Famous for both its abundance of electronics shops and for being the anime/manga center of Tokyo, Akihabara is a vibrant, wonderfully geeky district.
There are tons of shops, selling the latest cutting-edge electronics and anime/manga, along with collectibles, games, toys, etc.
And there are also some very unusual cafes, like maid cafes – where women dress up as maids and take your order – and the Gundam Café, where you can eat food inspired by the popular animated show about robots.
Kanda Myojin Shrine is a peaceful respite from the noise and activity of Akiba (an often used nickname for Akihabara). Because of its proximity to Akihabara, it’s considered a good place to pray for success for IT-related businesses and ventures.
With so much culture and technology, it’s not hard to see why Akihabara is a popular place for all kinds of people to visit.
Check out my picks for the six best places to stay near Akihabara Station, so you can be right where the action is.
1. Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten
With a long history of starting out as a ryokan (a Japanese-style inn), Hotel Ryumeikan Ochanomizu Honten has gone through several transformations and upgrades over the years.
But the superior customer service has remained unchanged and is one of the main reasons for its popularity.
It’s a great choice for visitors who want a distinctly Japanese experience, but prefer the modernity of hotels over ryokans.
With amazing details like deep, circular, handmade bathtubs made of traditional “shigara kiyaki” ceramic and comfortable handcrafted mattresses from Kyoto, there’s a lot to look forward to when staying here.
Located in Kanda-Ochanomizu, it’s central and convenient to major city areas, but the immediate surroundings are quiet and relaxing.
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Comfortable mattresses, handmade in Kyoto
- Handmade circular shigarakiyaki pottery bathtubs for deep, authentic Japanese baths
- Soundproof rooms
- Coffee machine in every room
- Daily housekeeping
- Library with couches
- Massage services available
Cons
- No children under 13 years old allowed
Location
A 12-minute walk to Akihabara Station, 50 minutes to Tokyo Haneda Airport
Rooms
There are two types of rooms: standard rooms (7 rooms) or corner rooms (2 rooms).
Restaurant
Restaurant 1899 Ochanomizu serves green tea-infused traditional Japanese cuisine – there’s outdoor patio seating as well as the indoor restaurant.
For an extra charge, you can order breakfast to your room from the restaurant
Options include a full traditional Japanese breakfast, a light Japanese breakfast set, or a light Western-style breakfast
Insider’s Tip
There are no escalators at Ochanomizu Station, and only 1 elevator, but it’s located outside of the ticket gates.
If you have large and heavy luggage, take a taxi from Tokyo Station. It’s around a 15-minute ride and will save you a lot of trouble!
Video Tour
Check out this video for a closer look at the Ryumeikan brand:
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation for booking hotels in Japan)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Also a good website for reserving hotels, but we like Booking.com better)
2. Akihabara Bay Hotel – Female Only Capsule Hotel
A capsule hotel, a distinctly Japanese invention, is a cheap, no-frills approach to accommodation. The capsule rooms (or units) usually consist of a bed and nothing else. There’s no extra room around the bed – just enough room to sleep.
It was originally designed for traveling businessmen who don’t want to pay for a hotel and require only basic accommodation.
The Akihabara Bay Hotel, however, is for females only – designed for women to feel safe and comfortable in an all-female environment.
If the thought of staying in a capsule hotel makes you nervous, don’t be. The capsule units in the Akihabara Bay Hotel are actually quite spacious, compared to most capsule hotels.
If you’re looking for a pretty basic and cheap hotel that’s located in an extremely convenient location, this might be the choice for you.
Other details that make this place a great budget-friendly option include a laundromat, kitchen appliances such as a microwave and kettles, and lockers for all your stuff that won’t fit in the unit.
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Free toiletries
- Female-friendly amenities like curling irons and cosmetics provided
- Pajamas and slippers provided
- Lounges with couches, vending machines and a TV
- Clean and comfortable hotel
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Secure – all floors are locked and can only be open with your key you get from the front desk
Cons
- No eating or drinking in the unit
- Units can’t be locked, but there are lockers for you to use
Location
A 4-minute walk to JR Akihabara Station, which provides convenient access to all the major parts of Tokyo – Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, etc
Insider’s Tip
It’s generally pretty quiet in the capsule units, but if you’re particularly sound-sensitive, you can ask for earplugs at the front desk.
Video Tour of the Property
Check out this very thorough video on the Akihabara Bay Hotel. It’s all in Japanese, but there are subtitles available in English if you turn on the closed captions function.
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Also a good website for reserving hotels, but we like Booking.com better)
3. Super Hotel Akihabara Suehiro-Cho
A fantastic mid-range hotel, the Super Hotel is within easy walking distance to everything Akihabara has to offer.
Guests enjoy a free and substantial breakfast every morning, including rice, bread, a soup bar with five different varieties, salad (with the hotel’s original dressing), tea, soda, and coffee.
Another big selling point is the free public bath in the hotel. You can wear the Japanese-style pajamas provided for a truly relaxing, Japanese experience.
With so many amenities and facilities, it’s easy to overlook the compact size of the rooms and bathrooms.
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Free and highly rated breakfast
- Large public bath and sauna
- Laundromat
- Compact but clean bathroom
- Air purifier and flat-screen TV in each room
- Daily housekeeping
Cons
- Compact rooms and bathrooms – toilet and shower/bath are in the same room
- No parking lot
Location
An 8-minute walk to Akihabara Station, or a 2-minute walk to Suehirocho Station on the Ginza Line.
You can find a 7-Eleven convenience store at.ross the streee
Restaurants
No restaurants in the hotel, but restaurants nearby (no more than 2 – 7 minutes away)
Enjoy tempura, unagi (grilled eel), yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers) and yakiniku (grilled meat and vegetables) within walking distance
Rooms
- Single room: 12 square meters for 1-2 people, although 2 people would be a tight fit.
- Super room: Comes with a wide bed and one loft bed, and can accommodate 1-3 people.
Insider’s Tips
Choose your favorite pillow from the “pillow bar” for better sleep
Interconnecting rooms make it easy for large families to stay
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Also a good website for reserving hotels, but we like Booking.com better)
4. Akihabara Washington Hotel
Akihabara Washington Hotel is across the street from Akihabara Station – it doesn’t get any more convenient than that.
The best part about this hotel, besides the clean rooms and friendly staff, are the quirky details that remind you that you are, indeed, staying in an Akihabara hotel.
Wake up to an anime character – you can request a wake-up call recorded by a voice acting student at Tokyo Animator College. Truly a one-of-a-kind way to start the day!
Why this isn’t more advertised, I have no idea, but if you dig around their official website, you’ll find the “Train Room.”
It’s a room with a gigantic model train diorama of Tokyo, complete with electronic controls, for the train-obsessed. Both adults and kids who love trains would go nuts over this room. The only drawback is that this room only has 1 single bed in it.
And if you’re a woman traveling alone or with friends, you can stay on the female-only “Ladies’ Floors.” You’ll enjoy special “feminine” amenities and feeling safe and comfortable.
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Vending machines selling both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as cigarettes
- Massage service available
- Amenities provided for women who stay on the “Ladies floors”
- Amenities you can rent: trouser presses, humidifiers/air purifiers, mobile battery chargers, power converters for international devices, sewing kits, nail clippers
Cons
- Sometimes very slow Wi-Fi, especially at night when lots of people are using it
Restaurant
Bonsalute Café (Breakfast only): Enjoy a nice buffet breakfast in a light and airy space. Open on weekdays from 6:45am – 10:00am, and weekends & public holidays from 6:45am – 11:00am
Not run by the hotel, but there’s a Denny’s and an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) on the second floor.
Accessibility
One room available with wheelchair access. Also has wheelchair accessible restrooms and rental wheelchairs.
Insider’s Tip
Request a child-sized yukata if you’re traveling with your kids
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Also a good website for reserving hotels, but we like Booking.com better)
5. Grids Tokyo Asakusabashi Hotel & Hostel
If you like the social aspect of a hostel, but want something more private, Grids Hotel & Hostel offers both shared dormitory-style rooms and private rooms.
The largest private room can accommodate up to six people, perfect if you’re traveling with a group.
The hotel has a trendy, modern style, and it’s kept sparkling clean by friendly and helpful staff.
There are lots of fun events run by the hotel staff, such as Game Night, Takoyaki parties (fried octopus balls), Korean Night and a Valentine’s Day Party.
Happy Hour happens every week in the bar, serving a new dish each time, like kara-age (Japanese-style fried chicken) and cilantro shrimp. A drink and food set will cost you ¥800.
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Good value for the money
- Fast Wi-fi
- Laundromat
- Fun to socialize with other travelers and make new friends
- Convenient location
Cons
- Not much room for luggage
- Extra charge for things like towels, razors, hair brushes, and ear plugs.
Rooms
There are private rooms accommodating up to 6 people. Perfect if you are traveling in a group or have a large family, with a private shower and bathroom
Dormitories accommodate 4 or 6 people, from 2,500yen a night – each bunk bed has a reading light and power outlet
Entrance lobby and common rooms are areas where you can hang out, cook a simple meal, or work on your computer.
Shower rooms and powder rooms available 24-hours on all dormitory floors.
Restaurant
There’s a Café/bar inside the hotel serving breakfast and café drinks during the day, and turns into a bar after 5:00pm.
Their breakfast buffet corner serves cereal, milk, coffee and tea.
Other food items are available a la carte, like panini sandwiches and smoothies.
Location
A 9-minute walk from Akihabara Station
Insider’s Tip
Free towel rental if you follow them on Facebook or Instagram
*Note: Available at the time this article was written. Contact the hotel beforehand to confirm if the deal is still available when you plan to stay there.
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Also a good website for reserving hotels, but we like Booking.com better)
6. Akihabara Luxury Cityhouse
Enjoy the convenience of being able to cook your own meals, chill out in the comforts of your own living and dining area, and view the city from the balcony at Akihabara Luxury Cityhouse.
These apartments are great for large groups or families, with each room housing up to five, some housing six guests.
The apartments have a clean, modern design and are kept clean and stocked with toiletries, kitchen appliances, and an impressive media center – Playstation 3, anyone?
Pros vs Cons
Pros
- Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, Netflix, PlayStation 3 game console and portable Wi-fi routers
- Balcony with city views
- Bathtub in private bathrooms
- Kitchen in rooms comes equipped with microwave, fridge, stove and electric kettle
- Free toiletries
Cons
- An overpass is nearby. Traffic noise can be loud.
- No staff on site – but precise instructions for everything provided
Rooms
Apartments can accommodate either five or six people, depending on the type.
Location
An 11-minute walk to Akihabara Station or a 5-minute walk to Kanda Station. There’s also a supermarket around 0.2 miles away from the property.
You can find lots of coffee shops and restaurants nearby as well.
Accessibility
The entire building is wheelchair accessible, but be sure to contact them for more information on specifics.
Insider’s Tip
Want to have an amazing movie night? Try out the Superior Apartment on the 10th floor – it has a home theater system with a large projection screen!
Reservations
Check prices and availability on Booking.com (Our recommendation)
Check prices and availability on Agoda.com (Links to room 501, but can you can search for other rooms if it’s not available).
Staying in Akihabara
If you’re an anime lover, obsessed with model airplanes and trains, or an avid fan of AKB48 (popular Japanese girl pop group), staying near Akihabara Station might be a dream come true.
Using this handy guide, finding a hotel that fits your style and budget is easy and fun – especially if you end up staying in the “Train Room” or in a dormitory with lots of other enthusiastic otaku (die-hard fans of various things).
Spend the day browsing the newest electronics, search for obscure collectibles and comic books, and enjoy watching cosplayers in the streets.
Afterward, when you’re tuckered out, come back to one of these comfortable, clean and relaxing hotels.
You’ll need a good night’s rest for your next big Akihabara adventure!
