Are you trying to figure out where to stay in Tokyo? There's no simple answer to that question that applies to everyone. In this article, I'm listing ten of the most well-known districts and give my thoughts on the pros and cons of each of them. After reading this, you will hopefully have a clearer idea of what area will fulfil your needs the best.
Shinjuku - extra everything
Shinjuku is the heart of Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located here, and in essence, most of the worlds biggest city is administered from Shinjuku. Famous sights include the observatory deck on top of the city hall, the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden and the Kabukicho entertainment/red-light district.
Shinjuku is THE biggest transportation hub not only in Tokyo but in the entire world. It is simply impossible to beat this place in terms of transportation and access. Shinjuku is also one of the major shopping and entertainment districts of Tokyo and has an abundance of restaurants and nightlife facilities. There are also a high number of hotels located in the area, ranging from budget offerings to world-renowned high-end luxury hotels, Park Hyatt anyone?
What I would consider negative points to staying in Shinjuku, would be that it is almost too big and busy. A first time visitor is likely to miss out on the charm of Tokyo's many smaller neighbourhoods if he or she decides to call Shinjuku "home" the stay in Tokyo.
Shinjuku
Transport/Access: +++++
Nightlife: +++++
Shopping: +++++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +
Conclusion: If you are on a tight schedule and want to waste as little time as possible riding subways and trains, you can't go wrong with booking a room in Shinjuku. But if you would like to stay somewhere quiet, where you can get a feeling of what local life is like in Japan, there are several better options on this list.
Koenji - yakitori and a vibrant local music scene
Koenji is located a few stops and less than ten minutes west of Shinjuku. But the vibe and atmosphere are vastly different and more akin to that of a much smaller town. The area is known for its abundance of vintage clothing shops, cosy bars and yakitori restaurants. Koenji is also a place where many musicians come together, sometimes to perform on the streets.
Koenji strikes the right balance between being conveniently located on the JR Chuo-Line and close enough to the city centre, yet having a local vibe. It is an area that tends to quickly make its residents feel at home and as a part of the local community. There simply aren't that many hotels located in Koenji. Other than the cool BnA Art Hotel (http://www.bna-koenji.com) and its two edgy rooms designed by local artists, there aren't that many options. Instead, you will likely have more luck if you opt for an Airbnb instead.
Koenji
Transport/Access: +++
Nightlife: +++++
Shopping: +++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +++++
Conclusion: Koenji is great for young-ish visitors who will spend a bit of time in Tokyo (ideally a few weeks or more), and want to get a good sense of what local life in Tokyo is like. Frequent some of the bars and restaurants and you're likely to make a handful of local friends in no time.
Shimokitazawa - local charm for creatives
Much of what was just said about Koenji also applies to Shimokitazawa. It is a local neighbourhood where many local creatives and younger people prefer to spend their time.
It is also an area where you might have a hard time to find regular hotels, but on the other hand, there are many options on Airbnb.
Shimokitazawa is conveniently located within between Shinjuku and Shibuya - both can be reached in less than 10 minutes by train. This makes Shimokitazawa a great place as your base when exploring Tokyo.
Shimokitazawa
Transport/Access: ++++
Nightlife: +++++
Shopping: +++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +++++
Conclusion: Both Shimokitazawa and Koenji have a lot in common, and you cannot go wrong by setting up your base in either of these locations. If you think you will spend a lot of time in Shibuya, Shimokitazawa has an edge in terms of access. But if you think most of your daytime activities will take place in central Tokyo, around the Imperial Palace, Ginza or Akihabara, the speediness of the JR Chuo-line gives Koenji the upper hand.
Ginza & Marunouchi - luxury around the corner
If you are a fan of the luxury lifestyle, i.e. the kind of person who frequents the flagship stores of high-end brands, and only stays at five-star hotels, this is probably the areas you are looking for. Five Star Hotel chains like Shangri-la, Marriott and Hyatt all have established a foothold here. But it's not all extreme luxury - In fact, there's a surprisingly large number of mid-range business hotels located around the area too.
Staying here means that you'll be based in a busy commercial part of Tokyo, but venture a few blocks off the main roads, and you'll find quiet residential areas with a local vibe too. Dining options are a mix of high end and local izakayas, so you likely won't have a hard time to find a place that matches both your palate and your wallet.
Ginza & Marunouchi
Transport/Access: +++++
Nightlife: ++++
Shopping: +++++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +++
Conclusion: Ginza and Marunouchi are located next to each other, and both are great locations to stay. Geographically they are very both very central and have excellent transportation links. Nightlife consists of plenty of restaurants in all styles and price brackets (although slightly slanted to the high end). If you are looking for bars and nightclubs around the corner, there are several better options on this list though.
Shibuya - nightlife and shopping
Shibuya is the place where many young tokyoites go for shopping and partying. As one of the major entertainment districts of Tokyo, you are likely to find most of your nightlife needs being met within walking distance if you choose to book a room around here. The area around the station is currently being remodelled, with several new high-rise complexes opening just in time for the 2020 Olympic Games.
There are plenty of hotels located here too, some with impressive views overlooking Shibuya Crossing, the most visited street crossing in the world and one of Tokyo's most well-known landmarks. Access in Shibuya is excellent, with several vital train lines, including the JR Yamanote Line as well as both the Ginza Line and the Fukutoshin Line on the Tokyo Metro, connecting to Shibuya Station.
The downside to staying in Shibuya? It can be noisy and smelly, and of course, it's full of people almost 24/7. Reasonably priced hotel rooms are available but expect them to be tiny. If you are a partygoer who wants to go out every night, you will feel right at home here. But if you are looking for your room to be a quiet place where you can relax and wind down, Shibuya is probably not your best bet.
Shibuya
Transport/Access: ++++
Nightlife: +++++
Shopping: ++++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: ++
Conclusion: Great for partygoers of all ages, but it's not a particularly clean or quiet place, so if you value those factors you'd better look elsewhere.
Akasaka/Kioicho - business at day, cosy at night
Akasaka is a business-centric district that I would describe as quite dull. At day, the area is filled with suit-clad salarymen. But at night, the entire district loosens up a bit, and there are quite a good number of excellent bars and restaurants located around Akasaka-Mitsuke station.
The Iconic luxury hotel New Otani, which recently re-opened after a major overhaul, is located here. Another prominent hotel is the extremely Instagram-worthy hotel Prince Gallery Kioicho. A hotel that quickly has turned into a popular place to stay for social media influencers thanks to its spacious rooms with gorgeous views.
Access is by no means terrible, but no JR train lines serve the area, which might be a problem for some. It's made up for by the fact that both Nagatacho Station and Akasaka-Mitsuke station are located a short walk from each other. Together, these two stations are served by a plethora of Tokyo Metro lines, that will take you anywhere in Tokyo quickly and easily.
Akasaka & Kioicho
Transport/Access: ++++
Nightlife: +++
Shopping: ++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: ++
Conclusion: A bit boring in terms of local shopping and nightlife facilities, but conveniently located near the geographical centre of downtown Tokyo. Several great hotels in most price brackets are located in the area.
Ikebukuro - second busiest in Tokyo
Ikebukuro is another essential transportation hub in Tokyo. In fact, this station ranks number #2 after Shinjuku in terms of its daily number of travellers. A large chunk of the people passing through here are commuters living in the north-western part of Tokyo or Saitama, just north of Tokyo. Saitama is an area that has a slightly lower socioeconomic status compared to the southern suburbs of Tokyo; thus, some snobbish tokyoites look down on this part of town.
As one of the major hubs of Tokyo, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the area has a large number of shopping and entertainment facilities. Unlike Shinjuku, however, Ikebukuro isn't a very convenient place to stay, as most of the train lines that converge here are primarily for those commuting. The links to central Tokyo are not as comfortable as in Shinjuku, for example.
It is also a somewhat rough area, particularly the north-western side of the station, where some streets have a somewhat unsafe and shady (by Tokyo standards) vibe.
Since Ikebukuro is such an essential part of Tokyo, it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are myriad hotels located around the station. Many of these have a somewhat more humble price tag than those in Shinjuku and Shibuya.
Ikebukuro
Transport/Access: +++
Nightlife: +++
Shopping: +++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +
Conclusion: Ikebukuro might be a bit rough around the edges, but it's still a part of town that many locals are proud of and enjoy living in. It has a good selection of both shopping as well as nightlife and entertainment facilities. The area is an excellent choice for budget travellers, but I do not recommend it for families.
Ueno - serving eastern Tokyo
On the north-eastern edge of central Tokyo lies Ueno. Despite being another key transportation hub, compared to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ikebukuro, the area around the station is somewhat more low-key.
Directly on the left side of the station, you'll find Ueno Park, one of the biggest and most visited parks in Tokyo. Ameyoko, the biggest open-air street market in Tokyo, is also located a mere stone's throw from the station. On the eastern side of the station, you'll find several streets lined with izakayas and bars. This is, unsurprisingly where most of the nightlife activities take place.
Ueno is well served with both major JR lines as well as several Tokyo metro lines. It is also served by the Keisei Skyliner train, providing a quick and painless link to Narita Airport. And let's not forget that some Shinkansen train stops at Ueno too, making it easy to explore northern Japan from here.
Ueno
Transport/Access: ++++
Nightlife: ++++
Shopping: ++++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: +++
Conclusion: Ueno isn't a bad choice thanks to its combination of green spaces, good public transport links, excellent shopping opportunities and a vibrant nightlife.
Akihabara - where Otaku feel at home
Akihabara, the Otaku mecca where the density of manga, electronics, video games and adult entertainment shops are probably higher than anywhere else. While the range of accommodation options in Akihabara is somewhat limited, hotels do exist around here.
I understand why many people are curious about staying in the middle of Akihabara, particularly those who intend to spend the bulk of their time in Tokyo there. But I would advise against it merely because the streets around there get extremely quiet and somewhat dull after 20:00 when most of the shops close.
While a handful of izakayas and bars do exist in Akihabara, its a pretty dull and somewhat sterile area once all of the daytime activity is over, and you are quite likely to head elsewhere for dinner and drinks.
Geographically it's not that bad though, and many useful train lines stop nearby, so if you find a room that seems to fit your needs in Akihabara, it's worth considering.
Akihabara
Transport/Access: +++
Nightlife: +
Shopping: +++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: ++
Conclusion: Akihabara wouldn't be on top of my list of places to stay in Tokyo. But the fact that it both quiet and centrally located makes it a decent choice. The local nightlife is mediocre, but fortunately, both Ueno and Kanda, where the options are better, are within walking distance.
Asakusa - traditional Tokyo
Asakusa, home to Senso-Ji, the biggest Temple in Tokyo, is a place that most visitors to Tokyo stop by at least once during the visit. The area has a large selection of accommodation options, many of which are catering to budget travellers.
While the daytime crowds in Asakusa can be daunting, the area is much nicer at night, when the hordes of people are mostly gone. Those who stay until after sunset are instead treated to a surprisingly impressive selection of nighttime activities, where the crowd is a vital mix of locals and visitors. Most of the izakayas around here are also reasonably priced.
One negative aspect of staying in Asakusa, however, is that the transportation options are quite poor. The area is primarily served only by the Ginza Line on the Tokyo Metro and the Toei Metro Asakusa Line. Getting to Shibuya takes about 35 minutes, and Shinjuku is also almost half an hour away.
Asakusa
Transport/Access: ++
Nightlife: ++++
Shopping: ++
Cosiness/Homely feeling: ++++
Conclusion: Asakusa is a decent place to stay, and budget travellers are likely to find options that suit their wallets. But be aware of the somewhat lacking public transportation options. If you are planning to spend a lot of time in Shibuya, for example, staying in Asakusa might feel quite inconvenient.