Tokyo, Japan - Accommodations

Sleep

There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the high end and the low end almost everywhere. Many Western-style hotels, especially those affiliated with American hotel chains, have English-speaking staff.

Budget

Much of Tokyo's budget accommodation can be found in the Tokyo/Taito|Taito area, especially Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa and Tokyo/Ueno|Ueno. But if you are not afraid of being a little bit off-center, you may have a look to the surroundings: Yokohama, etc.

Capsule hotels are generally the cheapest option. They may be reluctant to play host to foreigners as there are quite a few rules of behavior which may be difficult to explain; see the Japan#Sleep|Japan article for the full scoop. Most capsule hotels are men-only. Asakusa Riverside[1] and Akihabara Capsule Inn[2] are among the very few to have women-only floors.

24-hour comic book library/internet cafes have become common around Tokyo. This is one of the cheapest ways to crash if you miss your last train and need to wait for the early morning transit service to get started. No bed, but you have a comfy chair and a PC and/or DVDs if you can't sleep. Later in the evening, karaoke boxes often offer discounted prices for the whole night, they usually have a couch you can sleep on.

One of the cheapest ways to stay can be also a youth hostel, prices start at 1200, e.g. in the Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinjuku area.

Mid-range

There is a wide range of choices in hotels while at Tokyo, most of the hotels are rated 3 stars or more. Tokyo is among most of the other cities when it comes to hotels because their services and hotel locations are the best of the best. Some hotels one should try are The B Akasaka Hotel, Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo Dome Hotel, Century Southern Tower Hotel, Shiba Park Hotel, Court Yard by MariottTokyo Ginza Hotel, Intercontinental Tokyo Bay Hotel, ANA Hotel, Mitsui Garden Hotel, Mets Shibuya Hotel. Of these hotels,they all have great city views. Most interestingly, Tokyo Dome hotel has an attraction right outside of it . Tourists can check in and have a whole day of fun at the amusement park and mall; best thing is, they can come back to their room anytime and relax after such an adventrous evening!

Keep an eye out for what is called a business hotel. The rooms are usually tiny, but they are conveniently located near stations and rates start from around ¥6000. Staff may speak minimal English, but it's not too hard to figure out. These are the best options for solo travelers. Affordable chains found throughout Tokyo include Tokyu Stay [3], which offers free internet access and breakfast, and Sunroute [4].

Tokyo has some self-proclaimed ryokan (Japanese inns) that cater largely to foreign tourists, mostly concentrated around Tokyo/Ueno|Ueno and Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa. While not as opulent as the real thing, they offer a sample of Japanese home life at affordable rates.

Japan's infamous love hotels can be a reasonable (and interesting) option in Tokyo. Shibuya's Tokyo/Shibuya#Sleep|Love Hotel Hill offers the widest selection in the city. If you're really going to spend the night, be sure to check in for a "stay" rather than a "rest". Be warned that some love hotels (at least around Shinjuku) have a 'No speak Japanese, no stay' policy, presumably to avoid confusion over billing.

If you plan to stay more than one week, you can try weekly-mansion [5]. These are flats you can rent for short periods of time for reasonable prices. Rates are around 5000¥ per day for one or two people. However everything is done in Japanese and it helps greatly to know someone in Japan who can speak your language. Gaijin houses (guest houses for foreigners) can also offer good prices.

Splurge

You can spend a fortune on accommodation in Tokyo. Most of the high-end international chains are well represented. Particular concentrations of luxury hotels can be found in western Tokyo/Shinjuku|Shinjuku (including the Park Hyatt Tokyo, featured in Lost in Translation), around Tokyo station (best here are the Seiyo Ginza and Four Seasons Marunouchi), and in Tokyo/Akasaka|Akasaka.

There is also a large cluster of luxury hotels in what is euphemistically termed "Tokyo Bay". These hotels are in fact located in Chiba, an adjacent prefecture, and are handy for visiting Tokyo Disneyland but quite inconvenient for touring Tokyo itself.