How to Choose a Hotel in Japan & Where to Stay in Tokyo
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- Tips for choosing a hotel in Tokyo or around Japan and how to pick which area to stay in.
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There are so many hotels in Tokyo that it can be difficult to know which one to book. So here's my guide to how to choose a Japanese hotel, where to stay, the best train connections in Tokyo and how to book.
00:00 Intro
01:09 Choosing an area
04:58 Stay near the shinkansen
06:29 Set your budget
06:48 Stay near a station
07:43 Room size
09:10 Special requirements
09:31 Google Streetview
10:37 Free cancellation
10:45 Not many hotels showing?
11:01 Before you book!
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Music made using Jukedeck. Sound effect from FreeSound.
Thank you to Rosie Esteban (@rosieesteban11) for the Spanish subtitles!
#japan #japantravel #tokyo #tokyohotel #japanhotel #japantravelguide #tokyotravel #tokyotravelguide
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Great video! Love your videos!
Thanks so much!
This is valid advice for any trip thank you so much for making this video!
Thanks, hope it helps! 😊
Thank for your video!
Thanks, hope it helps!
Great tips, this is by far the most helpful video I’ve seen :)
Thanks so much, that means a lot!
This is a great tutorial video - excellent advice about trains / hotels
Thanks so much! I just remember how many questions I had before I first went to Japan!!
Im so grateful I found your channel! going to Japan in July!
Glad you like my videos! Enjoy planning your trip!
Another great video!! :)
Thank you!!
Great video! Appreciate the fish tip website. Our favourite place to stay in Tokyo is in Akihabara. It has a major train station, all sorts of arcades, and a large don quijote to explore. Great to see Mario Cart tours driving down the street too!
It's definitely a place like nowhere else on earth!
Oh my.. you are very thorough and informative!! I love all the information you personally give!! I base my choosing of places to stay exactly what your are advising!! Love you!!
Thanks so much! I remember how many questions I had when I first went to Japan, so I try and include everything I wanted to know. Hope my other videos help too! :-)
Awesome job Amy have great day.
Thank you! You too!
Thanks
Useful advice
Thanks, hope it helps! :-)
The idea of picking a hotel in relation to the subway line I want to use is great. Thank you and I am enjoying the Guide book I got. 👍
Thanks so much, so glad you're enjoying my book! You use the subway so much in Tokyo, so it makes things much easier to be close to it! :-) In fact the price of apartments in Tokyo is affected by how many minutes walk they are from the station.
You are the best tourist guide. I am going in June 29. I am learning a lot from you ❤
Thanks so much! I remember how many questions I had when I first went to Japan, so I'm always happy to help out!
heyy!!!’ my dad got my mum a signed copy of your book with a little letter with it! she cried when she opened it she watches you all the time! we are going to japan in october next year and she basically lives off of your videos and comes to me with new japan facts every day! ahah! thankyou for making her so happy!
Aww that's lovely to hear, I'm so glad she liked it! Thank you!! October's a great time to go - it's still warm, and there's so much cute Halloween stuff! You'll have to tag me in a pic when you're there! Happy Christmas!!
@@cakeswithfaces will do!! she’s reading your book now omg! so exited to see all the halloween stuff and all the yummy food!!
Just found your fantastic channel. A week after I got back from Tokyo! It is full of fantastic information which I can now fully appreciate after having been there. I would fully recommend anyone to follow you who either lives there as an ex pat (My son does and I've passed your channel on to him) or is going there. Excellent stuff. And your style of delivery is very charming as well.
Ah sorry it's too late for your trip, but thank you!! I hope you had a wonderful trip - and hope my videos bring back lots of happy memories! It must be good to know someone living there who can show you all the best spots!
My requirements: near a train station and have a public bath! Great video with lots of info and advice!!!!!
Sounds good! Can't go wrong! :-)
Shinjuku for sure is one of the best spots to stay as it's so convenient and easy to navigate for first timers with lots to do after dark without having to worry about running for the last train. It's hilarious how if you even start looking at a map someone will run up worried you're lost. It's so sweet how the locals are so worried about looking after visitors.
Shinjuku really feels like Tokyo, if you want that Tokyo experience! That's happened to me too when I've looked lost!
I'm big black African...this never happened to me😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I just ordered the calendar for myself. I'm currently looking at flights to Japan for around late April, early May, I'm also looking at hotels.
Thanks so much! It'll be on the way to you soooon! My cancelled trip was going to be in May (2020) - should be lovely weather. Watch out for Golden Week at the end of April - it's a week of public holidays that most people take off work, so can be busy at touristy places and on the bullet train.
Going in March! Need to start booking.
Not long to go! :-)
Thanks ! Just a side note for Kyoto, if you are using JR Pass not many Hikari stops at Kyoto station anymore during the day. so we will be moving and staying near Shin Osaka to do day trips on bullet trains to the west
Good tip, thank you!
Thank You Amy!...You convey your information clearly and in a friendly manner...I have just booked my flight...First time ever!...Have been trying for the past 3 days..but getting nowhere..So had an online chat assistant help book on the site I am using.....Have just been to try to print out my flight details as I have no printer...which was also a problem as I have had to come back from the library to convert the emails to a printable form as the computers there would not recognise the format the files where in..I now have to wait until after the libraian has had their lunch before going back to try again. Local library only open twice aweek....So saw this video appear and thought...good timing!..as I am about to try to book somewhere to stay!...Going for 3 weeks..Hoping to get to the usuall suspects....Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima....But if I can..I'd like to get to Nagaskai, Kumamoto, Kagoshima...and Tottori for the sand dunes...So will be moving about..Well I say that..I am hoping as things never go well for me at the best of times...so..I could end up just staying in Tokyo...Just watched a video about traveling from Kinosaki to Osaka...Kinosaki-Onsen looks lovely!....And the lady traveled from there to Osaka on a LuxRea Bus which has a small private compartment for just 1000yen more..Looked rather fun!...Anyway..waffling..off to the lbrary again!..Oh!..one question...have you stayed at an internet cafe?....Been watching a few of those videos and they are rather interesting. Some offer free food and even free alcohol!...But I don't drink..Though they are geared up for locals rather than foreign travelers...But look fun for an experience..Anyway..waffling!!!...haha!...Keep up the good work! ..Arigatou Gozaimasu!
Oh no, hope booking hotels doesn't turn out to be that much trouble as well! You'll be able to do lots in 3 weeks - if you go to Kyushu you can try out the new shinkansen line to Nagasaki! I haven't stayed at an internet cafe - free food and drink is definitely a great offer though! I always used to like the look of manga cafes, but I'm not sure how much english language manga they have. It's a great concept though.
@@cakeswithfaces Yes...from the videos I have watched...I think pretty much all the manga are in Japanese..I have asked..But not got a reply as yet...Some have showers rooms (individual so no sharing) some have public baths(communal?)...There was free icecream, free drinks and food.access to movies..Modern....some of the lastest from the looks.Interest speed are crazy!..some of 500mps!..Ok some of the rooms are pretty small...but you get communal areas as well....Prces are pretty good for what you get..Some are as low as £17...some £27-28..But depends on the time spent there..Some start at like an hour..and some have allday offerings.But for free food and somewhere to lay your head..if you need something in a hurry..Might have to check one out whiel there...though I suspect communication might be tricky!..hehe...But that's part of the adventure yes...Well..I got my things printed after more hassle at the library..PC all playing up couldn't log me in to access the printed..took them an hour and twenty to get me sorted!.Anyway..waffling...Thank you for the replies...kind of you.
Thank you. It is reassuring to hear your approach because it is so similar to my approach. I thought I was perhaps a bit "odd" because I check Google street views of potential hotels. It was affirming to hear you mention that also! When I check Google street views I usually do a little "walk" around the block, as well, to get a feel for the area.
It's a good way of checking what the area's like! You can't always tell from the photos.
First five days we are staying in ginza so looking forward to all of the shops and restaurants 😀
Excellent, that's a great location. I love the look of the main street there with all the lights!
Amy-just wanted you to know this is a very helpful video- I will be visiting Tokyo soon and I have no idea where to stay so this helps! LOL!! I have reservation for a hotel in Roppongi but I may change it to a more exciting area -but I also want to be super close to trains (specifically the bullet train) but my main focus is to be near lots of action and things to do. Please feel free to suggest something. Thanks again.
If you want to be near the bullet train, that's Tokyo Station (I wouldn't recommend staying near Shinagawa). If you want lots on your doorstep, I recommend Shinjuku or Shibuya. The Shimbashi area has restaurants/things going on (but not games arcades 😭) and isn't far from Tokyo Station for the bullet train. From Shinjuku you can get across to Tokyo Station fairly quickly on the Chuo Line. Hope that helps!
Thanks Amy! That's a lot of good advices. I'm just back from a wonderful trip. One of the things I will definitely look for next time in Tokyo is metro stations. We had a 7 minutes walk to the closest station, which only had one line. So getting out every morning and back in the evening took time. In Kyoto we had a very well located hotel, which made everything so much easier. I will also highly recommend at least two nights in an onsen. That will be much cheaper outside major cities... and often in the middle of the beautiful Japanese nature. Oooh and one last thing. I saw many hotel rooms allow smoking, so it might be easier and sometimes only possible to get a "smoking" room. That made us a bit worried as non-smoker, but when we booked a room that allowed smoking, we didn't have issues with the smell from smoking. So I I'm not worried about that the next time. As you mentioned hotels are generally very clean in Japan.
Sounds good! I have an onsen booked for my next trip, can't wait! I've always gone for the non-smoking option for rooms - it's good to know the smoking rooms smell fresh (not what I would have expected - but also good to know the cleaning standard is excellent, so it should be no surprise!). Glad you enjoyed your trip!
@@cakeswithfaces I'm thinking of Flying to Tokyo in May 23 (from the U.S)maybe stay for 10 to 14 days? and then on to London(now I've been working non stop for the last 4yrs,which I'm sure sounds like Madness!.So I'm looking. for a decent Hotel,(pretty chilled) and it's hard to be specific about what I want to see(The Culture in general has fascinated me for a long time) and i have a friend who w/b staying at Disneyland,so any idea..(And I can appreciate if u told me to get lost,with my lack of specifics)
And I only know some basic Japanese words,so do they label/have English signs to be seen?.
Once again apologies for my vagueness I don't really know where to start!
@@jerryoshea3116 There are lots of English signs, so don't worry! Most places in Tokyo that you'd go to have English menus, and all the signs you need on the subway and trains and in English as well as Japanese. To find a hotel, I'd follow the guidance in my video - if you're looking to go to Tokyo Disney or meet up with your friend, I'd probably recommend somewhere on the east side of Tokyo. Maybe Shimbashi - you'll be near Tokyo Station and the train to Disney. PS Sorry for the late reply, I'd been travelling and just got back from Japan!
@@cakeswithfaces No need to apologise,i'm sure ur very busy(me to)👍..
In around June I intend to travel back to London (the last time I was there was in 2011)but the idea came up to visit Japan,(something I've intended to do)but I then saw ur Vid&u mentioned the CV19 'Jabs' which I hadn't thought about (which probably sounds silly& ridiculous)so that stopped me in my tracks! .And it appeared somewhat complicated?(I think u have to download an App,scan ur card or something?)But maybe u can shead some light on this?..But once again Ty for the response 👍
@@jerryoshea3116 That'll be an amazing trip! You have to fill in your details and upload your proof of vaccination to Visit Japan Web, which gives you QR codes to scan when you arrive at the airport in Japan for customs, immigration and quarantine. It's really not that bad, and makes the arrivals process a lot smoother. Details are in this video: ruclips.net/video/osR4S4OUx8g/видео.html
LOL thats what i did to finish off the night: go to arcades. i haven't dropped by an arcade since returning mid november. alot of arcades in Japan and only 1 "close" to where i live. life gets in the way a fair bit. Akiba station is pretty nice place but the hotel distance could be a decent walk. Higashi Shinjuku eki was pretty good actually despite the name its not a really crowded line and doesnt really go to the big crowded stations.
It must be great to know you can drop by the arcades whenever you want (even if you don't all the time!). Higashi Shinjuku has good hotel prices - I got a bit fed up with having to change trains at Tochomae almost every time!! 😅
I LOVE YOUR WARMTH
Haha thank you! 🕯️
We have often used business hotels and they haven been suitable for us. Rooms are quite small and the staff don't always speak English, so it can be interesting. You must check if the room is a non smoking one but it is easier nowadays. One funny memory, we could not find the hotel and we took a taxi and even him needed to ask for directions several times before finding it. It was a nice hotel and in fact a walking distance from the station.
Absolutely agree - business hotels are usually a good bet, and a good location!
Good advise. I would like to add one thing. Choose a hotel with washer and dryer. That saves money and you don’t have to carry lots of clothes. I stay close to Tokyo Station when I’m in Tokyo. I can switch from one Shinkansen to another one easily. Also I like to buy snacks from different regions. There are lots of “antenna shops” in Yurakucho and Ginza, which are close to Tokyo Station. I don’t rely too much on reviews, they are not always reliable.
Good tip, I've spotted a few hotel chains that give you a washer/dryer in your room. I'm looking forward to visiting the Kochi antenna shop in Ginza for all the yuzu treats!
Already booked for May 🫠
Yay!! Not too long to wait!
@@cakeswithfaces yeah, too excited. We are building our own itineraries x12 days for Tokyo,Kyoto and Osaka. Hopefully we can locate hotels near the stations and good places to eat 🤗
@@lingcheng1809 I'm sure you'll be spoilt for choice! :-)
Thank you very much! I was thinking of staying for 11 days in Akihabara since I'm an anime fan, it's in the yamanote line, the hotles aren't as expensive as Shinjuku and it has a nice vibe from what I saw... what do you think?
Good plan! Can't be in a better place if you love anime. Akihabara Station's on the Sobu line too, for when you want to go over to the west side of the city (quicker than the metro).
@@cakeswithfaces thank you for the fast reply! so the Station is a quicker way to get to Shinjuku than the metro... great tip!
@@WolfBetter It's a really thin line so it's easy to miss on the metro map!
Spend a little extra for bigger rooms in Tokyo because you just don't realize how small some rooms can be. Let alone if people think they can put four people in one room. Those are really few and far between. Also try to figure out the size of the beds, the bed sizes are different in Japan, let alone what is a double bed or semi-double bed.
Checking the size in square feet is a good way to check the room size. Most of the Tokyo hotels I've stayed in (in the 'business hotel' range) seem to have semi-double beds rather than full size beds. Ok if you're small but maybe see what other room options are available if you're larger or taller!
@@cakeswithfaces Not even to mention standard, deluxe, premium room terms vary widely with the hotel chains too.
I've stayed in mostly cheap hostels every time I go abroad, so I bet even the cheapest places in Japan would be nicer and cleaner to any of those places
I'm sure they would be! 😂
For those coming with a JR Pass, book a hotel near a JR station. Metro, Subway, and other private lines are not covered by the pass and I’ve found some tourist friends confused when trying to use it in those stations. What you may save in a cheap location you may end up spending in transportation. As the video says, Chuo and Yamanote lines are the safest bet.
Good tip! Definitely good advice!
Hi I love the videos I'm look at staying in Asakusabashi any is do yyou know if that's going to be ok for Akihabara
Thanks! That's very close to Akihabara, you should be able to walk there. Did you see Only in Japan's live stream there a few days ago? ruclips.net/video/VtxFrJKl70k/видео.html
@@cakeswithfaces Yes it was great :) I can't wait to see your vids when you go back
@@sorehammer Can't wait to film more travel vids!! :-) Just finished booking all my hotels!
1000/10
🙌🙌
Any suggestions for completely smoke free hotels? Also does someone need to use the trains or can you get taxis or ubers to places? Thank you
When you book a hotel it'll say if the room is a smoking room, otherwise it's non-smoking. I've heard that smoking rooms do usually smell smoky, so definitely avoid them. I've never had a problem with a regular, non-smoking room being smoky, or anywhere in the hotel being smoky at all (as a non-smoker I would definitely notice, I'd hate it!). There are lists of smoke-free hotels online (eg www.tripadvisor.com/HotelsList-Tokyo-Non_Smoking-Hotels-zfp17107130.html ) but I don't think you need to limit yourself to them, just book a room that's not a smoking room.
You can get taxis around Tokyo, but the train system and metro is so good that you don't need to - the trains are safe, convenient, clean and take you everywhere you need to go. There are taxis but it's a pricier option.
Any recommendations for specifically non smoking hotels? Any large area/city
Most, if not all, hotels have non-smoking rooms. When you book, it'll show the room type (eg on Expedia), so you can pick a smoking or non-smoking room. I've never had a problem with a smoky room (I'd hate that!). :-)
Hey for my first time in Japan would you recommend to stay at 1 hotel or stay for 1 week in Tokyo and then book 1 week in Kyoto etc.? sorry for my bad English :)
That sounds like a great plan!
My bff asked me if I knew that Japan hotels charge a room deposit. All the info I have come across is so old, but I was hoping you would have info. She is going with 2 other girls and a full itinerary is being planned. I sent her your info as well. 😊
I've never had to pay a room deposit. Some hotels have a city tax, or an onsen tax, to pay on arrival (not always), but it's never very much, not more than a few hundred or thousand yen. Hope she has an amazing trip!
@@cakeswithfaces thank you! I think this will ease her mind.
what hotel would you recommend in Shinjuku. this will be first time traveling to Japan this nov 2023 tysm.
It depends on your budget - I've enjoyed the Hotel Gracery (Godzilla hotel!) and the Sunroute Plaza, but there are so many hotels that I wouldn't limit yourself to my recommendations. Especially at the moment, prices are up and down, so you might get a deal on another hotel that's usually more expensive! I honestly haven't had any bad experiences - so I'd pick a hotel within your price range that's near a station. Personally I'd pick one near the main Shinjuku Station as it has so many connections, but it's very large, so if you prefer a less overwhelming station, pick one of the metro stations, which are much smaller. Give the reviews a quick check before booking just to make sure it's a good choice.
@@cakeswithfaces tysm!! I will definitely do that.
UPDATE: I arrive in Japan on May 16th, spending the first night in Tokyo as my flight arrives in the evening and I'll be knackered, then the following day I'm jumping on the Shinkansen to Osaka. In total I'm in Japan for 16 nights, you have no idea how excited I am, If I happen to see you out and about I'll come and say hi if that's ok.
That sounds fantastic! Have an amazing time!! Osaka's so much fun!
Hi, I am going to Japan soon and I would appreciate if you guys know any BUDGET friendly hostels or BUDGET friendly hotels. I need to keep my expenditures to a minimum. Thank you!
My friends stayed at Sakura House in Ikebukuro and enjoyed it. I don't usually stay in the most budget places, but some chain / business hotels are more affordable and a good standard, just with a very small room eg E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku. I'd recommend filtering by price on Expedia and picking somewhere near a station, and check the reviews.
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks for replying! I will, thank you again for your recommendations!
I am a very fussy eater due to autism and it's the only reason I'm putting going off to Japan, are there plenty of western food places that are not fast food?
It's easy to find things like pizza, pasta and curry, there are bakeries and you can get sandwiches in convenience stores. Sometimes western foods will have a twist or may be slightly different from what you expect, but the basic dishes eg Margherita pizza should be similar. At family restaurants you'll find some dishes that are more familiar, like Royal Host, and Saizeriya is an Italian chain that you'll find in most places.
I'm so disappointed in the postal service! I just received a copy of your guidebook today and it's completely waterlogged. The US has had a lot of rain lately so it was probably sitting in a puddle on the floor of a truck. I'm trying to dry it out but it's already puffed up to 150% it's size lol.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. Can you send me a photo to amy@cakeswithfaces.co.uk and I'll sort that out for you.
You didn't answer the question that perplexes me about booking accommodation: most Japanese hotels say they have single rooms... but they are always unlisted! It's as if only triple/quadruple rooms are available at all times. What solo traveller wants a room that big?
I’ve had the same issue. Finding a SINGLE bed is so difficult.
I haven't tried to book a single room - didn't realise that was so difficult! It seems strange that they'd have single rooms and not list them? The double rooms are often very small and have a semi-double bed, although I can see how you wouldn't want to pay the price of a double room for one person. I guess there is the option of single rooms at hostels, or a capsule hotel! Or places like First Cabin and the Millennials, where it's like a capsule hotel but you get a tiny bit more space.
You can try JAL hotels I think. These are business class so they'll be comfortable but pretty basic. The one next to Haneda Airport is extremely close by and convenient. If you fly on JAL it's not unusual to see the same flight attendants staying here who were on the plane.
The best hotel room I've ever stayed in was at the Citadines Shinjuku (not the East one). It's about 20 min. from Shinjuku station but Shinjuku-Gyoenmae on the Marunochi Line was a street over. The room felt MASSIVE and I don't know how I got that good of a price on it... I think it was new back then? It had a big bed, a lounge area with a sofa that could be converted into a bed and a table to eat, and even had a kitchenette area with a hot plate, microwave and sink. It felt very luxurous for what I payed. It's a little too much for me nowadays but not by a huge margin either.
That sounds great, thanks for the reocmmendation! There've been times in the past when I got a good deal on a hotel that afterwards was out of my price range too. A stroke of luck!
Hi, this isn’t a slight at anyone going to Japan? But how on earth is it so easy to go? I’ve been saving every penny I have spare, on a low pension, it’s impossible? I’ve only just managed my air fare? It annoys me a little tbh? 😊
That's totally understandable - it's not easy at all. Especially when it's more expensive than ever these days (from the UK at least) now that flights cost so much more than they used to. On the bright side, the exchange rate means that things cost less once you're there. It's still a long crawl to save up to book a trip though; I hope you can make it one day, it'll be worth the wait! 💕
@@cakeswithfaces hi, yes I’m in the U.K. where it’s really expensive! Thanks so much for replying, I’ve still got quite a way to go with saving, and I’ll catch up on your useful tips, which is going to be invaluable! Take care. 🖐🏻🙏🤍
Most expensive thing is the flight there. 😢
Yes!! 😭😭😭 And more expensive now than ever - I hope the prices normalise over time!
Is it not a thing to get facials or massages?/ Literally no videos by anyone other than the same company on facials in Tokyo.
I'm not much help there - beauty/massages aren't really my thing so it's an area I know nothing about, sorry!!
Me Japani cook you halp job
I LOVE YOU MARRY ME ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Married already, sorry!! 😝😝😝
@@cakeswithfaces What Is over between Us.
I think I’m going to get lost 99%
You're never lost with Google Maps :-)
I wanna ask yo something.
If u go alone to tokyo and I wanna travel around all japan. What to do with our big luggage ? We cannot carry them for all places and go to other cites:(
I haven't travelled alone, but lots of people do! :-) Usually I just take my suitcase with me on the train when I travel around. If you don't want to, there are services that send your luggage for you. Not used them myself, but I've heard lots of good things about Takkyubin (plus they have a super cute cat logo!): www.kanpai-japan.com/travel-guide/takkyubin-sending-luggage
@@cakeswithfaces ill check it out ty. I'm so scared to moving alone with big luggage
@@nekonesspumper If you do end up taking it on the trains, there's usually an accessible route with an elevator, but it might not be the most obvious route - so keep a look out for signs. For example, sometimes there are several exits to a station and only one has an elevator. Pack light and make sure you have a suitcase with wheels!
@@cakeswithfaces ty! I just wanted to get there with a luggage empty so I can fill it with candies and anime stuff for there :(
@@nekonesspumper Good idea!! It's your bag on the way home that you need to worry about 😂😂