The Best Hotels in Shinjuku, Tokyo

If you’re looking to explore every inch of Tokyo, spend a few nights in the neon metropolis of Shinjuku. Well connected by public transport, home to bustling nightlife and filled with endless daytime attractions, this vibrant neighbourhood is arguably the central nervous system of Tokyo. As you might expect, Shinjuku has an array of hotels and accommodation options, from elegant luxury stays to traditional ryokan inns.
Hotel Gracery
Suite Hotel

The term “centrally located” sounds somehow like an understatement when talking about Hotel Gracery, which has a Godzilla statue as a watchman. Situated right behind Shinjuku Station, the most trafficked train station in the world, walking distance from the meticulously manicured Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and practically across the road from the restaurant- and bar-lined Memory Lane (Omoide Yokocho), Hotel Gracery may be sky-high, but it has the city at its feet.
Shinjuku Prince Hotel
Hotel

A five-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, the Prince Hotel has convenience, style, price and accessibility wrapped up in one tidy hotel package. The 571-room high-rise hotel serves city views, space-maximising design (a key feature in this heavily populated area) and, at the on-site Bonsalute KABUKI Italian restaurant, deliciously crispy oven-cooked pizza.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Hotel, Luxury

Five-star luxury in a five-star part of the city, Hyatt Regency Tokyo is upmarket living in downtown Shinjuku. The suites are the embodiment of Japanese modern-traditional hybrid design, blurring the edges of where contemporary sleekness and classic minimalism meet. With an on-site fitness centre, spa and dining options that span authentic Japanese kaiseki and teppanyaki to Italian-inspired and all-day dining, there’s near no reason to leave. Still, when you do, the heart of the city is on your doorstep.
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Higashi Shinjuku
Inn, Hotel

Basic, convenient, well-located, comfortable and consistent are the hallmarks of the Sotetsu Fresa Inn chain, a group with a cluster of hotels across Tokyo. Still, this one is their most central outpost. Situated in Higashi (West) Shinjuku, it’s close enough to walk into central Shinjuku but far out enough to retain a sense of Tokyo’s neighbourhood charm. Excellent independent restaurants and bars surround it, but if you want to take it slow, there’s always the Western-style breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Nine Hours Shinjuku-North
Capsule Hotel

Capsule hotels don’t have to be dinky human-storage facilities lacking ambience and style, as Nine Hours in Shinjuku-North attests. With cool Brutalist concrete interiors, Scandi-style minimalist furniture and plug-in communal workspaces, Nine Hours looks more Shinjuku start-up than a place to crash. Stay for a ‘nap’ in the capsule beds, pop in to take a quick shower or power through those deadlines by renting a desk.
Shinjuku Granbell Hotel
Hotel, Boutique Hotel

For the ultimate in comfort and convenience in the heart of Shinjuku, you can’t look past Shinjuku Granbell Hotel. In the heart of the neon-drenched streets of the lively Kabukicho neighbourhood, the hotel is just 10 minutes’ walk from the ramshackle Golden Gai bar district and just a five-minute stroll from Shinjuku Station. Opened in 2013, the hotel is sleek and modern but still welcoming, perfect if you’re looking for a stylish yet relaxed stay. One of the main highlights is the on-site art lounge, which features a rotating exhibit of exciting, up-and-coming artists and sporadic live shows.
Park Hyatt
Hotel

Hilton Shinjuku
Chain Hotel

Directly connected to the Tochomae Subway Station, Hilton Shinjuku is easily accessible if you want to explore everything the city has to offer. The 800 rooms are located between the 8th and the 38th floors, serving unforgettable city views. The design is both modern and sleek, but features warm, homely touches such as rich wood furnishings, traditional Japanese shoji screens and complimentary pyjamas.
Citadines
Chain Hotel

If you’re looking for somewhere easy to crash for a few nights and have value for money in mind, Citadines is a good shout. This stylish, centrally located, budget-friendly hotel is relaxed but still offers impeccable service and high standards. Rooms come with kitchenettes and heated toilet seats, a novelty for first-timers in the city. Shinjuku Gyoen Park is around the corner, and Golden Gai and the main shopping district are around 20 minutes away by foot. If you want to explore a little further, Shinjuku Gyoenmae Subway Station is just a five-minute stroll away.
Keio Plaza Hotel
Independent Hotel, Suite Hotel, Business Hotel

Just a five-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, Keio Plaza Hotel is a striking, 47-storey tower overlooking the picturesque grounds of Shinjuku Gyoen Park, a tranquil hideout in one of the most densely populated corners of the world. Like its neighbouring park, the hotel is a picture of oppositional harmony, where the manic and the peaceful, the new and the traditional meet. Inside the hotel are a number of accommodation options, including traditional Japanese rooms, more Western-style offerings and, for those looking for something a little different, Hello Kitty-themed rooms.
Ryokan Takemine
Hotel

If you’re looking for a traditional Japanese experience in the heart of the city, then don’t look past Ryokan Takemine. Fully renovated recently, this ryokan inn features classic tatami mat flooring and contemporary comforts. It’s located a little over 10 minutes from Shinjuku’s Kabukicho district by train, making it accessible while still also being the perfect city hideaway.
Lucy Dayman contributed additional reporting to this article.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.