I’m visiting Japan on my own next year in Jan/Feb, and starting to get super excited, but I need to book a place to stay in Tokyo…
I really like the idea of somewhere that has really chilled bars that aren’t noisy/loud music somewhere I can go to eat and drink in the evenings and just enjoy the surroundings. Is this kind of thing more prevalent in a specific neighborhood?
Most of the places I’d like to visit are in the west of Tokyo so I’m thinking that rules out anything east.
My list of possibilities so far:
Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Koenji
I’m open to other ideas if you know somewhere better 🙂
16 comments
Beemars
A good hotel in Asakusa is the Keihan Hotel Asakusa. There is a really cool street near there called Hoppy Street. It’s lined with izakaya and it is not overly loud or wild. It’s my favorite spot in Tokyo.
For what it’s worth, I preferred the vibe in Shinjuku/Shibuya over Ginza
Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo hotel is really nice and located just a short 5 min walk from Shinegawa station. Lots of good bars located on the other side of the station and nightlife is pretty good but not crazy.
Ginza is east Tokyo, for what it’s worth.
Stay away from Shibuya and Shinjuku at night if you want quiet. Anything on the Yamanote is going to be fairly busy in the evenings.
You can find a quiet bar in all 4 neighborhoods. Ginza is good for high-end cocktails. Shinjuku and Shibuya have bars for every taste, but there are so many bars and many are in high rise complexes, so it can be difficult to navigate. I’ll recommend Koenji, lots of bars in low-rises where you can look inside and see what the vibe is like.
Asakusa is awesome for a more chill stay but still has plenty of good food and bars open late. My first stay in Tokyo was Shinjuku but tucked away in the back streets so not as crazy in the city centre. It was perfect, 7/11 across the road and easy ten minute walk to train station. Still loads of food options and izakayas close by. These two areas I highly recommend.
What about Meguro, Ebisu, that neck of the woods..?
Shinbashi is a good one. Yaesu behind Tokyo Station is another.
Ebisu is awesome and one stop from shibuya 4 for shinjuku
Anything west of shinjuku on chuo line. Nishi Ogikubo is super cool. Also shimokitazawa.
I don’t know about hotels or places to say around there though
I also preferred Shinjuku for nightlife over Ginza – Ginza tends to quieten down but Shinjuku stays awake at all hours! Plus there is something for everyone to do, not just drinking. We actually stayed in an Onsen Ryoken in Shinjuku but it was about a 15 min walk from the hustle and bustle, so it was super quiet and not too hectic. Plus opposite a 7 Eleven which was really convenient!
Koenji is incredible, stay there every time I visit. Great food, shops, relaxed (hipstery) vibe
My recommendation is to book accommodation like yesterday
Thats like peak winter travel, especially around the beginning of January. I am here now, booked my hotels in June and it was slim pickins. Tons of no vacancy signs on hotels.
Currently travelling in Japan now and Asakusa is really good
I just stayed in Shinjuku, really quiet street but close to all the bars and golden gai.
Tokyu stay shinjuku east side