Asakusa and Ginza are completely different neighborhoods. Asakusa retains some old Tokyo
culture with small shops and more typical small Japanese restaurants. Ginza on the other hand is a transport and business center with luxury shopping and lots of high end restaurants. No one live in Ginza and most Japanese don’t visit the area very often. There a huge maze of stores and restaurants in the underground of Tokyo station that gets a ton of traffic during the day. Ramen alley is a popular dining spot.

There are good places to eat all over Tokyo. I reject the idea that the food is better in Ginza. And as far as convenience is concerned, it is just too easy to get around Tokyo to worry about that. I would find Asukusa more pleasant, but I personally could stay in almost any neighborhood in Tokyo and be happy.

better, as in
"better dining options within close proximity to the hotels" being considered

And "dining" could mean a place a bit fancier than a Yoshinoya or MOS Burger.

Your characterization of what there is to eat outside of Ginza might not be understood as a joke to the OP.

Exactly. Emphasis added.
FWIW, I'd opt for Asakusa, because found Ginza rather soul-less, but I was there many years ago and, most importantly, it's not my trip.

thanks, everyone, for weighing in. I know these posts and questions are always a minefield, when it comes to things like what "better dining" and "close proximity actually mean. I should have been more specific and written something like "according to the preliminary research and poking around I've done, I've identified several eating establishments that look appealing to our tastes and budget in the Ginza area" :~).

No joke. What is "outside of Ginza", of course, is everything from noodle shops (for 'food') to 3-star Michelin restaurants (for dining).

If you want trendy upscale dining, you can find it in Asakusa. Best to find a hotel along the waterfront if you want such dining in close proximity.
Asakusa retains the vibe of an older Tokyo, with traditional craft shops and street-food stalls along Nakamise Street near the ancient Sensō-ji temple. Mid-19th-century Hanayashiki amusement park has rides and cafes, while riverside Kuritsu Sumida Park hosts regular festivals and firework displays. A trendy upscale dining scene is developing along the waterfront, while backstreets are lined with casual izakaya bars

There is upscale dining in Ginza. Street food and casual restaurants in close proximity to your hotel might be harder to find than in Asakusa.

Ginza is a highly fashionable and prestigious district in Tokyo, known for its upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment. It's considered one of the most expensive and luxurious city districts in the world. The name "Ginza" translates to "silver mint," reflecting its past as the location of Japan's silver mint.

Then to shelemm's point you can find eating establishments everywhere in Tokyo, pretty much

Ginza has a wide range of restaurants offering varieties of food to suit everyone's budget and taste. (That is what I meant when I referred to "better options.")

From the inexpensive ramen shops to the renowned Sato Yosuke Inaniwa udon, to the moderately priced kaiten sushi, and to the exclusive Jiro Sushi (Sukiyabashi Jiro, of the "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" documentary fame.)

Then, in every department store or multi-floored building housing various shops, there is often a floor dedicated to restaurants that offer various food options and price ranges.

For the OP, sure, stay wherever inspires you. There is probably no wrong area to stay.

Personally, I am not too excited about eating in a department store. I'd rather eat at an izakaya.

I do recommend trying out a ramen-ya. The kind of place which is just a counter. You pay at a vending machine outside, and someone takes your ticket and seats you. You are then served your ramen. I am not sure there is an any place outside Japan where that is prevalent.

We found lots of places to eat in Asakusa, including a wonderful ramen place, exactly what shelemm describes!

As others have said, the biggest hurdle is swallowing the cost of a hotel room that is decent sized. Tokyo is expensive; Kyoto will be less so, so that helps. Location near a Yamanote Line or in Asakusa is recommended.

General notes:

• Check agoda.com for cancelable hotels. I've found better rates there. (I believe it's part of booking.com... not sure. But I've used a few times and no issues--but be sure to book free cancellation initially.)
• In Tokyo, expect to pay minimum $200/night for a decent-sized room (if you were solo or a repeat visitor, easier to stay cheaper at the budget chains)
• Arrival is the most stressful part of your trip, so just be aware things get better. When you land, don't rush. Take a breath, use the bathroom, get a drink from the vending machine in the airport to sit and get your bearings. You'll be tired from the long flight so your nerves will already be stretched. Anticipating that will help.

RE: Asakusa Hotels
My senior mother and I have stayed in Tokyo several times now in recent years (to visit family on Okinawa), and I think the Asakusa area would be very nice for you. We liked the Asakusa Tobu Hotel BUT we booked a comfort twin (pics below), as we needed twin beds PLUS wanted a bit of space to walk around. I did a LOT of research (as a Fodorite), and this worked out well for us. Great location. Walkability. Lots of conveniences. Look at this hotel, or The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, or hotels in this area.

RE: Yamanote Line Hotels
For years, I often booked the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, and I still contend this is a great hotel for many (not all) English-speakers for a first time trip. (I say this for travelers who aren't as interested in walking after dark to see all the neon and clubs every night. Though that can be done, it's just you'll have a sobering train ride back to the more quiet Shinagawa area.) The Shinagawa Prince is directly across the street from Shinagawa Station, easy access to Haneda, the Yamanote line, and the Shinkansen to Kyoto and other parts. But this is a big complex; the better rooms are in the Main Tower on a higher floor. A triple room gives more space. There's a 7-Eleven on the 2nd floor, plus a drug store. Across the street at Shinagawa station, there's so many restaurants, shopping, and groceries. We always had breakfast at City Bakery and on occasion, had a coffee at the Starbucks. Easy also to grab pastries and a hot takeaway at the station after a day sightseeing. The Shinagawa Prince used to be on the easy Limousine Bus route, but this may have stopped.

Shinjuku is another popular area, and when I brought my extended family of 6, we stayed at Hundred Stay Shinjuku, as we wanted Yamanote line access, but didn't want to board at Shinjuku station with my senior mother. We could take the elevator to platform at Shin-Okubo station, the stop next to Shinjuku.

RE: Ginza
I really wanted to stay in Ginza this past October, and kept trying for the Ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza, as this area is nice, but could never get their twin bed room. https://all.accor.com/ssr/app/accor/...elDetails=true

Have fun planning! (pics below are of the comfort triple room at Asakusa Tobu hotel, Oct. 2024)


Comfort triple room; booked for Oct. 2024 on agoda.com for $462 (3 nights)

Agoda HQ is in Singapore, has operations in Bangkok and is owned by Booking Holdings.

I will often find cheaper rates on Agoda. The parent company is immaterial.

To you, apparently. But it might matter to someone else. Thanks, mrwunrfl, for providing that information.

yw.
I looked it up because ChgoGal was not sure. Plus am pretty sure that you are a booking.com fan and I thought the parent company might give you a warm and fuzzy about agoda. Also thought that the mention of offices in Singapore and Bangkok would matter on the Asia forum.

Not that I really have any need to explain myself.

My point was that, despite the parent company being Booking.com, they often have lower prices. The parent company does not mean it's the exact same deal. That's simply a fact.

Of course there might be other reasons to prefer booking.com

want to know the name of the parent company.

It is an obvious fact that OTAs have different prices for the same room. Last fall it was a matter of availability.

Agoda was the only website that had a room at a one-guest price at the ryokan hotel where I wanted to stay. Other OTAs and the hotel English language website only offered a higher two-person rate for one of the nights. I booked an expensive (run of house) Japanese room at Agoda for the second night and an inexpensive room at the hotel website for the first night, both at one-guest prices. (this was Koyo in Kaminoyama Onsen)

When I got to the hotel I was able to change to an expensive J-W room, paying the one-person rate to hotel directly. After I got home, I emails to Agoda and the hotel. Agoda provided a 100% refund within an hour, and it posted the next day. I thought it would be hassle but it was painless because of the excellent Agoda customer service that I received.

Thank you everyone for chiming in! I used Reading54 simplified subway map and plotted out my adventures and we decided to stay in Shinjuka. I was able to get the Hotel Sunroute plaza for $200/nt so only slightly higher that what i had hoped for, but we did increase the room size based on everyone's suggestions so that played a part in the higher price. Ultimately the convenience of the airport stopping directly at the hotel was a plus, and although the train station seems like it could be confusing - we are going to just take a breath and figure it out. No rush to get anywhere and it will all make for good stories if we get lost Once again thank you for the advice!