Hotels in Tokyo

Hotels in Tokyo: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Tokyo for less

The cheapest month is August, in the hot and humid summer, when rates drop by about a third against the rest of the year. The priciest is March, in the cherry blossom season, when crowds head to Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen for hanami and a room can run up to twice as much as in August. The day of the week matters. The cheapest night is Monday, as traffic eases, while you pay the most midweek, on Wednesday. Tokyo is one of those cities where you can still catch a good price even last minute, a day or two before arrival, but for March and the blossoms it is better to book ahead, as rooms sell out fast.

What a stay costs by property type

Tokyo has a huge range of prices, from a bed in a capsule and a hostel to apartments and five stars in the towers. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and three-star business hotels by the stations; you pay the most for a family room and upper-tier properties. Below are indicative nightly rates for two people.

Indicative rates for a double room. In Tokyo the gap between a hot August and the March blossoms, and between Monday and Wednesday, can be marked, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

Most people look for a room in Shinjuku, a district with a huge rail hub, neon and restaurants, from where the JR rail reaches everywhere quickly. The dearest is Shibuya, fashionable and full of shops, and prices stay high in central Minato and Chiyoda with their luxury towers. The cheapest are the outer districts such as Nerima and Nakano, well linked by metro, from where the centre is a quarter-hour ride. Asakusa with the Senso-ji temple is a good balance of price and atmosphere. In Tokyo, being close to a metro or JR station often weighs on the bill more than the district itself.

Which stay in Tokyo suits whom

• First time in Tokyo. Shinjuku by the huge rail hub is the easiest base. From here the JR rail and metro reach all the main districts without changing.
• For families. Places with family rooms, such as the MIMARU chain, near stations and parks. Children enjoy Ueno Park, the zoo and the Tokyo Skytree with its viewing deck.
• For couples. Design hotels in Shibuya and by Ginza, such as the TRUNK Hotel or MUJI Hotel Ginza, with restaurants and bars round the corner. Everything is close in the evening.
• With breakfast. Many business hotels, such as Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, include breakfast, which helps you set off early on a long day of sightseeing.
• With a view. Towers such as Park Hotel Tokyo in Minato or Conrad Tokyo give a view over the skyline and the bay. Handy for a short, striking stay.
• Near the airport. Hotels by Haneda, such as HOTEL MYSTAYS Haneda or hotel MONday Haneda, suit an early flight. From Narita you reach the centre by train, for example from Nippori station.

Example hotels in Tokyo with prices

From a hostel bed to five stars in the centre, a few Tokyo names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in March and in the blossom season.

From prices for a double room. In Tokyo the same hotel can differ noticeably between August and March, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Tokyo costs more

The dearest is March and early April, in the cherry blossom season, when crowds head to Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen for hanami and hotels fill up. It is dear too in autumn, in November, in the red maple season. The cheapest and least crowded is August, in the hot and humid summer, when some travellers skip the city. The nicest time to visit, with mild weather, is late spring and autumn, though that is exactly when peak prices can climb hard.