The 7 Best Affordable Hotels in Tokyo

Guest room with blond wood and traditional shoji screens that frame trees outside — You’ll find Yuen Bettei Daita in the Shimokitazawa neighborhood.

Tokyo is home to some of the world’s most spectacular luxury hotels—but when you’re traveling on a budget, it can be harder to find properties that deliver both style and comfort without a hefty price tag. That’s where Japan’s homegrown hotel chains shine.

Brands like Mitsui Fudosan, Urban Design System, and Hulic have mastered the art of midrange comfort. Their properties are smartly designed, with compact rooms that prioritize essentials. Some even feature communal baths or onsen hot springs—a luxurious alternative to the typically small in-room showers, if you’re comfortable bathing in the buff with strangers.

I’ve lived in Tokyo for 25 years and spent a decade in incentive travel, staying at top hotels around the world. Now I lead market tours, write about the city, and regularly recommend hotels to travelers looking for that sweet spot between thoughtful design and reasonable prices. For Afar’s Hotels We Love series, here are a few of my favorite affordable stays in Tokyo.

The Blossom Hibiya

Public space with display of pink cherry blossoms and large windows overlooking city — Blossom Hibiya is in the Hibiya neighborhood of Tokyo.

Neighborhood: Hibiya
Train lines: Yamanote, Hibiya, and Keihin Tohoku
Why we love it: Spectacular views and a central location
From $250
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Some of the best views of Tokyo are on display in the rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows at the Blossom Hibiya, located on the 20th to 27th floors of a high-rise building. High ceilings on the 19th floor lobby enhance a dramatic view overlooking Tokyo. The 255 spacious accommodations are decorated in soothing blue and green hues; many have bay window seating where guests can enjoy the skyline. The hotel is centrally located near Shinbashi Station, an area famous for its restaurants and casual izakaya pubs that fill with office workers at night. The Blossom Hibiya is run by the Japan Railways Hotel Group, which has properties throughout the country conveniently near major stations. Most of the company’s hotels cater to business travelers, but Blossom Hibiya is part of new expansion plans to create hotels that appeal to leisure travelers.

The Gate Hotel Tokyo

Neighborhood: Ginza
Train lines: Yamanote, Keihin Tohoku, Hibiya, Yurakucho, and Marunouchi
Why we love it: a guests-only rooftop lounge in popular Ginza neighborhood
From $280
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At the Gate Hotel Tokyo, the buzz of Ginza hums right outside—but inside, the fourth-floor lobby lounge offers a moment of calm, with soaring double-height windows that frame the city skyline. The 164 spacious guest rooms and suites are outfitted with Nespresso machines and Hansgrohe raindance showers, blending comfort and function. The hotel is operated by Japan-based real estate developer Hulic, known for its thoughtful work with both ryokans and midrange city hotels like this one.

Guests have exclusive access to the 13th-floor Roof Top Terrace, where complimentary drinks and light snacks are served with panoramic views of the skyline. The Imperial Palace’s five-kilometer jogging loop is minutes away, while food lovers will find plenty to explore nearby—from sushi at Nemuro Hanamaru in Tokyu Plaza Ginza to oversize bowls of udon at Tsurutontan. For a taste of Tokyo’s more casual side, pop into the atmospheric pubs tucked under the train tracks at nearby Yurakucho Station.

Hamacho Hotel

Neighborhood: Nihonbashi Ningyocho
Train lines: Hanzomon, Toei Asakusa, and Toei Shinjuku
Why we love it: Quiet local neighborhood and a variety of room configurations
From $150
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Set in the charming Nihonbashi Ningyocho district—an older shitamachi neighborhood known for its historic shops and restaurants—the Hamacho Hotel blends in with a quiet, local vibe. Operated by the UDS group, this 15-story designer hotel has 170 guest rooms marked by bright white tones, clean lines, and warm wood accents. Plants on the verandas add a homey, lived-in feel.

The on-site all-day dining restaurant (think upscale diner) is a favorite among locals, and the surrounding neighborhood is undergoing a small renaissance, with hip spots like La Boulangerie Django next door and Single O coffee across the street. At night, the area winds down after nearby office workers head home—ideal for travelers seeking a more tranquil base in Tokyo. For extra sunlight, request a corner room.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Gochome

Neighborhood: Ginza
Train lines: Ginza, Hibiya, Oedo, and Toei Asakusa
Why we love it: Location
From $230
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Only minutes from the main shopping street in Ginza, the Mitsui Garden Hotel Gochome matches the energetic vibe of the neighborhood around it. The 15-story hotel has 338 rooms, and the lobby is often buzzing with guests returning from visits to nearby icons like the Itoya stationery store, Mitsukoshi department store, and Tsutaya bookstore. It’s also walking distance from Tsukiji Market—an ideal spot to start the day with fresh seafood.

The Mitsui Garden Hotel chain has perfected the affordable Tokyo stay, offering comfortable Western-style rooms, an on-site daiyokujo public bath for soaking after a long day, and a coin laundry for longer stays. Rooms feel sophisticated, with dark slate floors, small seating areas, and many layouts that accommodate three beds—ideal for families.

With a location next to Higashi Ginza Station, it’s also incredibly convenient: just one direct train to Haneda Airport.

Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei

Neighborhood: Asakusa
Train lines: Ginza and Tsukuba Express
Why we love it: The onsen hot springs and tatami mats throughout the hotel
From $190
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At Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei, guests remove their shoes at the entrance, store them in a locker, and slip into socks provided by the hotel—a ritual that makes the experience feel like staying in a Japanese home. Tatami mats line the floors throughout the property, and each room includes a small seating area for relaxing.

Downstairs, there’s a soothing onsen hot spring bath with striking black mineral water, and in the evenings, guests can enjoy a complimentary bowl of ramen. Situated on the eastern side of the city near the Sensoji Temple, the hotel is steps from lively shotengai shopping arcades and a short walk from the Kappabashi kitchenware district. Seeing the temple lit up at night is a quiet highlight of the stay.

The hotel has 117 rooms spread over nine floors. Note: There’s a larger sister property across the street, Onyado Nono Asakusa, but we prefer this newer and more intimate Bettei location.

TSUKI Tokyo

Bathroom with deep tub in blond wood — The TSUKI Tokyo’s guest rooms are clad in blond wood.

Neighborhood: Tsukiji and Ginza
Train lines: Hibiya, Ginza, Yurakucho, and Toei Asakusa
Why we love it: Minimalist rooms
From $200
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With just 31 rooms spread across 10 floors, TSUKI Tokyo is a slender boutique hotel tucked into the quiet backstreets between Tsukiji Market and Ginza. The rooms are minimalist—wooden floors, white walls, and simple design touches that reflect Japanese sensibilities. Some of the larger rooms feature a hinoki cypress soaking tub, and all are stocked with plush Imabari towels, a beloved Japanese brand that’s a rare treat in hotel rooms at this price point.

Guests can start the day with complimentary coffee and breads in the lobby, or venture out to nearby Turret Coffee before strolling to Tsukiji Market for a proper breakfast. There’s also a private bath on site that guests can reserve for a more luxurious soak.

Part of the Urban Design System group, TSUKI Tokyo offers a serene, design-forward stay in one of Tokyo’s most walkable neighborhoods.

Yuen Bettei Daita

Guest room with large white bed, small seating area, blond wood interior, and traditional shoji screens — Yuen Bettei Daita is in Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa neighborhood.

Neighborhood: Shimokitazawa
Train lines: Keio Inokashira and Odakyu
Why we love it: Onsen hot springs and the traditional Japanese rooms
From $300
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For travelers who love onsen hot springs, Andres Zuleta, founder of Boutique Japan, recommends Yuen Bettei Daita. “We love this hotel,” he says. “Our favorite thing about it is the location. While a bit removed from the city center, it’s just a short and pleasant walk into lively Shimokitazawa. It’s perfect for travelers who want to stay in a neighborhood where they can almost feel like they live there.”

With just 35 guest rooms, the hotel feels peaceful and intimate. Details like washi paper sliding screens, tatami mats, and woven baskets for carrying your toiletries to the onsen create a strong sense of place. Shimokitazawa, known for its bohemian vibe and second-hand shops, makes a fun and offbeat base.

Can’t get a room at Yuen Bettei Daita? Try its larger sister hotel, Yuen Shinjuku, located about 15 minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station—one of the busiest in the world with 12 train lines. This hotel has 193 rooms across 18 floors, with rates starting around $180.

Both hotels are part of the UDS group and use onsen water brought in from Hakone. At Yuen Shinjuku, the rooftop rotenburo (open-air bath) is an added bonus.

Yukari Sakamoto

Yukari Sakamoto immersed herself in the food and beverage world in Tokyo working at Takashimaya department store’s sake section and at the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Grill and Bar as a sommelier. She is the author of Food Sake Tokyo and offers tours to markets in Tokyo.

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