An expert analysis based on customer reviews and knowledge of Tokyo
A rainy night view of Tokyo Tower
Introduction
Finding the right hostel in the world's biggest city can be pretty tough. Which area is best? How much should you expect to pay? And which hostels have the best reviews? Another point to consider is how different are hostels in Japan compared to other countries? Mostly the news is very good, the standards for cleanliness and privacy are much higher in Japan, so hostel experiences here can be very nice. For solo travellers however, good reviews can be even more important because hostel culture in Japan is often missing the social aspect that we're used to in most other countries.
So to make things easier, we've analyzed thousands of customer reviews on Google Maps and Booking.com to determine the absolute best, highest-rated hostels in Tokyo.
We've focused on the 4 best areas for accommodation in Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and Akihabara. Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ginza are renowned for their nightlife, while Akihabara is renowned for its anime and video game culture. So sit back and enjoy, this is not a generic article with a random top ten list ;)
The only filters I've personally applied are:
- A minimum average review rating of 4 out of 5 stars
- A minimum of 100 reviews
- Locations must be in Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, or Central (Ginza)
Our listing for each place has a convenient summary including the:
Description
Highlights
Price Range
Review Score
Review Example
The 7 Best Hostels In Tokyo
(Sorted by rating & number of reviews)
Honourable Mentions
1. Cocts Hostel Akihabara
The highest-rated hostel on our list is the Cocts Hostel in Akihabara. This is not a normal hostel. It has a charming wooden interior, private rooms with tatami mats, and beautiful organic decor. One of the amazing features at the Cocts Hostel is the Complex Room – an indoor glamping room that sleeps up to 8 people, featuring tents, sleeping bags, a large projector, and a balcony.
• Highlights:
─ Only a 6 minute walk from Akihabara station
─ A glamping room for up to 8 people
─ Very clean and comfortable
• Price Range: $40 - $100 per night
• Google Review Score: 4.6 ★ (300+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Absolutely loved my stay here! Ive been to plenty of hostels, but this was by far the best I've ever stayed at. All the staff were really helpful and friendly. I was in a 12 bed shared dorm and the lockers fit my carry-on luggage. It also came with their own key that they give you at check in. There is a small privacy screen for each bed, as well as a personal light and outlet for charging your devices. Everything was kept extremely clean, and the beds were comfy too!"
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2. Hostel DEN
The Hostel DEN in Akihabara is an awesome hostel that's become famous for its social vibe, a feature which is often missing from Japanese Hostels. It's ideal for solo travelers or people looking to make new friends, with one free beer for all guests and happy hour every evening. The location is perfect, close to train stations and all the attractions in Akihabara.
• Highlights:
─ Prime location in Akihabara
─ One free beer for every guest
─ Sociable environment
• Price Range: $25 - $40 per night
• Review Score: 4.5 / 5 ★ (300+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Best hostel I’ve stayed at in Japan. The vibe they managed to create in the common areas is unique, great place to socialise and meet people. Beds are pretty comfortable and the location is sweet, next to stations and an awesome area of Akihabara. There's happy hour everyday between 7-8 pm and you also get one free beer."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3. Citan Akihabara
The Citan Hostel is centrally located and within 5 minutes walk of two train stations, making it easy to travel around Tokyo. It receives a lot of praise for its social atmosphere and lively bar. This is ideally suited for travelers who like to meet people and have a few drinks while staying in a central location for easy traveling. They provide a variety of room options so it can be a great option if you're traveling with a group of friends.
• Highlights:
─ Social atmosphere with a lively bar
─ Central location convenient for traveling
─ Great for groups, with a variety of room options
• Price Range: $30 - $100 per night
• Review Score: 4.5 ★ (800+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Nice and clean hostel. When I arrived I immediately got a nice sparkling sake in the basement bar. They have a cool mixture of craft beers and sake to choose from. On my first night I got to meet some nice fellow backpackers. Would stay here again, but bring some ear plugs."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
4. Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
The Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is located in a quiet neighborhood near Tokyo Station. It offers both shared and private rooms and provides a nice and cozy atmosphere for travelers. It's relatively new, featuring an 8-floor setup with a communal lounge and co-working space on the second floor. One of its main highlights is the central location, it's within walking distance of several train stations including Tokyo Station, which makes travel super easy.
• Highlights:
─ Within 15 mins walk from Tokyo Station
─ Peaceful location with easy access to several stations
─ Large social space and bar on the second floor
• Price Range: $50 - $90 per night
• Review Score: 4.3 ★ (450+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"A pretty good quality hostel with a lot of guests from around the world. Beds are comfy, have good privacy and are spacious. Staff are great and super helpful and know a lot about the local area. There's a large socialising space with a bar on the second floor. The location is pretty quiet and empty in the evenings, but is close to a few different metro stations that make it easy to get to most places in Tokyo."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
5. Wise Owl Hostel Shibuya
The Wise Owl Hostel in Shibuya offers comfortable dorm beds with high-quality mattresses and privacy-enhancing blackout curtains. It's conveniently located within a 12-minute walk from Shibuya Station, making it perfect for sightseeing and bar hopping. There's a nice social space, a café for morning coffee, a basement bar for nightlife, and a restaurant serving traditional Japanese dishes. The friendly staff are comfortable speaking English which helps you feel at home after exploring Tokyo.
• Highlights:
─ Basement bar
─ Cafe and restaurant
─ Great value, 12 minutes walk from Shibuya Station
• Price Range: $25 - $50 per night
• Review Score: 4.3 ★ (450+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"It's got pretty much everything a backpacker needs. Good beds, luggage space, airconditioning, private showers, storage boxes, small kitchen, bar and social space, laundry, enough bathrooms, cheap pricing, and cool staff. It's about 15 minutes walk to shibuya crossing."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
6. The Unplan Shinjuku
The Unplan is one of the most popular hostels in Shinjuku, it's only 5 minutes walk from the Shinjuku Golden Gai. The Golden Gai is a tiny district filled with bars and izakayas and is a famous drinking spot for both locals and tourists. It's a very social hostel, perfect for anyone looking to make new friends, and it's only a 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station.
• Highlights:
─ 5 minutes walk from the Shinjuku Golden Gai
─ Has its own Shisha bar
─ Social events perfect for making new friends
• Price Range: $50 - $70 per night
• Review Score: 4.1 ★ (340+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This hostel is the best choice for solo travelers like me who don't have any friends and aren't sure where to go next. The hostel provides opportunities to socialize with many people through events like happy hours and movie nights. They also have a game console in the common kitchen where you can play games like Mario. The beds are very comfortable, and towels are included, which many hostels don't provide. The friendly staff is always ready to help."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
7. The &And Hostel Akihabara
The &AND hostel is one of the best-valued hostels in Akihabara. It's only a 5 minute walk from Akihabara Station and is surrounded by all the sights and attractions of this vibrant neighborhood. It has a large lounge perfect for relaxing or socializing, and a variety of room options
• Highlights:
─ Prime location only a 5-minute walk from Akihabara Station
─ Renowned for easy access to all the attractions in Akihabara
─ Great value for money
• Price Range: $25 - $40 per night
• Review Score: 4.1 ★ (700+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Very clean and comfortable room. Friendly and helpful staff. Great location with good connections to the rest of the city. Plenty of restaurants and a craft beer bar minutes away."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
Honourable Mentions
These three hostels make our list due to their highly sought-after popularity.
1. The Book And Bed Shinjuku
Do you want to feel like you're living inside a charming fairy tale? The Book And Bed Shinjuku has become famous for invoking this feeling with its incredible design and decor. Your bed is literally part of the bookshelf, it's an experience like no other. Along with the beds, you'll find various couches and chairs all seamlessly integrated into the books and bookshelves. The hostel has become an attraction in itself. And its location is unbeatable, in the heart of Shinjuku, everything is on your doorstep.
• Highlights:
─ One of the most unique hostels in the world
─ In the heart of Shinjuku
─ A lovely cafe offering free breakfast for all guests
• Price Range: $50 - $100 per night
• Review Score: 3.5 ★ (500+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"The rooms are capsules, so expect them to be cozy. That said, my stay was PHENOMENAL. The ambiance is very chill and the design was beautiful, and the staff was incredibly helpful and kind. Breakfast was also delicious!."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2. The Imano Tokyo Hostel, Cafe, & Bar - Shinjuku
The Imano Tokyo Hostel, Cafe, & Bar in Shinjuku is one of the most popular hostels in Tokyo. It's only a 3-minute walk from the Golden Gai and a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. What makes this hostel so popular is the price and location, hostels in this area are typically more expensive, so this is an easy choice if you're on a budget and looking for a no-frills hostel close to the Shinjuku nightlife.
• Highlights:
─ 3 minutes walk from the Shinjuku Golden Gai
─ Great value for money for Shinjuku hostels
─ 10 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station
• Price Range: $35-50 per night
• Review Score: 4.1 ★ (650+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"If you are traveling solo, or with a couple of friends, I would definitely recommend staying here. Both times I stayed, I was in one of the 10 bunk rooms. Beds were good for what they were. The location is top notch with the Golden Gai only a 3 walk to the east, as well as other various bars to the south. The staff were very kind and helpful throughout the entire time."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3. The Grids Tokyo Ueno Hotel & Hostel
The third honorable mention is the outstanding Grids Hostel in Ueno. This hostel is located on the doorstep of Ueno station which is super convenient. Ueno is known for its vibrant restaurants, beautiful parks and gardens, temples, and museums. It's the perfect location for those wishing to avoid the bustling energy of Shinjuku or Shibuya.
• Highlights:
─ 1 minute walk to Ueno Station
─ Great value for money
─ Great private room options
• Price Range: $35-50 per night
• Review Score: 4.1 ★ (300+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"I stayed for 7 nights and it was great. The price was very good and the room was clean. They also have laundry and a lobby to sit and get some drinks. Staff were very nice and helpful. Wifi was fast."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
Summary
So there you have it, the best hostels in Tokyo based on Google reviews. Personally, the top 3 on my list for my next visit are the Cocts, the Unplan, and the Book & Bed. Whichever you choose, all the hostels on this list offer something unique and are filled with glowing reviews.
