Japan has long been a favourite travel destination for Australians, in part thanks to our geographic proximity, in part because we so adore the culture, cuisine and lifestyle the Japanese have perfected.
Tokyo, the country's bustling capital city, is one of the world's most beloved vacationing hot spots, and with so much to do and experience in the city, it's easy to see why. But where you stay can massively impact the type of trip that you have – whether you're looking for a luxurious inner-city haven in Minato City, or a cool and eclectic stay in Shibuya or Shimokitazawa.
If you've never been before – or if you're simply looking to shake up your usual itinerary – then we have rounded up a list of the best hotels to stay at in Tokyo. Our selects range in price, location and amenities, so you're bound to find your perfect match.
1. Muji Hotel
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Location: Ginza
Price point: Mid-range
If you're a fan of effortless Japanese minimalism and the Muji stores found dotted around Australia, then we'd highly suggest their flagship Muji Hotel in Ginza. It's a sustainably-minded 4-star hotel located in the centre of the district, and within a 5-minute walk of Marronnier Gate Ginza Mall. It's reasonably priced (with rooms averaging around $250 per night), and each of its 79 rooms are filled with a selection of Muji-branded amenities that you can bring home with you.
2. Park Hyatt Tokyo
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Location: Shinjuku
Price point: Luxury
Lost in Translation fans need no introduction to the Park Hyatt Tokyo, the hotel that backdropped Sofia Coppola's seminal 2003 film. This 5-star oasis is the epitome of elegance and sophistication, boasting 177 roams including 23 suites, and 360-degree panoramic views of the bustling Shinjuku neighbourhood. Each room is equipped with walk-in closets and high-tech amenities, and the hotel is connected to a rail/subway station for easy access to the rest of the city. And if you're looking for a late-night hang, head upstairs to the 52nd floor where you can quench your thirst at the Park Hyatt's New York Bar.
3. Hotel K5
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Location: Chuo City
Price point: Mid-range
This 90-year-old historical building is home to Hotel K5, an artful, Japanese-European style hotel just 5 minutes walk from Nihombashi Station. It's the perfect place to stay if you're looking for the ease of convenience, but without staying in the bustle of the suburb. They also have a 'progressive Japanese' restaurant on site called Caveman, which is run by renowned owner-chef Atsuki Kuroda.
4. Mustard Hotel
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Location: Shimokitazawa
Price point: Mid-range
Mustard is cool, community-minded and contemporary – just minutes from cute espresso stops and vintage shopping, chic bars, ramen joints and more in Shimokitazawa. Like its sister property in Shibuya, the hotel is smart and contemporary, and caters to a younger, mobile crowd. The lobby is also a cafe, and the rooms are pared-back (although they do make space for the novelty of an in-room record player; with a fresh curation of local vinyl swapped out monthly). They also offer bicycle rentals to guests.
5. all day place
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Location: Shibuya
Price point: Mid-range
The new and trendy all day place in Shibuya gets our tick of approval, with an average room price of $256 and being walking distance to Yoyogi Park and the backstreet bars of Nonbeiyokocho. It's definitely not a spot you want to head to with a tonne of luggage or party members in tow, but it's a clean, trendy and urban community hotel in a practically unbeatable location. It also has a downstairs pizza restaurant.
6. Trunk Hotel Cat Street
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Location: Shibuya
Price point: Mid-range
Trunk boasts 15 unique rooms that offer a boutique and bespoke hotel experience with each stay. Just an 11-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station, Trunk looms over one of the backstreets of Shibuya, near Harajuku, and housed inside two side-by-side four-storey buildings. Its interiors are highly curated and edgy, with cascading vertical gardens decorating the exteriors of the buildings.
7. Takanawa Hanakohro
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Location: Minato City
Price point: Luxury
Takanawa Hanakohro is a 16-room traditional Japanese ryokan that occupies the lower floors of an older hotel. Rooms feature paper walls and tatami floors, oversized bathrooms and complimentary spirits. The hotel is a single stop on the express train from Haneda Airport, and is conveniently central – with access to coffee bars, snacking spots and the small Tatuya Spa.
8. Sequence Miyashita Park
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Location: Shibuya
Price point: Mid-range
Sequence's Miyashita Park hotel is in an unbeatable location – just a couple of blocks from the Shibuya Scramble and offering sweeping view out over the neighbourhood. It has a youthful feel – featuring art installations and a skate park out back – and backs onto the newly revitalised north side of Shibuya station, with plenty of luxury boutiques, restaurants and a sweeping rooftop park at its doorstep. Rooms are cosy and check-in / check-out times are late – so it's the perfect place to rest your head after a big night on the town.
9. HOSHINOYA Tokyo
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Location: Chiyoda
Price point: Luxury
Hoshinoya is a high-rise ryokan (or Japanese Inn) walking distance from Tokyo Station. It was selected as one of the top 50 hotels in the world, and boasts its own Otemachi Onsen for guest use only. Each floor of the hotel functions as a private space comprised of six rooms, and a shared onsen lounge area.
10. Janu Tokyo
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Location: Minato City
Price point: Luxury
Opening its doors this year is Janu – a luxury sister brand of the Aman hotel group. It finds its home in the Azabudai Hills, the only hotel in the dynamic new neighbourhood of parks, high-end designer boutiques and restaurants. With 122 guest rooms and suites – they are some of the largest you'll find in Tokyo. Janu also boasts eight dining and social venues on site, as well as a 4,000 square metre spa and wellness centre.
11. Aman Tokyo
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Location: Ginza
Price point: Luxury
Near the Tokyo Imperial Gardens, the serene ryokan-style rooms of Aman Tokyo (Aman's first inner-city retreat) are the ultimate indulgence. The luxury price point gives you access to an incredibly helpful suite of staff members, who cater to guests across all 84 of the hotel's suites. The sky-lofted swimming pool is one of the city's most stunning, as is their zen-like Aman Spa.
12. Tokyo Toranomon EDITION
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Location: Minato City
Price point: Luxury
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, this 206-room luxury hotel is situated in a 38-story Tokyo skyscrapers, only a minute from Kamiyacho Station. Rooms boast panoramas of the Tokyo skyline, and guests can enjoy food from among the hotel's three restaurants – including The Blue Room, which overlooks the epic Tokyo skyline.
13. Hotel Groove
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Location: Shinjuku
Price point: Mid-range
For the more eclectic traveller, try the glittering tower of Hotel Groove in the evolving Kubki-cho red-light district (near Shinjuku Station). The price point on rooms is great (starting at around $173 per night) and the room sizes are quite large compared to other properties in the same price range. Some of the hotel's suites are designed by notable Japanese artists, but all feature fairly colourful, zany interiors, bright carpets and wood panelling – and floor-to-ceiling windows for unobstructed panoramas across the city.
