Tokyo is one of the world’s most expensive cities. However, it literally teems with cushy and budget-friendly hotels and accommodations: from immaculately clean and classy hotels to vibrant hostels and capsule hotels, budget hotels in Tokyo offer cash-strapped travelers accommodation that do not cost an arm and a leg. Whether you are traveling alone or with your family, there are dozens of economic places to sleep in Tokyo. Here are some of the cheapest for your consideration.
Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel
Address: Toyo Bldg. 3F, 1-2-5 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku
If you are traveling to Tokyo and want to sleep in a budget accomodation, Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel is the perfect option.
The hotel is located right in front of the Shinjuku Ward office, only 4-minute walking from JR Shinjuku station and Seibu Shinjuku station.
Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel provides modestly-sized, relaxing sleep capsules with shared bathrooms and toilets. Unlike most capsule hotels, female clients are welcome at the Shinjuku – in fact, the hotel dedicates an entirely floor to women-only capsules.
It also features a bathhouse and sauna for men only on the 3rd floor and a business and relaxing lounge on the 4th floor, including a very convenient restaurant.
Attractions close to the hotel include Golden Gai and Hanazono-Jinja.
No matter what type of traveler you are: you will enjoy your sleep in Tokyo on a budget at the heart of one of the city’s busiest districts.
Agora Place Asakusa
Address: 2-2-9 Kotobuki, Taito, Tokyo 111-0042, Japan
In this beautifully designed hotel things work slightly different from what you’d expect: instead of filling rooms with whatsoever stuff (trying to impress guests), everything is taken out for you to create your own style. In other words, guests are given a “menu” of items for sale or for rent so they can appoint the room according to their needs and tastes: could be an iPod music dock or massage cushion, an eye massager or a toothbrush, if you forgot it. Cool, innit?
Agora Place Asakusa boasts to provide high quality beds and mattresses for great sleeps. Rooms have different sizes and come all with free wi-fi and private bathroom.
Location is great and gives you access to some of the main attractions in and around the city, such as Agora Place, Ginza, Shibuya, Ueno and Omotesando. Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) leads visitors into the Sensoji Temple. Further afield is Kappabashi, a shopping destination for everything you could need for your kitchen. Check out Asakusa Grill Burg for great breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Agora Place Asakusa is so chic, you will barely realize you are staying in one of the cheapest hotels in Tokyo.
Guest House Shinagawa-shuku
Address: 1 Chome-22-16 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa, Tokyo 140-0001, Japan
Featuring rental bicycles and free Wi-Fi, Guest House Shinagawa-shuku is only a 12-minute walk from Shinagawa Station, offering thus an excellent location for people passing through Narita or Haneda airports. It is a business area where you can find a large selection of restaurants serving typical Japanese food as well as Chinese and Western-style dishes, ramen shops and cafes; a public bath is located 3 blocks away.
Indeed one of the cheapest hotels in Tokyo, Guest House Shinagawa-shuku offers private Japanese-themed rooms as well as dormitory beds. All rooms are air-conditioned (heating system in winter) and feature traditional futon bedding; some of them have tatami-mat flooring. there is no television though. Bathrooms are shared.
Paid Facilities include laundry as well as luggage storage services, public computers, bicycle rental and ironing.
There is a nice common room where guests can meet and have a chat.
Apa Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho
Address: 2-19-14 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, 160-0021
This is no doubt one of the budget hotels you should consider for your stay in Tokyo.
It offers an excellent position to people traveling to/from Tokyo by train: all the main city’s train stations are within a walking distance (6 minutes at the most). If you have a car, you can use the hotel’s parking.
Free wi-fi is available in the lobby and in all rooms which range from single to double and twin up to deluxe.
Apa Hotel Higashi Shinjuku Kabukicho has 2 cafes: breakfast is served between 7 and 10 am and comes in 3 options, Japanese, Chinese and Western. Guests can also enjoy a relaxation area that includes some artificial hot springs and a open-air bath (it’s the traditional Japanese onsen).
Around the hotel, you will find plenty of restaurants, bars and shops.
Apa Hotel Higashi-Shinjuku-Kabukicho represents a perfect accomodation for short stays in Tokyo.
Ryokan Katsutaro
Address: 4 Chome-16-8 Ikenohata, Taito, Tokyo 110-0008, Japan
It is a local traditional hotel established many decades ago in a 2-storey wooden building, where you can still experience the authentic Japanese hospitality. Ryokan Katsutaro is definitely one of the cheapest accomodation options in Tokyo.
All rooms have their own heating and cooling facilities. Wi-fi is available renting a mobile router at the front desk: some of them have no private bathroom to keep the prices even lower.
From the hotel you can easily reach Ueno train station or, a bit further, Nezu station: from them, you get straight to central Tokyo and enjoy your visit to the city.
If you want to see Tokyo by bike, Ryokan Katsutaro has an on-site bike rental you can speak to.
Palace Japan
Address: 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Situated in the historical downtown Tokyo area, Hotel Palace Japan is one of the best economic hotels in the city.
It is located within walking distance from Minami-Senju metro station, Tokyo National Museum and the Sens-ji Temple: Haneda and Narita airports are around 1 hour-drive. The hotel is also close to several Tokyo attractions as well as dining and shopping venues.
Guests can choose from different room types, including single rooms, double rooms, dormitory-type rooms and rooms located on the female-only floor. Each room has Wi-Fi internet access, TVs, desks, mini fridges and shared washrooms. All rooms are non-smoking, but there is a designated smoking area on each floor.
Other amenities include coin-operated laundry facilities and guest computer services. Complimentary hot drinks are served daily in the lobby (there are also some vending machines where you can get cold drinks and snacks).
If you are the type that enjoys cooking, take advantage of the kitchenette on each floor or the main kitchen in the dining area. The lounge offers plenty of room for people from all over the world to chat and get to know each other.
The hotel’s recreational facilities include on-site bike rental.
Palace Japan is often labelled as a hostel, but it actually offers facilities that are more typical of a hotel, representing the ideal option for families, solo-travelers, students, backpackers and business people too.
Apa Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae
Address: 2-2-8 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, 160-0022, Tokyo
This simple and quiet budget hotel opened in July 2014 in a very convenient location, just 1 minute walking from Shinjuku-Gyoemmae station, thus offering guests a strategic starting point to the city’s main attractions: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, for example, can be easily reached by foot. It is also within walking distances from the Meiji Jingu Shrine and Tokyo Imperial Palace.
Bedrooms at Apa Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae come equipped with all the necessary comforts to make your stay enjoyable, such as wi-fi, air purifier, humidifier, light-cut curtains, even nighties and 3D mesh pillows for a great sleep.
The hotel has a restaurant in the lobby, the Steak & Hamberg Takumi, where you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner: it’s open from 6.30 in the morning up to 10 in the evening (last order for dinner by 9.30 pm).
Apa Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae also provides bathing facilities (the so-called Japanese onsen) for guests’ relax: it stays open up to 1 am, so you have plenty of time to enjoy it, for example after a day of walking around.
If you have a car, you can use the hotel’s paking (but you have to pay for it). If you need to do some washing up, laundry facilities are available (at a fee).
Horidome Villa
Address: 1-10-10 Nihonbashi Horidomecho Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0012
Right in the heart of Tokyo, near the sophisticated area of Ningyocho, Hotel Horidome Villa is an ideal place to reside for those looking for a budget hotel in Tokyo.
Rooms are small, typical of Japanese hotels, but comfortable and adequately furnished with basic amenities such as television, refrigerator, air conditioning and tea/coffee maker: they all have private bathrooms and free wi-fi. Wi-fi is available throughout the property.
Pets are not allowed (they can accept small though) and there is no parking available. If you need to the washing, there are several coin-operated washing machines and dryers too. If you want to get some souvenirs, you can visit the hotels’ gift shop.
Some Tokyo’s famous sightseeing spots can be found in close proximity to Horidome Villa Hotel, including Tokyo Dome City and Disneyland, plus lots of restaurants and bars.
Tokyo is no doubt an expensive city. You’d better know that one of your biggest expenses will be accommodation when visiting the city. Even simple hostel rooms can cost as much as 5-star hotels compared to other cities. If you are on a budget, then finding the cheapest hotels in Tokyo should be a priority. Fortunately, there are several economic places where you can stay in Tokyo. Check out any of the hotels discussed above if you want to sleep in Tokyo on a budget.