Tokyo is home to many eccentric hotel concepts. From infamous love hotels with absurd themed decor to extra-affordable capsule hotels, there’s no shortage of unique accommodations within the city.
Whether you’re new to Tokyo or a repeat visitor, this curated list of themed hotels in Tokyo might help you find a fun, unconventional place to stay when you’re there.
Table of Contents
Given that both themed and love hotels share similar over-the-top concepts and interiors, it might be easy to confuse the two.
Simply put, love hotels are a kind of themed hotel. Love hotels cater specifically to couples seeking privacy and intimacy, often offering adult-themed amenities and short-stay options.
Themed hotels, on the other hand, attract a broader range of travellers, as they focus more generally on providing unique experiences. Many of them in this article even feature collaborations with famous brands and franchises such as Pokemon, Sanrio, and Godzilla.
Tokyo’s a small part of Japan, but it’s a pretty big city. Regardless, each district has something to offer no matter what kind of traveller you are.
Staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya, for one, will put you within walking distance of the largest malls and shopping districts in the city. Ginza, in contrast, leans on the atas side, best reserved for luxury shoppers and those looking for fine dining options.
Other districts such as Ueno, Nihombashi, and Kinshicho might be less well-known, but come with their own perks. Apart from having more affordable prices, these districts are also close to various tourist attractions such as parks, landmarks, and museums that might appeal to visitors with families.
If you’re looking to explore areas outside of Tokyo during your trip, you can also consider staying in a hotel near the outskirts of the city. It might not only be quieter and cheaper, you’ll likely save a lot on travel time.
As this list features themed hotels from all over Tokyo, you’ll be able to pick one that best fits your schedule and itinerary.
Below are the themed hotels on this list at a glance, sorted in ascending order by price:
Hotel Name | Theme | Location | Price (From) |
---|---|---|---|
Popular areas for tourists | |||
Henn na Hotel Tokyo Ginza | Robots | Ginza | $74/night |
MUJI Hotel Ginza | MUJI | Ginza | $193/night |
Mimaru Hotel | Pokemon | Hatchobori, Ginza East and Ueno East | $510/night |
Hotel Gracery | Godzilla | Shinjuku | $169/night |
Book and Bed Tokyo | Books | Shinjuku | $30/night |
The Millennials Shibuya | Art | Shibuya | $73/night |
Other areas | |||
BnA Wall Hotel | Contemporary art | Nihonbashi | $172/night |
Park Hotel Tokyo | Traditional-inspired Art | Shinbashi | $228/night |
Lotte City Hotel Kinshicho | Koala March | Kinshicho | $109/night |
Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji | Sanrio | Hachioji | $459/night |
Tokyo Disneyland Hotels | Disney | Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture | $197/night |
Robot dinosaur front desk receptionist.
Image credit: @maplrn via Instagram
Henn na Hotel’s gimmick is that it’s entirely run by robots. From $74/night, you can have the bizarre experience of being waited on by either humanoid or dinosaur robots, beginning from the receptionists who greet you at the front desk to the bellboys who provide you with room service.
Henn Na Hotel double room.
Image credit: Agoda
The rooms themselves are simple and easy on the eyes with a soft colour scheme. Henna na Hotel might not be the most luxurious hotel, but it’s an affordable, no-frills option for those travelling on a budget.
Arguably every Singaporean’s entry to Japandi design, MUJI has cemented itself as the home and lifestyle brand to go to for affordable, minimalist chic decor and accessories. Over the last decade, they’ve expanded beyond retail, venturing into the hospitality business with MUJI Hotel.
Located above their flagship store in Ginza, MUJI Hotel features cosy rooms fully furnished with the brand’s own furniture and amenities, allowing guests to discover and enjoy new products.
Prices start from as low as $193/night, with up to 10 room types to choose from. The most basic room in particular comes with a double bed, a small desk, an armchair, and coffee table, which is more than enough to feel comfortable.
Pokemon room in Mimaru Hotel.
Image credit: Mimaru Hotel
A great option for families with kids is Mimaru Hotel’s Pokemon-themed rooms. While Mimaru Hotel is a chain that has multiple outlets all over Japan, these Pokemon rooms are only available at their Hatchobori, Ginza East and Ueno East locations, and are priced from $510/night onwards.
Exclusive Pokemon merchandise.
Image credit: Mimaru Hotel
Relax in these apartment-style rooms, complete with Pokemon-themed wallpaper, flooring, dinnerware, and a large Snorlax plush toy. To top it all off, the room also comes with exclusive Pokemon souvenirs such as a reusable bag and luggage tag that you can take home after your stay.
Image credit: The Millennials Shibuya
The Millennials Shibuya is one of many capsule hostels dotting Japan’s urban cityscape. To liven up the small, pod-sized rooms, the walls have been decorated with various hand-painted murals.
The lounge/dining area with neon portraits.
Image credit: The Millennials Shibuya
The common spaces, in contrast, have an overall industrial chic aesthetic, complete with neon light accents and neutral-coloured furniture. With small, private meeting rooms available for booking, The Millennials Shibuya isn’t a bad budget option for those on business trips.
Image credit: Book and Bed Tokyo
Book and Bed Tokyo, as its name suggests, is a book-themed hostel, with decor made almost entirely out of books and bookshelves. From $30/night, you can bunk in pod rooms built into these bookshelves that allow you to sleep while surrounded by manga, comics, and novels.
Image credit: Book and Bed Tokyo
Although they are best known for their pod rooms, a range of room options are available here. While solo travellers can opt for the capsule-style Single Room, those travelling in pairs can book a slightly larger Double Room pod. If you’d like more space, there is also the Superior Room, a semi-private room type that features a king-size bed.
Godzilla statue on 8th floor
Image credit: Hotel Gracery
Hotel Gracery has a huge sculpture of Godzilla’s head on the 8th floor. Depending on the room you stay in, you might have a solid view of this unique piece of decor.
Image credit: Hotel Gracery
To amp up your hotel experience, stay in the hotel’s special Godzilla Room. The main highlight of this room is an enormous sculpture of Godzilla’s claw bursting through the wall. That’s not all: you’ll be gifted a collection of Godzilla merch, including figurines, a mug, and a card pack.
Art buffs and lovers of Japanese culture will appreciate Park Hotel Tokyo’s Artists’ Rooms. From $228/night, you can stay in a room with intricately painted murals that draw inspiration from Japan’s natural landscapes and cultural hallmarks.
Image credit: Park Hotel Tokyo
Some murals feature cherry blossom motifs, for instance, while others that pay homage to mystical, otherworldly beings such as dragons and yokai.
Hardcore Gamer Room
Image credit: BnA Wall Hotel
BnA Wall Hotel also features art-themed rooms, but specialises in contemporary art styles. Each room is designed and furnished by a different local artist, with concepts ranging from wild and wacky to minimalist and zen.
The Hardcore Gamer Room, for instance, is filled to the brim with colourful pop art-inspired decor, while the Visible Ambiance Room focuses on low-key lighting and simple furnishings.
Image credit: BnA Wall Hotel
Apart from being a place to stay, BnA Wall Hotel also promotes itself as a venue for artistic activities and events. Depending on the time of your stay, you might catch artists at work at the common areas of the hotel, painting new murals or installing exhibitions.
Image credit: Lotte City Hotel
Lotte’s Koala March snack is the koala counterpart to Meiji’s well-loved Hello Panda. If you can’t get enough of Koala March or you’re a koala-lover in general, you’ll probably enjoy staying at Lotte City Hotel Kinshicho’s Koala March Rooms.
From $109/night, sleep on bed sheets bearing the likeness of March the koala, cuddle biscuit-shaped cushions, and enjoy using Koala March-themed toiletries. The buffet breakfast spread also includes adorable koala-shaped pancakes with chocolate filling.
My Melody and Kuromi Room.
Image credit: Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji
Keio Plaza Hotel isn’t a themed hotel per se, but they have Sanrio-themed rooms that are exclusive to their Hachioji location. Guests can choose from the My Melody and Kuromi Room and the Hello Kitty Room, which are each priced from $459/night.
Hello Kitty Room.
Image credit: Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji
Sanrio fans will be elated to find that each room is completely outfitted with decor featuring the iconic characters. Expect to find wallpaper, plush toys, sheets and toiletries that are My Melody, Kuromi or Hello Kitty-themed.
Disney Ambassador Hotel Double Room.
Image credit: Tokyo Disney Resort
Speaking of fun hotels in Tokyo, it’s impossible not to mention Tokyo Disney Resort’s hotels. Like other Disney resorts, Tokyo Disney has multiple hotels within the theme park, each with its own theme and specialties.
Image credit: Tokyo Disney Resort
Families with kids can consider booking a room at the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel, which has immersive, character-themed rooms. Alternatively, spend a night in Tokyo DisneySea’s Hotel MiraCosta and marvel at the view of the nautical-themed park.
Other hotel options include the Toy Story Hotel, art deco style Disney Ambassador Hotel and more budget friendly Disney Celebration Hotel.
Compared to hotels in other parts of the world, Japanese hotels are generally smaller and more compact, and the themed hotels on this list are no different. That being said, themed hotels make up for the lack of space somewhat with their unique concepts and fun decor.
Regardless of which hotel you settle on, you can expect to find the usual amenities—such as toothbrushes, towels, razors, and soaps—provided with your room, along with a high-tech toilet complete with seat-warming and bidet functionalities.
Most hotels in this article also provide luggage storage services, although some have limits on how long they’ll keep your baggage for. If your hotel can’t accommodate yo\ur luggage, you can try out one of the many coin lockers located at any train station in the city, or find a specialised luggage storage store nearby with apps such as Ecbo.
Spending a night or two at a themed hotel is just one way of spicing up your trip. But if you really want to go off the beaten track for your next vacation to Japan, check out our guide to the Chubu region, a lesser-known spot 2.5 hours away from Tokyo where you can gild your own gold leaf souvenirs or try Buddhist meditation for free.
Alternatively, follow our guide to Kochi, Shikoku and explore its many natural landscapes. Being one of the few remaining places off mainland Japan without a Shinkansen connection, Shikoku will surely offer unique things to see and do.
Tokyo might be one of Japan’s most-visited cities, but there’s no shortage of different activities and accommodation options that’ll make your trip a little different than the last one. Hopefully, this list of unique hotels will come in handy when you’re planning your next itinerary.
Read our other Japan guides:
Cover image adapted from: Book and Bed Tokyo, Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji, Hotel Gracery, & Mimaru Hotel
A portion of this content may contain referral links to products. However, all opinions are ours.
Original article published on 17th August 2018. Last updated by Shannon Lee on 22nd February 2024.
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