World News
The best hotels in Tokyo offer every type of accommodation alongside the country's well-known exceptional hospitality. Here are our top picks for 2024.
Japan’s capital city is a Bladerunner-esque metropolis which is rightfully regarded as one of Asia’s most exciting destinations. After all, this is a place where ancient Edo-era temples sit in the shadow of sleek, newly built skyscrapers and where lightning-fast bullet trains speed through the city. The city’s neighborhoods are wonderfully diverse, whether it’s areas such as Harajaku, famous for its abundance of all things kawaii (cute), or spots such as Akihabara, known for its gadget-filled tech stores selling everything from robots to heated toilet seats.
The best hotels in Tokyo are equally diverse: Every type of accommodation can be found in this city, and the Japanese do hospitality exceptionally well. Properties such as the Park Hotel Tokyo, with its mural-adorned suites, offer a dash of quirkiness alongside a Japanese-themed art fix, while travelers seeking to immerse themselves in Japanese culture should consider the Hoshinoya Tokyo, often referred to as the world’s most luxurious ryokan. First timers, meanwhile, can’t go wrong with the Shangri-La Tokyo, where dedicated greeters will meet new arrivals on the platform of nearby Tokyo Station, and those coming to Tokyo for a romantic getaway will find it at Hoshinoya Tokyo, featuring an open-air onsen and sake-tasting sessions.
Below, our selections for the best hotels in Tokyo for 2024.
Editor’s Picks:
- Best High-End Hotel In Tokyo: Aman Tokyo
- Best Boutique Hotel In Tokyo: Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park
- Best Hotel Near Nightlife In Tokyo: Bellustar Tokyo, A Pan Pacific Hotel
- Hotel With The Best Location In Tokyo: Shangri-La Tokyo
- Best Hotel For Couples In Tokyo: Hoshinoya Tokyo
- Best Hotel For Families In Tokyo: Shiba Park Hotel
- Best Hotel For Design Lovers In Tokyo: Park Hotel Tokyo
- Hotel With The Best Views In Tokyo: The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon
Best High-End Hotel In Tokyo: Aman Tokyo
Who Will Love It: Travelers seeking some (Japanese-style) time out
All-Star Amenities: The wide range of complimentary wellness-themed workshops available
What Not To Miss: The hotel’s bespoke tours and experiences, covering everything from fan-making to Japanese art restoration
Location: Ōtemachi
The ultra-luxurious Aman Tokyo has just 84 rooms, but guests here will feel a huge sense of space. The property’s suites are some of the largest in Tokyo, its spa is the biggest in Japan’s capital and the on-site pool is a 263-foot-long affair. There’s a sense that everything at Aman Tokyo is bespoke, whether it’s the fabulous toiletries (blended especially for the property) or the range of tours which guests can sign up for (don’t miss the kimono-making workshop, held at a nearby kimono store which dates back to 1842). In the rooms and suites, extensive use of wood and washi paper creates gorgeous havens which feel distinctly Japanese—as does the abundance of in-room tech. The Aman Suite has the biggest wow factor, courtesy of 1,689 square feet of space, breathtaking views of the Imperial Palace, a wine cellar and a traditional furo-style bathing tub, positioned against floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is also home to the culinary highlight Arva, which is not to be missed. Chef Masakazu Hiraki spent 17 years training and working at Venice’s best restaurants, and at the Aman Tokyo, he serves up rustic Italian dishes made with the finest local ingredients. Make sure to order the ricci di mare—spaghetti served with sea urchin and bottarga roe.
Best Boutique Hotel In Tokyo: Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park
Who Will Love It: Couples; solo travelers; eco-conscious travelers; art fans
All-Star Amenities: Seriously stylish flip-flops for guests (they’re made from recycled rubber); bicycles for hire
What Not To Miss: The artwork, much of which has been created by Tokyo-based artists, including ones working with a social enterprise for artists with disabilities; the sunken fire pit on the rooftop
Location: Yoyogi Park
This funky hotel, which opened in September 2023 opposite Shibuya’s Yoyogi Park, has just 20 rooms and five suites. Designed by Denmark-based studio Norm Architects and Tokyo-based Keiji Ashizawa Design, guests will immediately be greeted by a property that is sleek, minimalistic and playful. Wooden louvres and thick swathes of greenery are juxtaposed with expanses of bare concrete, and there’s plenty of input from other Japanese designers, including Eiko Miki, a Japanese copperplate artist who created the beautiful lamps in the hotel’s restaurant, and Kyoto-based heritage brand Kojima Shoten, which produced the washi-paper pendant lights. The hotel has an abundance of outdoor space—all of the rooms and suites, spread over five floors, have balconies, and one of the most popular spots is the rooftop, which has a pool, jacuzzi and fire pit. The hotel’s cozy restaurant, Pizzeria e Trattoria l’Ombelico, serves delicious pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy. It’s not just the in-house art collection which makes this particular hotel a great choice for culture vultures, either: the nearby Japan Folk Crafts Museum is a beautifully curated space which explores the beauty of ordinary, everyday objects.
Best Hotel Near Nightlife In Tokyo: Bellustar Tokyo, A Pan Pacific Hotel
Who Will Love It: Couples; groups of friends; night owls
All-Star Amenities: The floor-to-ceiling windows in every bedroom; the supersized spa treatment rooms
What Not To Miss: The sushi at the hotel’s Sushi JIN-È restaurant, which has stunning views of Mt Fuji and the Tokyo skyline
Location: Shinjuku
Guests who stay at this hotel will be right in the heart of Shinjuku and just a few steps from Kabukicho, Tokyo’s famous entertainment district. Other popular Shinjuku spots include Omoide Yokocho, an alleyway lined with tiny restaurants and izakayas, and Golden Gai, where bars fill a tangle of narrow streets and alleyways. It’s hard to beat the views of neon-drenched Shinjuku from the rooms at Bellustar Tokyo, which occupies the upper section of the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. All 97 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and there are great views from the hotel’s bars and restaurants, too—head to Sushi JIN-È restaurant for a glimpse of Mt. Fuji or to Bar Bellustar to toast the sunset with a sundowner. For breathtaking vistas, it’s hard to beat the hotel’s Teppan Ten-yu restaurant, where guests can soak up views of the city courtesy of floor to ceiling windows.
Hotel With The Best Location In Tokyo: Shangri-La Tokyo
Who Will Love It: First-time visitors; exercise junkies; honeymooners; travelers in need of some R & R
All-Star Amenities: The bath salts in wild rose, jasmine and chamomile scents; free sports kit including t-shirts, shorts, socks and shoes
What Not To Miss: The traditional Japanese therapies on offer at the hotel’s Chi spa
Location: Marunouchi
Let’s face it—Tokyo can be a little overwhelming for first-time visitors, which is why we’re huge fans of the Shangri-La Tokyo’s red-coated greeters who will head to Tokyo Station (a two-minute walk from the hotel) to escort arriving guests to the hotel. It’s this proximity to one of Japan’s largest train stations which makes it a great base for first-timers, although the Imperial Palace and the upscale shopping paradise of Ginza (which, incidentally, is named after a silver coin mint—ginza means "silver mint" in Japanese) are also all easily accessible. While a supermarket might not sound like an obvious attraction, there’s one close to the hotel which is a particularly popular destination for tourists, who come to marvel at the spectacular array of food and drink on offer.
Best Hotel For Couples In Tokyo: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Who Will Love It: Couples; culture vultures; lovers of luxury
All-Star Amenities: The all-singing, all-dancing, top of the range Toto toilets; huge onsen-style bath tubs in guestrooms
What Not To Miss: The beautiful communal Ochanoma lounges on every floor, where guests can read a book or sample seasonal sakes
Location: Ōtemachi
Think of the Hoshinoya Tokyo as the world’s most luxurious ryokan. Enter the hushed confines of this 84-room hotel, encased in beautiful latticed metalwork, and the first thing you’ll see are rows of beautiful wooden boxes, designed for the shoes guests surrender in place of the hotel’s beautiful wooden sandals. In the huge rooms, sliding screens replace curtains, the baths are huge, onsen-inspired affairs (with more than enough room for two people, incidentally) and beds are Japanese-style—plush mattresses placed on raised platforms. Guests are encouraged to wear kimonos for the duration of their stay, while sake-tasting sessions, musical performances and an abundance of Japanese snacks (don’t miss the soybean-dusted mochi) immerse guests in all things Japanese. Despite the traditional touches, the property also feels sleekly modern (as well as wonderfully romantic). Take the hotel’s restaurant, which specializes in so-called Nippon cuisine—a fusion of French techniques and seasonal Japanese ingredients. Another highlight is the open-air onsen, which you’ll find on the top floor—the spring water comes from 4,900 feet below ground.
Best Hotel For Families In Tokyo: Shiba Park Hotel
Who Will Love It: Couples; solo travelers; bookworms; families
All-Star Amenities: The beautiful desktop boxes containing postcards, envelopes and Japanese writing paper
What Not To Miss: Book-filled public spaces featuring over 1,500 books, many of which are in English; the menu at The Dining, featuring Chinese, Western and Japanese dishes
Location: Hamamatsucho
Although this hotel is located in the center of Tokyo, it’s also in one of its greenest areas—Minato-ku, which is largely residential. Nearby green spaces include Shiba Park, where there’s a playground for youngsters, and an abundance of nearby restaurants puts a range of cuisines within easy reach. The property itself features 199 rooms (most of which were renovated in 2022) and one restaurant, which serves a wide range of Western and Japanese cuisines. Guests can also sign up for kintsugi experiences, during which they’ll learn about the Japanese artform of repairing broken pottery and glass by mending cracks with urushi lacquer mixed with powdered gold. The hotel’s pièce de résistance is its book collection—there are 1,500 books, many of which are for children, and over half of these books are in English. You’ll find them in the lobby, in the stairwells and in the library lounge, although our favorite spot is the Inglenook, a cozy spot where guests can curl up and read.
Best Hotel For Design Lovers In Tokyo: Park Hotel Tokyo
Who Will Love It: Solo travelers; business travelers; families; couples
All-Star Amenities: The gorgeous orange oil and rice bran-based toiletries from Thann, an upmarket Thai brand
What Not To Miss: The art—there are over 400 fabulously diverse artworks on display, and most are available for purchase; the ultra-chic guests’ lounge; regular art exhibitions
Location: Shiodome
This beautiful hotel is jam-packed with art, much of which you’ll find in the lobby—a sculpture-filled soaring space which offers stunning views over the city. Digital art is regularly projected onto the walls of the lobby, which you’ll find on the 25th floor of a skyscraper, and rooms and public spaces are filled with statement pieces of furniture. In the dedicated guests’ lounge on the 25th floor, pebble-like chairs are modeled on the stones which feature in Japanese zen gardens (the carpet’s design is inspired by the sand). The lounge is also where you’ll find a huge selection of magazines and books covering topics such as design, art and food.
Best Hotels in Tokyo for 2024
Hotel With The Best Views In Tokyo: The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon
Who Will Love It: Couples; business travelers; hipsters
All-Star Amenities: The beautiful yukatas (Japanese robes) provided for guests; tokyobike bicycles for guests
What Not To Miss: The rooftop Jade Room + Garden Terrace, with its jungle-like swathes of greenery; the beautiful swimming pool with its lanterns and supersized pot plants
Location: Toranomon
Kengo Kuma and Ian Schrager are responsible for the slick look of this 206-room hotel, which has two restaurants and two bars. Once one of Tokyo’s quietest neighborhoods, a number of recent developments have transformed Toranomon into a nightlife hub, but there’s still plenty of history here, which is what makes the views so special. For example, the hotel, which occupies the upper floors of the sleek Tokyo World Gate skyscraper, is just steps from the Fukushiro Inari shrine, although the views of the red and white Tokyo Tower are equally impressive (don’t panic if your room doesn’t offer views of the tower—you’ll be able to gaze down on Tokyo Bay, instead). But the best views are from either the lobby, on the 31st floor, or the Garden Terrace, an open-air space 140 meters above ground level. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, head inside to the adjacent Jade Room. It’s effectively one restaurant, and the culinary genius at its helm is British Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, who’s made sustainable and local ingredients a big focus.
Best Hotel For Foodies In Tokyo: Palace Hotel Tokyo
Who Will Love It: Spa fans; cocktail connoisseurs; couples; foodies; older travelers
All-Star Amenities: The selection of teas from Maruyama Nori, a Japanese brand dating back to 1854, presented alongside nambu-tekki (cast iron teapots)
What Not To Miss: The Evian spa, whose swimming pool boasts stunning views over Tokyo
Location: Marunouchi
Foodies will be pleased to find 10 restaurants at this five-star hotel, which is just a few feet from the Imperial Palace. The cuisine at each is incredibly diverse, ranging from contemporary French cuisine at the Esterre (which has a 4,800-bottle cellar and is one of two Michelin-starred restaurants at the hotel) to Chinese delicacies at Amber Palace. Guests keen to delve into traditional Japanese cuisine should head to Wadakura, famous for its traditional kaiseki (multi-course meals) style of dining, while fans of the sweet stuff will love the hotel’s patisserie (in the past its sold its own range of chocolates, adorned with images of hotel staff and guests). There are also three bars for those all-important nightcaps. We recommend Lounge Bar Privé, where you can soak up the views of the Imperial Palace gardens while toasting Tokyo with one of the bar’s signature cocktails (try the Strawberry and Cheesecake Martini). The hotel has 266 rooms and 18 suites, and there’s an abundance of art, more specifically over 1,000 sculptures and paintings, including the breathtaking Echoes-Crystallization, which you’ll find behind the reception desk. Created by Shinji Ohmaki using crystal powder and marble, it’s a tribute to Japan’s endangered flower species.
Best Value Hotel In Tokyo: Omo5 Tokyo Otsuka
Who Will Love It: Solo travelers; budget travelers; history buffs
All-Star Amenities: The alcohol vending machine; the homely communal area with its hand-drawn map of the local area
What Not To Miss: Free tours with OMO Rangers, local members of staff keen to show off this historic neighborhood; regular DJ nights
Location: Otsuka
This 125-room hotel is in the hip neighborhood of Otsuka, a laidback, wallet-friendly area where many of the businesses date back to pre-war times. The hotel’s free guided tours, led by OMO Rangers, are a great way for guests to find out which izakaya serves the cheapest beer or simply to learn about the area’s history, and the property’s spacious communal area with a library, bar and lounge, is a great place to get to know other guests or to read up on Tokyo’s latest hotspots. Rooms are stylishly minimalistic: elevated, Japanese-style beds positioned against windows make the most of the views, and clever design quirks—such as the hotel’s so-called Multifunctional Walls, with integrated televisions, mirrors and clothes hangers—make the most of the space. Don’t expect too many added extras (their absence is what keeps the price low), but there’s an alcohol vending machine for guests, and amenities such as toothbrushes and cotton robes are available from reception.
Best Hotel In Downtown Tokyo: Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Who Will Love It: Young and hip travelers; solo wanderers; couples; boutique hotel fans
All-Star Amenities: The high-tech portable speakers in guests’ rooms; the retro-themed laundry on the 20th floor
What Not To Miss: The in-house gelateria, which serves up weird and wonderful flavors such as mulberry tea and red sweet potato
Location: Shinjuku
Stay at this hip hotel and you’ll have easy access to Tokyo’s coolest destinations, including the Shibuya scramble (otherwise known as the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing), Asakusa, which is famous for its heritage buildings, and the nightlife hub of Shibuya. Each of the 538 hotel rooms are designed to make the most of the surrounding views, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking spectacular landmarks and minimalistic décor which allows the views to take center stage. We recommend the hotel’s Groove rooms, which have been designed by Japanese artists. Book the one created by Yoshiaki Kaihatsu, for example, and you’ll find one wall covered entirely by tape cassettes, while Tomoyuki Washio’s room, which has been designed to resemble an artist’s studio, incorporates references to everything from Greek mythology to Tokyo’s Kabukicho nightlife district. The fun factor is high when it comes to on-site dining options, too. Choose from the Jam17 Gelateria, which serves up flavors such as red sweet potato, Jam17 Dining for Italian delicacies and funky décor, or the Jam17 Bar for colorful cocktails. Our favorite tipple is the bright blue “Bullet Train,” inspired by Brad Pitt’s fast-paced Japan-based thriller about a runaway train.
Best Capsule Hotel in Tokyo: Nine Hours Akasaka
Who Will Love It: Budget travelers; solo travelers
All-Star Amenities: On-demand sleep analysis service; outlets in every capsule
What Not To Miss: Toiletries from heritage soap brand Tamanohada
Location: Akasaka
Ultra comfortable pillows, an abundance of outlets and easily adjustable lighting more than make up for the lack of space at Nine Hours Akasaka, a leafy, ultra-modern building in one of Tokyo’s hippest neighborhoods. It’s also worth noting Nine Hours’ 168 single-person capsules are generously sized, so there’s no sense of claustrophobia to be found here. The concept is simple: after you’ve checked in, store your luggage in the spacious locker room before heading upstairs to your capsule. Showers and toilets are in separate rooms to the capsules, and they’re surprisingly swanky, with heavenly scented toiletries from Tamanohada (one of Japan’s oldest soap manufacturers). The scents are seasonal—in spring and summer it’s a zingy mint scent, while fig-fragranced products are used in autumn and winter. There are Nine Hours capsule hotels throughout Tokyo (including several women-only properties), although what sets Nine Hours Akasaka apart is its sleep monitoring tech—guests can opt for a sleep analysis service. Sensors will then be placed in the guest’s capsule, and a full sleep analysis report will be provided the next day.
Featured Tours In Tokyo
To make the most out of your time in Tokyo, consider adding one of our handpicked excursions to your itinerary. Each of the following tours has a 5-star rating after at least 1,000 reviews. In addition, these experiences each hold a Viator Badge of Excellence, which means the tour meets the booking site’s highest quality standards.
- Tokyo Bus Day Tour: If you’re short on time, this single-day bus tour is a guaranteed way to see many of Tokyo’s iconic landmarks, including the Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace and Senso-ji Temple. The tour also features an authentic matcha experience at Asakusa and a ferry ride under the Rainbow Bridge.
- Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food And Culture Tour: Seafood lovers will delight in this three-hour walking tour, which takes you around the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. You’ll get to sample a variety of Japanese foods, snacks and sake, all under the supervision of a knowledgeable, personable guide.
- Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw Tour: The Asakusa neighborhood is one of Tokyo’s most picturesque locations. This unique tour gives you the chance to soak it all in from the seat of a rickshaw, a human-powered cart that hails back to historic Japan. The experience is customized to your preferences: Just tell the guide which landmarks you’re interested in seeing the most.
- Mount Fuji And Hakone Bus Tour: Serving as Tokyo’s breathtaking backdrop, Mount Fuji is only a few hours away by bus. This day tour whisks you away from the bustling city to stunning locations including the base of Mount Fuji, Owakudani Valley and Hakone. A speedy bullet train brings you back to Tokyo at the end of the action-packed day.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted travel team has researched, written and published dozens of hotel guides featuring cities across the globe. The travel section is overseen by Vetted’s senior travel editor, Astrid Taran, a 7-year industry veteran who’s visited over 35 countries. The writers of our hotel roundups are each handpicked based on their area of expertise, whether they are area locals or avid travelers who have visited the destination frequently—and all have bylines in other reputable travel publications. Further, this story is regularly checked to ensure that all prices and information are as current as possible. It was last updated in July 2024 by travel writer Claire Epting.
About Tamara Hinson, Your Tokyo Guide
I am a UK-based freelance travel writer who loves scuba diving, snowboarding and F1. Japan is one of my favorite destinations and I have visited Tokyo multiple times, along with my other favorite Japanese cities: Kanazawa, Osaka and Sapporo. My top tip for first-time visitors to Japan is to visit a depachika, an enormous food hall that can be found in the basements of luxury department stores. Every type of food is available here, and this is also where Japanese businessmen and women come to buy elaborately wrapped items of fruit, including supersized melons and rare white strawberries, to give as gifts.
Which Area In Tokyo Is Best For Tourists To Stay?
While each area has something unique to offer, a good starting point for tourists is Marunouchi, an upscale business neighborhood just steps away from Tokyo Station. This is where you’ll find the Shangri-La Tokyo, which is conveniently located near several points of interest. If you want to fully immerse yourself in the city’s nightlife, we recommend staying in the buzzing, modern Shinjuku district, an area packed with restaurants, bars and entertainment options.
How Many Days In Tokyo Is Enough?
To take in a good amount of Tokyo’s sights, you’ll need a minimum of three to four days. This will give you time to visit multiple neighborhoods, including Shinjuku, Shibuya and Asakusa. If you want to add in a day trip to Mount Fuji or another surrounding destination, we recommend extending your trip to five days. That being said, it’s unlikely you’ll run out of things to do in Tokyo after five days—so if your schedule allows for it, feel free to explore the city at a slower pace over the course of a week (or longer).
What Are The Best Months To Visit Tokyo?
The best months to visit Tokyo are April through May and October through November. Spring and fall each offer pleasant weather, with average temperatures falling in the high 60s and low 70s. The biggest difference between the two seasons is the foliage; during the spring, Tokyo’s cherry blossoms are in full bloom, while later months offer a better time to see autumn foliage. Keep in mind that the cherry blossoms pull a lot of visitors into the city in the springtime, so if you’re looking to avoid peak crowds, we recommend traveling in the fall.
author Contributor,Tamara Hinson