33 Best Hotels in Tokyo for Families, Couples, and Solo Travelers
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As the world’s largest metropolis, it should come as no surprise that Tokyo has a dizzying array of places to hang your hat. From prim, tatami-floored inns to glittering suites high in the sky, the capital city offers every possible version of your Japan fantasy. But while food, attractions, and souvenirs feel like a devilishly good deal these days due to the weakening yen, hotel rates have been rejiggered to match foreigners’ wallet sizes—the average stay at a five-star property has effortlessly climbed to $1,000 a night. That being said, there are still great finds to be scored in the mid-range and budget categories.
Taking into account the vast scope of hotels and Airbnbs available—and the city’s soaring accommodation costs relative to its other offerings—choosing the best of the best to include on this list was no easy feat. Some favorite brands below already have multiple Tokyo flagships in their portfolio, and new constructions just keep coming as the country continues to be a tourism darling; expect an additional handful of major properties to swing their doors open before the end of the year (including the much-anticipated reopening of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, of Lost in Translation fame).
Pro tip: Train your eye on the bevy of Japanese brands targeting the domestic market; they’re spawning dozens of quality iterations within the city limits, and we've called out many of these here. So don’t stress—we’ve got you covered—and focus on scouting the best sushi instead.
How we choose the best hotels in Tokyo
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
What is the best area in Tokyo to stay in?
Pairing a luxury hotel with a great neighborhood can be a bit of a conundrum in Tokyo, as most of its modern, high-end properties are lofted at the top of skyscrapers in business districts. It was a trend started by the Park Hyatt Tokyo over 30 years ago, when it opened among government towers in Nishi-Shinjuku, and has since been replicated in other corporate precincts across the city.
Broadly, you can think of central Tokyo as a clock, its circular shape carved out by the JR Yamanote train line loop. For a more fashion-forward neighborhood, book into an accommodation in the lower left-hand quadrant (around seven to nine o’clock), specifically in the precincts near Shibuya, like Jingumae, Daikanyama, Nakameguro, and Shimokitazawa. If history is more your bag, aim for two o’clock, where you'll find the temple-filled districts around Asakusa, collectively called Shitamachi, or “lower town,” that were developed during the Edo period and outlasted World War II.
After the war, Ginza and Marunouchi—around four o’clock—were developed as gridded business districts with glamorous shopping. There are a lot of worthy hotels here, and Toranomon nearby has developed with its own coterie of upmarket properties in the last few years.
How long should you stay in Tokyo?
Four nights is the absolute minimum a visitor needs to tackle enough of Tokyo’s major neighborhoods to grasp the vastness of the city and its many parts. But, of course, as the world’s biggest metropolis, the more time the better. I lived in Tokyo for years and still haven’t discovered all of its nooks and crannies.
If you’re embarking on a tour around Japan, earmark an additional day or two at the end of your trip to go a little deeper beyond the big-ticket areas (nothing beats an eight-seater neighborhood bar in Japan) and do your omiyage (souvenir) shopping before getting on the plane home.
How do you get around Tokyo?
A map of Tokyo’s metro system may seem intimidating with its dozens of interconnected subway lines—some managed by the government, others privately operated—but traveling aboard is now a breeze with the tap-to-use Suica and Pasmo cards available on your smartphone. English signage is abundant and trains are virtually always on time.
For taxis between inconvenient points, or for when your luggage becomes too cumbersome (shopping is an inevitability in Japan!), there are ranks at all of the city’s major train stations, and your hotel can easily hail you a car—plus, they all accept credit cards. App users should prioritize GO for a ride-share vehicle. Note that passengers should never touch a taxi’s door; your driver will push a trigger that both releases and closes the hinges as you enter and exit.
Read our complete Tokyo travel guide here, which includes:
Miyuki Kaneko/Nacasa & Partners inc./Mesm Tokyo, Autograph CollectionhotelMesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection
$$$Mesm Tokyo is a stunning, modern hotel located in the business district of Minato City, one of Tokyo’s most revered neighborhoods. The hotel boasts scenic views of Tokyo Skytree and Hamarikyu Gardens, with excellent shopping close by in the Ginza district. With a luxurious yet relaxed ambiance, the interior design is carefully crafted with architectural details that pay homage to Japanese art and craftsmanship. The dining options are superb, with an array of culinary choices featuring avant-garde cuisine incorporating fresh Japanese ingredients. And with tongue-in-cheek twists on classic cocktails, planning a visit to Mesm Tokyo is an essential sojourn for a gastronomy enthusiast. —Tiffany Harrison
Courtesy Hotel Gajoen TokyohotelHotel Gajoen Tokyo
$$$For a serene walk through history, Hotel Gajoen Tokyo is an artful sanctuary that embodies local culture at every turn with over 2,500 pieces of Japanese art. You’ll embark on a sensorial journey from the moment you enter—think murals for your eyes, waterfalls for your ears, and culinary wonders for your tastebuds. The peaceful serenity of the rest of the hotel extends into its guest rooms, which offer an oasis from city life. The rooms are more muted in color, allowing for a calming transition into me time. A pleasant surprise was the in-room steam sauna, which is offered in all accommodations, regardless of room type. Coupled with the whirlpool bath, city views, and spacious square footage, you’ll be whisked away into private luxury. With seven restaurants and a pastry shop, there is no shortage of choice for food here—traditional Japanese, Chinese, New American, and Italian included. It's located in Meguro City, a bit less touristy of an area that allows for a more local experience. And as long as you’re up for about a 10-minute walk uphill to the subway, it’s a quick train ride to most other parts of the city. —Taylor Mead
Courtesy Mandarin OrientalhotelMandarin Oriental, Tokyo
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Gold List 2021, 2024 
Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2021Rising to the upper floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, the 38th-floor lobby of the Mandarin Oriental is like a gallery to the capital’s best angles. It’s the same in the rooms: No matter the category, the view is paramount from your tranquil retreat in the sky, as the frenetic financial district eases down below and, on cloudless days, Mount Fuji glistens in the distance. Comfort is prime here, too. Beds are as supple as the sheets are slippery. And if you can’t find a perfect pillow on the extensive “pillow menu,” it’s not the feathers—it’s you. Room service can get expensive, but the menu itself is so long and varied (from macaroni and cheese to okayo don) that it’s worth a look. And yet, there are so many dining options on the property—from an actual pizza bar to haute Cantonese to a silver-lined French restaurant—that every in-house venue deserves a gander. For example, Sushi Shin by Miyakawa is perhaps the city’s most atmospheric sushi restaurant: A nine-seat L-shaped counter, made from a 350-year-old cypress tree, sits next to a floor-to-ceiling window that perfectly frames Tokyo Skytree. Dip sushi as the sun dips, too, and the city lights up by nightfall. If you care to step outside, the location is convenient. It’s just around the corner from famous kimono shops and department stores, and Ginza is a short stroll away. —Keith Flanagan
Nacasa & PartnershotelYuen Bettei Daita
$$A ryokan-style hotel, complete with mineral-rich onsen water, set in the heart of Tokyo’s coolest neighborhood—need we say more? We will. Like the quaint Japanese inns found deep in the countryside, Yuen Bettei Daita leans hard into traditional wellness, and has become a favorite among international visitors and staycationing Tokyoites alike. The multi-course menus in the restaurant Tsukikage pay tribute to a panoply of seasonal ingredients. Plus, you're smack dab in the middle of Shimokitazawa, largely considered to be Tokyo’s most fun cluster of city blocks and a global hub of streetwear fashion. Expect a scatter of traditional and modern construction replete with chic espresso shops, vintage clothing stores, and plenty of curry parlors and ramen joints.
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Tomooki Kengaku/Courtesy TRUNK(HOTEL) Yoyogi ParkhotelTrunk Hotel Yoyogi Park
$$An event venue and planning service first and foremost, Trunk’s incredible popularity as a hotel venue has encouraged its founder to expand throughout Japan’s capital, first with Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street, set within the street- and outdoor-wear mecca just beyond the epicenter of roaring Shibuya, then Trunk(House)—an incredible, single-room hotel located along the cobblestone alleys of Kagurazaka. “Copenhagen chic” is the prevailing style throughout the hotel. If you’re opting for an entry-level room, pay the extra coins for a view of the park instead of the backstreets—the square footage is limited; the views of the sky and trees lend a feeling of spaciousness. Take special note of the more colorful pieces of art on the different walls—all created by special-needs artists through a special not-for-profit initiative and available for purchase.
Courtesy The Aoyama Grand HotelhotelThe Aoyama Grand Hotel
$$Only a few blocks away from Omotesando-dori, the city’s most coveted thoroughfare of luxury retail, Aoyama Grand attracts a mod mix of young professionals in its various international dining venues. Upstairs, hotel guests are an assortment of domestic and international travelers who prefer more intimate digs in a trendy ‘hood to taking up residence in one of the more corporate quarters of the city. The loft-style rooms don’t shy away from bold furniture, light fixtures, and wall art. And out the floor-to-ceiling windows are views of one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. Inside tip: Skip the six interior rooms, which face a light well rather than having windows looking out over the urban sprawl.
Courtesy The Okura TokyohotelThe Okura Tokyo
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022Expect nothing but ultra-polished old-school Japanese hospitality. Retro luxury is alive and well at the Okura, and for a fraction of the cost of some of the city’s other high-end players. The mid-mod lobby is practically a museum dedicated to Japan’s post-war flourish in the 1960s, when the whole world witnessed the country’s ascent to the modern global stage. Now the Okura’s at it again with a phalanx of next-gen businessmen lounging on the lobby’s Eames- and Juhl-inspired furniture. Even if you’re not staying on-property, it’s worth checking out the hotel's diverse eating options from hallowed kaiseki multi-course meals to more playful teppanyaki options. Fun fact: the property lays claim to inventing teppanyaki—hot plate cooking with a pinch of chef acrobatics designed to delight visiting dignitaries during the 1964 Olympics.
Courtesy Hotel Indigo Tokyo ShibuyahotelHotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya
$$Smack dab in the middle of Shibuya’s Dogenzaka area, IHG’s Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya is changing the face of the neighborhood from seedy hotels to trendier digs (a handful of other international brands are set to open within the area over the next few years). Design details are a bit prescriptive, but no one seems to mind as the location is unbeatable and the cleanliness of the brand-new build earns an A+ from us. You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms here—they’re all lofted high enough in their tower to offer views of Shibuya and beyond below. Take your pick of your favorite angle: direct eyeshot over the Scramble Crossing, the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world; Mount Fuji in the distance, visible on a clear day; or simply the endless sprawl of the metropolis.
hotelThe Gate Hotel Tokyo by Hulic
$A budget-friendly hotel disguised as a luxury stay, the Gate Hotel’s glass tower rises up over a bustling intersection in Ginza, offering those quintessential Lost in Translation views. The first thing you’ll notice when you step off the elevator is a lively champagne bar inhabiting the lounge-style lobby on the building’s fourth floor, filled with a mix of hotel guests and local business folk enjoying an after-work coupe. The front desk around the corner may seem like an afterthought, but au contraire—service is as polished and capable as any of the city’s five-star offerings. Spic and span rooms come with a brightly colored accent pillow to enliven otherwise dim, nightlife-inspired decor. Light sleepers may want to request to avoid rooms facing the train tracks—we did, however, think the double-glazed windows were doing an effective job of blocking out noise.
Courtesy Hotel Groove ShinjukuhotelHotel Groove Shinjuku, A Parkroyal Hotel
$At the fresh-faced Hotel Groove, rooms come with colorful carpets and wooden paneling to elevate the offering beyond paint-by-numbers accommodations. A great pick for those who aim to spend minimal time in their rooms, but want comfortable—if predictable—digs for a good sleep at the end of a busy day. A boon to special-needs or older travelers who need extra space to move around, Hotel Groove’s sleeping quarters—beyond the entry-level superior rooms—are reasonably large compared to other properties in this price range. Floor-to-ceiling windows create an even greater sense of grandeur, and decor is functional but with a few pops of texture and color to distance the vibe from cookie-cutter hotel blocks. At the higher end are suites designed by noted Japanese artists, not to mention some traditional-style accommodations (tatami and futons), too. Coin laundry is a surprise perk for long-staying travelers.
Courtesy Hamacho HotelhotelHamacho Hotel
$A Tetris tower with lush greenery sprouting off the balconies, Hamacho is a plot twist for those who think cheap hotels in Tokyo are relegated to capsules and by-the-hour hotels. This new multi-use concept, proffering teensy hotel rooms and long-term living spaces, is breathing new life into an old-town neighborhood with more wooden roofs than steel-and-glass buildings. If you're opting for the smallest rooms, make sure you don't bring a large suitcase—there won't be space—but no one does chic efficiency better than Tokyoites. Spend a little more for a larger room and you'll get a shrub-lined terrace, city views, and plenty of sunlight. Clean design and perfect housekeeping keep the rooms feeling spare but luxe.
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Courtesy Hoshino ResortshotelHoshinoya Tokyo
$$$ | Gold List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Before opening in 2016 in the lesser-known business district of Otemachi, this homegrown hotel chain drilled almost a mile under Tokyo’s concrete to tap into a hot spring and draw its mineral-rich water. The 17-story tower has 84 rooms that feel more like a dozen ryokans than one hotel. Each floor, accessible only to guests staying on that floor, has its own central lounge—or ochanoma—for quiet relaxing with a pot of genmaicha. Every guest room is spacious with glass walls, sliding latticed shoji screens, fragrant tatami mats, and supremely fluffy futons. It’s worth having dinner at the hotel’s guest-only restaurant, which serves colorfully presented Nippon cuisine with delicate French twists. Every night should end at the open-air rooftop onsen—the reason behind the heroic drilling—for soaking while stargazing in the middle of the city.
Courtesy Andaz TokyohotelAndaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2023Like the bulk of luxury brand hotels in Tokyo, the 164-room Andaz Tokyo commands a series of floors at the top of a shared skyscraper—except, unlike most skyscrapers, Toranomon Hills happens to be among the tallest. Check-in reflects this higher perspective as guests arrive on the 51st-floor Andaz Lounge. Instead of starting the process behind a counter, check-in happens in the lounge, offering a relaxed introduction that's more like a casual conversation than a stiff transaction. Blessed with edgy architecture, the rooms take shape along the skyscraper's rounded corner. The result? A panorama of floor-to-ceiling windows curving like an IMAX screen around the room’s focal point. Midcentury-inspired interiors boast moss-green carpeting, maroon leather chairs, white walls, and handsome walnut or color-blocked surfaces. —K.F.
Courtesy Trunk HotelhotelTrunk Hotel Cat Street
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Hot List 2018Pocketed between Shibuya and Harajuku, just off of the ultra-trendy Cat Street, Trunk(Hotel) is marked by a facade of glass, black steel, and stone, softened by the timber decks and ferns that line the wraparound terraces on each of the four floors. It’s a showstopper, for sure, but one that feels part of the neighborhood. Inside, a subdued vibe takes over common areas—all of which feel like a lounge, equally suited for a MacBook, a latte, or a cocktail. The Living Suite includes a lofted space for additional guests (up to four), while the interiors are all crafted by Japanese designers. There are only 15 rooms spread across two buildings here—meaning there’s more to this place than beds: The lobby café and bar slings just as many lattes as cocktails, and the main restaurant, Trunk(Kitchen), brings local flavor to international staples (burrata, for example, from a shop in Shibuya). —K.F.
GettyhotelOMO5 Tokyo Gotanda
$There’s an unspoken playbook for most luxury hotels in Tokyo: loft your rooms at the top of an office tower so guests can have unobstructed views of the sprawling city. The OMO5 Tokyo Gotanda has done exactly that, only its entry-level pricing is about one-sixth of the cost of a stay at one of Tokyo’s international luxury brands. Of course, the rooms are smaller and have fewer of the fancy bells and whistles, but you’ll still find eager service here, not to mention bold, big swings with the expressive decor. Also, while many of the city’s luxury hotels are relegated to more corporate neighborhoods, this property has sprouted up on the cooler west side of the city, only a stone’s throw from trending hubs like Meguro.
Courtesy Hotel Toranomon HillshotelHotel Toranomon Hills
$$Part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, the Hotel Toranomon Hills has the business traveler in mind, but that shouldn’t deter leisure tourists either. One of the biggest selling points is a dedicated hangout area modeled after an airport lounge. There’s plenty of complimentary coffee and snacks, but the best part is the resting room and shower facilities. If you arrive before check-in (or have a late departing flight), you can wash off the jet lag upon landing and start your day. Like flipping through a Danish design magazine, the hotel’s decor is pared back without being overly spartan. We do, however, recommend upgrading to a premium room—it’s worth the extra spend to indulge in a little more space, better views, and a few extra Scandi-style flourishes that’ll go great with the view of Tokyo Tower outside. —B.P. and T.M.
Courtesy Ritz-CarltonhotelThe Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023Ready for some numbers? This five-star hotel commands the top nine floors of one of Tokyo's tallest buildings—and windows place you at eye-level with Tokyo’s second-tallest structure, Tokyo Tower. Inside is no less humble, and the restaurants and bars feel rich and handsome with dark finishes, plush chairs, and slick sights. There are two main views on offer—the Tokyo Tower view and the Mount Fuji view. Generally, Japanese guests want Fuji (really only visible on clear days with low humidity—it’s far), and visitors are keen to glimpse the city’s orange version of the Eiffel Tower (a few feet taller than the real thing, for those who are keeping track). Suites are double the size of the rooms and feel like a proper apartment in the sky; a great choice if you’re planning on sticking around for a while.
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Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza-Gochome
$The collection of Mitsui Garden Hotels has a strong reputation in Japan for providing quality accommodations at prices that don’t break the bank—their Ginza-Gochome property earns bonus points for its great location and Edo-style baths inside. Most Tokyo hotels cater to a mix of business and leisure travelers—we saw only tourists here; savvy visitors who like their lodging to have a distinct sense of place. Although most of the furniture is agnostic in style, the old-school nods to Japan feel welcome and never gaudy. Mitsui Gardens is a budget-friendly concept from Mitsui Fudosan, a well-established Japanese hospitality brand that has a keen eye for serving luxury travelers as well. Standard rooms have limited views from the windows, but the trade-off is the quietness in an otherwise busy neighborhood. Go for the Deluxe Twin room, which fuses East and West design—think a quaint tatami sitting area, low-slung beds, but a souped-up entertainment center and ultra-modern bathrooms.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at OtemachihotelFour Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024With the opening of the Otemachi sister hotel to the longstanding Marunouchi property, the Four Seasons has reestablished itself as a major force to be reckoned with when choosing among the finest places to stay around town. Otemachi sits more in a financial hub than a proper neighborhood, but it’s a stone’s throw from bustling Ginza and temple-ridden Asakusa—and the gridded streets make it abundantly easy to navigate by foot. In the same space, find guests and ladies who lunch, sipping high tea, dining on Instagrammable snacks, and enjoying the unobstructed views of Mount Fuji across the lush imperial gardens down below. Head farther into the property to find a passageway to some of the best dining in the city, and upstairs for rooms so plush—yet also somehow embracing Japanese austerity—that you’ll never want to leave.
Courtesy Toggle Hotel SuidobashihotelToggle Hotel Suidobashi
$Toggle is the operative word: Guests can customize their experience, moving between the hotel’s different moods and room setups. It's a big design swing that hits—bold pastels, compelling branding, and lofted furniture enliven these small-budget hotel rooms. The yellow and black stripes will grab you as you zoom by on the commuter train. Inside, the swatch book of eye-popping hues continues as purples and blues coat the common spaces and rooms. (We’re partial to the avocado and millennial pinks.) Hallways sliced down the middle by different shades of paint make for particularly fun Instagramming as you toe the line between two brash commitments to color. It’s worth combing through the website to pick your palette before you arrive, as a full spectrum of colors means you could end up with lemon-wedge yellows or deep coats of sapphire in your bedroom. Beds lofted above couches are particularly fun, and try for a room facing away from the commuter traffic for maximum quiet.
Takanawa HanakohrohotelTakanawa Hanakohro
$$$Paper walls, tatami floors, and oversized bathing suites are par for the course in this ryokan in the heart of the city; a fun way to combine the tenets of Japanese hospitality with the spirit of a city hotel, one that doesn’t hold you captive, but let’s you explore your surrounds guilt-free then retreat to your throwback digs. The clever idea: to take a few low-floor rooms in an aging hotel and completely reimagine them as a traditional Japanese inn—one that you’d usually find on the hillside of a quaint rural village. The secret perk of staying in one of the 16 Hanakohro rooms is unfettered access to the campus’s collection of executive lounges—one in all three of the towers—each filled with coffee bars, a snack carousel, and plenty of private seating nooks. Within the confines of the ryokan is a fourth lounge where guests can enjoy their oversized Japanese breakfast, and sample complimentary spirits—sake and umeshu—in the early evenings.
Courtesy HiltonhotelConrad Tokyo
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024When it opened in 2005 in the Shiodome area, Conrad Tokyo neatly fit in among the pantheon of international luxury brands. Almost two decades later, it remains as eye-catching as ever. Smack in the middle of the ground floor, a glossy red sculpture marks the moodily lit entrance and hasn’t lost its dramatic effect. Up on the 28th floor, a tall lobby soars with bold, black lines, which are warmed with light boxes dangling from the ceiling. It's a business hotel, but it's dressed to impress. The King Room Bay View hides nothing: Windows do, in fact, frame Tokyo Bay. But even better, the panoramic view also includes the lush Hamariku Gardens, which flourish at the foot of the hotel. Modern furnishings borrow local motifs, whether they're the bedside lamps that vibe with Japanese lanterns or the Sumi-e cherry blossoms painted above the bed and woven across the floor’s lightly patterned carpet. —K.F.
Yuen ShinjukuhotelYuen Shinjuku
$This winner for small wallets outpaces its competitors in both the decor and wellness categories. Guests here are international travelers on the hunt for exceptional value sans credit card point deals. Most are first-time travelers to Japan who want to be in the center of the action and fully immerse themselves in the country's visual culture. This tower of tiny rooms is a smart place to start since the decor is inspired by traditional ryokans found mostly in rural Japan. The friendly staff will gladly guide you to the hundreds of restaurants littered throughout Shinjuku, Tokyo’s most electric, all-night neighborhood. Truly tight budgets shouldn’t wince at the hotel’s entry-level product: although the rooms are closet-sized, clever attention has been paid to maximizing the efficiency of the layout and giving the rooms a distinct Japanese touch: a low-slung bed; mod, blond-wood furniture; and a small tatami area. Larger rooms allow the designers more space to really go all-in on the ryokan sensibilities within the bones of a city-center business hotel.
© Francesco Luciani 2023hotelBulgari Hotel Tokyo
$$$The decadent Bulgari Hotel Tokyo crowns the cloud-brushing apex of the new 45-story Tokyo Midtown Yaesu tower, just opposite Tokyo Station. Against a backdrop of sultry black granite with pops of jewel tones, the deluxe hotel smoothly blends contemporary Italian design with Japanese craftsmanship and a glamorous sprinkling of Bulgari heritage. Picture hand-blown Murano lights suspended from temple-like wood ceilings; traditional Japanese textile motifs recreated in Venetian mosaic tiling; and, adorning the walls, photographs of celebrities visiting the Roman flagship in the 1950s, plus vintage advertising and jewelry sketches. The 98 guest rooms balance Japanese touches (woven bamboo wall vases, modern sliding screens, gold-flecked bed throws by Kyoto kimono textile masters Hosoo) with warm saffron fabric headboards, natural elm wood, and sexy black-granite bathrooms. —Danielle Demetriou
Mimaru Tokyo Asakusa StationhotelMimaru Tokyo Asakusa Station
$$Mimaru has established itself as the indispensable apartment-hotel brand that’s perfect for vacationing families or for those with dietary restrictions who need to prepare some of their own meals. Consider this entry on our list as an endorsement of all of the Mimaru locations across Japan’s capital—pick the location that most suits your travel tastes, be it this location among Tokyo’s old temples, Ginza’s fashionable department stores, or bustling Shinjuku. Tasteful Tokyo apartment decor prioritizes streamlined design, but this hotel is located on the doorstep of Tokyo’s most popular temple, Senso-ji, and its delightful shopping street, Nakamise-dori, which features snack and souvenir stalls that date back over a century. And with multiple bedrooms and bunk beds, there are plenty of configurations for visiting families or large groups of friends.
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William FurnisshotelThe Peninsula Tokyo
$$$One of Tokyo’s most iconic pieces of art is not in fact in one of its museums—it’s in the lobby of the Peninsula Tokyo. The Lying Dragon Gate (which looks like a giant wooden eye) attracts legions of curious outsiders who sneak in for a glance. And when they walk through the lobby, they are immediately ensconced in the coziness of the entry’s dark wood and heavy fabrics. Rather than splurging on a suite upgrade at a middle-tier hotel, it’s worth eking into the entry-level rooms here, which never skimp on the Peninsula’s signature luxuries: plush interiors, lavish toiletries, and, most importantly, plenty of space.
Courtesy MujihotelMuji Hotel, Ginza
$$The world of Muji is headquartered at its Ginza shop, a venue of department store proportions cluttered in equal measures with objects and people. The lobby of the hotel doubles as the store's highest floor, where there's a charming café and communal reading room. From there, an elevator shuttles you up to your refreshingly spare room, perched in a distinctly quieter area of the building. The entry-level rooms at Muji Hotel come with only a whisper of design; everything's as simple as can be within the confines of minimal square footage. It's like Barbie's dream Tokyo apartment, where everything's teeny-tiny and low-slung—but where the toilet still has all the expected bells and whistles. Come to live in the wonderful world of Muji for a few days.
Courtesy Sequence Miyashita ParkhotelSequence Miyashita Park
$Uber-social Sequence is the crown atop the recent urban renewal project in heart-of-the-action Shibuya, just steps from its famous Scramble Crossing. The lobby level begins in the rooftop park of a four-story luxury complex, and rises another dozen floors above the city with prim, modular rooms. Most rooms are under 200 square feet, but picture windows to the urban sprawl below help make the spaces feel larger. It’s worth noting that Sequence is trying something a little different: check-in is at 5 p.m. and check out is at 2 p.m., which caters to party-prone guests who don’t want the stress of having to wake up after a big night out and scramble to sort their luggage in the morning.
Kaku Ohtaki/Courtesy IHGhotelThe Strings by InterContinental, Tokyo
$$A short elevator ride takes guests up from the hustle of Shinagawa Station—one of Tokyo's busiest—and into the vaulted lobby of The Strings. It always feels like five o'clock here, thanks to a capacious bar that pulls in travelers and locals alike. Aided by large picture windows overlooking Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Tower, and Shinagawa Station, the standard rooms at The Strings, part of Intercontinental, do an admirable job of efficiently using their space. Light sleepers should skip the Shinagawa view—trains regularly trundle some 30 floors down, and despite the double-glazed windows, there's still some light clacking. From other angles, the lofted rooms are perfect nooks for watching the twinkling city lights. One click shy of ultra-luxury, the hotel does an admirable job of not being overly doting and allowing space for privacy. But when service is needed, an international and Japanese staff drops everything.
Courtesy Aman TokyohotelAman Tokyo
$$$ | Gold List 2019, 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024Japan’s capital is many things—sprawling, neon-lit, nocturnal—but one word not often used to describe it is relaxing. Something guests will forget about while floating 34 floors above ground, inhaling and exhaling with a meditation teacher in a white space, distracted only by vivid sunset views. Aman has, of course, long been a byword for a certain kind of crisp, zen wellness. The lobby still turns heads, with its towering ceiling, abstract blooms, and kimono-clad musician plucking the strings of a koto. The bedrooms always seem more akin to mindfulness spaces, with their aromatic hinoki wood, sliding screens, and staggered levels. The food and the service are impeccable—of course they are—but the spa is the real scene-stealer, a place of complete sensory purity that hovers unperturbed over the fizzing city.
Robert Rieger/Janu TokyohotelJanu Tokyo
$$$ | Hot List 2025It’s not easy being the Aman's new little sister, whose minimalist temples set the benchmark for escapist luxury. Yet when Janu Tokyo, the inaugural flagship, launched in Japan last year, it quickly made its mark with a playful, sociable spirit and—something of an anomaly in the Aman cosmos—splashes of color in the interior. The hotel, whose name means “soul” in Sanskrit, rises up to the 13th floor of a new tower in the heart of Azabudai Hills, a major new urban development in Tokyo. It’s home to a culinary constellation of eight food and drink venues, including relaxed Janu Mercato, an Italian restaurant, and intimate sushi spot Iigura. A vast, four-level spa spans over 43,000 square feet, and 122 guest rooms with serenely minimalist decor hint at Aman's DNA. —D.D.
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Hotel Graphy Nezu
$It's amazing what some expert-level graphics can do for a place. This structure—originally meant to be a share-house for young Tokyoites in entry-level jobs—has morphed into Graphy Nezu, a hotel-apartment hybrid for international penny-pinchers who don't want to sacrifice comforts. Hotel Graphy is a worthy choice if you're seeking a hostel vibe—we prefer the private en suite rooms, which are styled with items that look like they're from a Danish midcentury garage sale. Before Airbnb, scoring a living space in central Tokyo without all of the complicated accoutrements of Japanese bureaucracy (things like "key money" and hefty down payments) was a Herculean task. Shared dorm-like apartments (single rooms with communal bathrooms, kitchens, and couches) were the workaround for young professionals entering the workforce. Hotel Graphy borrows from that era, offering a short-stay twist for international and domestic travelers wanting a place to crash and cook a few meals without the hefty price tag.
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hotelPalace Hotel Tokyo
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2022The legendary property, so named as it’s the closest hotel to the Imperial Palace, lures wealthy Japanese guests with its demure luxury gloss; now, international travelers have gotten wise and are starting to book in as well. Back in the early 2010s, the Palace Hotel doubled down on its commitment to quality and completely demolished its historical property that was erected in the early 1960s, in time for the first Tokyo Olympics. A glimmering new luxury stay was born anew, with all the contemporary touches but maintaining its sedate charm born 50 years prior. When you think of modern Japanese design, it’s not these rooms—the decor at the Palace, while less than two decades old, feels like a retro nod to an earlier vocabulary of modernity. Muted beige and a palette of floral colors are a subtle nod to the ample views of the Imperial Gardens below.
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