Tokyo Skytree and Asahi’s gold-coloured tower above the Sumida River in sunny Tokyo.

Tokyo: Find Your Base for Temples, Shopping and Late Nights

Finding current Tokyo stays…

Start with Shinjuku for a first visit to west Tokyo

Choose Shinjuku for a first stay focused on west Tokyo. The city is a collection of neighbourhood outings, with no single old centre that holds all the sights. Think about where you would enjoy returning for dinner: that choice matters more than putting your hotel halfway between every attraction.

Tokyo rewards looking at different scales. Shinjuku's towers give you the broad skyline; Ginza offers galleries and the Kabukiza theatre among its shops. Around Tokyo Station, Marunouchi's red-brick station building faces a much newer business district. Pick one substantial visit, then leave room for the streets around it rather than crossing town for every famous name.

A museum-heavy stay or several days around Tokyo Bay may call for a different base. The seven alternatives below explain those choices. For a west-side stay, settle into Shinjuku first and give your arrival evening to a nearby meal and a walk; the wider city can wait until morning.

First visit Five full days leave room for a varied first visit.

Allow separate days for Asakusa and Ueno, Marunouchi and Ginza, Shibuya and Harajuku, Shinjuku, and a museum or shopping day of your choice. Three days still works: choose fewer districts and save major excursions for a longer visit.

Hotel location Aim for a simple walk to a useful station entrance

Choose the line you will use most often before comparing hotel addresses. A room near a useful JR, subway or private-rail entrance can save a detour every morning; the station’s centre on a map is less useful than the route you can actually walk.

Two airports Haneda is nearer; Narita has different rail routes into town

Keikyu and Tokyo Monorail serve Haneda. From Narita, Keisei serves Nippori and Ueno, while JR Narita Express reaches several major stations. Compare the last interchange and hotel walk as well as the airport journey.

High-demand tickets Book SHIBUYA SKY and teamLab Borderless in advance

SHIBUYA SKY releases dates two weeks ahead. For teamLab Borderless, choose an entry window at Azabudai Hills. Put them on separate afternoons and leave time to browse the nearby shops and restaurants.

Subway network Read the operator beside the line name

The JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro, Toei and private railways use separate ticket systems. A route planner can combine them in one journey; check which operator runs each leg before buying a ticket. The pass section below explains what a subway ticket covers.

Best seasons Spring and late autumn suit long walks

April and November suit walks among Asakusa’s streets, Ginza’s shops and Harajuku. In midsummer, start outdoors early and spend the middle of the day in a museum or department store.

StartBooker answer

What is the best area to stay in Tokyo for a first visit?

Choose Shinjuku if most evenings and day trips take you west; its south and west sides offer a useful alternative to the entertainment streets around Kabukicho. Ginza or Marunouchi suits an early train from Tokyo Station and central shopping. Shibuya puts fashion and late dining close to the hotel. Asakusa and Ueno work better for temple mornings, museums and quieter residential walks, with longer rides to the western districts. Start with the journeys you expect to repeat, then check the hotel entrance and nearby rail lines.

Best all-rounder: Shinjuku for west-side days, nightlife and regional departures
Best for onward trains: Ginza or Marunouchi for Tokyo Station and central dining
Best traditional atmosphere: Asakusa for Senso-ji before the day crowds arrive
Best museum access: Ueno for the park museums, Ameyoko and Narita-facing rail
Transit rule: Use an IC card first; price a pass against real subway journeys
Regional pass price: JR TOKYO Wide Pass costs ¥16,000 for three consecutive days; Kyoto-bound Tokaido Shinkansen travel is excluded

Things to do in Tokyo, Japan

Explore tours, attractions and local experiences in Tokyo, Japan.

Loading activities…

Activities provided by GetYourGuide. We may earn a commission on bookings.

AI-powered

Build Tokyo days around nearby districts

Give the planner your arrival airport, booked attractions and the Tokyo districts you want to see. Ask it to group nearby sights and compare Shinjuku, Ueno or Marunouchi against your repeated journeys.

Shinjuku for west-Tokyo evenings and Hakone departures

Shinjuku

Shinjuku puts dinner within walking distance after a day of sightseeing. Leave your bags at the hotel, then explore the small restaurants and bars around Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai. For a quieter room, look south or west of the station; east-side Kabukicho stays busy late. JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei, Odakyu and Keio serve the station, with Busta highway buses at the south exit.

Odakyu serves Hakone from Shinjuku, and Keio heads toward Mount Takao. A hotel here is useful when one of those excursions starts early.
You can split a Shinjuku shopping day in two: leave purchases at the hotel before returning to the department stores or going out for dinner.

Eight Tokyo areas, from temple streets to the bay

Choose somewhere you’ll enjoy before breakfast and after dinner. Asakusa has temple streets; Shibuya has shops and late dining; Odaiba gives you room to walk beside the bay. Compare railway connections in the table once you have a district in mind.

Shinjuku

A first visit, west-side dining and day trips

Shinjuku combines department stores, restaurant streets and the Busta bus terminal. Odakyu trains leave here for Hakone, making it a useful western hub between city sightseeing and a mountain stay.

first-time nightlife transport day-trips

Pedestrians crossing Shibuya Scramble Crossing beside QFront’s glass facade in bright daylight.

Shibuya & Harajuku edge

Fashion, music and late dining

Shibuya’s crossing leads toward Dogenzaka’s restaurants and bars. Cat Street connects the shopping streets with Harajuku, while Meiji Jingu gives this western part of Tokyo a much greener outing.

fashion nightlife shopping younger-travellers

Tokyo Station's red-brick Marunouchi facade framed by sunlit modern skyscrapers

Ginza & Marunouchi

Onward trains and department stores

Ginza has department stores, smaller shops and the Kabukiza theatre. Marunouchi faces Tokyo Station, with office towers and restaurants beside a major departure point for Shinkansen journeys.

luxury rail shopping quiet-night

Asakusa

Senso-ji mornings and traditional streets

Senso-ji and its surrounding shopping streets anchor Asakusa. The Sumida riverbank gives you an open walk nearby; Kappabashi’s cookware shops lead inland toward a different part of the neighbourhood.

culture value early-mornings river

Gold Karamon gate at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, framed by green trees in Tokyo’s Ueno Park

Ueno & Yanaka

Museums and Narita arrivals

Ueno groups the park, Tokyo National Museum and Ameyoko’s shopping lanes around a major station. Yanaka’s smaller streets lie northwest of the park, with a different feel from the station’s retail frontage.

museums family narita traditional

Tokyo Tower among sunlit city buildings across Tokyo Bay.

Roppongi, Azabudai & Akasaka

Art museums and luxury hotels

Roppongi’s museums, Azabudai Hills and Akasaka’s hotels occupy separate pockets of central Tokyo. A visit to teamLab Borderless belongs in Azabudai, so the particular subway station matters more than a broad district label.

art luxury nightlife business

Sunlit electronics and entertainment shopfronts along Chuo-dori in Akihabara.

Akihabara & Kanda

Anime, games and electronics

Akihabara’s specialist shops cluster around the station and Radio Kaikan. Kanda sits closer to Tokyo Station, giving a stay on the southern side of this area a different arrival and departure route.

anime gaming shopping transport

Rainbow Bridge and the Odaiba waterfront shining across deep blue Tokyo Bay

Odaiba & Toyosu

Bay attractions and exhibitions

Odaiba’s open waterfront and Toyosu’s teamLab Planets make two distinct outings around Tokyo Bay. Tokyo Big Sight adds an event venue nearby, with access shaped by the particular waterfront station you choose.

family bay events modern

Match the Tokyo base to the journey you repeat

Area	Best for	Features	Mobility
Shinjuku	West-side sights and nightlife Cuts late returns after Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku evenings.	Huge station and intense east side	JR, Odakyu, Keio, Metro, Toei and Busta buses
Shibuya & Harajuku edge	Shibuya fashion and late dining Keeps the contemporary west-Tokyo circuit outside the door.	Crowds and premium weekends	Strong JR, Metro and private rail
Ginza & Marunouchi	Tokyo Station and Ginza shopping Simplifies arrival, luggage and the Kyoto departure day.	Higher rates and quieter late nights	Shinkansen plus several central lines
Asakusa	Temple atmosphere and value Makes Senso-ji available before and after its busiest hours.	Farther from Shinjuku and Shibuya	Useful east-side subway/private rail
Ueno & Yanaka	Museums, families and Narita Puts indoor culture and airport-facing rail close together.	Busy streets around Ameyoko	JR, Metro and Keisei choices
Roppongi, Azabudai & Akasaka	Roppongi art and Azabudai hotels Turns timed galleries and dinners into walkable anchors.	Expensive and line-dependent	Metro and Toei subway connections
Akihabara & Kanda	Anime, games and electronics Allows repeat specialist shopping without carrying purchases across Tokyo.	Less neighbourhood life after retail hours	JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku and Sobu lines
Odaiba & Toyosu	Bay attractions and events Removes the commute when the waterfront is the real destination.	Longer journeys to Asakusa and Shibuya	Yurikamome/Rinkai plus transfers

Choose a base for your Tokyo trip

Travelling companions, shopping bags and an early departure can change which Tokyo hotel suits you. These eight situations help narrow the district choice, from afternoon naps to two days at an exhibition.

First trip with one hotel

For a first visit, keep one hotel unless an airport schedule or several days outside the city gives you a clear reason to move. A reasonably well-connected address is usually worth more than repeatedly packing, checking out and waiting to enter the next room.

AlternativeUeno is the better compromise when museums and Narita matter more than nightlife.

Nightlife, fashion and late food

Shibuya keeps Dogenzaka restaurants and Center-gai bars close to the room. In Shinjuku, Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai offer smaller dining and drinking streets near department stores. Choose the area where you want to spend the evening, then walk home after your last meal.

AlternativeChoose Roppongi or Akasaka when galleries and international restaurants fill more of your evenings.

Family trip with young children

Ueno combines museums, park space, family facilities and direct neighbourhood days; Odaiba works when bay attractions dominate. Marunouchi is the calm logistics choice for a short stay or onward train.

AlternativeMarunouchi is useful for a short family stay followed by a shinkansen journey.

Temples, old streets and early photography

Stay near Senso-ji for a morning temple walk and an evening by the Sumida River. Pair Asakusa with Ueno and Yanaka on your eastern sightseeing days; Kappabashi’s kitchenware shops add an afternoon away from the temple crowds.

AlternativeChoose Yanaka when small residential lanes appeal more than staying beside the busy Senso-ji temple entrance.

Anime, games and specialist shopping

Stay in Akihabara when shopping will recur across several days and purchases need an easy trip back to the room. Shibuya adds fashion and newer entertainment; Ueno offers a calmer nearby alternative.

AlternativeKanda gives you a nearby alternative when you would rather spend the evening away from Akihabara’s main shopping streets.

Luxury, architecture and contemporary art

Ginza and Marunouchi favour formal service, shopping and Tokyo Station; Roppongi, Azabudai and Akasaka put art institutions and design-led complexes closer to the room.

AlternativeAkasaka can offer a calmer central compromise between the two clusters.

Early onward train or Narita departure

Before an early shinkansen, choose a hotel on the Marunouchi or Yaesu side of Tokyo Station. For Narita, a Keisei Ueno address puts you near the Skyliner. Haneda arrivals have a shorter railway journey through Shinagawa. A final airport night can help when departure is early enough to make a long station walk unwelcome.

Disney, exhibitions or Tokyo Bay

Odaiba and Toyosu suit a bay-centred programme, but Tokyo Disney Resort lies in neighbouring Chiba and requires its own date-specific route decision. A split stay may help only when several days are committed east of central Tokyo.

AlternativeFor one Disney day, keep a central hotel and use JR Keiyo or Musashino trains to Maihama; Tokyo Station is a useful departure point. Odaiba is a separate destination.

Check Tokyo availability →

Get from the airport to your Tokyo hotel

Haneda is nearer. From Narita, the Skyliner serves Nippori and Ueno, while Narita Express reaches several central and western stations. Pick the train with the simplest onward journey to your hotel; the fastest airport service may leave you on the wrong side of town.

From Haneda and Narita

Haneda to Shinagawa: about 15–20 minutes and ¥330

Take Keikyu from Haneda to Shinagawa: about 15–20 minutes, ¥330 for an adult paper ticket or ¥327 with an IC card. Buy at the station machine or tap your stored-value card at the gate. Shinagawa connects with JR trains across Tokyo. Tokyo Monorail runs to Hamamatsucho; airport buses suit hotels with a nearby stop.

Narita to Ueno: about 40–50 minutes and ¥2,580

Take Keisei Skyliner to Nippori or Keisei Ueno: about 40–50 minutes, ¥2,580 for an adult paper fare plus reserved seat. Buy both at the airport’s Skyliner counter or keisei.co.jp. Nippori is convenient for a JR transfer. Narita Express serves Tokyo, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Terminal 3 passengers walk or take the shuttle to Terminal 2’s station.

Use an airport bus when luggage makes the station the problem

Choose a bus when it stops near your hotel and you’d otherwise have to carry luggage through a large interchange. Haneda and Narita list bus routes alongside their rail options. At the city end, save the stop name and the route to reception; a hotel-labelled service can serve several nearby properties.

Use trains between districts and walk within them

Top up an IC card before a mixed-operator day

Suica or PASMO stored value pays ordinary fares on JR, Tokyo Metro, Toei and participating private railways. Top up at a station machine before setting off. A physical card is useful when your phone cannot run the mobile version, and also pays for small purchases.

Pair districts that share geography

Pair Shibuya with Harajuku and Omotesando, Asakusa with Ueno or Skytree, and Marunouchi with Ginza or Nihombashi. A geographically coherent day leaves time for meals and browsing. Repeatedly crossing Tokyo between distant reservations uses that time even when every train runs to schedule.

Check the final service before a late dinner

The last train depends on the operator, line and day. Search your return journey for the hour you expect to leave, including every interchange. If an evening is likely to continue beyond that connection, stay within walking distance or plan the taxi cost beforehand.

Use the underground entrance to teamLab Borderless

At Azabudai Hills, teamLab Borderless is on basement level B1 of Garden Plaza B. Kamiyacho Station’s Exit 5 leads there through an underground passage in about two minutes; Roppongi-itchome Exit 4 takes about six. Save the entrance name alongside your ticket to find the galleries within the complex.

Pay for the journeys you will really take

Buy the Skyliner fare and reserved seat together

At Narita, the adult paper-ticket total of ¥2,580 combines a ¥1,280 base fare and a ¥1,300 reserved-seat ticket. With an IC card for the base fare, the total is ¥2,567. A Suica tap alone leaves the reserved-seat charge unpaid; use the Skyliner counter or Keisei’s website for the complete journey.

Compare a Tokyo Subway Ticket with your planned fares

Adult 24-, 48- and 72-hour Tokyo Subway Tickets cost ¥1,000, ¥1,500 and ¥2,000. Overseas visitors can buy them through the operator’s listed outlets or sales links. The clock starts with first use; coverage is Tokyo Metro plus Toei Subway. They suit several subway journeys between Asakusa, Ginza and Roppongi. JR and other railways need separate payment.

Use the Tokyo Wide Pass for regional journeys

The JR TOKYO Wide Pass is for travellers with a non-Japanese passport; bring the original passport for purchase and issuance. It costs ¥16,000 from age 12 or ¥8,000 for ages 6–11 and lasts three consecutive days. Compare the fares for regional trips, such as Nikko or the Fuji area, before buying. It excludes the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Plan the lift route and the street route together

Check station access before booking your hotel

Tokyo Metro’s facility search distinguishes a continuous street-to-platform route from an individual lift. Follow the route through your planned interchange and note the exit it reaches. Around Shinjuku or Tokyo Station, that can place you on a different street from the hotel’s nearest map pin.

Avoid commuter peaks when space and assistance matter

Travel outside commuter peaks when you need more room for a wheelchair or stroller. GO TOKYO’s accessibility guide explains station staff assistance and boarding ramps. Allow time to reach the right platform before a reserved train; having a lift in the station still leaves the corridors and interchange to navigate.

Plan Tokyo tickets, meals and sightseeing days

A Tokyo National Museum visit puts you in Ueno; a SHIBUYA SKY sunset takes you to Shibuya. Plan lunch and a little walking nearby, with time to browse between your main visit and dinner.

What spring, summer, autumn and winter change

Spring brings park walks and cherry blossoms

Spring brings park walks and cherry blossoms

March to May goes from chilly mornings to warmer walking days. Ueno Park and riverside paths draw blossom crowds; later in spring, fresh green leaves make the parks appealing after the flowers have gone. Choose dates for the whole trip, then pick gardens once you arrive. Layers help when a sunny park afternoon turns into a cool walk back from dinner.
Summer works best with an early outdoor start

June into mid-July can be wet and humid; later summer brings stronger heat, including warm evenings. Start with an early Asakusa walk, then spend the hottest part of the day in Ueno museums or Ginza department stores. Leave outdoor plans flexible during typhoon season, which can affect transport into September. A wet day is a good reason to linger in one exhibition instead of adding more stops.
Autumn suits Yanaka lanes and garden walks

October and November suit walks around Yanaka or the Imperial Palace, though September can still feel like summer. Autumn colour reaches western Tokyo's higher country before central gardens, so a mountain foliage report is a poor guide to city trees. Use the garden's own update when choosing a maple or ginkgo walk. Pair it with a nearby museum so the day still works if the leaves are early or late.
Winter has cold evenings and shorter days

Tokyo's January normal mean temperature is 5.4°C, and short days leave less time for gardens. Put outdoor visits before an indoor afternoon, then enjoy illuminations or restaurant streets after dark. A coat and warm accessories make a windy waterfront walk more comfortable. Around New Year, check your chosen attractions and restaurants: holiday closures can change a day more than the cold does.

Spend on location only when it removes a real cost

Pay for the room features you will use

Pay for the room features you will use

A compact business-hotel room can leave more money for Tokyo restaurants and shopping. For a longer stay, extra floor space may be worth paying for, especially with two suitcases. Compare the beds and usable space in the room you’ll book; lobby photographs tell you little about either.
Try set lunches and food halls between restaurant dinners

In Ginza and Marunouchi, try depachika food halls, noodle counters and set lunches between more expensive dinners. A department-store food floor also works when everyone wants something different: choose dishes to take back to the hotel. Set aside more for one restaurant reservation.
Read the 2026 accommodation tax separately from the room rate

Tokyo accommodation tax uses each person’s nightly accommodation charge, excluding meals. In October 2026, the tax is ¥100 per person per night for charges from ¥10,000 to under ¥15,000, and ¥200 from ¥15,000; charges below ¥10,000 are exempt. Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced a change from 1 April 2027 to 3% of that per-person nightly charge, with charges below ¥13,000 exempt. Check which rule applies to your stay and whether the booking price includes it.
Budget for museums and observatories

Tokyo National Museum's collection galleries cost ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for university students. Visitors under 18 or aged 70 and over enter free with proof of age; special exhibitions have separate tickets. This makes the collection a useful choice for a family museum day. Allow a separate amount for an immersive art visit or observatory: these are different experiences, so choose what interests you rather than buying every ticket.

Can I visit west Tokyo while staying in Ueno?

Yes. Use the JR Yamanote Line for Shinjuku and Shibuya, and group Harajuku with the same side of town. Give the western districts a full day, with shopping and meals close together. Save the Ueno museum visit for a different morning.

Do five nights give me five sightseeing days in Tokyo?

Usually four full days, plus parts of arrival and departure days. With five nights, you can give each full day a different cluster: Asakusa and Ueno, Ginza and Marunouchi, Shibuya and Harajuku, then Shinjuku or another priority. A late arrival leaves that first evening for dinner near the hotel.

Can I walk from Ginza to Tokyo Station?

Yes, about 15 minutes from central Ginza, depending on where you start. The walk suits a visit to Tokyo Station’s red-brick Marunouchi facade. For an early shinkansen with luggage, staying closer to the station makes departure easier.

Are all Asakusa railway entrances together?

No. Tokyo Metro, Toei and Tobu stations are on the Senso-ji and river side of the district; the Tsukuba Express station is farther west. Save the operator name with your entrance. That distinction matters more than a hotel description saying simply “near Asakusa Station”.

Which side of Tokyo Station is Marunouchi?

The west side, facing the red-brick station building. Yaesu is the east side. These names help you choose a hotel entrance and follow signs after arriving by train. The shinkansen platforms are inside the station, so allow time beyond the walk to its front door.

Does the Tokyo Subway Ticket cover my train to Kyoto?

No. It covers Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, while Kyoto trains use the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Buy that intercity ticket separately. The subway pass also excludes the JR Yamanote Line and the Skyliner from Narita.

Should I move to a Tokyo Bay hotel for one Disney day?

Usually no. Keep your central hotel and travel to Tokyo Disney Resort in neighbouring Chiba. Tokyo Station gives you a useful departure point. A separate bay stay becomes more appealing when you have several park or waterfront days and want time to rest nearby.

When do Tokyo Disney Resort tickets go on sale?

Two months ahead at 2 p.m. Japan time. Choose your park and date on the resort’s official website. Make that the main outing of the day; a return across Tokyo leaves less time for another evening reservation.

How do I find an accessible toilet at a subway station?

Use Tokyo Metro’s facility search to find wheelchair-accessible toilets inside or outside the ticket gates. Save the toilet’s position on the station plan alongside your platform and exit. The search lists toilets separately from lifts.

See Tokyo hotel areas on one live map

Open the Tokyo stay map

How this Tokyo guide was researched

Reviewed by StartBooker Editorial Team Travel editor and destination researcher

Evidence checked 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-07

Method: Read primary tourism, airport, transport, climate, tax and attraction sources, cross-checked district questions with Rough Guides and Time Out, and reviewed the guide’s text. Tourism surveys from 2025 inform coverage; their visitor counts are not keyword volumes. Live schedules, ticket availability and individual hotel access require an operator or property check.

38 Source records reviewed

Key official and editorial sources