Where to stay in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Asakusa and more compared

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Tokyo is huge, but the trains are so good that almost anywhere central works. What matters is which kind of trip you want: nightlife, quiet mornings, easy airport transfers or short hops to the Shinkansen. This guide compares the main areas first-time visitors choose, and who each one suits.

The one tip that matters most

Stay within a few minutes' walk of a station on the JR Yamanote Line (the loop around central Tokyo) or a major subway junction. A short walk at each end of every journey adds up to hours saved over a trip. Look at the walking time to the station, not just the station's name.

Shinjuku

Who it suits: first-timers, night owls and anyone who wants everything on the doorstep.
Why: shops, restaurants, the izakaya alleys of Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's free observation decks.
Transport: Shinjuku station is one of the busiest in the world, served by the Yamanote and Chuo lines, several subway lines, and the Odakyu and Keio lines towards Hakone and the west. The Busta Shinjuku bus terminal has highway buses to Mount Fuji and beyond.
Downside: the station is a maze, and the area around Kabukicho is loud late at night. Stay on the south or west side if you want calm.

Shibuya

Who it suits: younger travellers, shoppers and anyone who likes being in the middle of things.
Why: the famous crossing, Shibuya Sky, shopping and easy walks to Harajuku and Omotesando.
Transport: Yamanote Line, the Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin subway lines, and private lines to the south-west suburbs.
Downside: crowded and busy until late, and prices are high.

Ginza and Tokyo Station

Who it suits: travellers making day trips by Shinkansen, business travellers, and anyone who prefers a calmer, polished area.
Why: department stores, galleries, good restaurants and quiet streets after dark. Tokyo Station is the Shinkansen hub for Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa and the north, and the Narita Express departs from there.
Transport: excellent; Tokyo Station connects to almost everything, and Ginza has three subway lines.
Downside: hotel prices are high, and the area is quiet at night if you want bars.

Asakusa and Ueno

Who it suits: budget travellers, families, and people who want old-Tokyo atmosphere.
Why: Senso-ji temple, traditional shopping streets, Tokyo Skytree nearby, and Ueno Park with its museums and zoo.
Transport: Asakusa sits on the Toei Asakusa Line, whose through-trains run towards both Narita and Haneda airports, and the Ginza Line. Ueno has the Keisei Skyliner to Narita, the Yamanote Line and a Shinkansen stop for the north.
Downside: further from Shinjuku and Shibuya, and Asakusa goes quiet early in the evening.

Ikebukuro

Who it suits: travellers wanting good value and a big-station base without Shinjuku's prices, and fans of anime shopping.
Why: large department stores, Sunshine City with its aquarium, and Otome Road for anime and manga goods.
Transport: Yamanote Line, several subway lines, and private lines towards Kawagoe and Chichibu.
Downside: less to see in the area itself, so you will travel out more.

Roppongi

Who it suits: nightlife and art lovers, and those after international restaurants.
Why: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, the Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center, plus late-night bars and clubs.
Transport: Hibiya and Oedo subway lines. It is not on the Yamanote Line, so some journeys need a change.
Downside: the main nightlife strip can be rowdy, with aggressive touts; be careful with bar bills.

Quick picks

First trip, short stay: Shinjuku or Shibuya.
Lots of Shinkansen day trips: Tokyo Station or Ginza.
Early or late flight from Narita: Ueno or Asakusa.
Family with children: Asakusa, Ueno or near Tokyo Station, where streets are calmer.
Nightlife: Shinjuku, Shibuya or Roppongi.

For how to spend your days once you have a base, see our four-day first-time Tokyo itinerary. For a different kind of night, a ryokan stay outside the city is worth adding to a longer trip. Where did you stay in Tokyo, and would you choose it again? Share your experience or ask for advice in the comments.