When to Visit Tokyo, Japan
A city with four distinct and equally celebrated seasons, Tokyo is a pleasure to visit any time of year. Summer tends to be peak tourist season and draws both the largest crowds and hottest temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s.
Spring and fall are also popular times to visit, especially with the fragrant cherry blossoms in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. Hotel prices tend to be lower during these shoulder seasons, aside from a few popular weeks and major festivals.
If you don't mind missing Tokyo's many scenic parks at their peak, plan your stay during the winter. You'll be greeted with chilly temperatures in the 40s, but the small crowds and low room rates make a visit during this season worthwhile.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Tokyo, Japan:
Averate Rates by Star Rating
Below we've posted 3 graphs displaying average nightly cost patterns by star rating class in Tokyo, Japan. Analyze these illustrations to calculate the most cost effective months to make a reservation in Tokyo for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotels in Tokyo, Japan
4 Star Average Prices: £134.71
From the design to the service to the amenities, Tokyo's luxury hotels are some of the best in the world. Planning a special occasion in Tokyo? You'll want to stay at one of these four hotels.
Located in the heart of the city, The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo is a popular high-end business hotel. Take your pick from one of the 245 guestrooms, and enjoy extras like fully stocked minibars and espresso makers. Catch up on world news on the 40-inch flat-screen TVs, or relax in the deep soaking tubs after a long day. Treat yourself to a session at the spa, which offers facials and body treatments, or head to the highly rated wellness center for a workout or swim. Have a meal at one of the three on-site restaurants, or stay in and order room service.
Situated on the north side of the city, The Peninsula Tokyo offers superior and deluxe king rooms as well as deluxe and executive suites. You'll sleep like a dream under Egyptian cotton sheets and a down comforter, and you'll never feel more relaxed after a bath in the deep soaking tub or a shower under the rainfall showerhead. Dine at one of the four on-site restaurants, and don't miss a visit to the spa.
Located less than a mile from desirable destinations like the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Tokyo International Forum, and Nihonbashi, the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo welcomes visitors to its escape within the city. Choose from deluxe rooms, premier king rooms, and grand rooms, which all feature flat-screen TVs with digital programming and designer toiletries. Let your worries melt away in the sauna and spa tub, or book a massage and facial at the on-site spa.
Towering above animated Shinjuku, the Park Hyatt Tokyo is the ideal hotel for a city getaway. Spread out in the spacious rooms, go for a relaxing swim in the indoor pool, or treat yourself to a massage at the hotel's spa. Enjoy a meal to remember at one of the three on-site restaurants, and end your evening with a cocktail and jazz at the hotel's famed lounge.
Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in Tokyo, Japan
3 Star Average Prices: £63.98
From traditional inns to hostels to capsule hotels, this pricey city has many accommodations that won't break your budget. For an inexpensive stay in Tokyo, take a look at these convenient accommodations.
For one of the most affordable stays in Tokyo, set your sights on the Asakusa Hostel Toukaisou. Convenient to major attractions like Sensoji Temple, the Tokyo National Museum, and the historic Asakusa neighborhood, nearby transit connections also link visitors to almost every other corner of the city. Save big on a bed in a six-person dormitory, or opt for a private room for two or four people. All rooms feature blackout curtains to help you get a restful night's sleep, and complimentary Wi-Fi helps you stay in touch with friends back home.
Situated on the northeast side of Tokyo, the Aizuya Inn is just a short drive from attractions like Ueno Park and Sensoji Temple. All 19 rooms feature amenities like DVD players, flat-screen TVs, video game consoles, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Start your day with a complimentary breakfast, and rent a bicycle from the hotel to explore this scenic area on two wheels. The Aizuya Inn also features concierge services to help you plan your stay.
For a central hotel that's easy on your wallet, Tokyo Kiba Hotel offers basic rooms near the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art, Nihonbashi, and the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Choose from a single or double sleeping pod with just enough room for sleeping. Stow your belongings in the provided lockers, and don't forget to pick up your pair of hotel pajamas for a comfortable night's sleep. Relax in the spa tub or sauna, and grab a bite to eat in the hotel restaurant before hopping on the nearby train and exploring all that Tokyo has to offer.
Capsule or pod hotels are some of the most budget-friendly ways to experience Tokyo, and the Capsule Value Kanda offers affordable rooms near the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Bridgestone Museum of Art, and the East Garden. Enjoy a quiet night's sleep in one of the tiny rooms, and freshen up in the jetted bathtubs. Use the hotel's free Wi-Fi to plan the rest of your stay in Tokyo, and stop by the 24-hour business center to catch up on work emails.
Best Hotel Discounts in Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo hotels don't typically offer standard discounts for AAA members, senior travelers, or members of the military. To score the best discounts on Tokyo hotels, plan to visit during the offseason in winter or ask about even greater savings for your large group.
Best Value Options in Tokyo, Japan
If you're looking for a little more personal space than Tokyo's budget hotels typically offer but you still don't want to overpay, seek out these best value options in the city.
Just a short walk from the Rainbow Bridge, the Tokyo Tower, and the high-end Roppongi neighborhood, Hotel Gracery Tamachi offers a variety of well-priced rooms. All 216 rooms feature conveniences like refrigerators and LCD TVs with cable programming, along with basics like workspaces and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel's highly rated buffet breakfast is also available for an additional surcharge. When you're ready to explore the rest of the city, simply hop on the subway or the Japan Rail line nearby.
Located in bustling Shinjuku, E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku offers small yet comfortable rooms with double beds. Get comfortable in one of the 253 guestrooms, and relax with amenities like refrigerators and LCD TVs. Relax in the in-room deep soaking tub, and get a great night's sleep on the pillow-top bed with down comforter. In the morning, have a quick meal at the hotel's coffee shop or grab breakfast to go at the on-site convenience store. If you plan to stay awhile, stay fresh with the hotel's laundry services.
On the north side of the city, the Tokyu Stay Suidobashi is convenient to the Tokyo Dome and the Yasukuni Shrine. In addition to reasonable rates on its clean and modern rooms, this hotel receives rave reviews for its welcoming vibe and friendly staff. Make yourself at home with conveniences like in-room refrigerators and microwaves, and stay up-to-date on work at the in-room workspace. Start your day with a buffet breakfast, available for an additional surcharge, and use the hotel's complimentary Wi-Fi to plan your route through the city.
Situated in vibrant Shibuya, the Sakura Fleur Aoyama provides basic single and double rooms near shopping hotspot Omotesando Hills and popular green space Yoyogi Park. This stylish hotel has 133 rooms with modern conveniences like refrigerators and flat-screen TVs. Get a solid night's sleep on the memory foam bed with down comforter, and freshen up with a shower under the rainfall showerhead. Though the hotel doesn't offer breakfast, it's just steps from many dining options and subway connections to the rest of the city.
Can’t-Miss Attractions in Tokyo, Japan
Begin your tour of the city with a visit to the Tokyo National Museum, a large institution with the world's largest collection of Japanese art. You could easily spend an entire day wandering from exhibits on samurai armor, intricate kimonos, beautiful ceramics, and much more.
Learn more about Tokyo's history with a stop at Sensoji Temple, a Buddhist site that dates back hundreds of years. After enjoying a meditative visit to the temple, be sure to stroll down the nearby streets, which are packed with shops. Don't miss a visit to the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, as well as a tour through the surrounding Yoyogi Park.
Finally, no visit to Tokyo is complete without a trip to Tsukiji Fish Market. Arrive before dawn to secure your spot to watch the fascinating tuna auctions, or enjoy some of the freshest fish you'll ever have at one of the many sushi and sashimi stands throughout the market.
Whether you're visiting for business or pleasure, you'll be wowed by Tokyo's energy. Spend a day, a week, or a month in this animated city, and you'll be planning your return visit before you know it.
Travel overview of Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan, is part of every inventive soul's dream. Driven by a steadfast culture and ethos, the Japanese capital has emerged at the forefront of everything out of the ordinary. Tokyo has invented itself as a highly technological hub, without compromising its cultural allure. The prefecture is has a lot of notches in its alley, as Tokyo has the largest metropolitan economy and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. This feat, however, does not make the city look cramp. The sweeping views of Mount Kutomori and the seasonal bloom of the cherry blossoms blend perfectly with the world's most ingenious architectural feats. Guests can see dojos, temples, and palaces at the historic Asakusa, acquire the cutest otaku goods and latest gadgets at Akihabara, party at Shibuya, explore Tokyo Disneyland, or sample mouthwatering sushi near the Tsukiji Fish Market. Every little thing in Tokyo is interesting. If the Cirque du Soleil, the only venue in the world showcasing ZED, is considered a mere sideline, it's a challenge to imagine what the main attractions look like.
'You will never see a filthy spot here in Tokyo. People here are not hypocritical enough to call it their home and get it dirty. They look after their city the way they look after their houses.
Tadao Ando, a noted architect who fashioned many critically acclaimed architectural movements, expressed his feelings for his home city in this way. Anyone who has been to Tokyo would agree with these words in a jiffy, without much contest.
Japan, in itself, is a country of efficiency. It has made unimaginable progress, rising from the rubble that it was left in at the conclusion of the World War II. Tokyo, in that sense, has been a postcard perfect representative of all the Japan has achieved in this period.
It's not that Tokyo is a new city, far from it. The city backs itself with recorded history that goes back at least 2,000 years. But the modern face of the city is that of a global melting pot of people, cultures and ideas. It is often called the cleanest and neatest city in the world, with crime rates so low that they might as well be scrapped for good.
A trip to Tokyo can be and should be made one to remember for years. To be able to do that, however, you need to know how to fit things in your time schedule and more importantly, within your budget.
This quick detour of various types of hotels in Tokyo should help you understand what your lodging options are, when you finally get down to making plans.
Spend Less, Do More!
Tokyo is a city that boasts of a number of hotel, resort and guest house establishments in order to accommodate a large number of visitors every years. These visitors are not necessarily tourists, as many people visit Tokyo from distant corners of the world on business purposes.
The best way of saving up and stretching available budget a little while you are visiting Tokyo is by choosing to stay with cheap hotels. To make things look up for you, we should mention it, even in passing, that Tokyo is home to over 200 cheap hotels that will allow you to hold your own while you are spending time touring all the sights in sight.
Shiba Park Hotel can be a fitting budget hotel choice for you if you are traveling with family or young kids. Shiba Park is quite easily accessible from the airport and can provide you a central location to manage your sightseeing schedule easily from.
Hotel Asia Center of Japan is another budget hotel that will allow you to crash at night in peace, provided that you do not have unwarranted expectation from the management.
Luxury Hotels in Tokyo
Being a capital city (and one of the largest cities in the world), Tokyo, quite obviously, has a number of luxury hotel and resort units that are always on the edge to provide the best of facilities to their esteemed guests.
Palace Hotel Tokyo is a prime hotel in this segment. It is located centrally in the city and is easily accessible from the diplomatic quarters of the city.
Hotel Ana, run by InterContinental, is also a fabulous choice that brings to the table all the fine things that InterContinental is usually reputed for. Hotel Conrad, located in close vicinity of famous sights, is usually the popular pick for tourists arriving in Tokyo with their families.
What to Do and See in Tokyo?
That's the big million-dollar question.
Tokyo has unusually high number of sights to see and places to visit in its vicinity, and tourists can often get confounded about which sights to pick up and which to let go of. The only strategy that you, as a tourist, need to adopt in this regard is that of prioritizing, based on your tastes and interests.
Shinjuku National Garden is Tokyo should, however, be a must-see choice regardless of your inclinations, simply because it is often considered to be among the best botanical gardens in the world.
Asakusa and Meiji Jingu will offer a much-needed place for introspection and seeking peace of mind, as you observe the immense weight of tradition and culture around them.
Tokyo Tower is another typically tourist friendly place in Tokyo, known as the identifier of Tokyo skyline. Uneo Park can be fitted into the scheme of things, should you be left with enough time on your hands.
Edo Tokyo Museum is a treat of unparalleled kind for art lovers who wish to get themselves educated in regard with oriental arts. An evening at the Tokyo Sky Tree can top off your sightseeing journey in Tokyo, in style and finesse.
Hotels in The Vicinity of The Airport
Tokyo Int. Airport is among the top five busiest airports in the world, handling over 40 million passengers each year.
Considering the fact that it is most likely to be your way of arrival in Tokyo, it stands to reason that you should be better off finding some suitable Tokyo hotels for your duration of the stay.
The fact that most hotels in Tokyo are centrally located in the heart of the capital, it can become a tough ask to find a suitable lodging option near the airport. However, as long as you are comfortable with spending a night or two just to make a pit stop, you should be left with good enough options.
Ideal Time to Visit Tokyo
The weather in Tokyo bears a number of nuances of shades, making the city turn into a kaleidoscope of colors throughout the year.
To avoid cold climate, the best time to visit Tokyo would be the months of October and November. These months mark the arrival of fall, the most awaited of Tokyo seasons. As the trees around the city keep changing their outlook, the city keeps shuffling between new colors every passing day.
This season, however, is met with hikes in nightly tariff by many Tokyo hotels.