With more than 1,400 rooms, 20 restaurants and bars, and two rooftop pools (one of which is for kids), the upscale Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo is a mega hotel spanning two high-rise towers in the city center. Themed rooms include two types of Hello Kitty rooms -- the Princess Kitty Rooms with plush chairs shaped like giant high-heels, and the Kitty Town Rooms, covered in wall-to-wall pop-art style Hello Kitty decor. All rooms include air purifiers, humidifiers, and flat-screen TVs with DVD players. Dining options abound, ranging from a traditional Japanese restaurant serving kaiseki courses in a stone and bamboo setting to an international buffet with an open kitchen.

The Hotel East 21 Tokyo is a big, bustling hotel east of Tokyo's metropolitan center and close to Tokyo Disney (the hotel provides free bus service). The high-rise hotel has three gorgeous pools; the two enormous outdoor ones have footbridges and gardens, but come with an access fee, even for hotel guests. Swimming fins, flippers, and kick-boards are available to borrow. Eight bars and restaurants provide everything from steak to sushi, and room service is available 24 hours a day. The 396 rooms are simply decorated and have free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs; most have views.

The 931-room Imperial Hotel Tokyo is a massive upscale property located in Hibiya, with an original structure that was built in 1890. Today, a number of amenities include an indoor pool, spa and salon, and several dining choices: sushi, Chinese, French fine dining, buffets, and traditional Japanese. Guests can also experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at TOKO-AN. Rooms are spacious with large bathrooms; some rooms have Bluetooth speakers and a smart console to control the drapes, lights, TV, and air-conditioning. There is an on-site child-care center, complete with a specially trained staff (a fee applies for the service and reservations are required).

The upscale Royal Park Hotel The Haneda is the only hotel located inside Haneda’s international terminal -- making it the most convenient place to spend the night on a layover. The 313 guest rooms include Spacious Family Rooms, which have four beds, sofas, and armchairs, plus bathrooms with wet-room showers and full soaking tubs. All rooms are thoughtfully designed and come with modern touches for a more comfortable stopover. The on-site restaurant is open from early morning until late; breakfast isn't included in all rates, but there’s an endless choice of places to eat elsewhere in the airport.

Smack in the middle of Tokyo's Shinjuku District, the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku is a wildly popular choice for the area, drawing families, couples, large tour groups, solo travelers, and businesspeople. The modern, upper-middle-range chain hotel has a chic Italian restaurant and cocktail bar, but is also within walking distance of restaurants, cafes, and stores. The 624 rooms are small but stylish, with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs.

The Shinagawa Prince Hotel Tokyo is a huge mid-range hotel complex offering 3,679 guest rooms spread over four high-rise towers. Rooms here are functional and comfortable and are equipped with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, though some show signs of wear and tear. The hotel's complex includes two swimming pools, 13 food and beverage outlets, tennis courts, a shopping mall, cinema, bowling alley, and even an aquarium. Its  next to JR Shinagawa Train Station, which is a big plus, but room rates here do tend to run more expensive than those in a similar category at other hotels in the area.

The 487-room Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu is an upper-middle-range property in a buzzing cosmopolitan area, centrally located with two metro stations and plenty of shopping and dining less than five minutes away on foot. The guest rooms are pleasant and simple with free Wi-Fi, however most of the hotel is smoking, so non-smoking rooms must be specifically requested. There is an expansive breakfast buffet available, which is free for kids under age six.