From a traveller who has been to Tokyo a dozen times since the early 2000's. One of the best places to stay is in and around Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. You are pretty much central to most tourist spots in Tokyo (for a 1st time Visitor) and you are on direct lines with only 5-6 stops from many of the big locations like Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ikebukaro etc. Easy access from Haneda and Narita and in a salary man location so lots of amazing eating locations including some of the best ramen spots in Tokyo, a massive supermarket nearby and cheap accomodation. As a bonus, Hie Shrine 5 mins walk away and you can walk to Roppongi in about 25 mins.
I have checked many stations, I will tend to live the hotels that close to the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. I assume it may closed to Shibuya and Ginza, the places I want to hang out.
This will be the very first time in Japan for us and I think I will listen to your advice. Our flight is at 15th this month, so 3 days left… I and my family are very excited since we don’t really have a travel plan for this one :D even though we will only stay for 6 days. I will keep our journey updated if anyone is interested.
We are currently struggling with this, you really always upload at the perfect time!! Thank you so much for all your videos, they have made planning our first Japan trip so much easier!
Stayed at Otsuka back in November and Sugamo most recently in April. Both are along the Yamanote line and are more on the quieter side, making it easier to navigate in and out of the stations. 100% recommend these locations.
My granddaughter and I stayed in Asakusa. It was awesome with everything you could possibly want to see. Plus the train station gave us access to several lines. Loved the area.
I stayed Akihabara, where I met you guys at the 7/11 and I loved it there. I was close to Ueno and other places I wanted to go to and it was maybe 20 minutes if not shorter to Shibuya. I loved the culture of Akihabara and also the Apa Hotel was a bargain for me for a week. But like I told you, your advice made my first trip to Tokyo 100% and I'm still watching for my 2nd.. Keep up the awesome work
Hi! It was nice running into you. Glad you liked your hotel! We loved the convenience of staying in Akihabara, but the Airbnb we stayed in was one of the worst ever. Narrow stairs with no elevator, restaurant smells wafting up, and in disrepair. Another family left as soon as they checked in. It would have been a better experience if we had stayed in a hotel! 🌸 Heidi
@KenshoQuest it was because of you guys I did alot of research after I decided which prefecture I wanted to stay in and came away with Apa. It was 5 minutes walking from the Akihabara station, had great amenities, close to a beautiful mini shrine, 2 minutes walk to that 7/11and allowed me to experience Akihabara. All of that was from your channel. I'm not a fan of Air BnBs but since I'm a solo traveler my accommodations can be smaller.
Man! I really could have used this info last year before my trip to Tokyo. I was in Tokyo for 10 weeks. Wasted like $4,000-$6,000 on hotels instead of booking an apartment. Critical NEED TO KNOW info. Next time I’m booking an apartment on Expedia. Everything was trial and error. I now know what I love to see again. What new things I want to see. Where to stay. What to book. Where to eat! How to navigate the trains. And I cannot WAIT to return to Tokyo next year for 6 weeks.
I'll visit Japan for the first time in April 2025 with my son Colin and celebrate his 23rd birthday! We will be visiting and staying in Shibuya, Kyoto, and Osaka for 9 days. Then head out to Busan and Seoul for 5 days! This is the perfect informative information for us to navigate around Japan when we visit, Thanks a bunch! :)
Expedia user here. That clear cancellation policy helped during my first visit to Japan as I had to change accommodations quiet a few times as my plans changed.
Very useful video. In November. 2023, I went to Japan with six friends who have never been to Japan. Our hotel stays for the first few nights were near Tokyo Station before heading to Kanazawa and Kyoto via Shinkansen. After having a wonderful time in Kyoto, we returned to Tokyo for five nights and stayed in Ginza. The area has many convenient subway access points, restaurant choices, and interesting stores like the Muji Ginza Flagship store and the Ginza Itoya stationary store. Everyone had a great time. Since I have spent numerous days in all the Tokyo Wards mentioned in the video, I am now more interested in staying in outer wards or away from the concentrated tourist areas and finding restaurants popular with local residents.
My family of 3 stayed in a hotel in Shiomi near Tokyo Bay, and we loved it. Our hotel was right next to Shiomi station, and that area is so lovely and quiet. We really liked being on the trains a little longer just to see less people riding and have some quiet in the biggest city in the world. We want to go stay there again next year, but may have to change due to costs.
Ueno is the best location in Tokyo . Ueno station is where you have the yamanote loop line and also Shinkansen plus others local train and bus . , hundreds of restaurants , famously market Ameyoko , ueno park , the national museum….and lots more the most convenient area to go everywhere more than a Sakura , Shibuya….
If you are walking distance from any station on the Yamonite line (green) you are golden. Good advice. The only thing I will add as an exception is if you have young kids and the main reason you are visiting Tokyo is Disney Resort stay close to the resort. TDR is exhausting so it’s good if you can duck back to your hotel for a break (and kids nap).
Love the demonstrations to book and saving to maps, never knew about that function! and the fact you also include where NOT to stay, great advice great video!
Admittedly, the first two times I went to Tokyo, I did not stay inside the 23 wards. I stayed in Hibarigaoka. For me, I didn't quite mind because I went with the mindset of travelling like a resident. I was a 5 minute walk from a supermarket, paid about 5,500¥ per night where we stayed, and it was about a 15min train on Saibu-Ikebukuro line to Ikebukuro station. The last time I went, we stayed in Koto-shi, but still spent a day out in Higashi-Kurume because I found some great tourism info about a bamboo forest in the area. It made a great day trip. Like with anything, YMMV. I do like the suburban and rural aspects of Japan. I'm planning to spend a month in Japan this year where my focus is more around travelling the countryside. In this case, I'll likely be living out of a backpack and playing things by ear. Already excited!
I stayed near Suidobashi. I liked the quiet area after seeing attractions all over during the day. The Hotel Niwa was so clean and comfortable. Next time I think I will pick somewhere more central so your neighborhood suggestions are helpful
What a brilliant post! You are both excellent in focusing on the practical and realistic. Thank you for the 'show and tell' for Google maps and Expedia. The two demonstrations were extremely helpful. You've gained another subscriber!
Everytime I watch this, I want to "like" it, but it seems I have "liked" it previously! Too bad it can't be "liked" several times because this video is so good and so packed with practical information!
i also stayed in 3 different areas of Tokyo (and Ginza was my fav). The one thing I like was the fact i could leave my luggage at the hotel then pick it up around 6 pm to go to my next hotel. Personally, i don't like overpacking so I seek out hotels with self service laundry. I was in Japan for 14 days, 9 in Tokyo and I packed for 4 days + what I wore on the flight. My Ueno hotel actually had a washer/dryer combo in the room.
I've definitely never found the need to stay outside of central Tokyo because I can always find clean, modern (sometimes newly built) and accessible hotels for under US$100/night - usually quite a bit less.
For my solo trip I've ended up booking multiple Sotetsu Fresa Inn locations. I can transfer bags (although it's fine where I'm going thanks to shinkansen) but they have a membership scheme for free breakfast with your booking, money off 60-day in advance, a nice little bonus 500 yen back each night but more importantly early check-in/late check out! I think some folks are nervous with the scale of options with Japan but sometimes the budget franchises are great for solo travellers. Doing a nice big chunk on this trip, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. All the Sotetsu Fresa Inn's I've picked are all near major stations :)
i agree most of my hotel are in the main station walking distance when i was in Kyoto Staion and Osaka Station. its easier to move from city to city like Nara , Kobe and Hime-jin. and when its time to go back to Haneda its easier to take a ride back to Tokyo airport. APA and ibis have good locations and very good for budget and solo travlers
Honestly, I have not watched such detailed video like yours. In additional, you answered all questions asked, others they just want to get the ‘Like’ or ‘Subscriber’ numbers. I believe RUclips should give you and your family an award 🥇. Furthermore, I think you should also other information, if available, for those less mobility/disability people, in this world, there are other people NOT NORMAL as well. Thank you
Thanks, nice to see how you select where to stay. We have stayed at one of the Prince hotels in Shinagawa to enjoy the peaceful foliage and ponds and trips to Yokohama and Disney. Then we stay in Shibuya for everything else. We’d like to try Shinjuku but overall didn’t seem as lively. We love the subways and Yamanote line
We stayed in Ikebukuro near sunshine city. We chose this location as it's close to a train station and if I wanted to get up before my husband, who likes to sleep late on vacations, I could brows the mall. Likewise, if we got back late at night but were still itching for a little fun, the Round 1 entertainment building was right there too. 24 hour arcade.
Excellent tips! The use of the "map" feature to book rooms is important if you are coming without a car, and need to be close to a station. Also I've used google to see what trains are going to the location I want to go and stay. Last April we went to the Tokyo dome. I googled "train from tokyo station to tokyo dome". It brought up the train to take (Marunouchi line- red color train) the train schedule, and what station to get off. This helped me with planning. Just an idea.
Nippori is great because it’s the first stop on the Keisei skyliner from Narita Airport. Lots of restaurants and the Hotel Lungwood has large rooms but showing its age. Ueno is good too as the Skyliner finishes there and you can catch bullet trains from JR Ueno station. Ueno park is good too.
9:48 - Henna Hotel (which translates to "Weird Hotel") is the one with the robot receptionists; you'll talk to either an android, an anime hologram, or a talking velociraptor.
Stayed in Tokyo about 15 times, in different areas, but most are missing here. Easily my favorite area is Ueno. Lively area that feels as Tokyo as Tokyo can be, with tons of restaurants and shops. And the park with its museums if you prefer a bit of calm. Ueno Station is a great transportation hub with easy access from Narita, the shinkansen going north, and tons of other train and subway lines. But unlike say Shibuya Station or even more so Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station, it is still all quite compact, with tons of affordable hotels just a stone's throw away from the trains. My current favorite hotel is halfway between Ueno and Okachimachi, for quick access to the Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku lines I often pick the latter. As for the west of Tokyo , I prefer Ikebukuro. Maybe not quite as iconic as Shinjuku or Shibuya, but again much more compact, and more affordable options close to the station. I have looked at (and even booked but later cancelled) hotels in Shinjuku and Shibuya, but good luck finding any decent
I stayed at the Tokyo Stay Ginza in November last year. Very good location about 10 minutes by taxi from Tokyo station, but very close to Higashi Ginza, Ginza and Yurakucho subway stations. Hotel also has washer/dryer in rooms
You mean Tokyu Stay. I love that chain as I do not need to go out of my room to wash my clothes. I don't know if it is applicable for all their hotels (I stayed at their Gotanda branch), but there is free coffee from 7 am to midnight
Asakusa area is wonderful for the "Japanese" experience. Most of Tokyo is very modern & skyscrapper-ish, having been destroyed by bombing during WWII. However, Asakusa is very crowded (like Shinjuku and Shibuya). We actually ate at restaurants near the fringe of the neighborhood. You can get to the neighborhood via direct train from Haneda but not Narita. airport. It is not on the Yamanote line, so connections are a bit slower but I think this is the best location for first time visitors. My favorites are Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza. I haven't stayed in Ueno, but I imagine that would be good also. Young people will love Shinjuku & Shibuya but they are crazy busy.
Kamata is also one of the most underrated area to stay in, and it's still covered by JR Hokuriku Arch Pass since it's at the very edge of central Tokyo. ESPECIALLY if you arrive from Haneda as it's only just about 10 minutes away by Keikyu Line from the airport. And it's within walking distance to Kamata station & Keikyu-Kamata station.
I do the same for years. Like Japanese mountains locations layer, food restaurants and fast food layer, supermarkets and drugstores layer and a layer for special "heart" with places where I would like to come back next years :) It's very helpful. Unfortunately we can't export those layers from Google as geographical points of interest.
In Tokyo, Kabukicho is my home away from home, as Shinjuku Station connects you everywhere in the city and the hotel rates are reasonable, unlike Shibuya.
In 2017 stayed at Keio Plaza Hotel(pricey), a very good hotel near Shinjuku station. And in 2023 stay at Daiwa Roynet Kyobashi near Tokyo station(.5 mi away) Also a nice hotel and walking distance to the Tokyo station(cost was about $150/nite)
Maybe an odd choice but I've always chosen to stay in Komagome during my trips to Tokyo since it's a nice mid point between my most frequented spots in Shibuya and Akihabara. As always a great video.
Awesome, I like to stay in shiodome area. Good thing to check is square ft of room. Family of 3 got to be bigger than 235 sq ft. Etc. we are here now and stayed at the Kahala hotel, Kagetsu hotel Matsumoto. Thanks for that video and now in Nagoya. Thanks for all the updates. Aloha
People outside 23 wards wants to have a stern talk with you! Haha true if you do not know the metro system well it can be quite the challenge, but I would argue there are so many great things to discover outside the 23 wards as well!
Thanks for another helpful video on staying in Tokyo! I can say with confidence that the walk time back to the hotel after a day of sightseeing always seems to be longer. 😮💨😂
😎 Thanks again for these videos! I returned Monday from a week at Tokyo Dome City, great hotel! I also used your recommendation for the JR/Siuca link. I was able to see an amazing show in Osaka for a night, IC/QR code was perfect. Got to bypass dozens of people buying paper tickets - huge timesaver!!
My first time there 5 years ago I stayed in Shin-Okubo (aka Korea Town) which I loved. On the Yamanote line, just one stop up from Shuinjuku, but more of a 'real' area, less touristy but interesting and very lively with loads of different food options, bars and shops, and walkable too. Maybe not the best area for a family perhaps, but for me on my own it was great. I'm not too keen on hotels but I found a cool self-catering motel style place on Expedia (Airbnb is pretty useless for Tokyo - alright for Osaka though) which wasn't expensive and was great for me on my own. So the next time I went, last year, I fancied doing something different so I stayed in a swish place in Roppongi - a sort-of hotel but the rooms were actually self-contained apartments with a kitchen, washing machine etc. It cost me a fortune but was nice, had a good balcony with a view of Tokyo Tower and was close to lots of attractions (like you've mentioned). However, for me it felt too upmarket and despite the nightlife (and there's better areas for that) it lacked that real, buzzy Tokyo vibe, so next time I go back I'll be staying in Shin-Okubo again!
Was struggling before but Booked them before this video but pretty much figured similar process to book. With a little more walking due to booking availability but not too bad, Wanted to try japanese style room atleast but the best i can do was half japanese and half western style rooms.
Saw you or your clone at Bedok central, Singapore on Sunday July 14th. We have so many looks alike in this vast world. Love watching your family traveling. Very informative, educational and positive guidelines for travellers.
FYI, there are actually two different Asakusa Stations in Asakusa. The one highlighted in the video is jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and Tobu Railway. The second one is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company as part of the Tsukuba Express; it's closer to Senso-ji Temple and has a direct connection to Akihabara.
Finally, found a step-by-step, easy to follow tutorial on how and where to book a hotel. For a solo traveler, would you recommend APA Hotels? Thank you.
@@tungvu we just stayed at one 2 nights ago in Nagoya. We are a family of 4 and spit into 2 rooms each. The rooms were small but clean and very inexpensive compared to most alternatives.
The one you chose to book (Tokyu Stay) is an amazing hotel chain. I love that their selling point is the washing machine in every room as you won't have to hassle yourself by having to go down (or up in some cases) just to do your laundry, and even worse having to wait for some other guest to finish. The free coffee from 7 am to midnight is another bonus. However, their Ginza hotel has a steep price so I choose their Gotanda branch. Another interesting area with whole lots of restaurants and izakaya. Also is a station of the Yamanote line and Asakusa subway (with through connections to Keikyu/Keisei lines) so access won't ever be an issue. Not really the best if you have children though as there are some sex workers and pimps at night roaming around, and sometimes even attempting to tout you
My always go to on my travels to Japan is stay in near the Tokyo station area on my first two days in Japan before I move to other prefectures. And then on the last two days when i go back to Tokyo, I stay in Akihabara for my geek stuffs.
Hi. Our videos about gluten free restaurants/bakeries are from years ago and some of them have closed already. Is there a certain city you are wondering about? A major thing to watch out for is soy sauce, since it contains gluten and is in so many foods. Most of the hotel breakfast buffets have little signs indicating common allergens (and it’s surprising how many foods contain gluten). If you eat at a diner style restaurant they usually have one low-allergen meal, it might be on the kids menu, that doesn’t contain any of the most common food allergens.
Used some of your videos prior to our trip and it was so helpful. Thanks for your wife’s tip about waterproof shoes and taking only the hikari and Nozomi. Our favorite place was in Kyoto in the Gion area. We went in July and it was during a holiday in Tokyo and in Kyoto so we were caught in two separate crowds. One for the Sensoji temple and the other was a parade in Kyoto!
It will be great if you show us all the accomodations if possible that you had booked in all the times you are in 🇯🇵, it will help me a lot to decide the best place… near the train stn will be excellent thanks
Hi. We are slow-travelers and often stay much longer than people on vacation, so the locations and types of accommodations we book for our family are not necessarily then same as someone visiting Japan for a short trip.
I prefer to stay in Shinjuku. But I now try to avoid the big cities like Tokyo Osaka coz it's too crowded plus good restos always have a long wait. I love the countryside visiting the small towns like Takayama which offer a more authentic feel plus less people.
@@KenshoQuest What times of year to book flights/when to expect flight prices to fluctuate/what are the average flight prices so there's a baseline to compare If there's anything in particular to know about flying to japan/stuff to have prepared pre booking a flight What to expect getting on a flight going back from Japan, i.e. how early should you arrive at the airport, experiences, advice What it's like going through customs Booking services i.e. Expedia/whatever else you recommend. Booking services in japan too. I know some within japan flights are pretty well priced so local booking if any/if they're useful.
Great Travel Information ! I will be going to Tokyo for the first time in late December 2024 and staying 28 Days and I will be traveling Solo would you tell me the Best and Newest Tokyu Stay Hotel to stay at for that long,With the best ability to travel the area and Country from?(Mt Fuji) etc.🌏 🙏
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Do they give academy awards for RUclips posts? Bravo!
From a traveller who has been to Tokyo a dozen times since the early 2000's. One of the best places to stay is in and around Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. You are pretty much central to most tourist spots in Tokyo (for a 1st time Visitor) and you are on direct lines with only 5-6 stops from many of the big locations like Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ikebukaro etc. Easy access from Haneda and Narita and in a salary man location so lots of amazing eating locations including some of the best ramen spots in Tokyo, a massive supermarket nearby and cheap accomodation.
As a bonus, Hie Shrine 5 mins walk away and you can walk to Roppongi in about 25 mins.
Well oh my damn, now consider staying around the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station when I come in next year April. Thank you much.
@@officialying you will love the area. Its the total hidden gem of Tokyo but i know creators wont cover it as it wont get the views
I have checked many stations, I will tend to live the hotels that close to the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. I assume it may closed to Shibuya and Ginza, the places I want to hang out.
@@KaylieL114 its close to pretty much every major tourist spot in Tokyo!
This will be the very first time in Japan for us and I think I will listen to your advice. Our flight is at 15th this month, so 3 days left… I and my family are very excited since we don’t really have a travel plan for this one :D even though we will only stay for 6 days. I will keep our journey updated if anyone is interested.
We are currently struggling with this, you really always upload at the perfect time!! Thank you so much for all your videos, they have made planning our first Japan trip so much easier!
Stayed at Otsuka back in November and Sugamo most recently in April. Both are along the Yamanote line and are more on the quieter side, making it easier to navigate in and out of the stations. 100% recommend these locations.
This is quite literally one of the greatest Japan travel vids… thank you so much
You’re welcome!
My granddaughter and I stayed in Asakusa. It was awesome with everything you could possibly want to see. Plus the train station gave us access to several lines. Loved the area.
I stayed Akihabara, where I met you guys at the 7/11 and I loved it there. I was close to Ueno and other places I wanted to go to and it was maybe 20 minutes if not shorter to Shibuya. I loved the culture of Akihabara and also the Apa Hotel was a bargain for me for a week. But like I told you, your advice made my first trip to Tokyo 100% and I'm still watching for my 2nd.. Keep up the awesome work
Hi! It was nice running into you. Glad you liked your hotel! We loved the convenience of staying in Akihabara, but the Airbnb we stayed in was one of the worst ever. Narrow stairs with no elevator, restaurant smells wafting up, and in disrepair. Another family left as soon as they checked in. It would have been a better experience if we had stayed in a hotel! 🌸 Heidi
@KenshoQuest it was because of you guys I did alot of research after I decided which prefecture I wanted to stay in and came away with Apa. It was 5 minutes walking from the Akihabara station, had great amenities, close to a beautiful mini shrine, 2 minutes walk to that 7/11and allowed me to experience Akihabara. All of that was from your channel. I'm not a fan of Air BnBs but since I'm a solo traveler my accommodations can be smaller.
Man! I really could have used this info last year before my trip to Tokyo. I was in Tokyo for 10 weeks. Wasted like $4,000-$6,000 on hotels instead of booking an apartment. Critical NEED TO KNOW info. Next time I’m booking an apartment on Expedia. Everything was trial and error. I now know what I love to see again. What new things I want to see. Where to stay. What to book. Where to eat! How to navigate the trains. And I cannot WAIT to return to Tokyo next year for 6 weeks.
This was so amazingly helpful!!! Thank you so much!!!
You're very welcome!
I'll visit Japan for the first time in April 2025 with my son Colin and celebrate his 23rd birthday! We will be visiting and staying in Shibuya, Kyoto, and Osaka for 9 days. Then head out to Busan and Seoul for 5 days! This is the perfect informative information for us to navigate around Japan when we visit, Thanks a bunch! :)
You're welcome. Have a wonderful time!
Expedia user here. That clear cancellation policy helped during my first visit to Japan as I had to change accommodations quiet a few times as my plans changed.
What accomodation would u recommend?
Very useful video. In November. 2023, I went to Japan with six friends who have never been to Japan. Our hotel stays for the first few nights were near Tokyo Station before heading to Kanazawa and Kyoto via Shinkansen. After having a wonderful time in Kyoto, we returned to Tokyo for five nights and stayed in Ginza. The area has many convenient subway access points, restaurant choices, and interesting stores like the Muji Ginza Flagship store and the Ginza Itoya stationary store. Everyone had a great time. Since I have spent numerous days in all the Tokyo Wards mentioned in the video, I am now more interested in staying in outer wards or away from the concentrated tourist areas and finding restaurants popular with local residents.
Glad you had a great time. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
@@robertk9908 that is just what I’m planning! Thank you for confirming my choices!
This is the best video I've seen on traveling to Tokyo. Thank you!
You’re welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest about Japan travel.
@@KenshoQuest I already subscribed!
My family of 3 stayed in a hotel in Shiomi near Tokyo Bay, and we loved it. Our hotel was right next to Shiomi station, and that area is so lovely and quiet. We really liked being on the trains a little longer just to see less people riding and have some quiet in the biggest city in the world. We want to go stay there again next year, but may have to change due to costs.
Thanks for sharing!
Ueno is the best location in Tokyo . Ueno station is where you have the yamanote loop line and also Shinkansen plus others local train and bus . , hundreds of restaurants , famously market Ameyoko , ueno park , the national museum….and lots more the most convenient area to go everywhere more than a Sakura , Shibuya….
@@ductritran8637 I don’t mind Wayno either. Not too bad.
I agree that this is one of the best RUclips videos I’ve seen about Japan. So, informative. Thank you 🙏🏽
Thank you!
If you are walking distance from any station on the Yamonite line (green) you are golden. Good advice. The only thing I will add as an exception is if you have young kids and the main reason you are visiting Tokyo is Disney Resort stay close to the resort. TDR is exhausting so it’s good if you can duck back to your hotel for a break (and kids nap).
thanks for sharing the great tip about Disney!
Love the demonstrations to book and saving to maps, never knew about that function! and the fact you also include where NOT to stay, great advice great video!
Glad you found it helpful! Here's our overview video, of how to plan a trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
Admittedly, the first two times I went to Tokyo, I did not stay inside the 23 wards. I stayed in Hibarigaoka. For me, I didn't quite mind because I went with the mindset of travelling like a resident. I was a 5 minute walk from a supermarket, paid about 5,500¥ per night where we stayed, and it was about a 15min train on Saibu-Ikebukuro line to Ikebukuro station. The last time I went, we stayed in Koto-shi, but still spent a day out in Higashi-Kurume because I found some great tourism info about a bamboo forest in the area. It made a great day trip. Like with anything, YMMV. I do like the suburban and rural aspects of Japan. I'm planning to spend a month in Japan this year where my focus is more around travelling the countryside. In this case, I'll likely be living out of a backpack and playing things by ear. Already excited!
I stayed near Suidobashi. I liked the quiet area after seeing attractions all over during the day. The Hotel Niwa was so clean and comfortable. Next time I think I will pick somewhere more central so your neighborhood suggestions are helpful
My wife and I always stay in a studio next to the embassies in the quiet, upscale area of Shibuya.
Im going there next month as a first timer. This is the best video I have seen so far. Really clear and informative!
Glad it was helpful!
This is one of the best yt videos I've ever seen for japan. Thank you!
You’re welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest for planning a Japan trip.
What a brilliant post! You are both excellent in focusing on the practical and realistic. Thank you for the 'show and tell' for Google maps and Expedia. The two demonstrations were extremely helpful. You've gained another subscriber!
Thanks so much for your kind comment! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest for planning a trip to Japan.
Just discovered your channel. I travel to japan allot for work and I am able to plan better because of your videos. Thank you!
Awesome, let us know if you have any particular questions.
Everytime I watch this, I want to "like" it, but it seems I have "liked" it previously! Too bad it can't be "liked" several times because this video is so good and so packed with practical information!
Thanks! We made a similar video for Osaka, incase you're visiting there as well: ruclips.net/video/_4gErmeunzg/видео.html
Fantastic video! Sooo informative! Thank you!
You're very welcome!
i also stayed in 3 different areas of Tokyo (and Ginza was my fav). The one thing I like was the fact i could leave my luggage at the hotel then pick it up around 6 pm to go to my next hotel. Personally, i don't like overpacking so I seek out hotels with self service laundry. I was in Japan for 14 days, 9 in Tokyo and I packed for 4 days + what I wore on the flight. My Ueno hotel actually had a washer/dryer combo in the room.
Thanks for sharing!
I've definitely never found the need to stay outside of central Tokyo because I can always find clean, modern (sometimes newly built) and accessible hotels for under US$100/night - usually quite a bit less.
For my solo trip I've ended up booking multiple Sotetsu Fresa Inn locations. I can transfer bags (although it's fine where I'm going thanks to shinkansen) but they have a membership scheme for free breakfast with your booking, money off 60-day in advance, a nice little bonus 500 yen back each night but more importantly early check-in/late check out! I think some folks are nervous with the scale of options with Japan but sometimes the budget franchises are great for solo travellers. Doing a nice big chunk on this trip, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. All the Sotetsu Fresa Inn's I've picked are all near major stations :)
Thanks for sharing, great suggestion!
i agree most of my hotel are in the main station walking distance when i was in Kyoto Staion and Osaka Station. its easier to move from city to city like Nara , Kobe and Hime-jin. and when its time to go back to Haneda its easier to take a ride back to Tokyo airport. APA and ibis have good locations and very good for budget and solo travlers
Honestly, I have not watched such detailed video like yours. In additional, you answered all questions asked, others they just want to get the ‘Like’ or ‘Subscriber’ numbers.
I believe RUclips should give you and your family an award 🥇.
Furthermore, I think you should also other information, if available, for those less mobility/disability people, in this world, there are other people NOT NORMAL as well.
Thank you
Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for your suggestion!
Thanks, nice to see how you select where to stay. We have stayed at one of the Prince hotels in Shinagawa to enjoy the peaceful foliage and ponds and trips to Yokohama and Disney. Then we stay in Shibuya for everything else. We’d like to try Shinjuku but overall didn’t seem as lively. We love the subways and Yamanote line
Thanks for sharing, great info! Shinagawa and the Prince Hotels are great. Especially if you will be splitting time in Yokohama and Tokyo
We stayed in Ikebukuro near sunshine city. We chose this location as it's close to a train station and if I wanted to get up before my husband, who likes to sleep late on vacations, I could brows the mall. Likewise, if we got back late at night but were still itching for a little fun, the Round 1 entertainment building was right there too. 24 hour arcade.
Excellent tips! The use of the "map" feature to book rooms is important if you are coming without a car, and need to be close to a station. Also I've used google to see what trains are going to the location I want to go and stay. Last April we went to the Tokyo dome. I googled "train from tokyo station to tokyo dome". It brought up the train to take (Marunouchi line- red color train) the train schedule, and what station to get off. This helped me with planning. Just an idea.
Nippori is great because it’s the first stop on the Keisei skyliner from Narita Airport. Lots of restaurants and the Hotel Lungwood has large rooms but showing its age. Ueno is good too as the Skyliner finishes there and you can catch bullet trains from JR Ueno station. Ueno park is good too.
Agree. We love those areas.
9:48 - Henna Hotel (which translates to "Weird Hotel") is the one with the robot receptionists; you'll talk to either an android, an anime hologram, or a talking velociraptor.
Stayed in Tokyo about 15 times, in different areas, but most are missing here. Easily my favorite area is Ueno. Lively area that feels as Tokyo as Tokyo can be, with tons of restaurants and shops. And the park with its museums if you prefer a bit of calm. Ueno Station is a great transportation hub with easy access from Narita, the shinkansen going north, and tons of other train and subway lines. But unlike say Shibuya Station or even more so Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station, it is still all quite compact, with tons of affordable hotels just a stone's throw away from the trains. My current favorite hotel is halfway between Ueno and Okachimachi, for quick access to the Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku lines I often pick the latter.
As for the west of Tokyo , I prefer Ikebukuro. Maybe not quite as iconic as Shinjuku or Shibuya, but again much more compact, and more affordable options close to the station. I have looked at (and even booked but later cancelled) hotels in Shinjuku and Shibuya, but good luck finding any decent
Hi, a lot of great information here! Thanks for sharing!
I stayed at the Tokyo Stay Ginza in November last year. Very good location about 10 minutes by taxi from Tokyo station, but very close to Higashi Ginza, Ginza and Yurakucho subway stations. Hotel also has washer/dryer in rooms
You mean Tokyu Stay. I love that chain as I do not need to go out of my room to wash my clothes. I don't know if it is applicable for all their hotels (I stayed at their Gotanda branch), but there is free coffee from 7 am to midnight
Thanks for sharing! And yes, they have washers! I cut that part out of the video because it was getting long, but probably should have left it in :)
@@luke211286 actually stayed at the location he was showing in Ginza.
We stayed in Asakusa near the Sumida river and sensoji. It was lovely.
Asakusa area is wonderful for the "Japanese" experience. Most of Tokyo is very modern & skyscrapper-ish, having been destroyed by bombing during WWII. However, Asakusa is very crowded (like Shinjuku and Shibuya). We actually ate at restaurants near the fringe of the neighborhood. You can get to the neighborhood via direct train from Haneda but not Narita. airport. It is not on the Yamanote line, so connections are a bit slower but I think this is the best location for first time visitors. My favorites are Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza. I haven't stayed in Ueno, but I imagine that would be good also. Young people will love Shinjuku & Shibuya but they are crazy busy.
Kamata is also one of the most underrated area to stay in, and it's still covered by JR Hokuriku Arch Pass since it's at the very edge of central Tokyo. ESPECIALLY if you arrive from Haneda as it's only just about 10 minutes away by Keikyu Line from the airport. And it's within walking distance to Kamata station & Keikyu-Kamata station.
Hi, thanks for sharing! Great information. We also like Kamata and have stayed here when we needed to get to Haneda for an early flight.
Whoa, great tip to save the locations in Google Maps. Thank you! 🙏
You’re welcome!
I do the same for years. Like Japanese mountains locations layer, food restaurants and fast food layer, supermarkets and drugstores layer and a layer for special "heart" with places where I would like to come back next years :) It's very helpful. Unfortunately we can't export those layers from Google as geographical points of interest.
Great video. We stayed at the Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku City. Loved it. The accommodations and food were awesome.
This has been so completely helpful. Thank you so much for the guide and I look forward to more videos from you guys!
Glad to hear that!
In Tokyo, Kabukicho is my home away from home, as Shinjuku Station connects you everywhere in the city and the hotel rates are reasonable, unlike Shibuya.
May I know what hotel ? Is it safe area at kabukicho ?
@@nancywibowo8632 Any of the APA Hotels in Kabukicho are safe, as they're not in the east area.
Very helpful, thank you so much. I learn so much. God bless you and your family and keep doing more videos.
In 2017 stayed at Keio Plaza Hotel(pricey), a very good hotel near Shinjuku station. And in 2023 stay at Daiwa Roynet Kyobashi near Tokyo station(.5 mi away) Also a nice hotel and walking distance to the Tokyo station(cost was about $150/nite)
Maybe an odd choice but I've always chosen to stay in Komagome during my trips to Tokyo since it's a nice mid point between my most frequented spots in Shibuya and Akihabara. As always a great video.
Hi, for seasoned travelers like yourself, sounds like a good choice and something we would do as well ;)
This is so helpful, thank you so much!! I tried mapping out my itinerary and it can get really crazy. The tips helped me narrow down .
Glad it helped!
Awesome, I like to stay in shiodome area. Good thing to check is square ft of room. Family of 3 got to be bigger than 235 sq ft. Etc. we are here now and stayed at the Kahala hotel, Kagetsu hotel Matsumoto. Thanks for that video and now in Nagoya. Thanks for all the updates. Aloha
Excellent information, thanks for sharing, hope you liked Matsumoto! Aloha 🤙🏼
Thank you for your wonderful videos! We will be visiting Tokyo in the Fall and your shared information is super valuable and helpful.
Happy to help :) Have a great trip!
People outside 23 wards wants to have a stern talk with you! Haha true if you do not know the metro system well it can be quite the challenge, but I would argue there are so many great things to discover outside the 23 wards as well!
You are absolutely correct! 😁 We also like to stay outside sometimes but we often stay over a month at a time
Im planning my first solo trip in November. This was really helpful!
@@dvijay461 I'm going on my first solo trip too this november. Goodluck on your journey
Thanks for another helpful video on staying in Tokyo! I can say with confidence that the walk time back to the hotel after a day of sightseeing always seems to be longer. 😮💨😂
So true!
Kanda is my go to area - it’s so central, well connected and cheap!
I also stayed in Kanda. Not crowded and near Akihabara, which I love.
@@pollutingpenguin2146 yes! We are in Shibuya and Kanda next time. And Kanda is so much cheaper xD
@@punktetierpanda7193 yeah it’s about half the price! I like to stay at the Sotetsu hotel there
😎 Thanks again for these videos! I returned Monday from a week at Tokyo Dome City, great hotel! I also used your recommendation for the JR/Siuca link. I was able to see an amazing show in Osaka for a night, IC/QR code was perfect. Got to bypass dozens of people buying paper tickets - huge timesaver!!
For us an onsen is a must, especially when traveling in winter. Also breakfast quality varies significantly between different hotel chains.
My first time there 5 years ago I stayed in Shin-Okubo (aka Korea Town) which I loved. On the Yamanote line, just one stop up from Shuinjuku, but more of a 'real' area, less touristy but interesting and very lively with loads of different food options, bars and shops, and walkable too. Maybe not the best area for a family perhaps, but for me on my own it was great. I'm not too keen on hotels but I found a cool self-catering motel style place on Expedia (Airbnb is pretty useless for Tokyo - alright for Osaka though) which wasn't expensive and was great for me on my own.
So the next time I went, last year, I fancied doing something different so I stayed in a swish place in Roppongi - a sort-of hotel but the rooms were actually self-contained apartments with a kitchen, washing machine etc. It cost me a fortune but was nice, had a good balcony with a view of Tokyo Tower and was close to lots of attractions (like you've mentioned). However, for me it felt too upmarket and despite the nightlife (and there's better areas for that) it lacked that real, buzzy Tokyo vibe, so next time I go back I'll be staying in Shin-Okubo again!
Was struggling before but Booked them before this video but pretty much figured similar process to book. With a little more walking due to booking availability but not too bad, Wanted to try japanese style room atleast but the best i can do was half japanese and half western style rooms.
Saw you or your clone at Bedok central, Singapore on Sunday July 14th. We have so many looks alike in this vast world. Love watching your family traveling. Very informative, educational and positive guidelines for travellers.
Thanks. Must have been a look alike! It’s been a while since we’ve been to Singapore.
Currently working on a trip from March 8th through March 20th, so this happens to line up just right lol
FYI, there are actually two different Asakusa Stations in Asakusa. The one highlighted in the video is jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and Tobu Railway. The second one is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company as part of the Tsukuba Express; it's closer to Senso-ji Temple and has a direct connection to Akihabara.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information, very helpful!
Clear and concise video. Well explained and organized. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Great video! Very well laid out.
These presenters are so nice. Thanks for the tips, going soon.
Have a wonderful time in Japan!
Finally, found a step-by-step, easy to follow tutorial on how and where to book a hotel. For a solo traveler, would you recommend APA Hotels? Thank you.
@@tungvu we just stayed at one 2 nights ago in Nagoya. We are a family of 4 and spit into 2 rooms each. The rooms were small but clean and very inexpensive compared to most alternatives.
Yes, APA hotels are good for solo travelers too.
The one you chose to book (Tokyu Stay) is an amazing hotel chain. I love that their selling point is the washing machine in every room as you won't have to hassle yourself by having to go down (or up in some cases) just to do your laundry, and even worse having to wait for some other guest to finish. The free coffee from 7 am to midnight is another bonus.
However, their Ginza hotel has a steep price so I choose their Gotanda branch. Another interesting area with whole lots of restaurants and izakaya. Also is a station of the Yamanote line and Asakusa subway (with through connections to Keikyu/Keisei lines) so access won't ever be an issue. Not really the best if you have children though as there are some sex workers and pimps at night roaming around, and sometimes even attempting to tout you
HI, yes, the laundry machine is a huge selling point for us too!
Thanks for sharing the information about the Gotanda branch!
Amazing video keep up the quality wow ❤
this is exactly what I was looking for for our family trip, thank you so much!!!
You're welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest about Japan travel.
Here I was so worried about the hotel I picked and lo and behold it's the same hotel you had picked in the video! I'm so relieved lol
Glad to have reassured you. Have a wonderful trip!
My always go to on my travels to Japan is stay in near the Tokyo station area on my first two days in Japan before I move to other prefectures. And then on the last two days when i go back to Tokyo, I stay in Akihabara for my geek stuffs.
Does anyone know if they have a video on gluten free eating in Japan? I'm gluten free and was so happy to see a couple gluten free places mentioned 😊
Hi. Our videos about gluten free restaurants/bakeries are from years ago and some of them have closed already. Is there a certain city you are wondering about? A major thing to watch out for is soy sauce, since it contains gluten and is in so many foods. Most of the hotel breakfast buffets have little signs indicating common allergens (and it’s surprising how many foods contain gluten). If you eat at a diner style restaurant they usually have one low-allergen meal, it might be on the kids menu, that doesn’t contain any of the most common food allergens.
This video actually helped me book tokyrob
Used some of your videos prior to our trip and it was so helpful. Thanks for your wife’s tip about waterproof shoes and taking only the hikari and Nozomi. Our favorite place was in Kyoto in the Gion area. We went in July and it was during a holiday in Tokyo and in Kyoto so we were caught in two separate crowds. One for the Sensoji temple and the other was a parade in Kyoto!
Glad to hear! Thanks for letting us know.
It will be great if you show us all the accomodations if possible that you had booked in all the times you are in 🇯🇵, it will help me a lot to decide the best place… near the train stn will be excellent thanks
Hi. We are slow-travelers and often stay much longer than people on vacation, so the locations and types of accommodations we book for our family are not necessarily then same as someone visiting Japan for a short trip.
I have a hotel near Ueno in mind that gives one train access from HND and to places like Shinjuku
I think Monzen-Nakacho is best but Shiodome Italia Gai and Kagurazaka are nice too. Anyway, I think, for me, any city on the Tozai Line is fine.
This was great practical advice. Thank you for the tips!
Fabulous and informative. Thank you, much appreciated.
You’re welcome. Glad to have helped.
This video was so helpful! Thank you so much!!!
You're welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest about Japan travel.
This is veery helpful thank you so much ❤🇹🇷
This has been extremely helpful to us. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
I'm planning to go to Tokyo soon and found your video so helpful. Thank you.
Nice to know those things in selecting hotel , thank you so much for the tip
Thank you for this fantastic video‼️
You're welcome! Here's our video on How to Plan a Trip to Japan: ruclips.net/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/видео.html
I need a recommendation for Osaka
Many thanks for the helpful and informative video.
Glad to have helped!
Thank you for your easy info!!!
love love love your videos! i learn so much.
Highly appreciate this post .. really into details . Good view for beginner to venture Tokyo
You guys are amazingly helpful. You earned my sub❤️
Thanks for the excellent advice and help
You’re very welcome!
When i was i Tokyo my hotel was close to minamisenju station and it was great cheap and quiet but sill good connection to other parts of city
I will visit in october 2025. With group of friends. Find your video very helpfull
Very useful tips. Thank you!
I prefer to stay in Shinjuku. But I now try to avoid the big cities like Tokyo Osaka coz it's too crowded plus good restos always have a long wait. I love the countryside visiting the small towns like Takayama which offer a more authentic feel plus less people.
Why do you not recommend APA hotel?
Hi, APA is another good option and we do recommend them for families and budget conscious.
Do you think you'll do one of these with booking flights to japan? This was helpful
Hi, we are thinking about a flight video. can you give us more information about what would be helpful to you? Thanks
@@KenshoQuest
What times of year to book flights/when to expect flight prices to fluctuate/what are the average flight prices so there's a baseline to compare
If there's anything in particular to know about flying to japan/stuff to have prepared pre booking a flight
What to expect getting on a flight going back from Japan, i.e. how early should you arrive at the airport, experiences, advice
What it's like going through customs
Booking services i.e. Expedia/whatever else you recommend.
Booking services in japan too.
I know some within japan flights are pretty well priced so local booking if any/if they're useful.
Very helpful, thanks, we'll integrate some of your questions into the video :)
Great Travel Information ! I will be going to Tokyo for the first time in late December 2024 and staying 28 Days and I will be traveling Solo would you tell me the Best and Newest Tokyu Stay Hotel to stay at for that long,With the best ability to travel the area and Country from?(Mt Fuji) etc.🌏 🙏
Thank you so much for your information!!
You're welcome!
Always so informative