Best Value Hotels in Tokyo

The mid-range Dormy Inn Premium Shibuya Jingumae hotel is in Tokyo's vibrant Shibuya District, an eight-minute walk to the Meiji-Jingumae subway station. The 136 rooms include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi, though some rooms are dark, cramped, and subject to noise from the nearby railway line. Rates are slightly higher than at comparable neighborhood hotels, but there are quite a few freebies on hand, such as a free breakfast that includes a wide variety of Western and Japanese dishes, late-night ramen noodles, tea and coffee throughout the day, use of a public bath, and shuttle service to nearby subway stations. 

The mid-range Hotel Villa Fontaine Shiodome occupies a 497-room high-rise building in Tokyo's business district, with excellent transportation links (there's direct access to Shiodome subway station, and Shinbashi train station is an eight-minute walk away). The hotel's public spaces are sleek and swanky, with a colonnade ceiling in the atrium lobby, but the room interiors are in need of a refresh. Still, on clear days views extend to Mount Fuji. Rooms come with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles. A free breakfast buffet is served each morning in the lobby area, where there's also a trendy lounge bar. Other on-site features include a gym, business center, and coin-operated laundry.

Located on a relatively quiet street in Tokyo’s Chiyoda district, the 238-room, upper-middle-range Hotel Niwa Tokyo features clean, modern decor with traditional Japanese elements. While the hotel is in the center of the city and only a five-minute walk from the train station, it still takes 25 to 30 minutes to get to most sightseeing attractions via public transportation (this could explain the hotel's extremely competitive-for-the-area rates). Rooms are simple but stylish with mini-fridges, flat-screen TVs, deep bathtubs, comfortable beds, and free Wi-Fi. There's also a range of amenities, including two on-site restaurants, one of which serves a breakfast buffet, though it's not included in the standard room rate. 

The 260 rooms at the mid-range Citadines Shinjuku Tokyo, near bustling Shinjuku East, are like mini-apartments -- they come with kitchenettes, and are among the most spacious we've seen in the area. While there's no full restaurant or pool on site, there's a small fitness center, and breakfast is available for a fee. The famous Shinjuku Gyoen Park and the lively Kabukicho entertainment district are within walking distance, as is the Shinjuku Golden Gai area, which is packed with tiny bars. It would be tough to find rooms this large for similar rates in this location.

The mid-range E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku, located in central Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku district, has a modern vibe and competitive rates. A subway station is within a few minutes' walk, making the hotel a convenient base for exploring the city. The lobby and its 253 rooms were renovated in August 2015, but most of the rooms are small, and the bathrooms tiny. Twin Rooms are larger and could offer better value than Doubles. There's no breakfast service, but a branch of Tully's Coffee is located in the building.

Close to Haneda Airport, this well-maintained, mid-range hotel offers excellent value for its location. The 174 rooms are small but decorated in a refreshing, modern style, and have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, safes, and kitchenettes in some. On-site features include a cafe and restaurant, a small gym, a library, and a TV lounge. The hotel's free shuttle bus ferries guests to and from Haneda airport, but runs on a limited schedule. Guests can also take the train to the airport, a six-minute ride from nearby Anamoi-Inari station. 

This small family-run budget hotel is located in a residential area of Tokyo, a nine-minute walk away from a subway station. The 12 rooms here are small and minimalist, but charming, with traditional tatami mats, fold-up futons, and not much else in the way of furniture. All rooms have attached bathrooms, and in-room amenities include traditional yukata robes, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is included in the room rates, and guests are free to use the hot tub and washing machine at no extra cost. 

This large, mid-range hotel is conveniently located in Tokyo's vibrant Shinjuku district, next door to a subway station. The 311 good-value rooms are small and decorated simply, with views of the Tokyo skyline from the upper floors. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. The rooms on the women-only 12th floor have a few extras, like foot massagers and minus-ion hairdryers. The hotel has two on-site restaurants, a coin laundry, and free Wi-Fi throughout but no fitness center.

A mid-range property with 94 guest rooms, Kadoya Hotel is located in the heart of Tokyo's lively Shinjuku district and within walking distance of its train station, known as the busiest in the world. Rooms are small and basic, but clean, and many were refurbished in 2014. They're all equipped with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles, but bathrooms are tiny. There's a charming on-site Japanese restaurant, as well as a small cafe where breakfast is served for an extra fee. 

Sakura Fleur Aoyama is smack in the middle of Tokyo's trendy Shibuya district, which is known for its vibrant urban landscape of billboards, neon signs, boutiques, and night spots. A few minutes' walk to busy Shibuya station, this mid-range hotel has 133 relatively spacious rooms with compact Japanese-style bathrooms. Interiors are a bit quirky, decorated in tones of soft pinks and grays with some baroque details. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges with free mineral water, and electric kettles. An adjacent cafe and bar serves light meals but no breakfast.

Andon Ryokan is a very basic but clean budget hotel that's popular with young travelers and is conveniently located within walking distance of the subway. The hotel offers a modern twist on the traditional "ryokan" style inn: the contemporary building has 24 guest rooms with tatami floors and futon beds, and instead of a traditional Japanese-style public bath, there's a hot tub. The rooms are tiny, however, with only 75 square feet of floor space, and bathroom and toilet facilities are shared. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, TVs, DVD players, and free Wi-Fi. Other services include breakfast (charged extra), bicycle rental, laundry facilities, and daily cultural activities.

A modern budget property, Hotel MyStays Asakusa is located in the Sumida neighborhood, a 10-minute walk to the Kuramae subway station. The 160 rooms come with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and kitchenettes that include mini-fridges, electric burners, microwaves, and tea- and coffee-making facilities (cookware and cutlery can be rented). Rooms, however, are small and cramped, and the narrow double beds are a tight squeeze for two. There's no breakfast service, and daily housekeeping comes with a fee. Past guests have also complained about cleanliness and patchy Wi-Fi. Bikes can be rented at no extra charge, and there's a coin-operated laundry on-site. 

The budget Hotel Horidome is located in Tokyo's Chuo District, a two-minute walk to Kodemmacho subway station, in an area with traditional restaurants, Shinto shrines, and artisan shops. Public spaces have a fresh, renovated look, and the 92 guest rooms are modern but small and bland in decor. They come with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, electric kettles, and Wi-Fi, which is free throughout the hotel. Although there's no breakfast service, free morning coffee and tea are available in the lobby. The hotel also has coin-operated washer/dryers on every floor.

Sakura Hotel Hatagaya is a no-frills budget hotel that has the look and atmosphere of a youth hostel without the typical dorm-style rooms. The 74 guest rooms are clean, and all have attached bathrooms and amenities like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and hairdryers and toiletries in the bathrooms. The hotel is well-maintained and was last renovated at the end of 2012, but the decor is functional and bland. The on-site restaurant, Sakura Cafe, is open 24 hours and has an international menu, with halal dishes also available. Popular with budget travelers, this hotel has a young vibe. 

Taito Ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn located in a residential Tokyo neighborhood, close to a subway and within walking distance of the Senso-ji temple. This charming budget property has nine simple guest rooms with tatami mats covering the floors and folding futon beds. The bathroom facilities are shared, and there are no in-room amenities besides air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. There's a small common room with a TV and free tea or coffee, but breakfast service is not offered here. Rates are cheap -- but the property is in need of refurbishment.