Hotels in Tokyo's 23 wards, which make up the city's central area, have been increasingly difficult to book in recent years due to the rise in foreign visitors. Popular hotels often get fully booked as far as two months in advance.

Finding accommodations in Tokyo becomes especially challenging during January and February, when university entrance exams take place, and in early April, when the new school year starts. During these periods, students from across the country flood into Tokyo's hotels. Additionally, hotel bookings become more difficult—and prices higher—when major events or concerts by famous artists are held.

The busiest times for hotels in Tokyo are listed below, so it's worth keeping them in mind when planning your trip.

Booking hotels in Tokyo is generally easier on Sundays and Mondays. However, from Wednesday through Friday, many business travelers from Osaka, Fukuoka, and other regions come to Tokyo, causing business hotels to fill up quickly, especially single rooms. On Saturdays, while there are fewer business travelers, the number of vacationers increases, making it more difficult to book twin rooms and suites.

If you're having trouble finding vacancies on major booking websites, consider trying lesser-known reservation sites or checking the hotel's official website. If those options don't work, your last resort might be to call the hotel directly. Nowadays, Skype and other internet-based phone services make it much cheaper and easier to call from overseas than traditional international calls.

A key factor in choosing a hotel is the proximity to major stations. Hotels near terminal stations like Shinjuku or Shibuya, which are serviced by multiple train lines, tend to have higher rates compared to those located farther away.

Another important consideration is the distance from the station. Hotels that are more than a 10-minute walk from the station are typically about 10% cheaper than those within a 5-minute walking distance and are often easier to book. For instance, if a hotel within a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Station costs 10,000 yen per night, a similarly sized hotel at the next station might cost around 9,000 yen.

Furthermore, if the hotel requires a walk of more than 10 minutes, the rate might drop to about 8,000 yen. While hotels closer to terminal stations are more convenient, opting for one a bit farther away can be more affordable and easier to book—especially if you are planning a longer or more relaxed stay.

On average, rooms at a hotel in Tokyo will cost around $80 (3-star) to $250 (4-star) per night for 2 adults, though the price you pay for your room will vary significantly depending on seasonality, location, and facilities.

All hotels in Tokyo have cancellation policies that specify the fees and deadlines for cancellations, though many also offer periods when no cancellation charges apply. When choosing a place to stay, it's a good idea to prioritize hotels that don’t charge cancellation fees and make a reservation with them. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can cancel any unnecessary bookings without penalty.

Cancellation periods vary by hotel, but they are often set 10, 7, 5, or 3 days in advance. Many people tend to cancel just before these deadlines, so if you're hoping for a spot to open up, try checking 11, 8, 6, or 4 days in advance.

If you're unable to secure a booking at your preferred hotel, review its cancellation policy and check for openings just before the fee takes effect. Additionally, last-minute cancellations sometimes occur the day before or even on the day of a reservation. If you don’t have a booking, try calling the hotel around 3 PM on the day you're looking to stay—you might find a room due to a sudden cancellation.

Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Tokyo, and Ueno are the city's major train stations, so hotels in these areas tend to have higher rates. However, staying in less central or more out-of-the-way locations can be a good strategy for finding lower hotel prices.

For example, the Senju area isn’t as well-known, yet it offers convenient access to Asakusa via the Tobu Skytree Line and to Ueno via the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and JR lines, making it surprisingly accessible. Similarly, the Kamata area is a great option, particularly due to its easy access to Haneda Airport. With many business hotels competing in the area, the rates remain relatively affordable.

Gotanda and Osaki are also worth considering, as they have a large number of chain hotels. This makes securing a reservation in these areas easier and often at a more reasonable price.

As mentioned earlier, hotels near major stations tend to be more expensive, while those farther away usually offer lower rates. Although hotels near terminal stations are more conveniently located, the time it takes to navigate large, complex stations can be longer than the "minutes on foot" often advertised.

When you factor that in, staying at a hotel near a station adjacent to a terminal can be a great alternative. Train stations in Tokyo are relatively close to each other, and the distance between them can often be walked. Even if you take the train, it's usually just a minute or two between stations, with a fare of around 150 yen.

Some examples of these less crowded, nearby stations include Kanda Station next to Tokyo Station, Shin-Okubo Station next to Shinjuku Station, and Otsuka Station next to Ikebukuro Station. These areas offer convenient stays, with rates generally about 10% lower and more spacious rooms. While they may be less popular than terminal hotels, this often makes it easier to secure a reservation.

If you're arriving from Narita or Haneda Airport, choosing a hotel along one of the airport train lines can make your stay more convenient.

For travelers using the Keisei Skyliner from Narita Airport, Nippori and Keisei-Ueno stations provide easy access. If you're taking the Keisei Narita Skyaccess line, consider staying in areas like Oshiage, Asakusa, Higashi-Ginza, or Shinagawa. For those using the JR Narita Express, staying near Tokyo or Shinagawa stations is ideal. The Sobu Rapid train also offers convenient stops at Bakurocho and Kinshicho, both great locations.

From Haneda Airport, areas like Asakusa, Shinagawa, Ningyocho, and Kuramae are highly accessible and make for convenient stays.

By selecting a hotel along these lines, you'll reduce travel time and simplify your journey between the airport and your accommodation.

Capsule hotels were invented in Japan to maximize the use of minimal space. Simply put, these hotels offer sleeping pods just large enough for one person, with the capsules stacked like berths on a ship or train.

Some view them as a symbol of Japan's crowded and compact lifestyle. Traditionally, capsule hotels were used by commuters who missed their last trains and needed an affordable place to spend the night, with most guests being men. However, capsule hotels have recently evolved, offering a variety of amenities and emphasizing cleanliness and quality.

They are now popular with business travelers, and some are even designed exclusively for women. Naturally, an increasing number of foreign visitors are also choosing capsule hotels as a budget-friendly alternative to traditional hotels. Unlike regular hotels, where reservations must often be made far in advance, capsule hotels often have availability for last-minute bookings.

"Leisure hotels" were initially used by couples for a few hours together; sometimes, they are also called "love hotels." These are often found clustered together in certain sections of popular areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, and Ueno.

When night falls, couples drifting into these places is a typical scene. It is often not possible to make reservations in these hotels. Once you enter one, you cannot step out for a bit and then return, which makes them inconvenient, but, in recent years, that inconvenience is being remedied by an increasing number of these hotels accepting regular guests.

Usually, they are located in lively sections of town with good access to stations, and getting a room is quite easy. The guest rooms have overly romantic themes, but if you don't mind that, these are real bargains when it comes to cost performance.

If you can't find a hotel in Tokyo, consider looking in the suburbs. The city's terminal stations are connected to suburban areas via train lines, making it easy to find hotels located about 30 minutes away from central Tokyo.

While staying in the suburbs means additional time and costs for traveling into the city for sightseeing, the advantages include lower prices and generally more spacious rooms. Look for areas that have been developed in recent years, as they often feature new hotels conveniently located near or connected to train stations.

In addition to suburban areas in Chiba Prefecture, like Kashiwa City, Yachiyo City, and Inzai City, consider looking in nearby cities like Yokohama and Kawasaki. Both cities are just a short train ride from Tokyo, offering a range of hotel options that are often more affordable than central Tokyo, with the added benefit of larger rooms and modern amenities.

The types of lodging in the Tokyo area can roughly be divided as follows. The rates are generally for one or two people use.

In most cases, hotels in Japan do not charge by the room, but instead by the number of people staying in a room. The more people in a room, the slightly cheaper the rate, that for one person staying in a single being the highest. So a family staying together or friends sharing a room can help keep the price down. Most twin rooms can handle an extra bed to enable three people to stay in one place. It is best to ask about these things when making a reservation.

Most hotels charge just for the room, but many have plans where breakfast is included. There has also been an increase in the number of hotels offering free simple breakfasts. Some city and business hotels include two meals in their hotel restaurants for further savings on room rates. If you want to save money on food, look for plans like these.