Tokyo is the most populous city on Earth, with almost 37 million people in the greater area as of 2010. First-time visitors to Tokyo realize their hopes of seeing it all in a week are wildly optimistic. The city’s way too massive. There’s simply too much to fit in. Ponderously aside, Tokyo’s also one of the most expensive cities in the world, which can make a see-everything trip prohibitively expensive.
In other words, it’s the perfect Airbnb city. Tokyo’s enormous population means you’ve got a lot of options to choose from, and you’ll get pretty competitive rates for your night’s stay.
Here are some of the best Airbnbs we found available in Tokyo:
For those looking for an open, spacious loft, there’s this listing in Meguro, a reasonable $70 a night. It’s in a relatively tranquil area, but the action of the city's still very accessible. It’s only a 15-minute walk from Shibuya, and it’s right next to the Meguro River, famous for cherry-blossom viewing in the spring.
Jiyugaoka is a pleasant neighborhood in Tokyo full of zakka shops and cafes, the pace slower than in frenetic Shibuya just a brief train ride away. This would make a convenient home base for trips around the city without requiring you to sacrifice a relatively quiet night’s sleep. Not only is this particular spot pretty damn beautiful, it only costs around $70 a night (though that and all prices on this list may change depending on the exchange rate).
This house in Yokosuka (a city outside Tokyo but within the metropolitan area) is basically half lodging, half yoga studio in the woods outside the city, about a five-minute walk from the ocean. Oh, and there are hammocks. It’s a spot for people who want peace but also want to make excursions out from there.
Azabu Juban, a district in Minato, adjacent to Shibuya, is Tokyo’s main embassy row. For anime and manga fans, it’s where Sailor Moon takes place. While this one's expensive—around $600 a night—it goes all out in the way of service, with in-home meals made by local chefs, fresh flowers, and wine tastings.
While Yokohama is technically a separate city to the south of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay, it’s still within the Tokyo sprawl. This place makes our list because it offers a traditional Japanese-style room for only $26 a night and serves as a good jumping off point for other places in the area.
This option in Minato makes the list for one reason: the beautiful terrace overlooking the city. Which isn’t to say the rest of the apartment's dowdy or anything—it’s got a water bed, and it's in a desirable area. But the terrace clinches it.
This futuristic-looking accommodation is in the Minato neighborhood. For some travelers, a capacious flat in a beautiful part of Tokyo will be worth $159 a night.
This place in Shinagawa, a ward on Tokyo Bay, is dubbed a “future house” by its owners. It’s a cheap $60 a night, and it has a rooftop tub as well as hammocks, not to mention a lot of positive reviews.
This site in outlying Kanagawa, a prefecture on the periphery of Greater Tokyo, is best for someone planning on exploring both Yokohama and Tokyo, as both are accessible from here. The house is a super cheap $36 a night because during the day it functions as a school.
Another great property in Shibuya, a couple kilometers from Meiji Shrine and the urban forest that girds it. It’s bright and sunny and costs around $114.
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