From a traveller who has been to Tokyo a dozen times since the early 2000's. One of the best places to stay is in and around Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. You are pretty much central to most tourist spots in Tokyo (for a 1st time Visitor) and you are on direct lines with only 5-6 stops from many of the big locations like Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ikebukaro etc. Easy access from Haneda and Narita and in a salary man location so lots of amazing eating locations including some of the best ramen spots in Tokyo, a massive supermarket nearby and cheap accomodation. As a bonus, Hie Shrine 5 mins walk away and you can walk to Roppongi in about 25 mins.
I have checked many stations, I will tend to live the hotels that close to the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. I assume it may closed to Shibuya and Ginza, the places I want to hang out.
This will be the very first time in Japan for us and I think I will listen to your advice. Our flight is at 15th this month, so 3 days left… I and my family are very excited since we don’t really have a travel plan for this one :D even though we will only stay for 6 days. I will keep our journey updated if anyone is interested.
We are currently struggling with this, you really always upload at the perfect time!! Thank you so much for all your videos, they have made planning our first Japan trip so much easier!
Stayed at Otsuka back in November and Sugamo most recently in April. Both are along the Yamanote line and are more on the quieter side, making it easier to navigate in and out of the stations. 100% recommend these locations.
What a brilliant post! You are both excellent in focusing on the practical and realistic. Thank you for the 'show and tell' for Google maps and Expedia. The two demonstrations were extremely helpful. You've gained another subscriber!
Ueno is the best location in Tokyo . Ueno station is where you have the yamanote loop line and also Shinkansen plus others local train and bus . , hundreds of restaurants , famously market Ameyoko , ueno park , the national museum….and lots more the most convenient area to go everywhere more than a Sakura , Shibuya….
Love the demonstrations to book and saving to maps, never knew about that function! and the fact you also include where NOT to stay, great advice great video!
I stayed Akihabara, where I met you guys at the 7/11 and I loved it there. I was close to Ueno and other places I wanted to go to and it was maybe 20 minutes if not shorter to Shibuya. I loved the culture of Akihabara and also the Apa Hotel was a bargain for me for a week. But like I told you, your advice made my first trip to Tokyo 100% and I'm still watching for my 2nd.. Keep up the awesome work
Hi! It was nice running into you. Glad you liked your hotel! We loved the convenience of staying in Akihabara, but the Airbnb we stayed in was one of the worst ever. Narrow stairs with no elevator, restaurant smells wafting up, and in disrepair. Another family left as soon as they checked in. It would have been a better experience if we had stayed in a hotel! 🌸 Heidi
@KenshoQuest it was because of you guys I did alot of research after I decided which prefecture I wanted to stay in and came away with Apa. It was 5 minutes walking from the Akihabara station, had great amenities, close to a beautiful mini shrine, 2 minutes walk to that 7/11and allowed me to experience Akihabara. All of that was from your channel. I'm not a fan of Air BnBs but since I'm a solo traveler my accommodations can be smaller.
I stayed near Suidobashi. I liked the quiet area after seeing attractions all over during the day. The Hotel Niwa was so clean and comfortable. Next time I think I will pick somewhere more central so your neighborhood suggestions are helpful
If you are walking distance from any station on the Yamonite line (green) you are golden. Good advice. The only thing I will add as an exception is if you have young kids and the main reason you are visiting Tokyo is Disney Resort stay close to the resort. TDR is exhausting so it’s good if you can duck back to your hotel for a break (and kids nap).
I've definitely never found the need to stay outside of central Tokyo because I can always find clean, modern (sometimes newly built) and accessible hotels for under US$100/night - usually quite a bit less.
Man! I really could have used this info last year before my trip to Tokyo. I was in Tokyo for 10 weeks. Wasted like $4,000-$6,000 on hotels instead of booking an apartment. Critical NEED TO KNOW info. Next time I’m booking an apartment on Expedia. Everything was trial and error. I now know what I love to see again. What new things I want to see. Where to stay. What to book. Where to eat! How to navigate the trains. And I cannot WAIT to return to Tokyo next year for 6 weeks.
My granddaughter and I stayed in Asakusa. It was awesome with everything you could possibly want to see. Plus the train station gave us access to several lines. Loved the area.
For my solo trip I've ended up booking multiple Sotetsu Fresa Inn locations. I can transfer bags (although it's fine where I'm going thanks to shinkansen) but they have a membership scheme for free breakfast with your booking, money off 60-day in advance, a nice little bonus 500 yen back each night but more importantly early check-in/late check out! I think some folks are nervous with the scale of options with Japan but sometimes the budget franchises are great for solo travellers. Doing a nice big chunk on this trip, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. All the Sotetsu Fresa Inn's I've picked are all near major stations :)
Very useful video. In November. 2023, I went to Japan with six friends who have never been to Japan. Our hotel stays for the first few nights were near Tokyo Station before heading to Kanazawa and Kyoto via Shinkansen. After having a wonderful time in Kyoto, we returned to Tokyo for five nights and stayed in Ginza. The area has many convenient subway access points, restaurant choices, and interesting stores like the Muji Ginza Flagship store and the Ginza Itoya stationary store. Everyone had a great time. Since I have spent numerous days in all the Tokyo Wards mentioned in the video, I am now more interested in staying in outer wards or away from the concentrated tourist areas and finding restaurants popular with local residents.
Excellent tips! The use of the "map" feature to book rooms is important if you are coming without a car, and need to be close to a station. Also I've used google to see what trains are going to the location I want to go and stay. Last April we went to the Tokyo dome. I googled "train from tokyo station to tokyo dome". It brought up the train to take (Marunouchi line- red color train) the train schedule, and what station to get off. This helped me with planning. Just an idea.
Everytime I watch this, I want to "like" it, but it seems I have "liked" it previously! Too bad it can't be "liked" several times because this video is so good and so packed with practical information!
Kamata is also one of the most underrated area to stay in, and it's still covered by JR Hokuriku Arch Pass since it's at the very edge of central Tokyo. ESPECIALLY if you arrive from Haneda as it's only just about 10 minutes away by Keikyu Line from the airport. And it's within walking distance to Kamata station & Keikyu-Kamata station.
Expedia user here. That clear cancellation policy helped during my first visit to Japan as I had to change accommodations quiet a few times as my plans changed.
I do the same for years. Like Japanese mountains locations layer, food restaurants and fast food layer, supermarkets and drugstores layer and a layer for special "heart" with places where I would like to come back next years :) It's very helpful. Unfortunately we can't export those layers from Google as geographical points of interest.
😎 Thanks again for these videos! I returned Monday from a week at Tokyo Dome City, great hotel! I also used your recommendation for the JR/Siuca link. I was able to see an amazing show in Osaka for a night, IC/QR code was perfect. Got to bypass dozens of people buying paper tickets - huge timesaver!!
We stayed in Ikebukuro near sunshine city. We chose this location as it's close to a train station and if I wanted to get up before my husband, who likes to sleep late on vacations, I could brows the mall. Likewise, if we got back late at night but were still itching for a little fun, the Round 1 entertainment building was right there too. 24 hour arcade.
In Tokyo, Kabukicho is my home away from home, as Shinjuku Station connects you everywhere in the city and the hotel rates are reasonable, unlike Shibuya.
My family of 3 stayed in a hotel in Shiomi near Tokyo Bay, and we loved it. Our hotel was right next to Shiomi station, and that area is so lovely and quiet. We really liked being on the trains a little longer just to see less people riding and have some quiet in the biggest city in the world. We want to go stay there again next year, but may have to change due to costs.
I stayed at the Tokyo Stay Ginza in November last year. Very good location about 10 minutes by taxi from Tokyo station, but very close to Higashi Ginza, Ginza and Yurakucho subway stations. Hotel also has washer/dryer in rooms
You mean Tokyu Stay. I love that chain as I do not need to go out of my room to wash my clothes. I don't know if it is applicable for all their hotels (I stayed at their Gotanda branch), but there is free coffee from 7 am to midnight
9:48 - Henna Hotel (which translates to "Weird Hotel") is the one with the robot receptionists; you'll talk to either an android, an anime hologram, or a talking velociraptor.
Nippori is great because it’s the first stop on the Keisei skyliner from Narita Airport. Lots of restaurants and the Hotel Lungwood has large rooms but showing its age. Ueno is good too as the Skyliner finishes there and you can catch bullet trains from JR Ueno station. Ueno park is good too.
Thanks, nice to see how you select where to stay. We have stayed at one of the Prince hotels in Shinagawa to enjoy the peaceful foliage and ponds and trips to Yokohama and Disney. Then we stay in Shibuya for everything else. We’d like to try Shinjuku but overall didn’t seem as lively. We love the subways and Yamanote line
In 2017 stayed at Keio Plaza Hotel(pricey), a very good hotel near Shinjuku station. And in 2023 stay at Daiwa Roynet Kyobashi near Tokyo station(.5 mi away) Also a nice hotel and walking distance to the Tokyo station(cost was about $150/nite)
The one you chose to book (Tokyu Stay) is an amazing hotel chain. I love that their selling point is the washing machine in every room as you won't have to hassle yourself by having to go down (or up in some cases) just to do your laundry, and even worse having to wait for some other guest to finish. The free coffee from 7 am to midnight is another bonus. However, their Ginza hotel has a steep price so I choose their Gotanda branch. Another interesting area with whole lots of restaurants and izakaya. Also is a station of the Yamanote line and Asakusa subway (with through connections to Keikyu/Keisei lines) so access won't ever be an issue. Not really the best if you have children though as there are some sex workers and pimps at night roaming around, and sometimes even attempting to tout you
Thanks for another helpful video on staying in Tokyo! I can say with confidence that the walk time back to the hotel after a day of sightseeing always seems to be longer. 😮💨😂
Asakusa area is wonderful for the "Japanese" experience. Most of Tokyo is very modern & skyscrapper-ish, having been destroyed by bombing during WWII. However, Asakusa is very crowded (like Shinjuku and Shibuya). We actually ate at restaurants near the fringe of the neighborhood. You can get to the neighborhood via direct train from Haneda but not Narita. airport. It is not on the Yamanote line, so connections are a bit slower but I think this is the best location for first time visitors. My favorites are Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza. I haven't stayed in Ueno, but I imagine that would be good also. Young people will love Shinjuku & Shibuya but they are crazy busy.
FYI, there are actually two different Asakusa Stations in Asakusa. The one highlighted in the video is jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and Tobu Railway. The second one is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company as part of the Tsukuba Express; it's closer to Senso-ji Temple and has a direct connection to Akihabara.
Amazing content! Do you know how long in advance is the best timing to reserve? We're traveling a year from now and the price difference in 3 months vs 12 months is crazy. Those farther away in time are more expensive.
Hi. We normally recommend booking as far in advance as possible, but at least 6 months in advance. Hotel prices are seasonal in Japan. Winter is low season, so that might be why you are seeing lower prices within the next 3 months. Spring is the most crowded, but many tourists also visit in the Fall. You could book fully-refundable hotels (check the details to be sure), and change if you see a better deal later. Also stay tuned for Black Friday deals. 🌸 Heidi
Was struggling before but Booked them before this video but pretty much figured similar process to book. With a little more walking due to booking availability but not too bad, Wanted to try japanese style room atleast but the best i can do was half japanese and half western style rooms.
Wow! Thanks for these! Have you gone to Tokyo during Sakura? What would you recommend for a hotel near Ueno Park? We have a 2-year old toddler and we will stay for 9 nights because we want it slow and can go to park anytime to view Hanami. Thanks a lot!
My first time there 5 years ago I stayed in Shin-Okubo (aka Korea Town) which I loved. On the Yamanote line, just one stop up from Shuinjuku, but more of a 'real' area, less touristy but interesting and very lively with loads of different food options, bars and shops, and walkable too. Maybe not the best area for a family perhaps, but for me on my own it was great. I'm not too keen on hotels but I found a cool self-catering motel style place on Expedia (Airbnb is pretty useless for Tokyo - alright for Osaka though) which wasn't expensive and was great for me on my own. So the next time I went, last year, I fancied doing something different so I stayed in a swish place in Roppongi - a sort-of hotel but the rooms were actually self-contained apartments with a kitchen, washing machine etc. It cost me a fortune but was nice, had a good balcony with a view of Tokyo Tower and was close to lots of attractions (like you've mentioned). However, for me it felt too upmarket and despite the nightlife (and there's better areas for that) it lacked that real, buzzy Tokyo vibe, so next time I go back I'll be staying in Shin-Okubo again!
Maybe an odd choice but I've always chosen to stay in Komagome during my trips to Tokyo since it's a nice mid point between my most frequented spots in Shibuya and Akihabara. As always a great video.
Saw you or your clone at Bedok central, Singapore on Sunday July 14th. We have so many looks alike in this vast world. Love watching your family traveling. Very informative, educational and positive guidelines for travellers.
Awesome, I like to stay in shiodome area. Good thing to check is square ft of room. Family of 3 got to be bigger than 235 sq ft. Etc. we are here now and stayed at the Kahala hotel, Kagetsu hotel Matsumoto. Thanks for that video and now in Nagoya. Thanks for all the updates. Aloha
Hi. Our videos about gluten free restaurants/bakeries are from years ago and some of them have closed already. Is there a certain city you are wondering about? A major thing to watch out for is soy sauce, since it contains gluten and is in so many foods. Most of the hotel breakfast buffets have little signs indicating common allergens (and it’s surprising how many foods contain gluten). If you eat at a diner style restaurant they usually have one low-allergen meal, it might be on the kids menu, that doesn’t contain any of the most common food allergens.
Thank you for this video. I am in the planning stage for a Japan visit. Hotels are already near capacity and you are often presented to one of the booking online agencies. I was wondering which one is the most reliable (fewer mishaps) and you seem to go with Expedia. I will trust you and use your affiliate link. Looking for reasonably priced place withing short walking distance of Shibuya Station. Thumbs up.
My always go to on my travels to Japan is stay in near the Tokyo station area on my first two days in Japan before I move to other prefectures. And then on the last two days when i go back to Tokyo, I stay in Akihabara for my geek stuffs.
Finally, found a step-by-step, easy to follow tutorial on how and where to book a hotel. For a solo traveler, would you recommend APA Hotels? Thank you.
@@tungvu we just stayed at one 2 nights ago in Nagoya. We are a family of 4 and spit into 2 rooms each. The rooms were small but clean and very inexpensive compared to most alternatives.
Used some of your videos prior to our trip and it was so helpful. Thanks for your wife’s tip about waterproof shoes and taking only the hikari and Nozomi. Our favorite place was in Kyoto in the Gion area. We went in July and it was during a holiday in Tokyo and in Kyoto so we were caught in two separate crowds. One for the Sensoji temple and the other was a parade in Kyoto!
Hi, we’re planning to visit Japan for 16 days in the spring for the cherry blossoms. 1. Please recommend the area we should stay in Tokyo to get the full experience of cherry blossom? We’re family oriented not much a night life. We plan to stayin Tokyo for 5 days and then head Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido. 2. hotel recommendations for family of 3: parents and a teen because most hotels I saw so far want us to book 2 rooms. We want to stay together as a family. Thank you so much. Liked and subscribed. Very useful information
Hi, cherry blossom locations are spread throughout Tokyo and beyond. I recommend watching some videos specific on the cherry blossoms to see which areas you want to see. Here is our video: ua-cam.com/video/J_t6Hh9F5YY/v-deo.html With that said, the best areas while spread out can be easily reached by a combination of JR trains and Tokyo subway system. The Chuo Ward area as discussed in the video is very well connected to our favorites: Chidorigafuchi, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park. If you can give some specifics we might be able to point you in a better direction. 2. We created a Travel Shop in Expedia that lists some of our favorite hotels, most are family friendly and should accommodate the three of you. expedia.com/shop/kenshoquest/share You can also look at the Mimaru Hotel brand, they rent apartments all over Japan with kitchens.
Aloha, if you are planning to go to Disneyland, then Chuo City (ward) is a good location as you can go directly. As mentioned in the video Hatchobori station is right on the line that goes to Disneyland.
It will be great if you show us all the accomodations if possible that you had booked in all the times you are in 🇯🇵, it will help me a lot to decide the best place… near the train stn will be excellent thanks
Hi. We are slow-travelers and often stay much longer than people on vacation, so the locations and types of accommodations we book for our family are not necessarily then same as someone visiting Japan for a short trip.
Hi Kensho, i have a toddler with me and were planning to travel to Japan on Dec 9 to 13. What is your recommended spot to go with a toddler with you during those days.
Great Travel Information ! I will be going to Tokyo for the first time in late December 2024 and staying 28 Days and I will be traveling Solo would you tell me the Best and Newest Tokyu Stay Hotel to stay at for that long,With the best ability to travel the area and Country from?(Mt Fuji) etc.🌏 🙏
Thank you so much this video. Extremely helpful. The demonstration was God sent. Im staying very close to Mimaru East Tokyo, within 5 mins of train station to DisneySea. On my last day in Tokyo, my family of 4 with an 8 and 10-year old are going to Disneysea. The train ride there is 40 min. Do you think I should move to a different hotel within mins from the Park? I will head out to Kyoto the next day after the park. Thank you!
Hi, so glad the video is helpful! Your hotel location is excellent. Considering your kids age, I think you need to gauge if they will do better by getting up earlier the morning of you journey to Kyoto if staying near Disney or not. My assumption is you are taking the shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station and your hotel is already very close to Tokyo Station and if this is your first time at Tokyo Station, you don't want to be late. Also consider what you are doing the previous days in Tokyo. Chances are they are not anywhere near Disney. I hope this helps :)
@@KenshoQuest Those are extremely helpful things to think about, esp being late to Shinkansen. Regardless if we move hotel or not, we will ship out our luggage 2 days before arriving in Kyoto. You are right. We will be in Shibuya the day before DisneySea. An hour ride to Tokyo Bay instead of 30 min to Tokyo East. Since we will be staying at DisneySea until 9PM, I don't think we will be able to get up early for our trip back to Kyoto. Departure time will probably be around 10AM or later. I wonder if you could share how your young family handled DisneySea/Land?
@@pmachiavellih1726 Disneyland was a bit stressful, with the super long lines. We enjoyed our time at DisneySea more. We went before the new Fantasy Springs area opened. You need either a Standby Pass or Disney Premier Access to enter Fantasy Springs. More info here: www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/special/en/fantasysprings/admission_method/ And here's our video about DisneySea: ua-cam.com/video/sT-mu-14X14/v-deo.html
Has hotel rooms with cigarette smell been a problem on your various trips? I've done lots of looking around and found lots of comments about the smell & inability to open the windows. That's a worry for me, I absolutely cannot stand cigarette smell (and would much prefer a hotel with a window I can open) and it'd put a real negative on a trip if I couldn't escape that smell on relaxation time. I find this is never mentioned in YT videos, but is all over booking sites. Thanks.
Hi. We've had more trouble with cigarette smoke in Airbnb rentals than hotel rooms. If it really bothers you, I would look for a completely non-smoking hotel. Some hotels mix smoking and non-smoking rooms on the same floor, which doesn't make sense to me since the smoke travels down the hallway, and you need to walk through the hallway to get to your room. The issue we had at an Airbnb was the neighbors standing outside in the parking lot smoking and the smoke drifting in the windows. The good thing about booking a hotel is that you can ask to be moved to a different room, and the staff have always been accommodating. 🌸 Heidi
@@KenshoQuest Thanks for the advice. I think I'm overly sensitive to it because I was raised in a house where both parents smoked. Consequently I've never even tried it and can't stand it. I'll keep your advice in mind when booking hotels 👍
Our flight does not land in Narita until 8pm, what hotels offer later check in? We're looking for anything around the yamanote line. Thanks in advance!
Hi, as long as it is a real hotel with a check-in desk you should not have any problems checking in late in Tokyo. But always check with the hotel before you book. If you use Expedia, there is a section called Check-in Time, it will say when is the latest you can check it. It's usually after midnight or even 24/7
I am planning to stay near mejiro station,as it is quiet and the train is for the yamanote line, and I will be visiting all the touristy places to Shibuya and Asaksa. Do you think it will be a great idea?
Hi, this can work well for you since it is a direct line to Shibuya and an easy one transfer to Asakusa. It might take a little longer but might be worth it for the convenience.
Do you need to always put the number of kids on there when booking hotels or do they base it more on the room you choose? I noticed that in some countries it doesn't matter and others its extremely important. I have two young kids that are ages 7 and younger.
Are there any issues dropping off luggage at your hotel, before check-in time? So you can walk around and explore until the room is ready? Really appreciate this video 😊
I prefer to stay in Shinjuku. But I now try to avoid the big cities like Tokyo Osaka coz it's too crowded plus good restos always have a long wait. I love the countryside visiting the small towns like Takayama which offer a more authentic feel plus less people.
Shinagawa is a huge transport hub on the Yamanote line. You can get anywhere from there easily. All Shinkansen trains stop there. If you are heading to Kyoto or Osaka make sure you get reserved seats, at peak times non-reserved seats can get filled at Tokyo station. If you have a JR rail pass reservations are free I would not pay extra for the Green car, Nozomi or Mizuho if you are not travelling beyond Osaka. Of course, with a JR pass you can travel from Shinagawa to Tokyo (10mins) by shinkansen and then travel back the other way. I've visited Japan 20+ time. Every hotel has been excellent. Japanese service is as good as it gets. Never stayed at the Prince but if you spend about $100+ / night you will be fine anywhere. Make sure you have some cash, comfortable shoes, eSIM or SIM or PocketWiFI and... don't over pack! Safe travels...
Do they give academy awards for UA-cam posts? Bravo!
From a traveller who has been to Tokyo a dozen times since the early 2000's. One of the best places to stay is in and around Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. You are pretty much central to most tourist spots in Tokyo (for a 1st time Visitor) and you are on direct lines with only 5-6 stops from many of the big locations like Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, Ikebukaro etc. Easy access from Haneda and Narita and in a salary man location so lots of amazing eating locations including some of the best ramen spots in Tokyo, a massive supermarket nearby and cheap accomodation.
As a bonus, Hie Shrine 5 mins walk away and you can walk to Roppongi in about 25 mins.
Well oh my damn, now consider staying around the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station when I come in next year April. Thank you much.
@@officialying you will love the area. Its the total hidden gem of Tokyo but i know creators wont cover it as it wont get the views
I have checked many stations, I will tend to live the hotels that close to the Akasaka-Mitsuke Station. I assume it may closed to Shibuya and Ginza, the places I want to hang out.
@@KaylieL114 its close to pretty much every major tourist spot in Tokyo!
This will be the very first time in Japan for us and I think I will listen to your advice. Our flight is at 15th this month, so 3 days left… I and my family are very excited since we don’t really have a travel plan for this one :D even though we will only stay for 6 days. I will keep our journey updated if anyone is interested.
We are currently struggling with this, you really always upload at the perfect time!! Thank you so much for all your videos, they have made planning our first Japan trip so much easier!
Stayed at Otsuka back in November and Sugamo most recently in April. Both are along the Yamanote line and are more on the quieter side, making it easier to navigate in and out of the stations. 100% recommend these locations.
What a brilliant post! You are both excellent in focusing on the practical and realistic. Thank you for the 'show and tell' for Google maps and Expedia. The two demonstrations were extremely helpful. You've gained another subscriber!
Thanks so much for your kind comment! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest for planning a trip to Japan.
Ueno is the best location in Tokyo . Ueno station is where you have the yamanote loop line and also Shinkansen plus others local train and bus . , hundreds of restaurants , famously market Ameyoko , ueno park , the national museum….and lots more the most convenient area to go everywhere more than a Sakura , Shibuya….
Thank you very much for the information!
Im planning my first solo trip in November. This was really helpful!
@@dvijay461 I'm going on my first solo trip too this november. Goodluck on your journey
This is quite literally one of the greatest Japan travel vids… thank you so much
You’re welcome!
Love the demonstrations to book and saving to maps, never knew about that function! and the fact you also include where NOT to stay, great advice great video!
Glad you found it helpful! Here's our overview video, of how to plan a trip to Japan: ua-cam.com/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/v-deo.html
I stayed Akihabara, where I met you guys at the 7/11 and I loved it there. I was close to Ueno and other places I wanted to go to and it was maybe 20 minutes if not shorter to Shibuya. I loved the culture of Akihabara and also the Apa Hotel was a bargain for me for a week. But like I told you, your advice made my first trip to Tokyo 100% and I'm still watching for my 2nd.. Keep up the awesome work
Hi! It was nice running into you. Glad you liked your hotel! We loved the convenience of staying in Akihabara, but the Airbnb we stayed in was one of the worst ever. Narrow stairs with no elevator, restaurant smells wafting up, and in disrepair. Another family left as soon as they checked in. It would have been a better experience if we had stayed in a hotel! 🌸 Heidi
@KenshoQuest it was because of you guys I did alot of research after I decided which prefecture I wanted to stay in and came away with Apa. It was 5 minutes walking from the Akihabara station, had great amenities, close to a beautiful mini shrine, 2 minutes walk to that 7/11and allowed me to experience Akihabara. All of that was from your channel. I'm not a fan of Air BnBs but since I'm a solo traveler my accommodations can be smaller.
I stayed near Suidobashi. I liked the quiet area after seeing attractions all over during the day. The Hotel Niwa was so clean and comfortable. Next time I think I will pick somewhere more central so your neighborhood suggestions are helpful
If you are walking distance from any station on the Yamonite line (green) you are golden. Good advice. The only thing I will add as an exception is if you have young kids and the main reason you are visiting Tokyo is Disney Resort stay close to the resort. TDR is exhausting so it’s good if you can duck back to your hotel for a break (and kids nap).
thanks for sharing the great tip about Disney!
I've definitely never found the need to stay outside of central Tokyo because I can always find clean, modern (sometimes newly built) and accessible hotels for under US$100/night - usually quite a bit less.
Man! I really could have used this info last year before my trip to Tokyo. I was in Tokyo for 10 weeks. Wasted like $4,000-$6,000 on hotels instead of booking an apartment. Critical NEED TO KNOW info. Next time I’m booking an apartment on Expedia. Everything was trial and error. I now know what I love to see again. What new things I want to see. Where to stay. What to book. Where to eat! How to navigate the trains. And I cannot WAIT to return to Tokyo next year for 6 weeks.
My granddaughter and I stayed in Asakusa. It was awesome with everything you could possibly want to see. Plus the train station gave us access to several lines. Loved the area.
For my solo trip I've ended up booking multiple Sotetsu Fresa Inn locations. I can transfer bags (although it's fine where I'm going thanks to shinkansen) but they have a membership scheme for free breakfast with your booking, money off 60-day in advance, a nice little bonus 500 yen back each night but more importantly early check-in/late check out! I think some folks are nervous with the scale of options with Japan but sometimes the budget franchises are great for solo travellers. Doing a nice big chunk on this trip, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. All the Sotetsu Fresa Inn's I've picked are all near major stations :)
Thanks for sharing, great suggestion!
I agree that this is one of the best UA-cam videos I’ve seen about Japan. So, informative. Thank you 🙏🏽
Thank you!
Very useful video. In November. 2023, I went to Japan with six friends who have never been to Japan. Our hotel stays for the first few nights were near Tokyo Station before heading to Kanazawa and Kyoto via Shinkansen. After having a wonderful time in Kyoto, we returned to Tokyo for five nights and stayed in Ginza. The area has many convenient subway access points, restaurant choices, and interesting stores like the Muji Ginza Flagship store and the Ginza Itoya stationary store. Everyone had a great time. Since I have spent numerous days in all the Tokyo Wards mentioned in the video, I am now more interested in staying in outer wards or away from the concentrated tourist areas and finding restaurants popular with local residents.
Glad you had a great time. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
@@robertk9908 that is just what I’m planning! Thank you for confirming my choices!
Excellent tips! The use of the "map" feature to book rooms is important if you are coming without a car, and need to be close to a station. Also I've used google to see what trains are going to the location I want to go and stay. Last April we went to the Tokyo dome. I googled "train from tokyo station to tokyo dome". It brought up the train to take (Marunouchi line- red color train) the train schedule, and what station to get off. This helped me with planning. Just an idea.
Nice to know those things in selecting hotel , thank you so much for the tip
Thank you for your wonderful videos! We will be visiting Tokyo in the Fall and your shared information is super valuable and helpful.
Happy to help :) Have a great trip!
Everytime I watch this, I want to "like" it, but it seems I have "liked" it previously! Too bad it can't be "liked" several times because this video is so good and so packed with practical information!
Thanks! We made a similar video for Osaka, incase you're visiting there as well: ua-cam.com/video/_4gErmeunzg/v-deo.html
Kamata is also one of the most underrated area to stay in, and it's still covered by JR Hokuriku Arch Pass since it's at the very edge of central Tokyo. ESPECIALLY if you arrive from Haneda as it's only just about 10 minutes away by Keikyu Line from the airport. And it's within walking distance to Kamata station & Keikyu-Kamata station.
Hi, thanks for sharing! Great information. We also like Kamata and have stayed here when we needed to get to Haneda for an early flight.
Expedia user here. That clear cancellation policy helped during my first visit to Japan as I had to change accommodations quiet a few times as my plans changed.
What accomodation would u recommend?
Whoa, great tip to save the locations in Google Maps. Thank you! 🙏
You’re welcome!
I do the same for years. Like Japanese mountains locations layer, food restaurants and fast food layer, supermarkets and drugstores layer and a layer for special "heart" with places where I would like to come back next years :) It's very helpful. Unfortunately we can't export those layers from Google as geographical points of interest.
This is one of the best yt videos I've ever seen for japan. Thank you!
You’re welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest for planning a Japan trip.
Just discovered your channel. I travel to japan allot for work and I am able to plan better because of your videos. Thank you!
Awesome, let us know if you have any particular questions.
😎 Thanks again for these videos! I returned Monday from a week at Tokyo Dome City, great hotel! I also used your recommendation for the JR/Siuca link. I was able to see an amazing show in Osaka for a night, IC/QR code was perfect. Got to bypass dozens of people buying paper tickets - huge timesaver!!
We stayed in Ikebukuro near sunshine city. We chose this location as it's close to a train station and if I wanted to get up before my husband, who likes to sleep late on vacations, I could brows the mall. Likewise, if we got back late at night but were still itching for a little fun, the Round 1 entertainment building was right there too. 24 hour arcade.
Thanks for the excellent advice and help
You’re very welcome!
In Tokyo, Kabukicho is my home away from home, as Shinjuku Station connects you everywhere in the city and the hotel rates are reasonable, unlike Shibuya.
May I know what hotel ? Is it safe area at kabukicho ?
@@nancywibowo8632 Any of the APA Hotels in Kabukicho are safe, as they're not in the east area.
Very useful tips. Thank you!
love love love your videos! i learn so much.
My family of 3 stayed in a hotel in Shiomi near Tokyo Bay, and we loved it. Our hotel was right next to Shiomi station, and that area is so lovely and quiet. We really liked being on the trains a little longer just to see less people riding and have some quiet in the biggest city in the world. We want to go stay there again next year, but may have to change due to costs.
Thanks for sharing!
Highly appreciate this post .. really into details . Good view for beginner to venture Tokyo
My wife and I always stay in a studio next to the embassies in the quiet, upscale area of Shibuya.
I stayed at the Tokyo Stay Ginza in November last year. Very good location about 10 minutes by taxi from Tokyo station, but very close to Higashi Ginza, Ginza and Yurakucho subway stations. Hotel also has washer/dryer in rooms
You mean Tokyu Stay. I love that chain as I do not need to go out of my room to wash my clothes. I don't know if it is applicable for all their hotels (I stayed at their Gotanda branch), but there is free coffee from 7 am to midnight
Thanks for sharing! And yes, they have washers! I cut that part out of the video because it was getting long, but probably should have left it in :)
@@luke211286 actually stayed at the location he was showing in Ginza.
9:48 - Henna Hotel (which translates to "Weird Hotel") is the one with the robot receptionists; you'll talk to either an android, an anime hologram, or a talking velociraptor.
Im going there next month as a first timer. This is the best video I have seen so far. Really clear and informative!
Glad it was helpful!
Nippori is great because it’s the first stop on the Keisei skyliner from Narita Airport. Lots of restaurants and the Hotel Lungwood has large rooms but showing its age. Ueno is good too as the Skyliner finishes there and you can catch bullet trains from JR Ueno station. Ueno park is good too.
Agree. We love those areas.
this is exactly what I was looking for for our family trip, thank you so much!!!
You're welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest about Japan travel.
Clear and concise video. Well explained and organized. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Thanks, nice to see how you select where to stay. We have stayed at one of the Prince hotels in Shinagawa to enjoy the peaceful foliage and ponds and trips to Yokohama and Disney. Then we stay in Shibuya for everything else. We’d like to try Shinjuku but overall didn’t seem as lively. We love the subways and Yamanote line
Thanks for sharing, great info! Shinagawa and the Prince Hotels are great. Especially if you will be splitting time in Yokohama and Tokyo
I'm planning to go to Tokyo soon and found your video so helpful. Thank you.
In 2017 stayed at Keio Plaza Hotel(pricey), a very good hotel near Shinjuku station. And in 2023 stay at Daiwa Roynet Kyobashi near Tokyo station(.5 mi away) Also a nice hotel and walking distance to the Tokyo station(cost was about $150/nite)
I have a hotel near Ueno in mind that gives one train access from HND and to places like Shinjuku
This is so helpful, thank you so much!! I tried mapping out my itinerary and it can get really crazy. The tips helped me narrow down .
Glad it helped!
Thank you for this fantastic video‼️
You're welcome! Here's our video on How to Plan a Trip to Japan: ua-cam.com/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/v-deo.html
The one you chose to book (Tokyu Stay) is an amazing hotel chain. I love that their selling point is the washing machine in every room as you won't have to hassle yourself by having to go down (or up in some cases) just to do your laundry, and even worse having to wait for some other guest to finish. The free coffee from 7 am to midnight is another bonus.
However, their Ginza hotel has a steep price so I choose their Gotanda branch. Another interesting area with whole lots of restaurants and izakaya. Also is a station of the Yamanote line and Asakusa subway (with through connections to Keikyu/Keisei lines) so access won't ever be an issue. Not really the best if you have children though as there are some sex workers and pimps at night roaming around, and sometimes even attempting to tout you
HI, yes, the laundry machine is a huge selling point for us too!
Thanks for sharing the information about the Gotanda branch!
This has been extremely helpful to us. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful!
asakusabashi ( cheap and will connected). 7-10 walk to akihabara. Direct train to haneda and narita airport .
Thanks for sharing! Yes, you can take the Keikyu Line direct to Haneda.
You guys are amazingly helpful. You earned my sub❤️
Thanks for another helpful video on staying in Tokyo! I can say with confidence that the walk time back to the hotel after a day of sightseeing always seems to be longer. 😮💨😂
So true!
Fabulous and informative. Thank you, much appreciated.
You’re welcome. Glad to have helped.
We stayed in Asakusa near the Sumida river and sensoji. It was lovely.
Asakusa area is wonderful for the "Japanese" experience. Most of Tokyo is very modern & skyscrapper-ish, having been destroyed by bombing during WWII. However, Asakusa is very crowded (like Shinjuku and Shibuya). We actually ate at restaurants near the fringe of the neighborhood. You can get to the neighborhood via direct train from Haneda but not Narita. airport. It is not on the Yamanote line, so connections are a bit slower but I think this is the best location for first time visitors. My favorites are Asakusa, Ikebukuro, and Ginza. I haven't stayed in Ueno, but I imagine that would be good also. Young people will love Shinjuku & Shibuya but they are crazy busy.
FYI, there are actually two different Asakusa Stations in Asakusa. The one highlighted in the video is jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and Tobu Railway. The second one is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company as part of the Tsukuba Express; it's closer to Senso-ji Temple and has a direct connection to Akihabara.
Thank you for sharing this valuable information, very helpful!
This video actually helped me book tokyrob
This video was so helpful! Thank you so much!!!
You're welcome! We have lots of videos here on Kensho Quest about Japan travel.
Amazing video keep up the quality wow ❤
Many thanks for the helpful and informative video.
Glad to have helped!
Amazing content! Do you know how long in advance is the best timing to reserve? We're traveling a year from now and the price difference in 3 months vs 12 months is crazy. Those farther away in time are more expensive.
Hi. We normally recommend booking as far in advance as possible, but at least 6 months in advance. Hotel prices are seasonal in Japan. Winter is low season, so that might be why you are seeing lower prices within the next 3 months. Spring is the most crowded, but many tourists also visit in the Fall. You could book fully-refundable hotels (check the details to be sure), and change if you see a better deal later. Also stay tuned for Black Friday deals. 🌸 Heidi
Was struggling before but Booked them before this video but pretty much figured similar process to book. With a little more walking due to booking availability but not too bad, Wanted to try japanese style room atleast but the best i can do was half japanese and half western style rooms.
Wow! Thanks for these! Have you gone to Tokyo during Sakura? What would you recommend for a hotel near Ueno Park? We have a 2-year old toddler and we will stay for 9 nights because we want it slow and can go to park anytime to view Hanami. Thanks a lot!
My first time there 5 years ago I stayed in Shin-Okubo (aka Korea Town) which I loved. On the Yamanote line, just one stop up from Shuinjuku, but more of a 'real' area, less touristy but interesting and very lively with loads of different food options, bars and shops, and walkable too. Maybe not the best area for a family perhaps, but for me on my own it was great. I'm not too keen on hotels but I found a cool self-catering motel style place on Expedia (Airbnb is pretty useless for Tokyo - alright for Osaka though) which wasn't expensive and was great for me on my own.
So the next time I went, last year, I fancied doing something different so I stayed in a swish place in Roppongi - a sort-of hotel but the rooms were actually self-contained apartments with a kitchen, washing machine etc. It cost me a fortune but was nice, had a good balcony with a view of Tokyo Tower and was close to lots of attractions (like you've mentioned). However, for me it felt too upmarket and despite the nightlife (and there's better areas for that) it lacked that real, buzzy Tokyo vibe, so next time I go back I'll be staying in Shin-Okubo again!
Maybe an odd choice but I've always chosen to stay in Komagome during my trips to Tokyo since it's a nice mid point between my most frequented spots in Shibuya and Akihabara. As always a great video.
Hi, for seasoned travelers like yourself, sounds like a good choice and something we would do as well ;)
For us an onsen is a must, especially when traveling in winter. Also breakfast quality varies significantly between different hotel chains.
Kanda is my go to area - it’s so central, well connected and cheap!
I also stayed in Kanda. Not crowded and near Akihabara, which I love.
@@pollutingpenguin2146 yes! We are in Shibuya and Kanda next time. And Kanda is so much cheaper xD
@@punktetierpanda7193 yeah it’s about half the price! I like to stay at the Sotetsu hotel there
Currently working on a trip from March 8th through March 20th, so this happens to line up just right lol
Saw you or your clone at Bedok central, Singapore on Sunday July 14th. We have so many looks alike in this vast world. Love watching your family traveling. Very informative, educational and positive guidelines for travellers.
Thanks. Must have been a look alike! It’s been a while since we’ve been to Singapore.
Awesome, I like to stay in shiodome area. Good thing to check is square ft of room. Family of 3 got to be bigger than 235 sq ft. Etc. we are here now and stayed at the Kahala hotel, Kagetsu hotel Matsumoto. Thanks for that video and now in Nagoya. Thanks for all the updates. Aloha
Excellent information, thanks for sharing, hope you liked Matsumoto! Aloha 🤙🏼
Thank you for the tutorial
Thank you so much for your information!!
You're welcome!
I need a recommendation for Osaka
Does anyone know if they have a video on gluten free eating in Japan? I'm gluten free and was so happy to see a couple gluten free places mentioned 😊
Hi. Our videos about gluten free restaurants/bakeries are from years ago and some of them have closed already. Is there a certain city you are wondering about? A major thing to watch out for is soy sauce, since it contains gluten and is in so many foods. Most of the hotel breakfast buffets have little signs indicating common allergens (and it’s surprising how many foods contain gluten). If you eat at a diner style restaurant they usually have one low-allergen meal, it might be on the kids menu, that doesn’t contain any of the most common food allergens.
These presenters are so nice. Thanks for the tips, going soon.
Have a wonderful time in Japan!
Thank you for this video. I am in the planning stage for a Japan visit. Hotels are already near capacity and you are often presented to one of the booking online agencies. I was wondering which one is the most reliable (fewer mishaps) and you seem to go with Expedia. I will trust you and use your affiliate link. Looking for reasonably priced place withing short walking distance of Shibuya Station. Thumbs up.
My always go to on my travels to Japan is stay in near the Tokyo station area on my first two days in Japan before I move to other prefectures. And then on the last two days when i go back to Tokyo, I stay in Akihabara for my geek stuffs.
Thank you so much!
I think Monzen-Nakacho is best but Shiodome Italia Gai and Kagurazaka are nice too. Anyway, I think, for me, any city on the Tozai Line is fine.
Finally, found a step-by-step, easy to follow tutorial on how and where to book a hotel. For a solo traveler, would you recommend APA Hotels? Thank you.
@@tungvu we just stayed at one 2 nights ago in Nagoya. We are a family of 4 and spit into 2 rooms each. The rooms were small but clean and very inexpensive compared to most alternatives.
Yes, APA hotels are good for solo travelers too.
Used some of your videos prior to our trip and it was so helpful. Thanks for your wife’s tip about waterproof shoes and taking only the hikari and Nozomi. Our favorite place was in Kyoto in the Gion area. We went in July and it was during a holiday in Tokyo and in Kyoto so we were caught in two separate crowds. One for the Sensoji temple and the other was a parade in Kyoto!
Glad to hear! Thanks for letting us know.
Hi, we’re planning to visit Japan for 16 days in the spring for the cherry blossoms.
1. Please recommend the area we should stay in Tokyo to get the full experience of cherry blossom? We’re family oriented not much a night life. We plan to stayin Tokyo for 5 days and then head Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido.
2. hotel recommendations for family of 3: parents and a teen because most hotels I saw so far want us to book 2 rooms. We want to stay together as a family.
Thank you so much. Liked and subscribed. Very useful information
Hi, cherry blossom locations are spread throughout Tokyo and beyond. I recommend watching some videos specific on the cherry blossoms to see which areas you want to see. Here is our video: ua-cam.com/video/J_t6Hh9F5YY/v-deo.html
With that said, the best areas while spread out can be easily reached by a combination of JR trains and Tokyo subway system. The Chuo Ward area as discussed in the video is very well connected to our favorites: Chidorigafuchi, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park. If you can give some specifics we might be able to point you in a better direction.
2. We created a Travel Shop in Expedia that lists some of our favorite hotels, most are family friendly and should accommodate the three of you. expedia.com/shop/kenshoquest/share
You can also look at the Mimaru Hotel brand, they rent apartments all over Japan with kitchens.
@ Thank you so much for your prompt response and helpful information.
Always so informative
Hi, what hotel would you stay at thats in a good area but a little away from Disneyland. All the good hotels are unavailable. 🤙
Aloha, if you are planning to go to Disneyland, then Chuo City (ward) is a good location as you can go directly. As mentioned in the video Hatchobori station is right on the line that goes to Disneyland.
@@KenshoQuest Mahalo nui🤙
It will be great if you show us all the accomodations if possible that you had booked in all the times you are in 🇯🇵, it will help me a lot to decide the best place… near the train stn will be excellent thanks
Hi. We are slow-travelers and often stay much longer than people on vacation, so the locations and types of accommodations we book for our family are not necessarily then same as someone visiting Japan for a short trip.
Hi Kensho, i have a toddler with me and were planning to travel to Japan on Dec 9 to 13. What is your recommended spot to go with a toddler with you during those days.
Here I was so worried about the hotel I picked and lo and behold it's the same hotel you had picked in the video! I'm so relieved lol
Glad to have reassured you. Have a wonderful trip!
When i was i Tokyo my hotel was close to minamisenju station and it was great cheap and quiet but sill good connection to other parts of city
Great Travel Information ! I will be going to Tokyo for the first time in late December 2024 and staying 28 Days and I will be traveling Solo would you tell me the Best and Newest Tokyu Stay Hotel to stay at for that long,With the best ability to travel the area and Country from?(Mt Fuji) etc.🌏 🙏
Thank you so much this video. Extremely helpful. The demonstration was God sent.
Im staying very close to Mimaru East Tokyo, within 5 mins of train station to DisneySea. On my last day in Tokyo, my family of 4 with an 8 and 10-year old are going to Disneysea. The train ride there is 40 min.
Do you think I should move to a different hotel within mins from the Park? I will head out to Kyoto the next day after the park.
Thank you!
Hi, so glad the video is helpful! Your hotel location is excellent. Considering your kids age, I think you need to gauge if they will do better by getting up earlier the morning of you journey to Kyoto if staying near Disney or not. My assumption is you are taking the shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station and your hotel is already very close to Tokyo Station and if this is your first time at Tokyo Station, you don't want to be late. Also consider what you are doing the previous days in Tokyo. Chances are they are not anywhere near Disney. I hope this helps :)
@@KenshoQuest Those are extremely helpful things to think about, esp being late to Shinkansen.
Regardless if we move hotel or not, we will ship out our luggage 2 days before arriving in Kyoto.
You are right. We will be in Shibuya the day before DisneySea. An hour ride to Tokyo Bay instead of 30 min to Tokyo East.
Since we will be staying at DisneySea until 9PM, I don't think we will be able to get up early for our trip back to Kyoto. Departure time will probably be around 10AM or later.
I wonder if you could share how your young family handled DisneySea/Land?
@@pmachiavellih1726 Disneyland was a bit stressful, with the super long lines. We enjoyed our time at DisneySea more. We went before the new Fantasy Springs area opened. You need either a Standby Pass or Disney Premier Access to enter Fantasy Springs. More info here: www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/special/en/fantasysprings/admission_method/ And here's our video about DisneySea: ua-cam.com/video/sT-mu-14X14/v-deo.html
Has hotel rooms with cigarette smell been a problem on your various trips? I've done lots of looking around and found lots of comments about the smell & inability to open the windows. That's a worry for me, I absolutely cannot stand cigarette smell (and would much prefer a hotel with a window I can open) and it'd put a real negative on a trip if I couldn't escape that smell on relaxation time. I find this is never mentioned in YT videos, but is all over booking sites. Thanks.
Hi. We've had more trouble with cigarette smoke in Airbnb rentals than hotel rooms. If it really bothers you, I would look for a completely non-smoking hotel. Some hotels mix smoking and non-smoking rooms on the same floor, which doesn't make sense to me since the smoke travels down the hallway, and you need to walk through the hallway to get to your room. The issue we had at an Airbnb was the neighbors standing outside in the parking lot smoking and the smoke drifting in the windows. The good thing about booking a hotel is that you can ask to be moved to a different room, and the staff have always been accommodating. 🌸 Heidi
@@KenshoQuest Thanks for the advice. I think I'm overly sensitive to it because I was raised in a house where both parents smoked. Consequently I've never even tried it and can't stand it. I'll keep your advice in mind when booking hotels 👍
Very helpful!!!!
Glad to help! Are you visiting Tokyo soon?
Our flight does not land in Narita until 8pm, what hotels offer later check in? We're looking for anything around the yamanote line. Thanks in advance!
Hi, as long as it is a real hotel with a check-in desk you should not have any problems checking in late in Tokyo. But always check with the hotel before you book. If you use Expedia, there is a section called Check-in Time, it will say when is the latest you can check it. It's usually after midnight or even 24/7
I am planning to stay near mejiro station,as it is quiet and the train is for the yamanote line, and I will be visiting all the touristy places to Shibuya and Asaksa. Do you think it will be a great idea?
Hi, this can work well for you since it is a direct line to Shibuya and an easy one transfer to Asakusa. It might take a little longer but might be worth it for the convenience.
Do you need to always put the number of kids on there when booking hotels or do they base it more on the room you choose? I noticed that in some countries it doesn't matter and others its extremely important. I have two young kids that are ages 7 and younger.
I would enter the number of kids when booking for Japan.
Are there any issues dropping off luggage at your hotel, before check-in time? So you can walk around and explore until the room is ready? Really appreciate this video 😊
We’ve always been able to drop off our luggage at our hotel before checking in.
@@KenshoQuest Thank you!
I will visit in october 2025. With group of friends. Find your video very helpfull
I prefer to stay in Shinjuku. But I now try to avoid the big cities like Tokyo Osaka coz it's too crowded plus good restos always have a long wait. I love the countryside visiting the small towns like Takayama which offer a more authentic feel plus less people.
is Shinagawa Prince Hotel a good place to stay?
Shinagawa is a huge transport hub on the Yamanote line. You can get anywhere from there easily.
All Shinkansen trains stop there.
If you are heading to Kyoto or Osaka make sure you get reserved seats,
at peak times non-reserved seats can get filled at Tokyo station.
If you have a JR rail pass reservations are free
I would not pay extra for the Green car, Nozomi or Mizuho if you are not travelling beyond Osaka.
Of course, with a JR pass you can travel from Shinagawa to Tokyo (10mins) by shinkansen
and then travel back the other way.
I've visited Japan 20+ time. Every hotel has been excellent. Japanese service is as good as it gets.
Never stayed at the Prince but if you spend about $100+ / night you will be fine anywhere.
Make sure you have some cash, comfortable shoes, eSIM or SIM or PocketWiFI and... don't over pack!
Safe travels...