which one would you recommend? I'll be going with my wife for the first time in May. It's going to be a short stay (5 days) so we are trying to make it as efficient as it can be. We like history (temples, museums,...) and nature, mostly.

I've been to Japan several times and only stayed once in Shinagawa, which I would not recommend. The hotel was a ways from the subway station.

I think it has a lot to do with what you're used to but in recent years, I've been staying in the Minato part of town (Intercontinental, Conrad). Have also stayed in Shinjuku.

First and foremost, I'd recommend somewhere very close to a metro station, before anything else.

The next step is what part of Tokyo and what kind of environment. I like going to the busy areas (Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc) but I don't like staying there. It's frustrating to deal with that every time I walk outside of the hotel. But, it's different for everyone.

Depends how much nightlife matters to you. Subways shut down at midnight, so if you are hitting the bar/club scene late, you want to be somewhere close to save on cab fare. I would stay somewhere close to either a stop on the Yamanote loop or one of the more tourist-accessible subway lines (meaning with good stops and connections) like Ginza, Marunouichi, or Hibiya.

The only advantage of Shinagawa is that it's easy to transfer from the Narita Express to the Shinkansen there. I've stayed there once, on a trip when I had to catch a 7:30AM Shinkansen the morning after my arrival. There's really nothing of interest outside the hotel (or inside the hotel, for that matter).

If you want to feel as if you're in Japan and not in Generic International Business Land, I like the more downscale Ueno or Asakusa areas. By downscale, I don't mean unsafe. But there's more of interest and more of real everyday life outside your hotel door (not to mention more affordable places to eat and shop) in Ueno or Asakusa than in Shinagawa or the Tokyo Station area.

I've twice visited Tokyo as a tourist and find the best location to be based in is Shinjuku. Proximity to the local subway routes and long-distance trains is excellent here, with the airport train dropping you off in Shinjuku. The JR Yamanote line is invaluable in getting around easily. Additionally there are endless streets to wander in the area (particularly at night) as well as department stores, restaurants and bars.

That being said, pick your hotel wisely. Some hotels, whilst in Shinjuku, or a good walk from the station. I've stayed at the PH which was a 10-15 minute walk to the station and sunroute plaza which was 2 minutes walk, both in Shinjuku.

You can't go wrong with Shinjuku. You have a direct connection with NRT via the NEX, the Yamanote Line for many of the major sights, the Odakyu line for easy access to Shimokitazawa and the Chuo line which gets you to the east side of the Yamanote loop in a hurry. The Chuo line also connects Shinjuku with Kichijoji - one of my favorite neighborhoods along with Shimo.

Shinjuku also has a high concentration of reasonably priced hotels.

Shinjuku is also a good spot for a trip to Hakone on the non-JR Odakyu Line or to Kawagoe on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line.

The JR Station is confusing, and there seem to be new exits all the time, but just take a deep breath and follow the signs. If the weather is bad and you want to go to one of the East Exit businesses, there's are underground walkways, one fork of which leads to Shinjuku Sanchome subway station and the other fork of which leads through a shopping arcade called the Subnade to Seibu Shinjuku Station. Really, there are underground walkways all over the place, built for the benefit of people who are transferring from one transit line to another but partly available to people who just want to get out of the rain. Even some of the hotels are connected to the walkways.

Shibuya is pretty good location as well, especially if you want to get outside of Tokyo proper. There are trains that will take you directly to Yokohama, Minato Mirai, Chinatown, Kamakura, and Odawara (and simple transfer to Hakone from there)

So if I go to Tokyo for the very first time...How long would you suggest I should stay? I'm thinking about two days in Tokyo, maybe one day with the Train (shi-something called) to Mount Fuji...Like all the Trip maybe about 5 to 6 days all in?

So what I am looking for is a nice Hotel in Tokyo..Is there something on your mind?

You need to buy a guidebook and read it, or just read the threads about Japan here. In fact, the name of the train you are trying to think of is mentioned in my previous post.

There are literally hundreds of hotels in Tokyo. Buy a guidebook, pick out some in your price range, and ask about them.

The fact that you think you want to go to Mt. Fuji is an indication that you haven't done any of your own research.

Sorry to be so harsh, but you can't expect strangers on the Internet to plan your trip for you.

True!

No problem at all - and no, you're not harsh.


I'll do my research and after that I will ask again.

We will be going to Tokyo in June for 10 nights.It is a surprise birthday trip for my wife and she likes to be very involved in the planning, loves to shop and sight-see. The only planning I have done is buying the biz class tickets and book a room at the Four Seasons.. Anyone have any reasons why I would rethink the hotel choice?

This being FlyerTalk, you'll find a wide diversity of opinions, but I think you will be delighted with your choice. Now's a good time to think about what you want to do, see, and eat in Tokyo.

I assume that you mean the Four Seasons Marunouchi, and not the Chinzanso hotel that ceased being a Four Seasons hotel this year?

If the former, it's an excellent hotel, and the only thing I would consider is perhaps splitting up the trip to include another luxury hotel, as there are so many good ones to be found in Tokyo. Within walkable distance alone there is The Peninsula, Shangri-la, and Mandarin Oriental, all of which offer spectacular facilities that offer an experience that's a little different than what's available at the Four Seasons.

Hmmm. Or take a break from Tokyo mid-trip and spend a night or two at a luxury ryokan or visit Kyoto or ...