The best hotels in the center of Tokyo

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo

The five star Mandarin Oriental hotel is the cream of the crop when it comes to hotels in Tokyo. This award winning hotel has been the top public choice on several review websites and has even won an award as the best hotel in the world. Due to its impeccable service, sleek design and perfect location. The staff loves to go the extra mile to satisfy the visitors of the hotel.

Mandarin Oriental Tokyo can be found on the top floors of the 195 metres (639 ft) high Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower. This ensures the rooms, restaurants and facilities in the hotel offer a grand view over the skyline of Tokyo. Landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower and on a good day even Mount Fuji can be seen from the hotel.

The hotel has a beautiful design with a modern Japanese style to it, with wood, water and nature being recurring themes in the crisp design. This style has ensured the hotel radiates traditional warmth and modern luxury. Combined with the amazing view the hotel is a great place to settle down at after long day of exploring Tokyo.

The Mandarin Oriental has an excellent location in the very heart of Tokyo, within walking distance of the Royal Palace and Tokyo central station, from which you can reach every major touristic site in the city, such as the Ginza shopping district.

All rooms in the hotel are very spacious, which we found rather pleasant. They also have large windows offering a spectacular view over Tokyo. With a nice bath with a rainforest shower. A widescreen television and a desk. And in the morning you can join the breakfast buffet or order from the a la carte menu.

There are a number of fine dining restaurants within the hotel, each with its unique atmosphere and niche, including a Cantonese restaurant, a French cuisine restaurant, the Michelin starred Tapas Molecular Bar, the oriental lounge bar and more. In total you can sit down at 11 restaurants and bars sit down for a bite to eat, so you can be sure to be well taken care of.

For health and relaxation the hotel also offers a variety of rejuvenating treatments for men and women in its spa. There is an extensive fitness center and you could even consider going out jogging at the nearby Imperial Palace East Gardens.

Staying at this premium hotel also has a rather premium price, which is not out of the ordinary for hotels of this class in Tokyo. Making this hotel most suitable for business travelers and people with luxurious tastes.

Conrad Tokyo

The centrally located Conrad Tokyo hotel is also a highly rated hotel offering five star accomodations. As you probably know the Conrad hotels are the luxury hotels of the Hilton family and this hotel in Tokyo certainly lives up to its name. With great service and plenty of facilities this skyscraper hotel offers a thoroughly pleasant stay to its guests.

The Conrad Tokyo hotel sports a stylish minimalist design where you can unwind in confort. With spacious rooms, one of the biggest you will find in Tokyo actually, overlooking the Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo Bay on one side of the hotel and panoramic view of the Tokyo skyscrapers on the other side. The rooms are equipped with all the needed facilities, including a comfortable bath, air conditioning, a wide screen television, a desk for you to work at and neat little extra things like a coffee maker.

From the rooftop bar of the hotel, called TwentyEight, you can enjoy the stunning views while making spoiling yourself with a nice cocktail. Or sit down with your partner to enjoy some typically Japanese tea and a small bite to eat. Tokyo is known for its fantastic food offering and when you stay at the Conrad you don’t even have to leave the hotel for a world class diner. The hotel also offers four top notch restaurants, including two michelin starred ones and an all day restaurant. So you can wake up with some pancakes while enjoying michelin starred French, Chinese or Japanese cuisine in the evening. A fun fact is that in the past Gordon Ramsay has also had a restaurant in this hotel.

The hotel hosts a rich amount of facilities, from recreational ones like an indoor pool, a sauna, a spa for facial and body treatments, and fitness facilities with a view, to practical facilities like a laundry service.

Behind the hotel you will find the serene Hamarikyu Gardens which are perfect for a morning stroll. Within walking distance to the north you will find the Ginza shopping district and the shimbashi railway station, making this an excellent choice for travelers who come to Tokyo for great shopping and dining. It’s also relatively close to major attractions such as the Tokyo Tower.

The Tokyo Station Hotel

If you are looking for European styled luxury in the heart of Tokyo, while having the entire city at your fingertips, then the Tokyo Station Hotel is for you. This five starred hotel is housed in the monumental central station of Tokyo so regardless what your plans of the day are, you will never have to walk far get there. The building itself has an Amsterdam-styled exterior and the romantic interior will remind you of a refined British elegance.

Of course one of the pros of this hotel is that you are well connected to the entire city, as it is housed on Tokyo Station after all, which allows you to get the most out of Tokyo’s extensive metro network. But even if you prefer to walk you will find the location to be excellent, as you will find yourself within walking distance of the Ginza shopping district and the Imperial Palace East Gardens nearly in front of your door.

The hotel is sound proofed so you can be sure of a good night’s rest. The rooms are equipped with all modern day luxuries like a proper bath and a television. Unlike the other five star hotels, wifi is free in this hotel. Just like making (international) phone calls. Which is a pretty neat service.

The guests of this hotel praise the breakfast buffer for a good reason, as they have western and freshly cooked Japanese offering for you to enjoy, from freshly baked bread and fruits to miso-soup and grilled fish. Although breakfast as room service is of course also a possibility.

As you can find 10 restaurants and bars in this hotel all your culinary needs will be satisfied. From Italian and French to Chinese and Japanese teppanyaki and sushi cuisine are served here. With a highly rated and attentive staff catering to your needs. And if you need to relax you can always try to hot spring and sauna in the hotel or check out the fitness lounge.
At Meet The Cities we recommend this hotel to the cultural traveler that wishes to explore all parts of Tokyo, while starting and ending the day in luxurious comfort.

Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba

The Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba is a four star hotel on the Odaiba district of Tokyo, an artificial Island in the heart of Tokyo, which is nice for travelers needing some space and waterside scenery. The hotel offers a pleasant view of the Tokyo Bay, with the Rainbow Bridge and the skyscraper filled heart of Tokyo.

Odaiba, where the hotel resides, is pretty unique in Tokyo, as you will find plenty of activities there, such as the Gundam statue, huge shopping malls, arcades, a giant ferris wheel and so on. If you wish to go to the old center of Tokyo you can take the tram which stops in your street.

The rooms in the hotel are clean and provide in all comforts, including a bath, desk and television. You even get to enjoy free wifi throughout the hotel. The design of some of the rooms is a bit old fashioned, but does radiate a certain warmth.

Hotel Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba has plenty of facilities. During the summer months the hotel opens its outdoor pool so guests can cool off while enjoying a view of Tokyo Tower in the background. The hotel conveniently has its own currency exchange machine. There is a beauty and wellness center, an acupuncture center, a spa and a paid fitness center.

On the top floor of the hotel you will find a grill and a Japanese teppan-yaki restaurant with a stunning panoramic view of Tokyo Bay and a clear view of all touristic highlights of the city. A perfect place to take some evening pictures of Tokyo. In total the hotel has 10 restaurants and bars, so whether you prefer Italian food, a nice grill, a great buffet, Japanese or Chinese food, everything is available. There is even a fresh bakery. And in the evening you can sit down at the bar and be delighted by a host of aromatic liquors.

This hotel is perfect for travelers who come to relax and wish to settle in a calmer area of Tokyo, while still enjoying the exceptional views, enjoy different cuisines and easy access to the city center.

Park Hotel Tokyo

The four starred Park Hotel Tokyo is pretty interesting hotel with its own character. The hotel pioneered turning rooms into cultural works of art themselves. On one floor all the rooms have been hand painted by artists with vibrant and colorful typically Japanese decorations, giving each room its own distinct atmosphere.

You can find the Japanese and nature themed design throughout the building. And the main lobby of the hotel is a true eye catcher with a ten-storey high glass roof which bathes you in light. So the hotel has quite a pleasant and sleek design to it.
Next to the artistic rooms the hotel also offers normal rooms, of course. Besides a stunning view each room in the hotel comes with a bath, television, free wifi, an international power adapter and other necessities. As the hotel can be found on the top floors of the 172.6 m (564 ft) tall Shiodome Media Tower, you can be assured of great panoramic views over the skyline of Tokyo on each side of the building. So from your room you will be able to spot the Tokyo Tower and surrounding temples, the historical city center or the Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo Bay and Rainbow Bridge.

The Park Hotel Tokyo can be found in the city center within walking distance of the Ginza shopping district and Shimbashi Station where you can find the subways. The hotel also lies almost next to the Hamarikyu Gardens where you can escape the busy Tokyo city life in favour of absolute serenity.

We found the hotel to have excellent service, but the facilities such as the spa and fitness room were rather modest. A big plus is that you will find several Japanese restaurants within the hotel. For the breakfast buffet you can pick between a proper western and Japanese offering, such as miso soup, grilled fish, different kinds of fruits, bread, bacon and eggs, cereal and so on.
We were pleasantly surprised by this hotel and all the small things that sets it apart from the rest, combined with its great central location, so we can certainly recommend it to travelers that want a more personal atmosphere in a hotel.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

If you want to settle in a central location in Tokyo so you can easily reach all cultural and shopping areas of the city during the day, while enjoying a nice view of the city’s primary sights in the evening, then the Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier is a great pick. As the hotel is located on the 16th to 26th floor of a large complex you can always be assured of great views over Tokyo. With the Tokyo Tower in the background on one side of the hotel and the Tokyo Bay on the other.

The Mitsui Garden Hotel can be found within the popular Ginza shopping district, where you will find an abundance of shops and restaurants. And if you want to travel through Tokyo further you can simply walk to the Shimbashi station which is right behind the hotel. Being so centrally located makes it one of the best hotels in Tokyo to explore the city from. And if you want to escape the busy city life, then a stroll through the Japanese Hamarikyu Gardens is a great way to clear your mind.

The hotel rooms offer a wall sized window allowing you to immerse yourself in the views. If you came to Tokyo to enjoy a leisurely vacation then it might be a fun idea to book a hotel room with a bathtub in front of the window, so you can relax in bath overlooking the city. On top of that free wifi is included with your stay. And the prices of the rooms are quite reasonable for Tokyo.

There is one restaurant in the hotel, on the highest floor, where a breakfast buffet with Western and Japanese food, a buffet lunch and a la carte dinner are held. The breakfast and dinner at the hotel is quite proper. And in the evening the cocktail bar of the hotel opens up.

Akihabara Washington Hotel

The Akihabara Washington Hotel is the perfect hotel for anime and gaming fans. Surrounding the hotel is the colorful and lively Akihabara district, also known as Otaku Town, with large billboards with flickering lights on the street and where gaming arcades, anime, manga and maid cafes can be found wherever you look.

The rooms of the hotel are modest and practical with a neutral design. With free wifi, a widescreen television, and a bathroom with all the little conveniences like a toothbrush or a power converter (which you can request at the front office) in case you forgot one.

Next to the hotel within a minute walking distance is Akihabara Station, from where you can reach pretty much any place in Tokyo. So if you want to go to Ueno Park for example to visit some of the most important museums in Tokyo, you can either walk 2 kilometers (1,4 miles) or take a 5 minute trip with the subway. So its location is super convenient.

So the cultural travelers who are youthful in mind and need a place to crash in the evening and a proper breakfast buffet will find everything they want in this hotel.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza

The Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza is a lovely and modern design hotel in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo. The hotel stands out for being quite luxurious for a three star hotel and its premium location in the heart of Tokyo.

The Daiwa Roynet Hotel has beautiful and clean room which are a joy to sleep in, with especially nice bathrooms. With all necessities included, such as widescreen television with satellite, a fridge and free wifi. When you book at this hotel you can choose between smoking and non-smoking rooms, which is something you don’t see often anymore today.

Within the hotel you will find a cozy and warm Italian restaurant, where also breakfast is held with both western and Japanese dishes. And due to its location food lovers will be glad to know you will find restaurants of every budget nearby the hotel.

The hotel is within walking distance of Tokyo Central Station, but there is also a metro station in the same street as the hotel. So all touristic attractions are easy to reach from this hotel. As the hotel is located at the corner of the Ginza district you can also easily walk to the Imperial Palace Gardens to enjoy Japanese nature as well.

The Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza is one of the best hotels in Tokyo in their price range. So at Meet The Cities we can certainly recommend it to anyone, regardless whether you are a cultural, shopping or business traveler. As you get quite a bang for your buck.

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hamamatsucho-Daimon

What do the landmark Tokyo Tower and Zojoji temple have in common? They are both right behind the Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hamamatsucho-Daimon hotel. From this hotel you can simply walk to the most recognizable attractions of Tokyo, which can be found in Shiba Park. And on the days you want to check out the rest of Tokyo you can simply walk to the nearby Hamamatsucho station which connects you with all hotspots of Tokyo.

The rooms in this hotel are quite accommodating and have an attractive brown and white living design. The rooms are quite affordable, albeit in true Tokyo fashion they aren’t very spacious. Just a regular size you can expect in Tokyo. Everything is well taken care of and you can be sure that the facilities and the guests needs are all covered. Every room comes with a big screen television and a well kept bathroom. The hotel also offers free wifi and free Japanese tea for its guests.

The breakfast buffet is simple but good, as it offers a tasty selection of familiar western and fresh Japanese foods, so you can make a traditional Ochazuke or a fresh salad for example. If you are looking for a hotel on an extremely convenient location that offers good value for your money then Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hamamatsucho-Daimon is a great pick.

Wired Hotel

Finding a high quality 2-star hotel can be quite a challenge. But the Wired Hotel has truly outdone itself. It is our personal favorite and arguably the best 2-star hotel in Tokyo. And the reviews written by its other visitors agree with us.

As you walk in it is quite clear the hotel has given care and attention to its looks, as the hotel has a chic design and a warm atmosphere. The facilities of the hotel are all in order, with free-wifi, air conditioning and private bathrooms. The hotel has superior rooms available with a balcony, which is quite a nice touch in Tokyo.

The hotel also has a small restaurant / bar on the ground floor, where you can get a bite to eat or settle down for a cup of coffee after a long day out. Both the dinner and breakfast they serve is freshly prepared Japanese food.

The hotel is located in Asakusa, which is known for its shrines and local charm, right next to one of the main attractions of Tokyo, the famous Senso-ji temple. Which makes this hotel a perfect fall out base for a cultural trip. If you want to take the subway to explore the rest of Tokyo, then they’ve got you covered as well. As Asakusa Station is right behind the hotel.

If you’re not in a touristic mood you’ll be happy to know that the oldest amusement park in Tokyo, Hanayashiki, can be found right behind the hotel as well. So a stay here could literally end up in a rollercoaster ride.

Nishitetsu Inn Nihonbashi

The hotel Nishitetsu Inn Nihonbashi is one of those hotels where everything just works. It’s a friendly service-oriented hotel where you can be assured of a comfortable stay at a decent location, allowing you to explore Tokyo in peace. And that’s exactly what you should want from a 2-star hotel.

In the morning your breakfast buffet is free and fresh. The rooms are clean, tidy and modern. The rooms have all the luxuries a regular hotel has to offer. In this hotel you will have your own private bath and shower. You can work at your desk. The rooms have a television, air conditioning and free wifi. All needs are covered.

You can even pick if you want a smoking room or a non-smoking room. Both are available. It’s actually quite rare in Tokyo that a 2-star hotel offers the complete package like this.

The hotel is located near the Nihonbashi district, which is considered the center of Japan. And if you head to the subway station behind the hotel, which is called Ningyocho Station, you can take the subway to easily reach all the best places in Tokyo with ease. And around the hotel you’ll find plenty of restaurants to settle down in.

Tokyo Plaza Hotel

If you come to Tokyo for shopping and enjoying the nightlife then the Tokyo Plaza Hotel is an excellent pick. Shinjuku, where this hotel is located, is one of the most popular shopping and nightlife areas in Tokyo.

This hotel is located on the main shopping street of the Korean part of Shinjuku, called Okubo Dori, where you will find many Japanese and Korean restaurants and lots of little stores. Think barbeque and k-pop. So you never have to wonder what to do when you come back to your hotel, because the entertainment is right at your doorstep.

Of course you come to Tokyo for Japanese culture, so within your street you will find a subway station connecting you to the most important subway line of Tokyo, the Yamanote Line, which goes directly to all important touristic and shopping districts of Tokyo.

Even after a single subway stop, which can also be walked as it’s just 850 meters (0.5 mile), you’ll arrive in Kabukicho, which is the nightlife area of Shinjuku where you will find fun arcades, movie theaters, restaurants and bars. And the main shopping streets of Shinjuku and Tokyo are right below it.

The hotel is well maintained. The rooms are equipped with a television, air conditioning and a private bathroom. There is free wifi. The breakfast here is on menu. And the hotel offers quite comfy bar where you can look outside while enjoying a cup of coffee. Overall we think it’s quite a good deal, especially when compared to other 2-star hotels in Shinjuku.

Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory

Khaosan Tokyo Laboratory is a colorful hotel in the spiritual part of Tokyo. The design of the hotel stands out as they’ve picked a bright and lively colors to liven up for all the rooms.

As a 1-star hotel it’s not the most luxurious place, but the staff is friendly and the rooms are functional and clean. This hotel has made smart use of its limited space, as many rooms offer bunk beds allowing four friends to sleep in the same room. There is also free wifi, the rooms have a television, air conditioning and the regular rooms have their own bathroom. The hotel has a shared kitchen that can be used 24 hours a day. And there are plenty of restaurants and eateries nearby.

The hotel is located right next to Asakusa where the Buddhist Senso-Ji temple can be found within walking distance and lots of touristic items can be bought. Another great attraction 600 meters from your hotel is the oldest theme park in Japan called Hanayashiki. If you step out of the hotel you also see the Tokyo Skytree in the distance, which is the tallest building in Japan and a great vantage point to enjoy a panoramic view of the city from. And if all that is not up your alley, you can find a subway station practically in the same street as the hotel, which is called Asakusa station, from which you can easily travel across Tokyo.

Hotel New Tohoku

Hotel New Tohoku is arguably the cheapest hotel one on this list, but it still stands outs due to its fantastic location. It’s within walking distance of Ueno Park, where you can find some of the most important museums of Tokyo, such as the Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Zoo, a fantastic Japanese lotus pond and more. And in front of Ueno Park you will also find Ueno Station, which is a railway station that connects entire Tokyo.

The design of the hotel is nothing fancy, it looks a bit dated, but it’s clean and everything is complete. The rooms come with free wifi, television, air conditioning and their own bathrooms. The hotel offers a Japanese breakfast, with salmon, rice, eggs, soup and more, which does cost a little extra, but it’s fairly cheap.

You might wonder why this hotel has 1-star. Well, it’s because the hotel lacks an an elevator, so you have to take the stairs to your room. Which is a bit inconvenient for elderly people. But for the rest the hotel is quite good. And you probably won’t find a cheaper hotel with the same quality. So it’s perfect for people who are traveling on a budget.

Artist Hotel – BnA HOTEL Koenji

At Meet The Cities we enjoy hotels that take the extra step to make their hotel appealing to customers. And the Artist Hotel has done just that. The hotel calls itself a bed and art hotel, for reasons instantly obvious to visitors.

The hotel has a great decor with art painted across the walls. The designer rooms are comfortable and cozy. The frontdesk of the hotel is not just a regular front desk, but an actual cafe and bar where you can take a seat and order your drinks. It’s certainly a joy to stay at this place.

All rooms come with their own bathroom and free wifi. But a 1-star hotel is not without its flaws. The rooms aren’t very spacious. And for that reason the rooms don’t have a television, so if you stay here you will be missing out on foreign tv channels most of us don’t understand anyway. But on the other hand you will be staying at a cheap designer hotel.

The area around the hotel is known as the creative part of Tokyo, where everything is still local and quint. With a lively alternative scene, an abundance of small bars and restaurants and boutique fashion shops. The hotel is located right in front of the Kōenji Station, which is a railway station connected to the Chūō Main Line. This means that you can literally leave your hotel, step into the railway station and within a minutes you will be in the busiest and booming parts of Tokyo, such as the Shinjuku shopping district. Making this hotel a great place to enjoy your vacation from.