With its international flair and neon-Japan feel, YOTEL in Ginza feels like a home away from home.
Affordable but stylish, it provides the perfect base where you can make the most of technology, comfort, and convenience. Here are five reasons (and some extra) to stay.
1. Comfort, compact, and clever
The hotel brands itself as a “smart stay”, a concept reflected in the design of its rooms. The backstory? YO! and YOTEL founder Simon Woodroffe OBE was inspired by a British Airways First Class sleeper cabin during a flight to Japan. He collaborated with the cabin’s designer to bring that experience to YOTEL.
Did you know? Rather fittingly, the first YOTEL opened in 2007 at London Gatwick Airport.
You can see the in-flight inspiration in the rooms’ practical but comfortable layout. With the Ginza hotel having 14 floors and 244 rooms, there are lots of different types of rooms to choose from including:
- Queen Room
- Premium Queen
- Premium Twin
- Premium Triple
- Premium Plus
- Family Connected
- First Class Twin
Pricing varies, however, on average rooms here cost ¥28,000 per night.
Each room features a variety of useful amenities, with some of the most notable including a laptop-sized safe, free Wi-Fi, and a rain shower, with a separate toilet.
In our opinion, by far the best feature of the room is the Smartbed™. With the simple touch of a button, you can convert the couch into a fully flat bed. It’s definitely one of the comfiest beds I’ve slept on in a while.
If you get a room on one of the higher floors, you can admire an elevated view of the busy city below — and even catch a glimpse of Tokyo Tower in the distance. Staying in this room makes you feel one with the city. We recommend taking in the view in the morning with a cup of tea or coffee (provided in your room).
Although the rooms are compact, being between 14m2 to 18m2, they feel a lot more spacious than the typical Japanese business hotel. Thanks to the modern and smart design, you’re guaranteed a good night’s rest.
2. Work hard, play hard
As well as being a relaxing base where you can rest your legs after exploring the city, YOTEL prides itself on being a comfortable space where you can work hard and play hard. For example, near reception, you’ll find counter seats with plugs and sofas — ideal for remote working or simply unwinding with others.
Unlock the secret gaming room
If you’re wondering what we mean by “play hard” — let’s briefly go back to room types. YOTEL has one particularly unique option: the Ginza Game Room. This standout space, which can only be booked via email or phone, features an old-school arcade machine and gives off serious neo-tech Tokyo vibes. And the best part? Guests lucky enough to stay here can enjoy a complimentary mini-bar, unlimited snacks, and late check-out, all while spending hours immersed in retro gaming.
Hit the gym
By “work hard”, we don’t just mean working at your laptop. You can also break a sweat at the 24-hour gym on the second floor of the hotel. With treadmills and free weights, fitness enthusiasts won’t need to worry about finding day-passes for Tokyo gyms — which can actually be quite tricky. Instead, they can work out in the comfort of their hotel. Not many hotels in this price range offer a gym, so this really is a rare find.
3. Location, location, location
While first-time visitors to Japan often veer towards staying in areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, this is an appealing alternative. Conveniently located between Shimbashi and Ginza, it provides a central base with excellent access and connectivity to the city — via both Shimbashi and Ginza Station.
A roughly 10-minute walk from the hotel takes you to glitzy Ginza, where you can indulge in luxury shopping. Just one minute away is a massive Don Quijiote, where you can find the best tax-free deals. For more on great hidden gems — check out our Ginza guide.
In contrast, Shimbashi offers a more local vibe — it’s where salarymen go drinking after a long week. Head to New Shimbashi Building, an old-school shopping mall packed with tiny izakaya, kissaten (traditional coffee shops), and even a small retro games arcade.
Places like Toyosu and Odaiba — home to the famous fish market and teamLab Planets Tokyo — are also within easy reach. For a more relaxing daytime spot, take a 16-minute walk over to Hamarikyū Gardens.
4. Familiar favorites
As exciting as discovering new places can be, sometimes all you really want are those familiar home comforts. Luckily, YOTEL offers the best of both worlds — and nowhere is that more evident than at its restaurant and bar, Komyuniti.
Breakfast
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Komyuniti ensures you’re well-fed and ready to take on the day — or night. For breakfast, you can expect a buffet offering a blend of Western and Japanese favorites. From a bread station packed with pastries to chazuke (rice with green tea), you can customize your breakfast just how you like it — so long as it’s between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.
We personally recommend heading to the omelette station and getting a freshly prepared treat. The fresh fruits and yoghurt are also a great choice. Wash it all down with some fresh orange juice and/or a cup of coffee.
Lunch and dinner
From 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, you can savor a range of classic dishes including fish and chips, a wagyu burger, and healthy pastas and salads — just to name a few. In addition, guests can also sit down to an afternoon tea for ¥3,500 per person. It features seasonal sweets and savory treats, crafted by expert chefs.
The dinner service runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m (with the last order taken at 9 p.m.). During this time, you can still order some of those classic lunch favorites, along with a variety of hot appetizers. All dishes use domestic ingredients, with flavors and selections inspired by the nearby Tsukiji Market and Ginza area.
Note: If you are a member, you can get 20% off drinks and food.
The hotel bar also does a range of cocktails — from timeless classics to YOTEL’s signature creations. On our visit, we tried the Kompliment (¥2,200, featuring a butterfly-pea flower infused gin and violet liqueur.
Pro tip: Happy hour is available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
5. Sustainability
If you’re someone who cares about sustainability, YOTEL is right there with you. The hotel has a few small initiatives, such as offering amenities at an amenity bar rather than placing them in every room.
They’ve also partnered with Aussie beauty brand Urban Jungle, which provides vegan, cruelty-free hair and skin products. You’ll find large refillable bottles in your room, helping reduce both plastic waste and the cost of diposable toiletries.
But the hotel’s coolest initiative is that if you skip housekeeping, for consecutive nights, you receive a ¥1,000 to ¥2,000 voucher to spend on food and drink.
Other reasons to stay
If five weren’t enough, here a few more reasons why YOTEL is the place to base:
The interior itself feels very Tokyo-esque, with bright purple neon lights and themed decor throughout the hotel. It’s a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes for a fun and casual stay. For instance, the reception area is literally called Mission Control.
Speaking of Mission Control, the check-in and check-out process is super easy. With the option of self-service or a manual check-in with one of the many bilingual staff members, you can customize your experience however you like.
Finally, contributing to its “home away from home” vibe, YOTEL has a strong community feel. With social spaces and an international atmosphere, there’s a good chance you’ll meet new people or even do a bit of networking. Plus, the hotel plans to host cultural events in the near future.
Note: This is sponsored content.