very convenient. Easy access to Ueno and Tokyo Stations and the area had plenty of affordable restaurants nearby.

2. We stayed in shinjuku, at the gracery hotel. Subway right up the street, lots of restaurants, stores, bars, etc close by.

3. 1st-timer: Shinjuku/ Shibuya/ Akasaka. <- and seems like you might want this if you like drinking till late as trains stop moving after
   2nd/3rd-timer: Asakusa/ Ueno/ Ginza

   Would just stay along Yamanote line to avoid long commuting times.

4. I’d just do Shinjuku. Combining mostly staying in the west and having some nights in Shinjuku, that’s just the easiest option. The nightlife kind of pushes it over the edge to me.

   It’s not terrible spending some time on a train to get places, but if you want to be out past last train, stay in an area where you can either walk back, catch a cab that’s not that expensive, or commit to being out until first train.

5. I chose a hotel in Shinodome as a home base for an upcoming first trip to Tokyo. Posts like this make me rethink that decision as I rarely see Shinodome mention as a pool lace where this sub stays.

6. I stayed near Tokyo station and it’s was super convenient. Frankly, I feel like exact neighborhood is less important than proximity to train / metro stations. I’d prioritize staying within 5 mins walk of a station.

7. I’d say Shinjuku’s your best bet. A lot of the subway and over-land rail lines converge there so accessibility is no concern at all.

8. I’m planning a trip to Tokyo and I’ve been once before.
   On my first trip in 2016, I stayed in Shin-Okubo which I found to be fairly convenient.
   This time around I’ve booked a hotel a stop away from Roppongi Station. It seems central to me based on my plans and not too far from Tokyo station or Haneda Airport ( when I arrive to Tokyo from Osaka, and then when I depart Japan)

9. I recommend Ueno. There’s lots of good and/or cheap accommodation, excellent nightlife, and there are like four major transit stations in the area so good access to any of the places you mentioned.

10. Personally love more quiet neighborhoods but aren’t too far like in the Kameido/Ryogoku area. It’s near Asakusa and a few stops from Akihabara.

11. I highly recommend Shinagawa. We stayed at this airbnb hotel next to Togoshi Ginza for our honeymoon (Togoshi Stay 568) and it was the perfect fit. We got the experience of living in Japan (tons of 24 hour convenience and grocery stores, plus tons of local and delicious food!) We were only 20 minutes away via train (the station closest to us was located 1 block away) to the major parts of Tokyo, including Akihabara. Felt super safe walking down the street as a woman alone at 11pm at night when I went to hunt down some soju as my husband slept.

12. I suggest staying in a hotel close to whatever your plan to do in the evenings.

    In the morning, a few extra minutes on the train is no big deal, but the in the evening when I’m ready to go home, I generally want to get back as soon as possible. Also subways close relatively early so being walking distance to your hotel is a big benefit.

    Based on your plans, you can’t go wrong with Shinjuku.

13. I stayed in Asakusa last week. Very pleasant and easy to get anywhere in Tokyo. But my main preference before Asakusa was Ueno. Both are lovely for those preferring a quieter scene at night after coming back from the main city.

14. During our trip, we chose to stay near Ginza because of all the subway options in proximity. It felt very convenient and then we were close to the train station when came the time to leave.

15. anywhere here’s a direct line to either airport. you going have to navigate thru a lot of people no matter what

16. We have always chosen to stay in Shinjuku because of its proximity to where we’re wanting to go, we can easily get to the night life we’re wanting within a reasonable walk, and the fact Shinjuku station has all the transport options we’re wanting.

    Outside of this, we almost booked Tokyo Station area on this next trip for a few nights and this also looked quite comparable, but ended up just sticking with a nicer hotel we found in Shinjuku because it’s our anniversary so are treating ourselves.

17. I found Shinjuku and Asakusa a bit overwhelming tbh so ended up staying at Omotesando and Ginza/Hibiya area, transport options are excellent in both places with Shimbashi station in close proximity to Hibiya.

18. Shibuya area was great.

19. Shimbashi or Shidome are good.
    Walking distance from central Tokyo, immediate links to most major rail lines via Shimbashi station, the metro at Shidome and even the Yurikamome monorail.
    Plus just pretty scenery and plenty of places to eat or buy essentials nearby.
    I’ll be staying somewhere around there when I go.

20. Akasaka is an underrated area. Lots of eateries late that open late into the night, and you’re in the middle of 2 subway lines fairly close to both Tokyo or Shinjuku.

    Asakusa generally has quite reasonable options, and the back streets of asakusa, away from sensoji and nakamise dori, offer a beautiful vibe, from neighbour bakeries to hipster cafes, 24hr Donki to early morning beef cutlers, to neighbourhood parks that are pretty awesome.

21. Doesn’t matter that much as long as you’re very close to public transportation. I stayed in shinjuku last time but it was a 15 min trek to the nearest metro/train and this time I’ll be staying at a JR owned hotel that’s literally in a train station but elsewhere in the city.

22. Tokyo station. Its expensive but worth it for the transport. I didnt wanna waste money so I stayed in Akhibara on the main metro line.

23. Here’s my recommendation as a local: Shibuya station

    Shibuya fits your itinerary the best. You can also take the ginza line from shibuya to go east towards asakusa and ginza, you’re close enough to walk to your desired location on day 6. Furthermore, and take this with a pinch of salt, there’s nothing very interesting around Shinjuku from a local point of view.

24. We’re staying in Shinjuku so we can hit the bars and clubs and just walk home.

25. I stayed in shinjuku for about 2 weeks and it was the best location imo. Everything is one trainride away and many trains going out of Tokyo also start there. Just a great train hub to be close to.

26. Gf and I decided on Shinjuku, it just made the most sense to us. Station within a couple of minutes walk, tons of places around to wander and see and experience regardless of time of day. Kyoto and Hakone = our chill and quiet times so we decided for Tokyo to be lively and busy.

27. I stayed in Minato at the Shiodome Media Tower last October and honestly, it was fantastic. My friend and I were only 5 mins from a train station and had easy access to everything. Tons of nice mom and pop ramen and izakaya restaurants. And you’re only a 10-15 min train ride to Odaiba, which was really cool.

28. I’ve stayed in Tokyo a couple of times, in Ueno, Akasaka, Shibuya and Shinjuku, and have enjoyed all of these areas. I’d however go for Shinjuku (you’ll get everywhere easily, and there’s so much in the area as well) for practical reasons, although perhaps not in Kabukicho, unless you want to see *that* kind of nightlife up close…

29. Shinjuku Prince hotel is nice and pretty affordable, right by all of the fun stuff in Shinjuku, less than 5 min walk from Shinjuku station (which has lines to anywhere you want to go in Tokyo), stayed there both times I was in Tokyo and don’t regret it

30. Everything you listed would be within ~30-35 minutes of Shinjuku or Asakusa. I recommend Asakusa or Ueno because it’s quieter but still close to major train stations. Also, your day 1, day 3 and day 6 are too packed. You should aim for ~2 neighbourhoods a day unless you want to just rush around everywhere.

31. We stayed in Asakusa and was really low key. No crowds, rarely saw tourists except at the shrine during the day, was nice. Then we changed to Shibuyu and was insanity everyday but the train station was really flexible, particularly compared to Asakusa which is a bit more time consuming to get around.

    If I did it all over again I’d just have stayed in Asakusa. I enjoyed the low-key vibe and overall cheaper accommodation.

32. I liked tokyo knot shinjuku hotel with city view 🙂

33. I just got back from Tokyo. Stayed in hotels in Shinjuku and Ginza. Vastly preferred Shinjuku.

34. I stayed in Asakusa back in 2019 during my first trip to Tokyo and plan to stay in Asakusa or Ueno next year.

35. My contrary ass really likes staying in Gotanda/Meguro or the Okachimachi end of Ueno. Proximity to transit, lots of choices for food and supplies, but cheaper and quieter than more popular neighborhoods.

36. I stayed in the Nippori area, and I find it convenient since it is near Ueno/Akihabara, easy access as well to the Skyliner train to Narita Airport. Cheap accomodations as well.

37. I went with Akihabara, but only becouse i like to play arcades before going to sleep

38. Loved staying right on the Ginza Line near Meiji Jingu Stadium!