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. There are so many unique and fun experiences in Japan. The challenge for most visitors is navigating the dizzying number of train lines along with the language barrier to get where you want to go. I have found that the key to navigating Japan successfully is staying in a convenient location. The neighborhoods I choose to stay in help me minimize train transfers and are easily accessible to everything in my itinerary. This post has our recommendations for where to stay in Japan for first time visitors in three must-see destinations: Tokyo, Hakone, and Kanazawa.

There are thousands of accommodations in Japan, but I’ve narrowed down our picks for the most convenient and highly rated places 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 our recommendations for where to stay in Japan on a first time visit are hotels or apart-hotels.

It is also often easier to find hotels than home rentals. 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. Our recommendations for where to stay in Japan for first time visitors below are in prime locations to best set you up for exploring.

Where to Stay in Tokyo

Tokyo is a big, dense metropolis with a lot of different neighborhoods to choose from when deciding where to stay in Tokyo when visiting Japan for the first time. 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 our itinerary, the most convenient places to stay to limit train transfers was either near Shinjuku Station or near Tokyo Station, so that is where I limited my search.

If you’re visiting Tokyo with kids, check out our favorite kid-friendly hotels and neighborhoods to stay in Tokyo with train views, connecting rooms, or apartment-style rooms perfect for families in convenient locations!

Why 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. We chose to stay in Shinjuku for our trip to make it easier to get to Hakone.
• 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. The central location makes it an easy choice for where to stay on a first time trip to Japan.

Where to Stay in Shinjuku

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand ($$)

For a luxury stay in the most convenient location, I would 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 from 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.

Citadines Shinjuku 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.) This is where we stayed, and we were pleasantly surprised by the large size of the rooms (by Asian standards, of course) since it is an apartment style hotel. 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. The price is also reasonable by Tokyo standards for a room this size.

If those stays are not quite perfect, check out these other highly rated stays near Shinjuku Station!

Why Stay Near Tokyo Station?

• Tokyo Station is not only a huge transportation hub, it is also an underground mall city with tons to explore. There is a ramen alley housing some of Japan’s finest ramen shops. And a character street with shops dedicated to trains, characters, and toys.
• Staying near this transportation hub means paying a premium for convenience, but it could be worth it to save time! If you’re planning to visit Tokyo Disney but prefer not to stay at the resort, staying near Tokyo Station is a great option since it’s the closest major station to Disney within central Tokyo.

Where to Stay near Tokyo Station

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi ($$) – Best for convenience to Tokyo Station

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 (or have kids that are), then you will love the train view rooms with views of the train station tracks. This was the main draw for us in booking this hotel – easy entertainment for our train-loving kid! 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. Since you’ll likely be out exploring all day, the proximity to the train station makes up for the room size.

Hotel Ryumeikan Tokyo Station ($) – Best budget option

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.

Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station ($$)

The Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station is just a 5 minute walk from Tokyo Station. This hotel is great for families because of the larger room types available. They have Japanese style rooms that can house families for 4 or 6, quadruple rooms with Western beds, and connecting rooms for families of 4 or 6. The rooms are fairly basic and not particularly luxurious, but for family-style accommodations in such a central location near Tokyo Station, the price is pretty reasonable.

Karaksa Hotel Colors Tokyo Yaesu ($$) – Good for families closer to Tokyo Station

Another good choice for families nearby from the same brand is the Karaksa Hotel Colors Tokyo Yaesu. This hotel has an underground connection to Tokyo Station so it’s very convenient for transportation. And it also has triple, quadruple, and connecting rooms, which is great for families. Another family-friendly perk is that the lounge has a little kids space with some toys and books for kids, with snacks and drinks for the adults while kids play. If you don’t want to play in the lounge, there are some games that kids can borrow for the room. And the rooms have kid-friendly amenities by request, like kids toiletries, pajamas, and bed rails. Some rooms even have a washer/dryer, which is super convenient for families!

Mimaru Tokyo Station East ($$$) – Best for families further from Tokyo Station

If you’re visiting Tokyo with kids and don’t mind a 15-minute walk from Tokyo Station, Mimaru Tokyo Station East is the best family-friendly choice. The one- and two-bedroom suites come with kitchenettes, giving you way more space than the typical compact Japanese hotel room. The Mimaru brand has really changed the game for families traveling to Japan, especially those from the US who are used to a little more space. For an extra fun stay, check out Mimaru Tokyo Hatchobori (just five minutes away) where you can book Pokemon-themed rooms.

Oakwood Premier Tokyo ($$$$)

For a splurge (or if traveling with a larger family), 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 who need more space. It’s one of the few larger hotel room options that is a couple minutes walk from the train station.

If those stays are all booked up, check out these other highly rated accommodations near Tokyo Station!

Where to Stay in Hakone

Hakone Hotels with Private Onsens

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. We used credit card points to splurge on a hotel with a private onsen in the room, and it was a highlight experience of our trip. The following hotels all have room options with private onsens in the room. It’s really a must-do experience in Japan! And definitely book a kaiseki dinner at your hotel – this experience was a highlight of our trip.

Hotel Okada ($-$$$, depending on room type)

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. We booked a Japanese style room with a private open air bath for the full experience, and it did not disappoint. I also highly recommend adding the delicious kaiseki dinner in your room during the stay.

Hakone Suimeisou ($$-$$$, depending on room type)

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.

Kinnotake Sengokuhara ($$$$)

This adult-only ryokan is nestled in the mountains, so it is further away from the train station. But that distance grants you a tranquil escape in nature, where each luxurious room has its own private open-air bath. Kinnotake Sengokuhara is a splurge, but it’s totally worth it for this peaceful and relaxing retreat.

If private onsens in the room are not a priority, check out these other highly rated hotels in Hakone with public onsens!

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. Our itinerary included a lot of day trips from Kanazawa, so it would have been more convenient for us to stay close to Kanazawa Station. However, there is not much to do around the station besides the station itself. So 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

KOKO Hotel Premier 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! It’s also pretty affordable given the central location.

Near Kanazawa Station

Hotel Nikko Kanazawa ($)

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 or kid-friendly 10 day Japan Itinerary!