Staying around Omiya Station is a good option for travellers who prioritise ease of access to central Tokyo while also allowing for easy travel outside of the city. Though located in Saitama rather than Tokyo, most international visitors won’t even notice that they’re in a different city given the lack of any discernible gap in the sprawling build-up that between the two cities, and multiple train lines that transport you into the centre of Tokyo in 25-minutes, or popular pockets of the capital including Shinjuku and Shibuya in around 30-minutes.

Most attractively, multiple shinkansen lines run to and from Omiya Station, allowing for easy day-trips to Central Japan and beyond – with Nagano only 55 to 65-minutes from Omiya using services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Around the station, there is a good selection of 4 and 3-star hotels, along with mid-range and budget options. While staying in Omiya, make sure to enjoy the historic area of Kawagoe, Omiya’s ‘bonsai’ village including the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, the JR East Railway Museum and river cruises in Nagatoro.