10 Coolest Hotels in Tokyo, Japan

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Warning: You are about to come across some of the coolest hotels in Tokyo. Expect things like dinosaur staff, Helly Kitty rooms & futuristic capsule hotels!

When it comes to a country like Japan, a county that embraces the crazy and quirky, you just know there are going to be some really cool and unique hotels. Well, I’m not going to lie, some of these hotels are the strangest I’ve ever come across around the world!

When I visited Tokyo I stayed in the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. I mean, it sounds like a normal hotel, right? Wrong. This place is otherwise known as the Godzilla Hotel with a giant Godzilla statue hanging off the side building. It even roars and spits fire every hour. It’s very cool and very Japanese. I absolutely loved it, I was hooked, and I wanted to stay at all these different hotels.

That’s what I love about Tokyo. Always expect the unexpected and nothing is too weird here. It’s weird, but it’s not too weird (if that makes sense).

From places like the Henn na Hotel with their dinosaur check-in staff to the super futuristic capsule hotels, you just know you’re going to find some cool hotels in Tokyo.

With that in mind, I’ve rounded up some of the most unique places to stay in Tokyo. I really want you guys to have an amazing time travelling around this city. Stay in one of these on your visit and you’re guaranteed a good time!

Are you planning a trip to Japan? Then you can check out my hotel guides on Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto to give you a bit of inspiration. You can also take a look at my Japan two week itinerary which is packed full of advice and information!

Quick overview

Coolest Hotels in Tokyo, Japan

Henn na Hotel

Obviously Japan is a place that’s at the cutting edge of robotics. Any way they can automate something (like the simple act of buying ramen from a vending machine), they’ll do it. Well, they’ve taken that to the next level by opening the world’s first hotel chain staffed by robots – a claim actually recognised by Guinness World Records.

These aren’t just any old robots though. One is a woman and the other two are velociraptors (yes, you read that right). Robotic dinosaurs check you into the hotel. They even robotically deliver luggage to your rooms courtesy of an automated trolley. I bet you didn’t think you’d do that on your holiday to Japan!

Much like a lot of hotels in Tokyo, the rooms are quite small here, but it is an amazing place to stay.

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

Moving onto another dinosaur (sort of), Hotel Gracery Shinjuku is the Godzilla Hotel in Tokyo.

Shinjuku is one of the most popular places to stay in Tokyo with a number of hotels to choose from but none are quite as striking at Hotel Gracery.

I actually stayed here when I was in Tokyo and I loved it. Disappointingly, the rooms weren’t decorated with the Godzilla theme which was a shame. Saying that, there’s a lot of Godzilla memorabilia with film posters from the 70s and a interactive themed-room dotted around the hotel, so you do get your Godzilla fill in other ways.

Also, you can access the rooftop for the Godzilla show which occurs once an hour. This is where Godzilla will give up an ear-splitting scream and then blow fire (well, smoke) out of his mouth. It’s incredibly cheesy but definitely one of the coolest hotels in Tokyo. While you’re staying here, you’re also very close to all the food tours in Tokyo, so make sure you check these out as well.

Book and Bed Hotel

The Book and Bed Hotel in Japan is a bit of a blogger favourite. Not only is it relatively cheap for Tokyo at £36 per night but it’s incredible cool too. Basically, your bed is in a bookshelf and it’s a cross between a capsule hotel and a library.

Far from being a luxurious getaway, this themed hotel focuses on creating a cosy, inclusive environment where you can relax in the simplest of ways – with a good book in your hand. Apparently there’s over 3,600 books at this hotel so you’re never short of something to read. There’s also an amazing book swap scheme here too if you’re looking at changing a book or two.

It’s also a really great way of meeting other travellers in Japan and it’s a great place to swap stories too. For me this is one of the most interesting hotels in Tokyo.

Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji

If you’re looking for fun hotels in Tokyo, the Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji is where the cartoony weirdness now lives. It’s a bit further out in western Tokyo rather than central Shinjuku, but it’s the one with the Hello Kitty rooms these days, so it’s worth the trip out.

The hotel sits right by JR Hachioji Station, connected by a covered walkway, so you’re not trekking anywhere with your suitcase. Most of it is a perfectly normal, well-rated hotel. But upstairs, there are three dedicated Sanrio character rooms: the Hello Kitty Room, done out in pink with a “Princess Hello Kitty” design exclusive to this hotel, the My Melody & Kuromi Room, and the newest addition, the Little Twin Stars Room, with a starry ceiling and pastel everything.

Each room comes with its own set of character souvenirs to take home, from plushies to slippers, so you leave with more than just photos. It’s also a genuinely useful base if you’re planning a Sanrio Puroland day, since it’s around 30 minutes away by train. Book ahead. There are only a handful of these rooms across the whole hotel, and they don’t hang around.

The Nine Hours Hotel

In a country where space can be at a premium, the Japanese were the original pioneers of the capsule hotel. Instead of bunk-beds in dorms, they created their own private pods to really maximise the space and capsules can be surprisingly comfortable.

The 9 Hours hotel is super-modern and very futuristic. I always think that this place looks like a spaceship, yet there’s a distinct Japanese design to the hotel too.

All the capsules are air-conditioned with lots of plug points so you can charge all your electronics. Also, there are lockers available to keep all your stuff safe and there are shared bathrooms too.

A capsule hotel is one of those unique experiences you just have to have in Japan. This is what things could be like a lot more in the future so get a taste for it now. If you’re looking for a unique Tokyo hotel then you really can’t go wrong with 9 Hours.

Shukubo Komadori-Sanso

With a population of around 14 million, it’s easy to feel claustrophobic in Tokyo. If you want to get out of the city then look no further than Shukubo Komadori-Sanso.

Located in Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, this is a century-old temple where you can stay in a two-story wooden inn. It’s so peaceful here and I would say it’s up there with the top quirky hotels in Tokyo.

Even though these are basic-style Japanese rooms with shared bathrooms, they are in one of the most beautiful settings you’ll find just outside Tokyo.

Also, the best feature – there’s a secluded waterfall nearby that you’ll have all to yourself. If you’re look for a place to unwind, you really can’t go wrong with Shukubo Komadori-Sanso that’s for sure!

The Millennials Shibuya

This one’s properly futuristic. Instead of a normal capsule, you get your own “Smart Pod” controlled entirely from an iPod that comes with your room key. Slide the bed flat, dim the lights, set a silent alarm, all from the pod itself.

It’s right in the thick of Shibuya, a few minutes from the crossing, and there’s a genuinely great touch: free beer every evening between 5:30 and 6:30 in the shared lounge, which turns into one of the best places in the city to meet other travellers. If you want your capsule hotel experience with a side of proper socialising, this is the one.

UNPLAN Kagurazaka

Kagurazaka is one of Tokyo’s quietest, prettiest neighbourhoods, all narrow lanes and old-school restaurants, and UNPLAN fits right into it. It’s part hostel, part boutique hotel, with an industrial-chic café downstairs and rooms ranging from female-only dorms to private doubles.

What makes it stand out is the design. Everything feels considered rather than thrown together, right down to the rooftop terrace. It’s the sort of place that makes you want to slow down rather than rush out the door each morning, and staying here gives you a genuinely different side of Tokyo to the neon-and-crowds version most people see.

Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge

Nui is in Kuramae, a low-key riverside district that’s becoming one of Tokyo’s best-kept secrets for small, independent shops. The hostel itself feels more like an art space than a place to sleep, with a genuinely brilliant bar and lounge downstairs that draws locals as well as guests.

Rooms range from bunks to private doubles, and there’s a proper coffee culture running through the whole place. If you want a Tokyo stay with a bit of soul rather than novelty for novelty’s sake, this is it.

TRUNK (HOTEL)

Trunk sits on a quiet side street between Shibuya and Harajuku, and it’s built around one idea: getting locals and travellers actually mixing rather than staying in their own lanes. The ground floor works as a proper neighbourhood hangout, with a restaurant, a bar, and even a small chapel, all open to non-guests too.

Everything’s built with sustainability in mind, from upcycled furniture to reclaimed wood at the bar, and the design leans into Shibuya’s creative, slightly rebellious streak rather than generic luxury. Only 15 rooms, each one different, so it never feels corporate. If you want to actually feel part of Tokyo rather than just pass through it, this is the one to book.

What do you think of the coolest hotels in Tokyo? Would you stay in any of these? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

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