By Beth Whitman, on July 14, 2013

Top hotels in Tokyo

With more than 12 million people in Japan's capital, Tokyo is considered the most populated urban area in the world. Surrounded by mountains and tropical islands, the city is a fantastic city to explore. I recommend considering one of the following hotels as your base to enjoy all the city has to offer. Rated the best among Expedia's properties, these are the top hotels in Tokyo and considered some of the best worldwide.

So how did they get chosen? Expedia recently released the 2013 Insiders’ Select™ List of The World’s Best-Reviewed Hotels. This is an exclusive list of the top 650 properties worldwide, selected from over 150,000 hotels. The list is a combination of verified guest reviews, Expedia’s expert hotel input, and overall value.

1. Century Southern Tower Hotel (Hotel Rank: #31). This family-friendly 4-star hotel in the center of Tokyo provides easy access by foot to Takashimaya Times Square and the NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi Building. It is also close to Shinjuku Isetan and Studio Alta. It features four restaurants, a health club, a bar/lounge, and deep soaking bathtubs in the guest rooms.

2. Hotel Nikko Tokyo (Hotel Rank: #44). This hotel is located on the island of Odaiba, known as a dining and shopping district. Amenities include a health spa with yoga instruction, hydrotherapy treatments, an outdoor spa tub, and an indoor pool.

3. Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Hotel Rank: #69). The rooms at this trendy hotel have magnificent city views. It is located just three blocks from the Shibuya rail and subway stations, making it the perfect place to stay for those exploring Tokyo’s fashion districts of Shibuya, Harajuku, and Aoyama. For in-house leisure and entertainment, there’s the Japanese Noh drama theater, a jazz club with nightly performances, a fitness center with personal trainers, and a heated indoor pool.

4. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu (Hotel Rank: #155). This 5-star city center hotel is located near the National Diet Building, Tokyo Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Midtown, and Mori Art Museum. It offers an indoor pool, a health club, a full-service spa, and a bar/lounge.

5. The Peninsula Tokyo (Hotel Rank: #256). Located across from the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park, this 5-star hotel is within walking distance of the Ginza shopping district and a few minutes away from the Kabuki-za Theater and the Tokyo International Forum. The Peter Restaurant on the 24th floor, offers fantastic views of the city. The rooms are spacious and modern.

6. Conrad Tokyo (Hotel Rank: #332). This luxury hotel provides great views of the city’s Shiodome area and the Tokyo Bay. It is just a few minutes away from the Ginza Shopping Street, Hamarikyu Garden, and the Tsukiji Fish Market. Amenities include an indoor pool, a day spa, a health club with saunas and steam rooms, and both Chinese and Japanese restaurants.

7. The Westin Tokyo (Hotel Rank: #403). This 5-star property is near numerous museums, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography, Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, Nezu Art Museum, Mori Art Museum, and Institute for Nature Study. The hotel has five restaurants, a fitness facility, full-service spa, and a bar/lounge. 

8. The Prince Park Tower Tokyo (Hotel Rank: #404). This hotel is within walking distance of Tokyo Tower and is near Roppongi nightlife. It is also just three train stops away from the shopping places of Ginza, Shinjuku, and Tsukjii fish market. There's a wide variety of in-house dining choices, plus many leisure activities for families, including bowling, darts, billiards, gym, an indoor swimming pool, and spa. There are panoramic views from the guest rooms and from the hotel’s 33rd floor bar.

9. Imperial Hotel (Hotel Rank: #433). This two-building hotel is considered a landmark with its Frank Lloyd Wright–designed décor pieces and a Marilyn Monroe-inspired cocktail at the bar. It's located in the glamorous theater district across from the Hibiya Park and is in close proximity to the Ginza shopping area. Amenities include a shopping arcade, business center, fitness room with city views, and airport limousine.

Hotel images courtesy of The Peninsula Tokyo.