Okay, so I’ve been planning a trip to Tokyo for ages, and the biggest headache? Figuring out where to stay! Tokyo is HUGE, and each area has its own vibe. I spent hours, seriously, HOURS, digging through travel blogs, forums, and maps. Here’s how I finally tackled it:
First, I Made a List of What I Wanted
I’m a pretty simple traveler. I wanted to be:
- Close to the action: I didn’t want to spend all my time on trains.
- Near good food: Obviously! It’s Tokyo!
- Relatively safe: I’m traveling solo, so safety was a big deal.
- Not too crazy expensive:I am not rich,just a normal people.
Then, I Started Researching Different Areas
I started by googling “best areas to stay in Tokyo” and got, like, a million results. I narrowed it down to a few that kept popping up:
- Shinjuku: Seemed super central, with tons of shops and restaurants. The big train station was a plus, but I worried it might be too overwhelming.
- Shibuya: Known for the famous crossing, and it looked trendy and fun. But also potentially crowded and pricey.
- Ginza: High-end shopping, which isn’t really my thing. I figured it would be too expensive.
- Asakusa: More traditional, with temples and a more “old Tokyo” feel. This sounded cool, but maybe a bit far from everything else.
- Ueno: Known for its park and museums. Seemed like a calmer option.
I Dive into Each Area
I used a bunch of websites to learn about each place.I started watching YouTube videos of people walking around the different neighborhoods. This gave me a much better feel for the atmosphere than just reading about it.
I also looked at maps – a lot. I wanted to see how far each area was from the main things I wanted to see, like the Tokyo Tower, the Meiji Shrine, and the Ghibli Museum (yes, I’m a huge Ghibli fan!).
Finally,I Made my Decision!
After all that research, I decided on Shinjuku. Even though I was worried about it being too busy, the central location and the easy access to transportation won me over. I figured I could handle the crowds, and I found a hotel that seemed pretty affordable and got good reviews for safety.
I also, made a “backup” plan: If Shinjuku felt too overwhelming once I got there, I’d check out Ueno. It seemed like a good, quieter alternative, and it was still pretty well-connected by train.
The whole process was a bit of a pain, but I feel way more confident about my trip now that I have a solid plan for where to stay. I feel I made a very detail plan!
