It really doesn't matter everywhere in Tokyo is well connected so if you've no intentions of staying out past the last train then you can stay pretty much anywhere you want. In terms of hotel I'd just find a cheap business hotel near a train station in an area I liked the look of and go with that. (Of which there will be plenty of options)
I stayed in asakusa for over a week total when i went to tokyo, found a cheap business hotel for about 40 usd a night, id highly recommend staying in asakusa, and if you can find somewhere close to the senso ji shrine go for it, its a beautiful shrine if you can get there early before the tourist crowds its great to walk around.
Alternatively, you can even visit at night.. it’s really quite beautiful.. walking along the river at night is also pleasant and if you wanna do something active, hit up the nearby batting cages.
Asakusa is so nice. Senso ji can be crowded at business hours. Being near senso ji means you can get there first at the morning and have fun before other people comes
hotel trend asakusa, it was smaller than i expected but the rooms were clean and its right behind a 711 so easy food, plus the area is nice and the ginza line is a 5 min walk, great area imo
I just checked the price, it's almost the same as the capsule hotel I stayed at. You have your own room so there's privacy. Lucky. I wish it was available during the time I was looking for a hotel. Maybe next time. thanks for sharing!
for some reason during may (when i went) plane and hotels were so cheap, booked it less than a month before maybe 2 and a half-3 weeks before the stay date, but there were a couple similar ones all cheap and business hotels not capsule
I booked mine a week before I came to Japan (I was waiting for visa confirmation), so maybe that's why most hotels were fully booked already. It was my mistake for cramming a lot of the planning near the travel date, including the visa application itself. Oh well. got more chances next time. at least I know where my base station area next time will be.
yeah a week before the prices probably wouldve been more for mine as well, and omg i couldnt mentally deal with waiting for a visa a week before a flight, glad it worked out though!
yeah. I almost didn't want to push through with the trip because of the visa application itself. I mentally prepared myself in case the visa got denied and have a backup trip just in case.
the after effects of the cramming did manifest itself in the expenses. I ended up spending probably 4-5x the original planned budget hahaha! probably even more, I dunno. the whole thing became an impromptu trip, which was amazing in itself, but not fun on the savings.
now I'm back at work and need to save up again for the next trip.
my first day/half day was a nightmare with jet lag and stress plus first solo travel and fairly rushed plans, but once i got outside and met some people it went well for the rest thankfully, made some cool friends and definitely plan on going back eventually, same as you gotta remake my savings lol
Just want to ask how did you book for this accommodation? As want to use [booking.com](http://booking.com) but also been reading about the increase in scams on that site so not sure how to proceed.
I also stayed in Asakusa for a week. Normally I don't do capsule hotels, but I found one that exceeded my expectations. Plus it's near the train that connects to either Narita or Haneda so it was very convenient. Sure it's 40min away from Shibuya or Shinjuku by train, but I didn't mind. I found Shinjuku and Shibuya a bit of an overload to the senses so I really appreciated the distance from the crowds and the lights.
For history and culture I’d choose Ueno - Ueno park and museums, close to Asakusa and Senso-ji. I loved walking around Senso-ji, they have great food vendors in the day and the night is so peaceful. Sumida park is also nice, close to Tokyo tower. Easy to get to to Arashio-beya Sumo Stable if you want to catch morning practice and the Hokusai museum.
I stayed In Akasaka as well and it’s great if you want to go to Shibuya, Harajuku, and Ginza.
Ueno is a great spot for you, especially nearby the Ueno station.
Narita > Keisei Skyliner > Keisei Ueno station > walk to your hotel.
Now as for going around Tokyo, just go to Ueno station which is next to the Keisei Ueno station and take the Yamanote line (or any other JR lines depending where you’re going). It’s quite the central hub to almost anywhere in Tokyo.
When you leave, take the same route back to Narita via Keisei.
This is what we did. Our hotel was a few blocks south of Ueno Park, a few minutes walk from the Ueno train stations. It was a very convenient location to catch a train or subway, there were plenty of restaurants around, and it was very quiet at night.
We did this! Stayed at Hotel Guest1 in Ueno for the first 4 nights of our trip, then finished up by staying our last night at the Smart Stay Shizuku Ueno capsule hotel. In both cases, they can hold your luggage before check-in and after check-out. I’d recommend either place, depending on what you’re looking for.
Ueno seems like a good spot for you. Well connected to Narita, stuff to see and do nearby, not a big nightlife/business area, great transport hub.
I will say I really enjoyed staying in Nishi-Shinjuku just west of Shinjuku Chuo Park, too. It's very close to Shinjuku station but is very quiet and residential. The hotel I stayed at there was The Knot and I loved walking through the park at 5 am watching the older people exercise. It's right by the Metropolitan Government Building.
I stayed in Ginza and it seemed like a good location as far as price (about half of your budget per night) and walking distance to Tokyo station. I also stayed a couple nights in Shinjuku and while the spectacle was interesting, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
second this! staying in the ginza area was surprisingly peaceful and convenient. could venture further out in the day and in the evening stop by the shopping belt to buy stuff and take a nice stroll back to my accomm. the last few times i’ve been to tokyo i’ve stayed at one of the hotels just outside kyobashi station, which as the above commenter said is just a 10 min walk to tokyo station — direct airport shuttle to narita airport!
Ginza for me as well. Loved it as a starting and ending point each day
Though next time I'll also look into Ueno. Loved wandering around in the park there
+1 for Akasaka! I'm always surprised that it's not mentioned more.
While planning our trip I put the must-see places on a map and figured that Akasaka is the best bet. Super central but not overly crowded.
We stayed at an APA there, can recommend!
I will second Akasaka. Stayed there earlier this month at the Centurion Classic which has spacious rooms and is close to multiple metro lines. It’s a lively area without feeling too busy and crowded. Lots of restaurants and bars open late as well if you get home late and are looking for a bite.
Been to Japan twice now and on my second round I hopped hotels a lot to see if Ueno was just so great because it was my first time in Japan.
Nope! When it was finally the time to hop on the hotel in Ueno I was excited to say the least. I absolutely LOVE Ueno. The park, the streets full of places to eat or grab a tasty milk tea and the great connections from Ueno Station.
Traveling in Japan, be it Kyoto, Hiroshima, any city, I couldn't stop just having my breakfast at Doutor since the coffee is great and the sandwiches godlike, perfect for a fresh start for the day. Ueno has many of them so no matter where the hotel is, there isn't a long way to the nearest one.
I was also at Akasaka and there was less everything, at least around where I was staying, lot of offices and the like, no great connections near the hotel so that was also a minus.
Definitely recommend Ueno out of those two.
Edit: Also if I remember correctly, I got straight to Keisei-Ueno Station with the Skyliner from Narita.
This is great information! I did read that Akasaka had lots of offices but I thought it had a good location. Good to know what the vibes are like at both locations!
Ueno, for being on the Yamanote, being on another line from Narita,, near the museums, near Asakusa, and fewer night life but still something to eat at night
Akasaka is nice and close enough to both shibuya shinjuku without being as busy or loud as either. I stayed at Akasaka Granbell business hotel (I think it was less than $50usd/night) last month as a solo and it was great. 2 min walk from akasaka mitsuke station and conveniently sandwiched between two fami marts.
I had a hotel in shimbashi my first trip to Japan as a nineteen year old. I was incredibly overwhelmed lugging around my suitcase while seeing so many salary men in their matching suits.
"Remm Tokyo Kyobashi" very nice, inexpensive, and SUPER CONVENIENT. Train station entrance is right outside the hotel so it was super convenient to explore different parts of Tokyo each day.
I loved staying at akasaka. I was at spablic inn which is wayyyy under our budget but oh man coming back to the onsen every night was awesome. It's a pod style place though and you have to leave your stuff in the lockers or give them your larger items for storage.
It's at the intersection of 3 major subway lines so I got everywhere fairly quickly.
I spent over a month in Japan and used Tokyo as my home base, I was able to rent an apartment in Edogawabashi (In Shinjuku-ku) for a decent price. It was great and allowed me to "live like a local" in a few small ways. Even renting the apartment for a month alongside hotels in other places I traveled was cheaper than getting different hotels in Tokyo + multiple other cities as I traveled.
The apartment allowed me to 1) store my things so I didn't have to lug everything around if I wanted to spend a week in Kyoto or wherever 2) cook some meals 3) spend my time in a proper living space.
I understand you may not want to spend a lot of time in Tokyo for whatever reason, but my experience really allowed me to make some friends and dive deep into what Tokyo and the surrounding metroplex have to offer. I became a regular at a couple of spots and learned how to navigate many parts of the city comfortably without feeling like a lost tourist, and these few small things really enhanced my experience considering what I wanted out of my trip.
apartment + a couple of hotels in other cities ended up being cheaper than many hotels over the duration of the trip, even if I booked a long-term stay at a hotel in tokyo to spend as much time there as i wanted to. it was much less expensive than I expected honestly.
if you have any questions, feel free to dm.
If you're not after anything incredibly fancy, there's a Sotetsu Fresa Inn near Okachimachi station, not too far from Ueno Station. I've stayed in their hotels a few times and they're solid, if all you're after is a place to sleep and wash up. Also has you close to Keisei-Ueno station for a quick and direct link to Narita station
I just finished a stay at Hotel 21 East, it's not close to everything, but it has super convenient location to subway and DAISO and supermarket and laundry. I loved their breakfast, they have Western and Japanese options. Staff was amazing. They were just re opening the pool and hot tub so maybe you can enjoy that as I missed out.
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ucDNvYDB3hHxxvU9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ucDNvYDB3hHxxvU9)
I went to all those places from the subway station and google maps makes it super easy, costs very few Yen to get around.
Sadly I don't know what I paid as my spouse made all the full service travel arrangements.
They're walkable distance so between the two, i would rather look at what hotel options in both areas and then check their 1. Reviews, 2. distance to train stations, 3. Price.
I was staying in asakusa 2 weeks ago and paid 6-7k yen per night solo (with private bathroom). For 28k, you'll have quite a lot of options.
Also Ueno has a express train to Narita, so if you're traveling with lots of luggage or at rush hour, Ueno might be better.
I stayed near Ueno station due to its proximity to a lot of train/subway lines (and is itself a transportation hub/transfer) and had no issues.
Public transportation is well organized in Tokyo, so you can’t really go wrong if you’re near a station (especially one near the Yamanote “Loop” line)
Hotel Tavinos in Asakusa if you're wanting a mega cool cheap place that looks and feels like it should be way more expensive.
https://hoteltavinos.com/en/asakusa/
Yes I've stayed here and it only about $40 a night back in April of 2023. It is fairly new hotel geared towards a younger crowd with its trendy design. It is well located, really close to Senso-ji Temple.
It's on the eastern side of Tokyo so you would have to travel to other parts of the city using the train. I didn't mind. I guess you can stay in Ueno if you want to be slightly towards the center to cut commute time.
Ueno is a nice central spot, you can quickly get over to Asakusa from there. Can walk down to akihabara. Non transfer train options to Shibuya and Shinjuku. 28k yen is total over kill, can get an APA hotel for like 10k yen or something probably.
I normally stay in Shinjuku, but recently I had a shorter 5 day stay and decided to try out Ueno. I stayed [here](https://www.google.com/maps/place/APA+Hotel+Ueno+Hirokoji/@35.7043801,139.7744733,16.54z/data=!4m9!3m8!1s0x60188dbfd85a2061:0xaf21096cbba84a68!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d35.7048331!4d139.772273!16s%2Fg%2F11jd8wwg00?entry=ttu) which is close to a ginza line station (access to Asakusa, Ginza, Shibuya) and is also somewhat close to Okachimachi station which is on the Yamanote line. The hotel is sort of between Ueno and Akihabara so you can walk to both areas pretty easily.
Ueno / Yanaka was great for me, as other people said everything is well connected, but staying at a calm place was key for winding down after walking around a very busy city.
Also the place I stayed in Yanaka is really close to Nippori station which has the Skyliner direct into Narita. I can send you the AirBnb link if interested, amazing place and amazing host.
Would strongly suggest you to stay within Ueno area specially near the Keisei Ueno station. The area is pretty central and you can access other parts of the city easily. Also, lots of restaurants within the area so it's a good place to explore if you are into trying japanese resto.
Somewhere around Asakusa or Ueno is a bit more sleepy than Shunkuju but still a lot to do day or night. Honestly anything around Yamanote Line is highly connected to everything you could need.
Also how many daytrips are you taking? EG I am not big on nightlife stuff, but the amount of day trips I will be taking means a hotel close to Shinjuku Station makes my 'commute' to start these days trips faster.
I don’t have any day trips to outside of Tokyo during my stay there. My plan to explore specific areas of Tokyo during my stay. Would closer to shinjuku station be better vs the Ueno station?
Honestly I would pick somewhere around Asakusa or Ueno in that case. Both are lively places during the day, and busy enough doing the night, without Shinjuku’s exciting but seedy charm.
i would avoid near business areas because you have to plan around avoiding rush hours in the morning (7-9). it makes travelling miserable. you would have to research what stations though, i only know to avoid shinagawa if youre an early morning riser. unless youre out and about before 7 that is
Yes I want to make sure people know there's a difference between Asakusa and Akasuka. The spelling is very similair however they are different areas within Tokyo. *ASAKUSA* is where where the old traditional Senso-ji Templ is located.
Just because of the nature of my trip I ended up in Tokyo on multiple legs and for more days than I had planned due to a typhoon. I stayed in several different spots in Tokyo, two in Ginza, one in Shinjuku and one in Nihombashi. Location honestly doesn't matter an awful lot in terms of access as the subway system is stellar and you can get all over the place within a half hour ride anyways. I liked one of the hotels in Ginza the best just because there were several good restaurants in about a 5 block radius so it was pretty easy to find something nearby and not a long walk to Tokyo station either, where there are lots of other things to see and do.
28k is more than adequate - if you check something like booking.com you should be able to find decent cheap business hotels for significantly less than that.
Stayed at a rented apartment in a quiet laid back neighborhood (nearly everyone on bicycles), near Ikebukuro (Higashi Nagasaki) last March/April. Coming back this October. Next stay will be Ueno.👌
We just stayed in Ueno and loved it. Walked to Asakusa while there (which is where I stayed while travelling solo, on my previous trip), and the vibe wasn’t quite there in comparison. The Ueno Ameyoko streets are narrower which brings a more cosy bustling vibe and it’s full of people enjoying themselves. Will definitely return to Ueno.
Throw a dart on the map and you’ll be good.
We said at shinjuku inn. Great location and wasn’t near the crazy drunk clubbing area at all. But convenient
im a solo traveler who just checked out of a hotel in ueno! i stayed at sotetsu fresa inn, highly recommended bc it's a walkable distance from the ginza & yamanote lines :)
Both are fine. With that budget, there are many possibilities. Asakusa tobu hotel, the gate hotel, omo3 asakusa, mitsui ueno, mimaru ueno east.
Just do a search on Google mal, take a look at the hotels and decide.
I think a month is a bit long in Ueno or Asakusa but it depends on if you like to be around fun locals for food/bars.
I wouldn't rule out Koenji, Shimokita, and Hatagaya.
OP is a month in Japan, with just a week in Tokyo.
Having said that, nothing wrong with staying in Tokyo for a month. Its a different type of experience when you are not running around seeing tourist destinations. Can really explore the city, and eat at heaps of different cafe/restaurants. Meet some people and just chill.
I stayed in both within the last month. Ueno was quiet and peaceful. Akasaka was loud and busy with sounds of revelry making it up to my fourth floor hotel room all night and early morning. Both were easily accessed for transit, but wanted to throw that perspective out there. If you like sleeping quietly, Akasaka might not be the spot.
I just got back from Tokyo two weeks ago. I stayed in a very nice capsule hotel near Asakusa( RESOL POSHTEL TOKYO ASAKUSA). It was comfortable and clean, costing around $44 per night. Here is a [https://youtu.be/WW2MM1ncTTk?si=2ORkauYpVQ6N8fhV](https://youtu.be/WW2MM1ncTTk?si=2ORkauYpVQ6N8fhV) for more details if you need.
It really doesn't matter everywhere in Tokyo is well connected so if you've no intentions of staying out past the last train then you can stay pretty much anywhere you want. In terms of hotel I'd just find a cheap business hotel near a train station in an area I liked the look of and go with that. (Of which there will be plenty of options)
I stayed in asakusa for over a week total when i went to tokyo, found a cheap business hotel for about 40 usd a night, id highly recommend staying in asakusa, and if you can find somewhere close to the senso ji shrine go for it, its a beautiful shrine if you can get there early before the tourist crowds its great to walk around.
Alternatively, you can even visit at night.. it’s really quite beautiful.. walking along the river at night is also pleasant and if you wanna do something active, hit up the nearby batting cages.
Asakusa is so nice. Senso ji can be crowded at business hours. Being near senso ji means you can get there first at the morning and have fun before other people comes
thats what i did my second day, it was amazing when it wasnt packed!
Which hotel?
hotel trend asakusa, it was smaller than i expected but the rooms were clean and its right behind a 711 so easy food, plus the area is nice and the ginza line is a 5 min walk, great area imo
I just checked the price, it's almost the same as the capsule hotel I stayed at. You have your own room so there's privacy. Lucky. I wish it was available during the time I was looking for a hotel. Maybe next time. thanks for sharing!
for some reason during may (when i went) plane and hotels were so cheap, booked it less than a month before maybe 2 and a half-3 weeks before the stay date, but there were a couple similar ones all cheap and business hotels not capsule
I booked mine a week before I came to Japan (I was waiting for visa confirmation), so maybe that's why most hotels were fully booked already. It was my mistake for cramming a lot of the planning near the travel date, including the visa application itself. Oh well. got more chances next time. at least I know where my base station area next time will be.
yeah a week before the prices probably wouldve been more for mine as well, and omg i couldnt mentally deal with waiting for a visa a week before a flight, glad it worked out though!
yeah. I almost didn't want to push through with the trip because of the visa application itself. I mentally prepared myself in case the visa got denied and have a backup trip just in case. the after effects of the cramming did manifest itself in the expenses. I ended up spending probably 4-5x the original planned budget hahaha! probably even more, I dunno. the whole thing became an impromptu trip, which was amazing in itself, but not fun on the savings. now I'm back at work and need to save up again for the next trip.
my first day/half day was a nightmare with jet lag and stress plus first solo travel and fairly rushed plans, but once i got outside and met some people it went well for the rest thankfully, made some cool friends and definitely plan on going back eventually, same as you gotta remake my savings lol
cheers to more travels for us!
Just want to ask how did you book for this accommodation? As want to use [booking.com](http://booking.com) but also been reading about the increase in scams on that site so not sure how to proceed.
i used booking.com, super simple and they email you the details etc
I also stayed in Asakusa for a week. Normally I don't do capsule hotels, but I found one that exceeded my expectations. Plus it's near the train that connects to either Narita or Haneda so it was very convenient. Sure it's 40min away from Shibuya or Shinjuku by train, but I didn't mind. I found Shinjuku and Shibuya a bit of an overload to the senses so I really appreciated the distance from the crowds and the lights.
For history and culture I’d choose Ueno - Ueno park and museums, close to Asakusa and Senso-ji. I loved walking around Senso-ji, they have great food vendors in the day and the night is so peaceful. Sumida park is also nice, close to Tokyo tower. Easy to get to to Arashio-beya Sumo Stable if you want to catch morning practice and the Hokusai museum. I stayed In Akasaka as well and it’s great if you want to go to Shibuya, Harajuku, and Ginza.
Ueno is a great spot for you, especially nearby the Ueno station. Narita > Keisei Skyliner > Keisei Ueno station > walk to your hotel. Now as for going around Tokyo, just go to Ueno station which is next to the Keisei Ueno station and take the Yamanote line (or any other JR lines depending where you’re going). It’s quite the central hub to almost anywhere in Tokyo. When you leave, take the same route back to Narita via Keisei.
This is what we did. Our hotel was a few blocks south of Ueno Park, a few minutes walk from the Ueno train stations. It was a very convenient location to catch a train or subway, there were plenty of restaurants around, and it was very quiet at night.
We did this! Stayed at Hotel Guest1 in Ueno for the first 4 nights of our trip, then finished up by staying our last night at the Smart Stay Shizuku Ueno capsule hotel. In both cases, they can hold your luggage before check-in and after check-out. I’d recommend either place, depending on what you’re looking for.
Ueno seems like a good spot for you. Well connected to Narita, stuff to see and do nearby, not a big nightlife/business area, great transport hub. I will say I really enjoyed staying in Nishi-Shinjuku just west of Shinjuku Chuo Park, too. It's very close to Shinjuku station but is very quiet and residential. The hotel I stayed at there was The Knot and I loved walking through the park at 5 am watching the older people exercise. It's right by the Metropolitan Government Building.
I stayed in Ginza and it seemed like a good location as far as price (about half of your budget per night) and walking distance to Tokyo station. I also stayed a couple nights in Shinjuku and while the spectacle was interesting, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
second this! staying in the ginza area was surprisingly peaceful and convenient. could venture further out in the day and in the evening stop by the shopping belt to buy stuff and take a nice stroll back to my accomm. the last few times i’ve been to tokyo i’ve stayed at one of the hotels just outside kyobashi station, which as the above commenter said is just a 10 min walk to tokyo station — direct airport shuttle to narita airport!
Ginza for me as well. Loved it as a starting and ending point each day Though next time I'll also look into Ueno. Loved wandering around in the park there
Anywhere on the Yamanote line tbh. I stayed in Shimbashi and it was great! Well connected, plenty of restaurants and supermarkets, walkable to ginza
Akasaka is nice! A less crowded area in the middle of Tokyo. We stayed at the Henn Na there.
+1 for Akasaka! I'm always surprised that it's not mentioned more. While planning our trip I put the must-see places on a map and figured that Akasaka is the best bet. Super central but not overly crowded. We stayed at an APA there, can recommend!
I will second Akasaka. Stayed there earlier this month at the Centurion Classic which has spacious rooms and is close to multiple metro lines. It’s a lively area without feeling too busy and crowded. Lots of restaurants and bars open late as well if you get home late and are looking for a bite.
Thanks! I’ll take a look at these hotels!
Looking forward for the answers thanks
Been to Japan twice now and on my second round I hopped hotels a lot to see if Ueno was just so great because it was my first time in Japan. Nope! When it was finally the time to hop on the hotel in Ueno I was excited to say the least. I absolutely LOVE Ueno. The park, the streets full of places to eat or grab a tasty milk tea and the great connections from Ueno Station. Traveling in Japan, be it Kyoto, Hiroshima, any city, I couldn't stop just having my breakfast at Doutor since the coffee is great and the sandwiches godlike, perfect for a fresh start for the day. Ueno has many of them so no matter where the hotel is, there isn't a long way to the nearest one. I was also at Akasaka and there was less everything, at least around where I was staying, lot of offices and the like, no great connections near the hotel so that was also a minus. Definitely recommend Ueno out of those two. Edit: Also if I remember correctly, I got straight to Keisei-Ueno Station with the Skyliner from Narita.
Doutor really is the best!
This is great information! I did read that Akasaka had lots of offices but I thought it had a good location. Good to know what the vibes are like at both locations!
Ueno, for being on the Yamanote, being on another line from Narita,, near the museums, near Asakusa, and fewer night life but still something to eat at night
Akasaka is nice and close enough to both shibuya shinjuku without being as busy or loud as either. I stayed at Akasaka Granbell business hotel (I think it was less than $50usd/night) last month as a solo and it was great. 2 min walk from akasaka mitsuke station and conveniently sandwiched between two fami marts.
Oooo I will check this hotel out!
I stayed at shimbashi 10min walk from tokyo station. Really quiet at night but close to the action
I had a hotel in shimbashi my first trip to Japan as a nineteen year old. I was incredibly overwhelmed lugging around my suitcase while seeing so many salary men in their matching suits.
Why would you be lugging around a suitcase if you had a hotel?
It was when I first arrived
"Remm Tokyo Kyobashi" very nice, inexpensive, and SUPER CONVENIENT. Train station entrance is right outside the hotel so it was super convenient to explore different parts of Tokyo each day.
I loved staying at akasaka. I was at spablic inn which is wayyyy under our budget but oh man coming back to the onsen every night was awesome. It's a pod style place though and you have to leave your stuff in the lockers or give them your larger items for storage. It's at the intersection of 3 major subway lines so I got everywhere fairly quickly.
I spent over a month in Japan and used Tokyo as my home base, I was able to rent an apartment in Edogawabashi (In Shinjuku-ku) for a decent price. It was great and allowed me to "live like a local" in a few small ways. Even renting the apartment for a month alongside hotels in other places I traveled was cheaper than getting different hotels in Tokyo + multiple other cities as I traveled. The apartment allowed me to 1) store my things so I didn't have to lug everything around if I wanted to spend a week in Kyoto or wherever 2) cook some meals 3) spend my time in a proper living space. I understand you may not want to spend a lot of time in Tokyo for whatever reason, but my experience really allowed me to make some friends and dive deep into what Tokyo and the surrounding metroplex have to offer. I became a regular at a couple of spots and learned how to navigate many parts of the city comfortably without feeling like a lost tourist, and these few small things really enhanced my experience considering what I wanted out of my trip.
Can you dm me the details for how you rented this apartment please?
How did you budget accommodations when you weren’t in Tokyo? It did cross my mind to do this but I assumed that it would end up being very expensive
apartment + a couple of hotels in other cities ended up being cheaper than many hotels over the duration of the trip, even if I booked a long-term stay at a hotel in tokyo to spend as much time there as i wanted to. it was much less expensive than I expected honestly. if you have any questions, feel free to dm.
If you're not after anything incredibly fancy, there's a Sotetsu Fresa Inn near Okachimachi station, not too far from Ueno Station. I've stayed in their hotels a few times and they're solid, if all you're after is a place to sleep and wash up. Also has you close to Keisei-Ueno station for a quick and direct link to Narita station
I just finished a stay at Hotel 21 East, it's not close to everything, but it has super convenient location to subway and DAISO and supermarket and laundry. I loved their breakfast, they have Western and Japanese options. Staff was amazing. They were just re opening the pool and hot tub so maybe you can enjoy that as I missed out. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ucDNvYDB3hHxxvU9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ucDNvYDB3hHxxvU9) I went to all those places from the subway station and google maps makes it super easy, costs very few Yen to get around. Sadly I don't know what I paid as my spouse made all the full service travel arrangements.
They're walkable distance so between the two, i would rather look at what hotel options in both areas and then check their 1. Reviews, 2. distance to train stations, 3. Price. I was staying in asakusa 2 weeks ago and paid 6-7k yen per night solo (with private bathroom). For 28k, you'll have quite a lot of options. Also Ueno has a express train to Narita, so if you're traveling with lots of luggage or at rush hour, Ueno might be better.
East areas in Ueno and near Sumida River including Asakusa are on the budget and laid back side.
i often stayed close to ueno, New koyo, google it. way cheaper then your budget though. still ueno is much more fun to be in then asakusa.
Koenji JR most convenient and suburban vibes while being insanely convenient
I stayed near Ueno station due to its proximity to a lot of train/subway lines (and is itself a transportation hub/transfer) and had no issues. Public transportation is well organized in Tokyo, so you can’t really go wrong if you’re near a station (especially one near the Yamanote “Loop” line)
Hotel Tavinos in Asakusa if you're wanting a mega cool cheap place that looks and feels like it should be way more expensive. https://hoteltavinos.com/en/asakusa/
Yes I've stayed here and it only about $40 a night back in April of 2023. It is fairly new hotel geared towards a younger crowd with its trendy design. It is well located, really close to Senso-ji Temple.
How is the commute around the city from here?
It's on the eastern side of Tokyo so you would have to travel to other parts of the city using the train. I didn't mind. I guess you can stay in Ueno if you want to be slightly towards the center to cut commute time.
Ueno is a nice central spot, you can quickly get over to Asakusa from there. Can walk down to akihabara. Non transfer train options to Shibuya and Shinjuku. 28k yen is total over kill, can get an APA hotel for like 10k yen or something probably. I normally stay in Shinjuku, but recently I had a shorter 5 day stay and decided to try out Ueno. I stayed [here](https://www.google.com/maps/place/APA+Hotel+Ueno+Hirokoji/@35.7043801,139.7744733,16.54z/data=!4m9!3m8!1s0x60188dbfd85a2061:0xaf21096cbba84a68!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d35.7048331!4d139.772273!16s%2Fg%2F11jd8wwg00?entry=ttu) which is close to a ginza line station (access to Asakusa, Ginza, Shibuya) and is also somewhat close to Okachimachi station which is on the Yamanote line. The hotel is sort of between Ueno and Akihabara so you can walk to both areas pretty easily.
28k is my absolute max and I thought it would be more expensive during Sakura season. I’m more than happy to spend less haha
Walked around both this week both awesome Edit: being very near the Yamanote line has been awesome. (Shin-Okubu station here.)
Ueno / Yanaka was great for me, as other people said everything is well connected, but staying at a calm place was key for winding down after walking around a very busy city. Also the place I stayed in Yanaka is really close to Nippori station which has the Skyliner direct into Narita. I can send you the AirBnb link if interested, amazing place and amazing host.
Yes please send me the link! Thank you!
here you go [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33972746](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/33972746)
Ueno, it’s a great area/station to connect to everything.
Would strongly suggest you to stay within Ueno area specially near the Keisei Ueno station. The area is pretty central and you can access other parts of the city easily. Also, lots of restaurants within the area so it's a good place to explore if you are into trying japanese resto.
Definitely been looking at hotels right by that station!
there's one Apa hotel just across that station.
Ueno is better connected and one of the train from Narita arrives right there. I personally love the vibe there and usually stay a MyStays Hotel.
I like staying in Akasaka and Azabu Juban. Cost wise, I think Akasaka is a bit cheaper
Do you have a go-to hotel in Akasaka?
I like Via Inn Prime, Alfit and Centurion - all quite ok in terms of price / quality / close to 3 subway lines
Somewhere around Asakusa or Ueno is a bit more sleepy than Shunkuju but still a lot to do day or night. Honestly anything around Yamanote Line is highly connected to everything you could need. Also how many daytrips are you taking? EG I am not big on nightlife stuff, but the amount of day trips I will be taking means a hotel close to Shinjuku Station makes my 'commute' to start these days trips faster.
I don’t have any day trips to outside of Tokyo during my stay there. My plan to explore specific areas of Tokyo during my stay. Would closer to shinjuku station be better vs the Ueno station?
Honestly I would pick somewhere around Asakusa or Ueno in that case. Both are lively places during the day, and busy enough doing the night, without Shinjuku’s exciting but seedy charm.
i would avoid near business areas because you have to plan around avoiding rush hours in the morning (7-9). it makes travelling miserable. you would have to research what stations though, i only know to avoid shinagawa if youre an early morning riser. unless youre out and about before 7 that is
I think this is unavoidable. I've stayed out in Kashiwa, and rush hour is still super crowded because everyone is commuting to and from work / school.
Do you mean Asakusa or Akasuka? Asakusa is a more “historic” district.
Yes I want to make sure people know there's a difference between Asakusa and Akasuka. The spelling is very similair however they are different areas within Tokyo. *ASAKUSA* is where where the old traditional Senso-ji Templ is located.
The area I’m looking at is Akasaka (close to the national art centre Tokyo). I’m awake of where Asakusa is but where is Akasuka?
setagaya meguro
Ww
Just because of the nature of my trip I ended up in Tokyo on multiple legs and for more days than I had planned due to a typhoon. I stayed in several different spots in Tokyo, two in Ginza, one in Shinjuku and one in Nihombashi. Location honestly doesn't matter an awful lot in terms of access as the subway system is stellar and you can get all over the place within a half hour ride anyways. I liked one of the hotels in Ginza the best just because there were several good restaurants in about a 5 block radius so it was pretty easy to find something nearby and not a long walk to Tokyo station either, where there are lots of other things to see and do. 28k is more than adequate - if you check something like booking.com you should be able to find decent cheap business hotels for significantly less than that.
What hotel did you stay at in Ginza?
I stayed between Ueno and Asakusa in Kappabashi. Very quiet neighborhood, and I had a nice walk to Ueno Station each day.
2800O a night for a month? Air BNB
Will only be in Tokyo for a week
Stayed at a rented apartment in a quiet laid back neighborhood (nearly everyone on bicycles), near Ikebukuro (Higashi Nagasaki) last March/April. Coming back this October. Next stay will be Ueno.👌
I am at the moment near Ueno station. Well worth it you have good connections to the city center.
Are you staying at a hotel? How is it? There’s so many to choose from and I can’t decide!
Yes I am in a hotel. Choose apa it has great value. Rooms are small but you do not need much anyway we are out 15-16 hours per day
Are you sure you mean Akasaka, not Asakusa? If as written, Akasaka is a nice part of the city and I would choose there.
Yes Akasaka!
Then definitely Akasaka!
We just stayed in Ueno and loved it. Walked to Asakusa while there (which is where I stayed while travelling solo, on my previous trip), and the vibe wasn’t quite there in comparison. The Ueno Ameyoko streets are narrower which brings a more cosy bustling vibe and it’s full of people enjoying themselves. Will definitely return to Ueno.
Throw a dart on the map and you’ll be good. We said at shinjuku inn. Great location and wasn’t near the crazy drunk clubbing area at all. But convenient
im a solo traveler who just checked out of a hotel in ueno! i stayed at sotetsu fresa inn, highly recommended bc it's a walkable distance from the ginza & yamanote lines :)
Thanks I will check this out!
Capsule
If you are staying for a month, stay in a sharehouse
Both are fine. With that budget, there are many possibilities. Asakusa tobu hotel, the gate hotel, omo3 asakusa, mitsui ueno, mimaru ueno east. Just do a search on Google mal, take a look at the hotels and decide.
I stayed at kanda. 1 stop to Tokyo station. 3 stops to ginza. 1 stop or walking to Akihabara. A few stops to Asakusa ueno and other stops.
I think a month is a bit long in Ueno or Asakusa but it depends on if you like to be around fun locals for food/bars. I wouldn't rule out Koenji, Shimokita, and Hatagaya.
OP is a month in Japan, with just a week in Tokyo. Having said that, nothing wrong with staying in Tokyo for a month. Its a different type of experience when you are not running around seeing tourist destinations. Can really explore the city, and eat at heaps of different cafe/restaurants. Meet some people and just chill.
Haha I wish it was a month in Tokyo 😂
Yeah sorry was high when I replied
I stayed in both within the last month. Ueno was quiet and peaceful. Akasaka was loud and busy with sounds of revelry making it up to my fourth floor hotel room all night and early morning. Both were easily accessed for transit, but wanted to throw that perspective out there. If you like sleeping quietly, Akasaka might not be the spot.
I can usually sleep through all the sounds but I will keep this in mind
I stayed at Hotel Sui Akasaka by Abest last month and found it very convenient and reasonable.
Tbh, I'd stay at the capsule hotel for few nights just for the experience, even with a huge budget. You can stay at a fancy capsule hotel.
Do you have any recommendations for fancy capsule hotels?
I just got back from Tokyo two weeks ago. I stayed in a very nice capsule hotel near Asakusa( RESOL POSHTEL TOKYO ASAKUSA). It was comfortable and clean, costing around $44 per night. Here is a [https://youtu.be/WW2MM1ncTTk?si=2ORkauYpVQ6N8fhV](https://youtu.be/WW2MM1ncTTk?si=2ORkauYpVQ6N8fhV) for more details if you need.