which area to stay

I am a complete novice re Tokyo. We are only staying 2 days on the way home. I am confused re which are ato stay in. We are arriving at Narita airport and have read TA advice on trains in to city.

We relaise we will only have time to do the basics, such as the Senso temple, TMG building, Imperial palace. We expect to use train transport.

I have been looking at Shinjuku, Asakusa, Ueno, can anyone help please?

Also, a less expensive/basic hotel recommendation which I know is hard in Tokyo. Am I being unrealistic in hoping to pay $150-220 aud,per night

which area to stay

Shinjuku is a major transportation hub and a good choice, but the crowds can be overwhelming. Good airport connections by N%26#39;Ex (Narita Express) or Airport Limosine bus, depending on where you%26#39;re staying.

Ueno and Asakusa may be less expensive but a bit out of the way. If you stay there, consider taking the Narita Skyliner or less expensive Keisei Limited Express to Keisei Ueno station, than a taxi.

You will have to search to find rooms in your price range (about 10,000 yen--this is for two people?). Check out http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/ These are business hotels--small clean rooms--but with the essential amenities and more twin and double rooms than most. Not all are near major train stations. Print out the bilingual access maps to show taxi drivers or to ask directions. Here are some discussions: tripadvisor.com/…12870808

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298184-i861-k1827…

which area to stay

I%26#39;d recommend you to stay in Shinjuku. You can get there by Narita Express. I%26#39;d purchase the %26#39;Suica and NEX%26#39; combo for 3,500 yen to reach Shinjuku from NRT.

…blogspot.com/2008/07/narita-express-to-toky…

Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku will be within your budget. It%26#39;s very close to the Narita Express track in Shinjuku Station.

…blogspot.com/2008/07/way-to-sunroute-plaza-…

Sunroute Plaza website:

http://www.sunroute.jp/HotelInfoSVE

You may be able to get a better deal through a third party%26#39;s site.

http://www.hotelpricefinder.com/

Just a suggestion.

Are you looking for double occupancy? I%26#39;m not sure if the Sunroute is going to be inside of your range. One important factor is what time is your departure? If you%26#39;re pressed on departure for time the best place to stay is going to be the Ueno or Nippori area in order to catch the Skyliner back to the airport.

Ueno is 24 minutes by Yamanote Line to Shinjuku and Nippori is 20 minutes by the same line. If you%26#39;re not staying out very late at night you can still catch a Yamanote Line train back to Ueno or Nippori until about 12:30AM.

Due to the appreciation of the Yen, Sunroute is unfortunately out of your budget. I stayed there a couple of weeks ago and paid about 17,000 Yen for a twin room. The smallest semi-double would have cost 15,000 Yen or so.

Toyoko Inn is always reliable, clean if small and basic. The location at Shinjuku is not so ideal since it%26#39;s deep in Kabuki-cho, meaning that it%26#39;s a solid 10 minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station. The two Toyoko Ikebukuro locations are closer to the station than Shinjuku. And Ikebukuro, even though not favored by local Japanese, is a convenient area for transport with Yamanote Line, NEX and subway access, as well as plenty of shopping and dining choices:

www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00096/index.html

www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00007/index.html

Kadoya Hotel at Shinjuku gets solid reviews from others (I haven%26#39;t stayed there) and it%26#39;s a little cheaper.

www.kadoya-hotel.co.jp/eng/oheya/index.html

If you%26#39;re considering Ikebukuro you might go one station further (2 more minutes) to Otsuka. There are two Toyoko Inns there that are relatively close to the station (2-3 minutes). The station is currently being remodeled but it%26#39;s a small stop, never crowded and provides easy access to Ueno while still maintaining easy access to Shinjuku. The Toden Arakawa Line also has a station at Otsuka if you%26#39;re interested in that line.

Seems I should have calculated the rate much more correctly as to the ones at Sunroute Plaza, even though I%26#39;m not sure you%26#39;re whether one person or two.

Expedia quotes 14,400 yen for a double room there. It%26#39;s equivalent to 240 AU$. You need to add another 20 bucksif you%26#39;re two persons.

Having said that, as you%26#39;re staying in Tokyo just for 2 days as a stopover, deciding where to be based in Tokyo is a vital factor in order for you to make the best use of your time in getting around Tokyo.

Even though I still advoocate Shinjuku as your base, Ikebukuro or Ueno could be an alternative.

http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/

Thanks optimitsk, I have done a bit more research and read small parts of LP. I have checked out the areas and am keen on Asakusa. The Chisun Inn there I can get for $138 aus per night. It seems to have a fair bit of sights to see there, temples etc.

I agree with you, as it is only a breief taste, area is important. My husband wantsa to see some of the modern architecture such as the Fuji broadcasting centre, city hall tower.

i will check out how to get there from Narita airport, and hopefully be able to use the metro a lot.

Cheers

@OP,

I see. Would show you how to get to Asakusa from NRT.

Take the Keisei Limited Express from the airport to Aoto, then change to the Keisei Oshiage Line train showing up on the opposite track (all trains through to the Toei Asakusa Line) to Asakusa. It involves only one transfer en route, costs 1,060 yen each way, and takes 1 hour 15 minutes.

Keisei Line info:

…blogspot.com/2008/07/keisei-line-to-nippori…

Train schedule search:

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/

To get to Odaiba, take the Toei Asakusa or Metro Ginza Line from Asakusa to Shimbashi, and change to the Yurikamome Line. The view from the Yurikamome train is very scenic.

Great help optimisk, also have found out I can get an english version of map and subway map at Narita airport at the travel information desk. The kesai train seems to me to be a better bet as you won%26#39;t be stuck in traffic. Our flight home departs at 11.30am Monday morning so we need to have reliable transport to Narita. I might even get the smal Tokyo encounter book from LP, I believe it has maps included.

Thanks again.