Experience Tokyo Like a Local: Best Apartment Hotels & How to Enjoy Them

Forget cramped rooms. Discover why savvy travelers are switching to Apartment Hotels for more space, better food, and a truly authentic Tokyo experience.

Tokyo is a city of endless layers—neon lights, historic temples, and world-class dining. But after a few days of exploring, the reality of staying in a standard hotel can start to cramp your style. “I can’t open my suitcase on the floor.” “I’m tired of eating out for every single meal.” “I have a pile of laundry and no way to wash it.”

If this sounds familiar, it’s time to upgrade your accommodation strategy. Enter the Apartment Hotel. Combining the service of a hotel with the amenities of a home, this hybrid style is fast becoming the gold standard for travelers who want more than just a bed to sleep in.

In this guide, I’ll explain why this is the smartest way to stay in Tokyo and introduce the brand that’s leading the revolution: Minn.

The Verdict: The Best Way to Stay in Tokyo

Source:Minn Official Website

For busy travelers, here is the bottom line. If you want space, freedom, and comfort, skip the tiny business hotels. Choose an Apartment Hotel like Minn. With full kitchens, in-room laundry, and spacious living areas, it offers the perfect balance of “hotel reliability” and “home comfort.”

【Official】Minn Reservations | Experience a “Stay as You Live” Style

(Locations in Ueno, Asakusa, Nihonbashi, and more. Perfect for families and groups.)


What Exactly is an “Apartment Hotel”?

Source:Minn Official Website

Think of it as the best of both worlds.

  • Like an Apartment: You get a kitchen, washing machine, separate living area, and significantly more floor space than a standard hotel room.
  • Like a Hotel: You get professional cleaning, fresh linens, secure check-in, and customer support. It solves the uncertainty of vacation rentals (no awkward key handovers) while fixing the space issues of traditional hotels.

4 Reasons Why You Should Choose an Apartment Hotel

Source:Minn Official Website

Why are travelers from the US, Europe, and Australia flocking to this style of accommodation?

1. Unlock the “Depachika” Food Culture

Tokyo has the world’s best takeout food, found in the basements of department stores (Depachika).

  • The Experience: Instead of queuing for an expensive restaurant, visit Ginza or Nihonbashi. Buy premium Wagyu beef, fresh sushi, and seasonal fruits. Bring them back to your apartment hotel, plate them up in your kitchen, and enjoy a private feast in your pajamas. It’s the ultimate luxury.

2. Unbeatable Value for Groups

Tokyo hotels charge by the person, not just the room.

  • The Math: Booking two or three separate rooms for a family of 5 is expensive. Apartment hotels offer suites for 4–8 people. When you split the cost, the price per person is often lower than a budget hotel, but the experience is 5-star quality.

3. Pack Light, Travel Far

Hauling giant suitcases through Tokyo Station is a workout you don’t need.

  • The Hack: With an in-room washer/dryer, you can pack for 3 days even if you stay for 10. Wash your clothes while you sleep and wake up with a fresh wardrobe. This leaves more room in your luggage for souvenirs!

4. Stay Together

Standard hotels split families up. Apartment hotels keep you together.

  • The Vibe: After a long day of walking, gather in the living room to share photos, plan tomorrow’s route, and relax. It turns a “trip” into a “shared memory.”

How to Choose the Right Apartment Hotel

Not all properties are created equal. Before you book, check these three things:

  1. Is the Kitchen Real? Ensure it has a cooktop, microwave, and cookware—not just a kettle.
  2. Is there a Dining Area? You don’t want to eat on your bed. Look for a proper table and chairs.
  3. Location: Is it near a major station? You want to be within a 5-minute walk of a subway or JR line.

Why “Minn” is the Top Choice in Tokyo

Source:Minn Official Website

If you want a brand that checks every box—style, location, and function—Minn is the recommendation. Here is why it stands out.

1. Designed for “Living Together”

Minn’s concept is “Stay Together.”

  • The Rooms: From bunk-bed suites for friends to Japanese-modern rooms for families, the layouts are fun and functional. They accommodate 1 to 8 guests without feeling crowded.

2. The “Entertainment” Kitchen

Minn kitchens aren’t just for boiling water. They are fully equipped.

  • The Idea: Visit the Tsukiji Outer Market, buy fresh seafood, and have a hand-rolled sushi party. Or visit Kappabashi (Kitchen Town) in Asakusa, buy a beautiful Japanese knife, and test it out immediately in your room.

3. Strategic Locations

Minn hotels are located in the neighborhoods you actually want to explore.

  • Minn Ueno & Asakusa: The cultural heart of Tokyo. Direct airport access.
  • Minn Nihonbashi: The sophisticated center near Tokyo Station.
  • Minn Kasai: The perfect base for Disney Resort.

4. Smart & Private

Minn uses mobile check-in technology.

  • The Benefit: It feels like your own private residence. Breeze through check-in without waiting in line, but know that 24/7 online support is there if you need it.

Real Traveler Scenarios

  • The Family Trip (Minn Kasai): “We spent the day at Disney. Came back, threw the kids’ dirty clothes in the washer, and relaxed with a beer in the living room while they slept in the bunk beds.”
  • The Girls’ Getaway (Minn Asakusa): “We bought wine and cheese at a department store and had a movie night using the projector in our room. It was so much more fun than sitting in a hotel bar.”
  • The Workation (Minn Nihonbashi): “Fast Wi-Fi and a proper table meant I could work comfortably during the day and explore Ginza at night.”

Verdict: Live Tokyo, Don’t Just Visit

Source:Minn Official Website

To truly understand Tokyo, you need to slow down and live in it. By choosing a spacious, fully equipped Apartment Hotel like Minn, you remove the friction of travel. No laundry stress, no food fatigue, just the freedom to enjoy the city on your own terms.

Spacious suites book out fast, especially for groups.

【Official】Book Minn Here for the Best Rates

(Select from Ueno, Asakusa, Nihonbashi, and more.)