Many months ago, my friends and I visited Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around Tokyo as a group since 2015. We have also been around the city individually in the following years. We carefully decided to choose the places we wanted to go. We did not aim to see everything. In fact, we kept our itinerary open and flexible.
My friends and I scored our tickets from Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare anniversary sale in March 2023. We got our return Tokyo tickets for ₱7,116.72 per person, including 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage, 20 kilograms of checked luggage, and a complimentary standard seat per sector.
My friends and I only chose one accommodation for the whole trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, a budget-friendly and excellent hostel on the quiet side of Ginza. We stayed in their private twin rooms and six-bed mixed dormitory rooms.
Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.
Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!
Odaiba
Odaiba is an entertainment and shopping hub on the man-made islands of Tokyo Bay.
My friend and I went to see the Statue of Liberty and the Odaiba Seaside Park from its observation deck. We went to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, had lunch, and saw the life-sized Unicorn Gundam. We came back to DiverCity to have dinner and check out the place at night.
Nearest Train Station: Daiba Station (Yurikamome Line)
TeamLab Planets Tokyo
teamLab Planets Tokyo is a museum that lets people walk through water, be one with the flowers, and become one with the world. Everyone goes in barefoot to feel the elements and enhance the experience.
We pre-booked our timed tickets via Klook and paid ₱1,392.13 each after promotions and discounts. The teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills was yet to open during our October 2023 visit.
Nearest Train Station: Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)
Tokyo Disneyland
Who does not know Disneyland? Tokyo has its own Disneyland and the world’s only Disney Sea. My friends and I enjoyed a full day of rides, shows, and experiences.
We pre-booked our tickets via Klook (again) and paid ₱3,076.63 each after discounts and promotions. We went there during the theme park opening, stayed the whole day, and left after the disappointing fireworks display. We still had a nice day at the theme park.
Nearest Train Station: Maihama Station (JR East Keiyō Line)
Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-related content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!
Late last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around the city as a group in 2015 and individually in the following years, so we did not aim to see everything. We took things easy, kept our itinerary open, and enjoyed the city’s vibe.
So far, we have been to Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, and Ginza, as per the previous posts. Today, allow me to share with you some details and many photos of our visit to selected places in Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Ueno.
Plane Tickets
My friends and I got ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale last March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.
We stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this trip to Tokyo. We initially got a private room with a toilet, then transferred to the 6-bed mixed dormitory a few days later. We found the hostel to be quiet, wallet-friendly, and amazing.
Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.
Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!
Shinjuku is a bustling commercial, entertainment, and administrative district of Tokyo. The city houses Shinjuku Station, one of Tokyo’s biggest and busiest train stations.
My friend and I first checked the three-dimensional cat billboard and then walked towards Godzilla Head above the TOHO Cinemas Building. We had dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura and eventually walked around the adult-oriented nightlife area of Kabukicho. We went out of the nightlife hotspot and walked our way back to the retail/shopping area.
Nearest Train Stations: Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, Seibu-Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station, and many more.
Asakusa
Asakusa is one of the few areas in Tokyo that retains its old and traditional vibe. You will see a lot of traditional buildings, craft shops, and food stalls in this famous district.
We got off Asakusa Station and walked near the Sumida River. We talked about the famous ancient Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple). We walked along Nakamise-dori Street and tried some local delicacies.
Nearest Train Station: Asakusa Station (Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, and Tobu Railway)
Ueno
Ueno is famous for its museums and the spring-favorite destination, Ueno Park. It also has temples, shrines, and monuments that showcase the rich history of Japan.
My friends and I went to Ueno Park back in 2015, so we visited Ameyoko Shopping Street during this trip. We walked around and checked out different shops. We also had one of the best (and cheapest) takoyaki during this trip.
Tip: Ameyoko Shopping Street is one of the best places to buy chocolates and souvenirs. The prices here are relatively cheaper compared to the prices in other parts of Tokyo.
Nearest Train Stations: Okachimachi Station (JR Yamanote Line and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) or Ueno-Okachimachi Station (Oedo Subway Line)
Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!
In October 2023, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, to rediscover the city. We were around Tokyo in 2015, but we only visited selected places due to limited time. We were new travelers back then.
In the next few weeks, I will share with you the places we visited. Please note that we did not aim to see everything on this trip. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go to and took our time going around. We also kept our itinerary open and flexible for possible last-minute discoveries and changes.
Today, I will show snippets from our visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, Gotokuji, and Ginza. Prior to visiting these places, I, together with my friends, had been to Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.
My friends and I booked ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.
My friends and I booked only one accommodation for this trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, an amazing and budget-friendly hostel on the quiet side of Ginza.
Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.
Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!
Tsukiji Outer Market is one of Tokyo’s food havens. It has a wide range of food stalls, restaurants, retail, and wholesale shops that locals and visitors can enjoy. The central wholesale market used to be in this area until the Tokyo government recently transferred it to Toyosu.
We went to and walked around the outer market around lunchtime. We saw long lines at food stalls and restaurants. My friend and I ended up having high-quality Japanese beef skewers for lunch.
Nearest Stations: Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Subway Line) or Tsukiji Shijo Station (Oedo Subway Line)
Gotokuji
Gotokuji Temple is Tokyo’s lucky cat temple. The famous Buddhist temple, located in Setagaya Ward, is home to thousands of luck-inviting cat figurines.
We went to Gotokuji after Tsukiji Outer Market and spent some time around the temple complex.
Nearest Station: Gotokuji Station (Odakyu Odawara Line)
Ginza
Ginza is one of Tokyo’s upscale shopping districts. It is home to numerous department stores, luxury brand boutiques, art galleries, and fine-dining restaurants. It is one of the best places to go shopping. Name a shop or a brand, and you will find it here.
It was one of the nearest shopping districts to our hostel. My friends and I walked around Ginza a few times during this trip.
Nearest Stations: Ginza Station (Hibiya, Marunouchi and Ginza Subway Lines) & Yurakucho Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and Yurakucho Subway Line)
Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!
Over the next few weeks, I will share with you bits and pieces of the places we visited and things we did around the city. My friends and I did not aim to check out everything about the city. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go and kept our daily itineraries open for last-minute discoveries and changes.
Today, I will share with you snippets of our trip around Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.
My friends and I scored ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.
My friends and I stayed at the Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this Tokyo trip. We decided to base ourselves in this comfortable and valuable hostel near Ginza shopping district and Outer Tsukiji Market for a little over a week.
Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.
Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!
We visited the bustling neighborhood of Roppongi. We started our day with a Sunday mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center (Roppongi Catholic Church). We had an early lunch at Matsuya, then we walked towards Roppongi Hills to check out some shops. We initially planned on visiting Mori Art Museum, but we were told that the museum had just closed for an exhibition change.
Yokohama
After Roppongi, we took the train to Yokohama, the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture. We walked around Queen’s Square Yokohama, walked towards the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, and walked towards Cosmo World. We also tried our luck with the Cup Noodle Museum, but we did not find entry slots that fit our schedule. We ended up walking to Yokohama World Porters and trying the famous Hawaiian snack, malasadas (fried dough), from Leonard’s Bakery.
Afterwards, we took the train and went to the famous Yokohama Chinatown. We lined up for freshly-fried xiao long bao and bought snacks and drinks that we liked. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the vibrant neighborhood.
Shibuya
After Yokohoma, we took the train back to Tokyo and headed over to Shibuya. We passed by the Hachiko Statue and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked around the area and checked out some shops and restaurants. We also checked out the nearest Don Quijote branch. We ended our day with a dinner at Yoshinoya.
Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!
Last October 2023, I, together with some friends, flew to Tokyo for a few days to re-visit the city we visited back in 2015. I spent 11 days and 10 nights around the city and stayed at only one accommodation, Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. Now that Oak Hostel Zen has closed permanently, I can tell you that this property is now my favorite hostel in Tokyo.
Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature and learn why Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel instantly became my new favorite hostel in the city.
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel opened its doors to the traveling community in 2017. This excellent property aims to provide comfortable accommodation, just like when one comes to visit a friend’s home. Imano offers both shared dormitory and private rooms across 8 floors above the exceptional second-floor communal lounge and co-working space and the ground-floor reception.
Location & Access
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is located at 1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō 104-0041. It is in the center of Tokyo, in a quiet neighborhood between the Tsukiji and Ginza areas. The hostel is 2 minutes by foot from Exit 2 and 6 minutes by foot from Exit 1 of Shintomicho Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. It is 6 to 10 minutes by foot from Exit 4 of Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line, from Exit A1 of Takaracho Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, and from Exit A3 of Hatchobori Station on the JR Keiyo Line.
The hostel is about 10 to 15 minutes by foot from famous places like Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza Shopping Street, and Tokyo Station. It is also near several local restaurants and convenience stores.
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is 1 train ride away from and to Narita International Airport via the Keisei Narita SkyAccess Line that continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. It is also 1 train ride away from and to Haneda International Airport via the Keikyū Airport Line that also continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. Given Tokyo’s extensive train system, there are also other ways to reach the property via other train lines.
The hostel’s location may not be near a local supermarket, but it is still a good base of choice when traveling around Tokyo. It is near various train lines, which makes it accessible almost everywhere in the city. Its ‘one train ride away to and from the airport’ also makes it a convenient place to stay when in Tokyo.
Room Options & Cost
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers shared dormitory rooms and private rooms, depending on what the guests need.
The hostel offers the following dormitory configurations: a 6-bed mixed dormitory room, a 6-bed female dormitory room, and a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature bunk beds with individual reading lights, privacy curtains, power outlets, hangers, bag and shoe lockers, air conditioning, and safety boxes. These dormitory rooms also have access to shared showers (with shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap), toilets, and wash areas (with hair dryers and kettles) located on every floor. Dormitory bed rates start at ¥3,400 per bed per night.
Imano Ginza’s list of private room options is as follows: Japanese-style single or twin room, 4-bed family room, and 6-bed family room. The private single or twin tatami rooms feature futon beds, in-room shower and toilets with wash basins, televisions, bathroom and toilet amenities, face and bath towels, and air conditioning. The 4-bed and 6-bed family rooms feature the same amenities as the dormitory rooms above. These are dormitory rooms converted into private rooms when guests or families book them. Private room rates start at ¥10,000 per room per night.
My friend and I stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel for 10 consecutive nights. We booked our stay with Agoda, spent the first 5 nights in the Japanese-style twin tatami room, and paid ₱9,298.86 each. Another friend joined us for the next 5 nights, and we all stayed in the 6-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid ₱6,589.06 for all 5 nights.
For 2 people.For 3 people.
In total, I paid ₱15,887.92 for all 10 nights, roughly ₱1,588.79 per night in an expensive city like Tokyo and neighborhood like Ginza. Not bad!
Guest Facilities & Amenities
Guests staying at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel enjoy these facilities and amenities:
Free High-Speed Wi-Fi – Guests have access to a high-speed internet connection available throughout the building. Those working remotely can also take advantage of this “work from anywhere”-friendly Wi-Fi connection.
Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel staff gave us a drink discount coupon upon check-in. The coupon was valid throughout our stay.
Complimentary Slippers – The hostel provides complimentary slippers to all guests. The slippers are only limited to 1 pair per person per stay.
Café & Bar – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has an in-house café and bar. The café opens at 8:00 a.m. daily, while the bar starts operating from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Prices as of October 2023Prices as of October 2023
Clean Showers & Toilets – The property makes sure that its communal showers and toilets are clean and well-maintained.
Communal Wash Areas – Each floor has a communal wash area where guests can dry their hair, brush their teeth, or wash their faces.
Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All private and dormitory rooms feature air conditioning and heating systems.
Communal Lounge & Dining Area – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has a cozy, aesthetic, and spacious communal lounge and dining area. This communal area is also perfect for those who want to get some work done during their stay in Tokyo.
Shared Kitchen – The property has a small but functional shared kitchen near the communal lounge and dining areas.
Complimentary Water Refill – The hostel offers drinking water refill through the dispenser found in the small kitchen.
Outdoor Terrace & Smoking Area – The hostel prohibits smoking inside the hostel premises. They have the second-floor outdoor terrace as the designated smoking area.
Meeting Box Rental – Need to attend an important meeting during your stay? The hostel has a RemoteworkBOX near reception, which is available for rent for only ¥700 per hour.
Free Boardgame Rental – Guests can borrow the boardgames near the café & bar and play with them during their stay.
Free Umbrella Rental – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers free umbrella rental during rainy days. Guests can freely get one when leaving the hostel and return it after use.
Coin-Operated Laundry – The property has a coin-operated laundry on the second floor. Please reach out to reception if you want to use this facility.
Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free luggage storage to guests on their check-in and check-out days.
Locker Rentals – They also offer locker rentals for valuable items that cannot be left inside rooms and in the complimentary luggage storage. Feel free to reach out to reception if you want to rent one.
Hostel Shop – The hostel has a shop where guests can purchase amenities, snacks, and drinks or rent other amenities such as bath towels and pajamas. The shop is located beside the reception.
Seasonal Hostel Activities – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel conducts seasonal activities where checked-in guests can join. These activities are posted on their social media platforms.
24-Hour Reception – People arriving early in the morning or late at night do not need to worry about checking-in. The hostel reception is open 24 hours a day.
Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The hostel staff speak many languages; they are also nice, approachable, and friendly.
Lift Access – The hostel has one lift that goes to every floor. Guests who bring large luggage do not need to carry it via the stairs.
Secured Room Access – All private and dormitory rooms can only be accessed by inputting the number combinations found in the room keycards.
Secured Hostel Premises – The rooms can only be accessed by the guests. Also, the lift requires a keycard for it to go up. The main entrance door is locked every day after 11:00 p.m. The hostel is also equipped with a 24/7 security surveillance system.
Hostel Experience
I enjoyed my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel to the point that it became my instant favorite.
Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel wins in these aspects. First, the hostel’s private and dormitory room rates are competitive on the affordable side if we look at Tokyo, and particularly Ginza rates. The hostel has everything a traveler needs during his or her Tokyo visit. Second, Imano Ginza’s location is central but quiet. It is in a peaceful neighborhood away from the busy Ginza and Tsukiji commercial districts.
Third, the hostel’s second-floor communal lounge / work area is the best. They have high-speed internet, which allowed me to be productive at work for a few days. The tables have power and USB outlets, which can be used to charge laptops and phones. Fourth, the hostel provides free drinking water refills. It helped us save some money by not buying drinking water.
Lastly, Imano Ginza has a whole bunch of friendly staff. One staff member, Mai (if I remember it right), even went to us on the second floor to give us candies she bought during her weekend trip to Yamanashi Prefecture. Lovely!
The hostel also has its drawbacks. First, the shared kitchen is very small. Only one person can use it at a time. Second, for those traveling with large suitcases, the double or twin private tatami rooms have very limited space. The suitcases can only be opened on top of the beds.
Lastly, the dormitory rooms need better ventilation. The 6-bed mixed dormitory room on the fifth floor where my friends and I stayed for a few nights had this disturbing or unpleasant unventilated smell. This can easily be fixed by opening the windows and letting fresh air circulate for a few hours every day.
Nevertheless, I still had a nice and delightful 10-day stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. I am happy I got the chance to try both their private tatami and dormitory rooms during this lengthy stay. I will be back in the future, now that it is my new favorite hostel in Tokyo.
If you want to see how the hostel looks in real life, their website has this feature that shows a 360° panorama view of the property. Also, in case you have questions about Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, please feel free to reach out to them on the following channels:
This wraps up my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. What do you think of the hostel? Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.
Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and please watch out for more Tokyo 2023 content in the coming weeks!
