The 6 Best Hotels in Tokyo

I love Tokyo. I think it’s one of the most fascinating cities in the world. I love the organized crowds where you would expect chaos. I love how it is a fast-paced, contemporary city that still honors its traditions.

It’s also a massive city with an endless array of incredible things to see and do. No matter how many times I visit (and no matter how much sushi I eat), I always leave wanting more.

As one of the biggest cities in the world, there are a ton of hotels here. Having visited the city half a dozen times over the years, I’ve stayed at a lot of different places, from cheap capsule hotels to luxurious five-star properties. If you’re planning a trip, these are what I think are the best hotels in Tokyo:

1. Odakyu Hotel Century Southern Tower

Located just a few minutes’ walk from Shinjuku Station, this four-star hotel offers fantastic views of the Shinjuku skyline (tip: request as high a room as possible to take advantage of the view). The hearty breakfast buffet has lots of Western and Japanese options, though there’s a 7/11 right at the base of the building for quick snacks and plenty of other eateries just steps away. It’s a massive hotel (there are over 300 rooms), so it doesn’t feel very personal, but the excellent location more than makes up for that.

The spacious (especially for Japan) guest rooms have a contemporary design, though I find them a bit too beige. All rooms have a desk, electric kettle, safe, a TV, minifridge, and even a small couch. The bathrooms are a decent size (they can be quite small in Tokyo as a rule), with a bathtub/shower combo with good water pressure and toilets with a bidet. I also appreciate that instead of providing plastic water bottles in the room, there are purified water dispensers on each floor (a little stainless-steel carafe is provided so you can bring it back to your room). Overall, this is a great choice for travelers who want a central, more upscale stay.

2. Cerulean Tower

This five-star hotel set in a high-rise building is right in the center of Shibuya, one of the most popular areas of the city. The hotel is huge, with eight different restaurants and bars (I’m partial to the jazz club), and 24/7 room service. I love that one restaurant serves an expansive Western buffet-style breakfast, while another serves a set Japanese breakfast menu. There’s also a nice spa center on-site with massage services available as well as a beautiful indoor heated pool, sauna, hot…