Ultimate Guide for First Time Visitors: Where to Stay in Japan
Best Places to Stay in Tokyo, Hakone, and Kanazawa
Planning your first trip to Japan can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect places to stay. Visiting Japan is a culture shock, but in the best way. There are so many unique and fun experiences in Japan. The challenge is navigating the dizzying number of train lines along with the language barrier to get where you want to go. However, you can make things easier for yourself by staying in a central location. By staying in a central location, you will save time – time getting lost and time getting to restaurants and sights. This post has our recommendations for the best accommodations for first-time visitors in three must-see destinations: Tokyo, Hakone, and Kanazawa. There are thousands of accommodations in Japan, but I’ve narrowed it down to the best accommodations we have personally visited so you don’t have to sift through all the options. From luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses, let’s explore where to stay in Japan for first-time visitors!
Home Rentals or Hotels in Japan?
Whether to stay in a home rental or a hotel is usually a point of personal preference. However. Asian countries are different from Western countries in many ways, and it can be helpful to have the convenience of hotel front desk staff to help facilitate on your first trip. I enjoy the comfort and privacy of a home rental when traveling in the United States. But especially in Japan where English is not widely spoken, it’s much easier to stay in a hotel or an apartment run by a hotel. It is helpful to have front desk staff who can assist with making dinner reservations or explaining directions. That is why all the recommendations below are hotels or apart-hotel.
It is also often easier to find these hotels. Japan has few street signs, making it easy to get lost even with Google Maps as your guide. The hotel recommendations below are located close to the train stations or main streets, so there is less chance of getting lost while looking for your accommodations. The recommended hotels below are in prime locations to best set you up for exploring.
Whether you choose to stay in home rentals or hotels in Japan, get out there and explore!
Where to Stay in Tokyo
Tokyo is a big, dense metropolis with a lot of different neighborhoods to choose from. There are a maze of subway lines connecting all of Tokyo, but for maximum transportation efficiency it is best to stay near one of the stations on the JR Yamanote Line, which loops around central Tokyo. For this itinerary in particular, the most convenient places to stay to limit train transfers is either near Shinjuku Station or near Tokyo Station.
Where to Stay in Shinjuku
Shinjuku Station is one of the transportation hubs in Tokyo. It is easily reachable from both the Narita airport and Haneda airport by either direct express train or direct bus. The tourist trains to Hakone also depart from Shinjuku Station. Besides being a transportation hub, Shinjuku is also Tokyo’s shopping and entertainment hub. This area has endless choices of stores, restaurants and izakayas, the nightlife district of Kabukicho and Golden Gai, skyscrapers with magnificent rooftop city views, and a garden that is an oasis of green in this concrete jungle.
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand
For a luxury stay in the most convenient location, book the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand. This plush hotel is located only a couple minutes walk from Shinjuku Station and has amazing views of Tokyo in the lounge. The rooms are spacious (by Asian standards) and along with the cozy bedding ensure you have a peaceful cocoon to come home to after a day out in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.
If you prefer an aparthotel with a kitchenette, the Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo is a great option close to Shinjuku Station. (Not to be confused with the Citadines Central Shinjuku Tokyo, which is located in the nightlife district of Kabukicho.) We were pleasantly surprised by the large size of the rooms (by Asian standards, of course). The hotel is located about 10 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station, in a much more peaceful area. This hotel is in the ideal place if you want to be close to the action but still have a peaceful place to rest at the end of the day.
If those stays are not quite perfect, check out these other highly rated stays near Shinjuku Station!
Where to Stay near Tokyo Station
Tokyo Station is not only a huge transportation hub, it is also an underground mall city with tons to explore. Staying near this transportation hub means that you will be paying a premium for convenience, but it could be worth it for the time you would save! If you are planning on visiting Tokyo Disney, then stay near Tokyo Station to save time on the train there. Besides the transportation factor, the area around Tokyo Station also has plenty of shops in the Ginza district and restaurants galore.
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi
The Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi is actually connected to Tokyo Station, so it can’t be any more convenient for transportation. If you are a train enthusiast, then you will love the views of the train station tracks from the windows. And for everyone else, there are stunning views of Tokyo from the upper stories. The rooms are small by American standards but standard for Asian countries, with clean and modern decor.
The Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo Station is about a 3 minute walk to Tokyo Station, and is a moderately priced option for the area. The restaurant at the top of the hotel has sweeping views of Tokyo. Some rooms have a little sitting area, which make the rooms feel slightly roomier than the standard Asian hotel rooms.
For a splurge, look for an apartment at the Oakwood Premier Tokyo. These serviced apartments are a 2 minute walk from Tokyo Station. They have the privacy and amenities of an apartment, but with the services of a hotel since there is a front desk. The apartments have a kitchen and washer dryer. The suite style rooms are great for families.
If those stays are all booked up, check out these other highly rated accommodations near Tokyo Station!
Where to Stay in Hakone
Hakone is known for their hot spring baths (onsens), so if there is a place to splurge on a hotel with an onsen then this is definitely it! Many hotels have public onsen baths, but be aware that these baths are usually separated by gender and onsen etiquette dictates that bathing suits are not allowed. If you are traveling with a significant other and want to enjoy the onsen together, then you can either look for a hotel that has private onsens that are bookable for a period of time, or hotels with private onsens in the room. The following hotels all have room options with private onsens in the room. It’s really a must-do experience in Japan!
Hotel Okada is a lovely 20 minute walk along a river (or a 5-10 minute shuttle ride) from the Hakone-Yumoto train station. It is in a beautiful setting next to the river, which instantly puts you in a peaceful mood. They have a variety of western and Japanese style rooms that have indoor or outdoor private onsens in the room. Just make sure to book a room with an open-air bath. You can also book a delicious kaiseki dinner in your room during the stay, which I highly recommend.
To be closer to the train station, the Hakone Suimeisou is only a 3 minute walk from the Hakone-Yumoto train station and also has rooms with private onsens. They have both western and Japanese style rooms that have a private open-air bath. They also have private onsens that you can reserve if you don’t have an onsen in your room. You can also book a delicious kaiseki dinner to enjoy in your room.
If private onsens in the room are not a priority, check out these other highly rated hotels in Hakone with public onsens!
Heading to Kyoto and Hiroshima?
Don’t forget to check out our recommendations for the best places to stay in Kyoto and Hiroshima!
Where to Stay in Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a pretty compact city, and it is easy to explore on foot or using the Loop Buses that connect all the attractions to the train station. This itinerary has a lot of day trips from Kanazawa, so it could be convenient to stay close to Kanazawa Station. However, there is not much to do around the station besides the station itself. We opted to stay in the downtown Kanazawa area instead to be a closer to the attractions and restaurants in the heart of the city.
Downtown Kanazawa
The KOKO Hotel Premier Kanazawa is perfectly located walking distance from the main attractions (like Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden). The bus stop to the train station is right outside the hotel, so it is a short ride to the train station as well. The rooms are spacious by Asian standards, and some have beautiful garden views. As a bonus, they have a happy hour with free drinks!
Near Kanazawa Station
The Hotel Nikko Kanazawa is a good choice if you prefer to stay close to the train station. Besides proximity to the train station, another plus is the spacious rooms, which are large for Asian standards.
Looking for other hotel options in Kanazawa? Check out these other highly rated accommodations in Kanazawa!
Now that you have booked your rooms, get excited to explore with our detailed 2 weeks Japan Itinerary!
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