Where To Stay In Tokyo?

Above, the Hotel Asia Center of Japan is my hotel of choice since it is
centrally located and is close to a subway station.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is assuming that you have decided to take a vacation trip to Japan and will spend several days in the capital city Tokyo.  But where to stay?

According to an article in Viator's "Things To Do: Tokyo," that all depends what suits your personality. The article is essentially a primer on the main sections of Tokyo to help a would-be visitor make a decision.

It begins with:

Deciding where to stay in Tokyo has as much to do with your personality and interests as it does the quality of lodging you desire. Tokyo’s neighborhoods are as different from each other as they are numerous. With 23 wards that make up the city, the choices for where to stay are endless. Before booking a hotel, hostel, or traditional Japanese inn, or ryokan, here’s a primer on what you can expect in the city’s best known neighborhoods. Which one suits you?

For my first trip to Japan in 2001, I was primarily there for the Tokyo International Film Festival's premiere of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The screening was held in the Bunkamura in Shibuya. So, since I was unfamiliar with Shibuya, Tokyo and Japan at the time, I figured it would probably be easiest to find lodging in Shibuya.

Since I was on a budget, I decided (after scouring the Internet on different Shibuya accommodations) to stay at a ryokan (Japanese inn) in Shibuya. It turned out to be a good choice as the rooms were nice and it was within walking distance of Shibuya Station. Additionally, a few blocks away was a Denny's Restaurant. I didn't expect to see a Denny's in Tokyo and it was quite a surprise, but a welcome one.  I generally had breakfast there.

Since then, I have become familiar with the layout of Tokyo and my hotel of choice is the Hotel Asia Center of Japan as it it centrally located in the city and it is only a couple of blocks from the Aoyama-Itchome subway station. Plus, they have a choice of buffet breakfasts: Japanese or western.

The article does not list any information on accommodations, but it does provide the reader with information on what to expect there.

To read the article, go here.