TOKYO: Mostly Hotel Advice/Suggestions (some TTD bonus stuff)
March 8, 2025 9:28 PM Subscribe
I have to go to Tokyo soon, and I’m stressed about making a hotel reservation. So I’ve been procrastinating, which causes me more stress. Gotta love those negative infinity loops our brains can do so well, amirite?! If you might be able to help me out, please click inside for pertinent details and a side sprinkling of yuki. Also, tips on potential activities I’m interested in are welcomed.
I’ve been to Japan several times, but not for many a year. Tokyo is not my only destination, but this ask is solely about Tokyo.
TOKYO HOTEL
I’m worried about ending up someplace that will be unpleasant and uncomfortable for me. I’m overwhelmed trying to figure out my itinerary while there, which I wanted to make more progress on, thinking it would help me pick a convenient location in this huge city. What I’m looking for:
• Under $100 US would be great; over is acceptable if it ticks more boxes
• Modest, clean, quiet
• Must have a decent desk and chair
• Not too cramped or claustrophobic; I’ll probably be spending many evenings in
• An attractive and walkable neighborhood, with restaurants, convenience stores, and shops within easy walking distance
• A hotel breakfast isn’t necessary in the land of convenience store onigiri, but if a price-inclusive one that includes some veg. is served, I might be interested. Traditional Japanese is probably okay, continental is *not* acceptable; a buffet would probably give a decent selection. Not worth a big price jump though.
Securing lodging is my primary need/goal. If you want to share anything about the Tokyo non-hotel Things To Do activities below, I’m all eyes.
I’m interested in…
Flea markets, vintage shops, and thrift stores for house goods, obi/kimono, Japanese crafts
Bamboo groves (doesn’t have to be big; not going to Kyoto)
TeamLab museum
City parks
Ikebana exhibits
Ikebana-arranging class
Taiko performances
Kintsugi class
Woodblock carving/printing class
Calligraphy or enso drawing class
Basket-making class
Mizuhiki workshop
A day trip to Ashikaga flower park, if the wisteria are blooming
I’m not interested in, and mention only because many tourists are:
Bars, nightlife, or drinking
The fish market
Daytrips other than mentioned
Anime, manga, or related
Knives
I’ve been to Japan several times, but not for many a year. Tokyo is not my only destination, but this ask is solely about Tokyo.
TOKYO HOTEL
I’m worried about ending up someplace that will be unpleasant and uncomfortable for me. I’m overwhelmed trying to figure out my itinerary while there, which I wanted to make more progress on, thinking it would help me pick a convenient location in this huge city. What I’m looking for:
• Under $100 US would be great; over is acceptable if it ticks more boxes
• Modest, clean, quiet
• Must have a decent desk and chair
• Not too cramped or claustrophobic; I’ll probably be spending many evenings in
• An attractive and walkable neighborhood, with restaurants, convenience stores, and shops within easy walking distance
• A hotel breakfast isn’t necessary in the land of convenience store onigiri, but if a price-inclusive one that includes some veg. is served, I might be interested. Traditional Japanese is probably okay, continental is *not* acceptable; a buffet would probably give a decent selection. Not worth a big price jump though.
Securing lodging is my primary need/goal. If you want to share anything about the Tokyo non-hotel Things To Do activities below, I’m all eyes.
I’m interested in…
Flea markets, vintage shops, and thrift stores for house goods, obi/kimono, Japanese crafts
Bamboo groves (doesn’t have to be big; not going to Kyoto)
TeamLab museum
City parks
Ikebana exhibits
Ikebana-arranging class
Taiko performances
Kintsugi class
Woodblock carving/printing class
Calligraphy or enso drawing class
Basket-making class
Mizuhiki workshop
A day trip to Ashikaga flower park, if the wisteria are blooming
I’m not interested in, and mention only because many tourists are:
Bars, nightlife, or drinking
The fish market
Daytrips other than mentioned
Anime, manga, or related
Knives
I was about to recommend finding a place in or near Asakusa. It's ten years since I was there, in exactly the type of hotel you are looking for, but unfortunately I can't find my notes. I tried to look at maps, and found a lot of similar places, with a choice between Western and Japanese rooms and breakfast and simple but comfortable spaces.
posted by mumimor at 6:39 AM on March 9
posted by mumimor at 6:39 AM on March 9
Also recommending Asakusa, but I can’t find the name of the quaint little place I stayed for my first ever trip there which would be very much like you are describing. Asakusa is a kind of old fashioned neighborhood and aligns with a good number of your interests, and it’s quite central in terms of transportation so it’s relatively uncomplicated to get all over the city for exploration. And because of that, there are many places to stay there.
I think picking a neighborhood or district that has at least two of the activities you want to do and limiting your hotel search to that area will help cut down your choice paralysis. Because then you can narrow it down by budget and room photos and whatever other things stick out to you, and you’ll only need to choose between two or three, if that. For example, here is mizuhiki class is Asakusa. (Eponysterical?)
posted by Mizu at 6:57 AM on March 9
I think picking a neighborhood or district that has at least two of the activities you want to do and limiting your hotel search to that area will help cut down your choice paralysis. Because then you can narrow it down by budget and room photos and whatever other things stick out to you, and you’ll only need to choose between two or three, if that. For example, here is mizuhiki class is Asakusa. (Eponysterical?)
posted by Mizu at 6:57 AM on March 9
At the outside edge of your request for “Flea markets, vintage shops, and thrift stores for house goods, obi/kimono, Japanese crafts” are Kanaya Brush in Asakusa, which is a shop that sells beautifully-crafted brushes which are crafts in their own right, though they are new, and Kimono Reborn Tokyo nearby, which is a shop that upcycles kimonos into things like shirts, bags and accessories. I also wonder, but do not know, if the Kurita ceramic museum next to Ashikaga flower park has a shop where you could find a nice vase to display ikebana.
posted by mdonley at 9:57 AM on March 9
posted by mdonley at 9:57 AM on March 9
I was about to recommend finding a place in or near Asakusa.
Last year we stayed at the Onyado Nono Natural Hot Springs hotel in Asakusa: a really interesting area with a great Onsen in the basement and the residents gathering for free noodles at 10pm. Run as part of the Dormy Hotels group - guests include both foreign tourists and Japanese. I would recommend it as a comfortable hotel in a very walkable, interesting neighbourhood where you will find places to take many of the classes you are interested in - some mentioned above. A couple of metros within 10-15 minutes walk.
posted by rongorongo at 10:22 AM on March 9
Last year we stayed at the Onyado Nono Natural Hot Springs hotel in Asakusa: a really interesting area with a great Onsen in the basement and the residents gathering for free noodles at 10pm. Run as part of the Dormy Hotels group - guests include both foreign tourists and Japanese. I would recommend it as a comfortable hotel in a very walkable, interesting neighbourhood where you will find places to take many of the classes you are interested in - some mentioned above. A couple of metros within 10-15 minutes walk.
posted by rongorongo at 10:22 AM on March 9
If you're looking for woodblock carving, you really should check out Mokuhankan, run by MeFi's own Dave Bull.
Location is tricky. Tokyo is surprisingly walkable, and the transportation system is pretty amazing, really. If you're staying anywhere inside or near the Yamanote Line, you will be close to shops, restaurants, and convenience stores. A lot of the things you're mentioning seem like they can probably be found in or near Asakusa, but that's also a massive tourist hub, and might be hard to find hotels there. In general, you might look for places in the area near the Sumida River that stretches from Asakusa/Ueno on the north, down to Kanda/Asakusabashi on the south.
Personal preference, and where I try to stay when I'm just visiting a place for a couple nights, is the business hotel chain Toyoko Inn. It's cheap, there are tons of locations, and it does the job. The rooms are not overly spacious, though, so it might not fit your desire for space on nights in.
I will caution you against APA hotels. They are owned by a pretty renowned historical revisionist who holds some pretty repulsive views (anti-Korean, anti-Chinese, anti-Semitic) that, handily, are available in books the hotel places in its rooms. Their hotels are everywhere, though, advertised heavily, so most people aren't aware of the company or its owners' views.
posted by Ghidorah at 8:54 PM on March 9 [3 favorites]
Location is tricky. Tokyo is surprisingly walkable, and the transportation system is pretty amazing, really. If you're staying anywhere inside or near the Yamanote Line, you will be close to shops, restaurants, and convenience stores. A lot of the things you're mentioning seem like they can probably be found in or near Asakusa, but that's also a massive tourist hub, and might be hard to find hotels there. In general, you might look for places in the area near the Sumida River that stretches from Asakusa/Ueno on the north, down to Kanda/Asakusabashi on the south.
Personal preference, and where I try to stay when I'm just visiting a place for a couple nights, is the business hotel chain Toyoko Inn. It's cheap, there are tons of locations, and it does the job. The rooms are not overly spacious, though, so it might not fit your desire for space on nights in.
I will caution you against APA hotels. They are owned by a pretty renowned historical revisionist who holds some pretty repulsive views (anti-Korean, anti-Chinese, anti-Semitic) that, handily, are available in books the hotel places in its rooms. Their hotels are everywhere, though, advertised heavily, so most people aren't aware of the company or its owners' views.
posted by Ghidorah at 8:54 PM on March 9 [3 favorites]
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kodo
posted by HearHere at 4:53 AM on March 9