Tokyo stays: capsule, business or ryokan?

Tokyo offers three distinct styles that confuse first-timers. Capsule hotels are the cheapest and most efficient, business hotels are compact private rooms aimed at workers, and ryokan are traditional inns with tatami and often an onsen. The right choice is about comfort, not just price.

The three options

• Capsule: a private pod in a shared space — cheap, clean and fine for a night or two, but thin walls and shared bathrooms suit light packers.
• Business hotel: a small private room with a desk and an en-suite — the best default for most visitors, clustered around Shinjuku, Shibuya and near stations.
• Ryokan: the splurge — futon, breakfast and a soak, best saved for one memorable night rather than the whole trip.

Choosing a location

Staying near a major station matters more than the district itself. Shinjuku is well connected but busy; Ueno and Ikebukuro are calmer and cheaper while staying one ride from most sights. Pick a hotel within five minutes' walk of a station and you will thank yourself after a day on your feet.