Manga, Anime, Ukiyo-e, and Dinosaurs – Staying at These 10 Unique Hotels in Tokyo is Entertaining in Itself!

Hotels That Are Entertaining in Themselves! Top 10 Unique Hotels in Tokyo

1. MANGA ART HOTEL, TOKYO

MANGA ART HOTEL, TOKYO is a unique concept-type capsule hotel inspired by manga. While it is definitely a hotel, its theme is actually “a hotel where you can’t sleep.” It may be a capsule hotel that is known for being simple, but its security is top-notch. Men and women have their own floor, and their respective floors have their own key cards.

Take a step inside this hotel and it will make you feel like you have slipped into a manga cave. But that can only be expected of this hotel since there are more than 5,000 manga titles in here! It is a space where not knowing which manga to read first is a part of the fun. They are very particular about their manga here, as each manga is selected from the perspective of “art,” so to be chosen, a manga should have an interesting story and beautiful images.

There are also recommendations attached to each manga, and if you read those comments, you will no doubt want to get your hands on all of them! Note that the comments have English translations and there are manga in English, too! If there’s a manga you like, you’d be happy to know that you can purchase it right then and there. It would be a great idea to buy a new manga you discovered to serve as a memory from your trip or as a souvenir for a friend who loves manga.

2. Henn na Hotel Tokyo Nishikasai

Henn na Hotel is a hotel brand certified by the Guinness World Records as the world's first hotel run by robots. This hotel is actively introducing cutting-edge technology into its operations, such as robots at reception, to make its guests even more comfortable, so rest assured that you are bound to experience the same kind of service and level of hospitality offered by humans working in hotels.

At Henn na Hotel Tokyo Nishikasai, the latest dinosaur robots, which have been elaborately reproduced, welcome guests at the front desk. When you see them, you will surely be surprised, feeling as if you have wandered into the dawn of time. There are dinosaur footprints and ammonite fossils hidden on the floor which is modeled after a Japanese traditional dry landscape garden, so it will also be fun to search for them. Not only that, guests checking in and checking out will be supported by two dinosaur robots – Gasosaurus and Huayangosaurus!

In addition, this hotel boasts superb access to Tokyo Disney Resort®, with a free shuttle running every day. So, even if you get exhausted from all the fun over there, you can still go back to the hotel easily.

3. Park Hotel Tokyo

Park Hotel Tokyo is located in Shiodome, Shimbashi, so it offers good access to Haneda Airport. A distinctive hotel that was designed under the concept of “infinite time and space amid cognizant Japanese beauty,” it showcases more than 400 works of art throughout the building. 

At the Artist Floor, located on the 31st floor, every room is an “Artist Room” where artists drew pictures and images directly on the walls. With this, the guest rooms are a work of art themselves.

If you love the work of the artist who was in charge of painting the room where you are staying, you’d be happy to know that you can buy their works and merchandise online. 

Another great feature of this hotel is that guests get to enjoy complimentary use of their exclusive lounge on the 25th floor that has a view of Tokyo Tower. The spacious lounge that is symbolized by its approximately 30-meter-high atrium, one of the largest of its kind in Tokyo, is just like a museum as art exhibitions and events are held there. Park Hotel Tokyo is an art hotel where you can relax while enjoying Japan’s four seasons and soaking in the Japanese sense of beauty, something you can experience only in an art hotel.

4. EN HOTEL Shibuya

EN HOTEL Shibuya is a hotel that has been built based on the concept of Japan’s diverse culture. The two overlapping circles in its logo represent the contrast between introspective and calm “stillness” and dynamic and energetic “motion.” When you open the door from the world of “motion” that is the vibrant city of Shibuya, which is known as the mecca of young people, what awaits you is a relaxing space enveloped in the feeling of “stillness.”

Each of the nine floors in this hotel is a truly creative space offering a different view of the world. The 2nd floor is the manga floor, the 3rd floor is the “tenugui” (dyed cotton cloth) floor, the 4th floor is the Kyomachiya (traditional wooden townhouses in Kyoto) Alley floor, the 5th floor is the Hokusai Akafuji (Red Fuji by Hokusai) floor, and the 6th floor is the “noh” (a form of traditional Japanese theater) floor.

All floors have their own theme that is so unique you’d want to try staying in all of them. EN HOTEL Shibuya is a wonderful space that harmonizes Japanese tradition and Western functionality. It looks like a stylish hotel resembling Western boutique hotels, but the floors and walls in its rooms generously use traditional materials found in Japanese homes. Here, you can unwind while surrounded by the gentle touch and aromas emanating from the natural materials used in the room. It would be best to do as the Japanese do and take off your shoes and relax.

5. Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Asakusa Tobu Hotel is the best place to enjoy Asakusa, one of the staple sightseeing spots in Tokyo that has always been popular with tourists. Conveniently located as it is just a minute’s walk from Asakusa Station, this hotel will make for a very convenient base if you want to walk around Asakusa or go to Tokyo Skytree.

Of the 253 rooms here, the most popular are the Sakura Tennin, a room that is filled with decorations and items related to the world-famous Hello Kitty, and the Wa-modern (modern Japanese-style) room. The Sakura Tennin is an extremely girly room painted in pastel pink where you will be welcomed by Hello Kitty dressed as a cute heavenly maiden surrounded by cherry blossoms in full bloom. Meanwhile, the Wa-modern is a charming and tranquil space with stylish interiors that fuse Japanese and Western styles.

Both rooms can accommodate up to four guests, so it would be a great room to enjoy with a group of Hello Kitty fans. The next day, you can head to Hello Kitty Japan in Tokyo Skytree Solamachi to look for souvenirs.

6. BOOK AND BED TOKYO SHINJYUKU

Built under the concept of “a bookstore where you can stay overnight,” BOOK AND BED HOTEL TOKYO SHINJUKU is a hotel where the main highlight is the stylish lounge at the main space in the lobby! It is a reading lounge where you can read anything and everything you want 24 hours a day, from the time you check in to the time you check out.

You can read on the sofa or bench, even take a book you like and read it in the comfort of your room. There are hundreds of books about different topics, including art, music, manga, and pure literature. You just might encounter a priceless photo book that is now out of print, or even rare, specialized books. It’s safe to say that they have an extensive selection of books that will be irresistible to fans of Japanese subculture.

This hotel is a hostel-type accommodation where the showers and other facilities are shared among the guests, while the rooms are capsule-type private spaces. You can choose from four types of rooms of different sizes. Every guest room is surrounded by wooden boards, something that is quite unusual for capsule-type rooms, so you will feel like you are staying in a log cabin. BOOK AND BED HOTEL TOKYO SHINJUKU is the perfect place for those who want to stay in a rather stylish facility at a reasonable price. It is also very convenient as it is located in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area, one of Tokyo’s leading shopping districts.

7. Sweets Hotel Ruby Shibuya

Sweets Hotel Ruby Shibuya is a fantasy hotel that has been designed based on the concept of sweets. The two hotels, which are chocolate and cake-themed, are next to each other, and you are free to enjoy whichever tickles your fancy that day. It is such an imaginative and playful hotel.

It probably need not be said that the inside of the rooms are filled with sweets. With such features as donut-shaped cushions, madeleine-shaped beds, seashell-shaped chocolate beds, and heart-shaped whirlpool baths, dessert lovers won’t be able to resist! 

But that’s not all, as there are also bath salts that smell like sweet chocolate and an open-air bath with sweets that guests can use for free, as well as a merry-go-round, darts, and karaoke that you can enjoy in your room. The rooms are packed with so much fun and excitement that you’d feel it would be a shame to sleep. Everything in this hotel is fantasy, so how about trying to feel like a princess for a day?

8. Hotel Tavinos Asakusa

Hotel Tavinos Asakusa is a hotel where the theme is manga, one of the major sources of pride of Japan on the global stage, but it also incorporates images of “matsuri” (traditional Japanese festivals) as these celebrations are something typical of the downtown area of Asakusa. In addition, it is close to Asakusa landmarks such as the Kaminarimon Gate, Sensoji Temple, and the Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park, so it is the perfect base for sightseeing.

Enter this hotel and you will surely be overwhelmed by the pop and unique interiors where manga characters cover everything from the walls to the floor. It is absolutely photogenic!

The guest rooms are designed with three patterns that symbolize stalls found in festivals in Japan: “taiyaki” (fish-shaped pancakes filled with red bean paste), cotton candy, and water balloons. Simply entering the rooms will make you really excited.

Travelers love the fact that this hotel puts in a lot of effort to ensure that guests are comfortable. Checking in is a breeze thanks to passport scanning. There is also a self-service cloakroom that you can use before you check in or after you check out, so you can go out and explore the area without lugging around heavy bags. At the lounge, there is all-you-can-drink coffee and other drinks, and you can read as many manga as you want. Breakfast is also complimentary.

9. MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho

Located in Kinshicho, an area that boasts excellent access not only to Asakusa, Ryogoku, Ueno, and other nearby sightseeing spots but also to terminal stations such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, as well as airports, MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho is a hotel whose concept is “Tokyo fun.”

Displayed inside is the MIMARU Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji which was created in homage to the Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji by the famous ukiyo-e artist Hokusai Katsushika who is associated with Sumida City, where Kinshicho is situated. The sightseeing spots in Tokyo and Japanese culture are showcased through six themes: food, tradition/history, lifestyle, culture, art & design, and seasons. In addition, you can experience augmented reality (AR) by taking photos against the backdrop of the modern city and the MIMARU Thirty-Six Views of Mt. Fuji illustration inside the guest rooms.

You have to try the concept room called “Ukiyo-e Room.” It is designed in the style of “ezoshiya” (a kind of store) that sold ukiyo-e during the Edo period (1603 - 1868). Enjoy this hotel together with the Sumida Hokusai Museum, which is just within walking distance from here.

All rooms have a kitchen and dining table, as well as cooking utensils and tableware, so it is recommended for medium- to long-term stays with family and friends. You can relax while traveling as it will make you feel like you haven’t left home. 

10. MIMARU TOKYO GINZA EAST

Inspired by the concept of “Modern Japonism,” MIMARU TOKYO GINZA EAST is where you can feel the traditions of Japan.

It is conveniently located within walking distance to Ginza, one of Japan's leading commercial districts, as well as the Tsukiji Outer Market, where you can enjoy Japan’s unique food culture.

There are rooms with bunk beds and rooms where you can enjoy images or videos projected on the wall by a projector installed on the ceiling, and they are guaranteed to please children. Feel free to watch a movie, a sports event or some other video with your family and friends.

All rooms come with a kitchen, so you can bring your own ingredients and cook inside your room.

There are various types of rooms available at this hotel, but the most recommended one would have to be the "Pokemon Room." The entire room is covered with monster ball-themed wallpaper and there is a giant Snorlax stuffed toy sitting on the bed waiting to welcome you. If you throw a Pokemon party, it will surely become a fun memory of your trip.

Stay at These 10 Distinctive Hotel in Tokyo

Tokyo is home to many unique hotels where you can enjoy the old and new culture of Japan. They are so unique that you would probably choose to stay in the room all day and not go out to see the sights if you could! And if you do decide to go out, you will surely look forward to going back to the hotel. Stay in any of these truly distinctive hotels and enjoy hotel life right up to the moment you fall asleep.

*Source on the number of hotel rooms: Global Power City Index (2022 Edition) by The Mori Memorial Foundation, Institute for Urban Strategies 

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