Where to Stay in Tokyo for First-Timers: Choosing an Area
How to choose a Tokyo area for your hotel on a first trip, using the official GO TOKYO area guide and JNTO accommodation advice for Australian travellers.
# Where to Stay in Tokyo for First-Timers: Choosing an Area
Tokyo is huge, and the area you pick for your hotel matters more than the hotel itself. This guide uses the official GO TOKYO area structure to help you choose, without ranking or naming specific hotels.
How the official guide splits Tokyo
GO TOKYO, run by the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, groups the city into areas including: (GO TOKYO)- Central Tokyo: Ginza, Akihabara, Tokyo Station & Marunouchi, Nihonbashi, Tsukiji, Akasaka, Shinbashi & Shiodome - Eastern Tokyo: Asakusa, Ryogoku, Skytree & around, Toyosu - Western Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Aoyama & Omotesando, Shimokitazawa, Nakano - Southern Tokyo: Odaiba, Shinagawa, Roppongi, Ebisu, Nakameguro, Haneda & around - Northern Tokyo: Ikebukuro, Ueno, Yanaka & Nezu - Tama area and the Izu & Ogasawara Islands further out
Matching an area to your trip
| If you want... | Look at | Why (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Nightlife and dining on your doorstep | Shinjuku | GO TOKYO describes Shinjuku at night as a neon city with countless bars and restaurants, Kabukicho's tiny bars and a ramen-stand area north of the station (GO TOKYO Shinjuku) |
| Easy rail departures | Tokyo Station & Marunouchi, Shinagawa | Listed as distinct central and southern areas by GO TOKYO; being next to a station can affect hotel pricing (JNTO) |
| Traditional neighbourhoods | Asakusa, Ueno, Yanaka & Nezu | Grouped in eastern and northern Tokyo by GO TOKYO |
| An airport-side night | Haneda & around | Listed as its own area by GO TOKYO |
Which hotel type?
Most first-timers stay in business hotels or western-style hotels in the city. JNTO notes that business hotel rooms are compact, usually sleep up to two and may not suit large suitcases. See our Japan hotel types guide.Check-in requirement
Foreign visitors must show their passport for photocopying at check-in (JNTO).FAQ
Is Shinjuku good for a first stay? If nightlife and dining matter to you, GO TOKYO's description of Shinjuku suggests so; light sleepers may prefer a quieter area. Do you recommend specific hotels? Not in this guide. We only name properties we can verify.Checked against the sources listed on 11 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the official source before you travel.