Shinjuku

Shinjuku, mainly referring to the area around the Shinjuku train station in Tokyo, is the entertainment center of Tokyo. No matter you are a culture fan, a fashion pursuer, a foodie, or a pure sightseer, a trip to Shinjuku will never let you down!

Shinjuku is basically divided into four areas, namely the West Exit Area, East Exit Area, South Exit Area centered on Shinjuku Train Station, and the area around the Shinjuku Tri-butyl Metro Station. To the west of Shinjuku Station is a complex of high-rise buildings, while to its east is an area for shopping, dining, and entertainment. The south side gathers some large transportation hubs and some commercial facilities. Around the Tri-butyl area, some large department stores, and the Gyoen National Garden are located.

Night View of Shinjuku

Best Things to Do in Shinjuku

1. Overlook Cityscapes on Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is the fifth tallest building in Tokyo at 243 meters (797 feet), and tourists can visit it for free. It has three major buildings, and each building has an observation deck, where one can overlook the Tokyo city. Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Sky Tree, and Meiji Jingu Shrine can be seen from the 45th-floor observation deck. On a sunny day, you even can see the Mount Fuji in the distance. Besides, a guided tour in English is available and free. During the holidays, you may need to wait in line to take a lift for some time.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

A View of Shinjuku

2. Appreciate Natural Beauty in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, with both Western and Japanese-style gardens. The best time to visit it is spring and fall. You can see the pink cherry blossoms in spring and red maple leaves in fall. By the way, the ticket is usually 500 yen.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Cherry Blossoms in Gyoen

3. Enjoy a Colorful Night in Kabukicho Street

Kabukicho Street is the famous red light district and nightspot located in the center of Shinjuku, gathering thousands of great-value bars, restaurants, and clubs. Kabukicho Ichibangai is the main street, and the red arch is the representative sign.

Kabukicho Street in Shinjuku

Kabukicho Street Nightview

4. Taste Authentic Japanese Food

Shinjuku gathers many restaurants and you can easily savor some of the typical Japanese food here. Below are some of the best restaurants not to be missed:

Sushi Zanmai is the famous chain of sushi stores in Japan having nearly 50 restaurants. You can enjoy delicious and fresh Sushi at any time. Sushi Zanmai is open 24 hours a day.

Ramen is another representative food of Japan. Menya Musashi is one of the famous Japanese Ramen restaurants. The flavor of pork bones and seafood is reflected in every bowl of noodle soup. Besides, you can find two pieces of braised pork belly and Tonkatsu in each bowl of noodles.

Tasting the different Japanese flavors of sake from all around Japan can be a unique experience. Ushi-no Yotare provides diverse Japanese sake, allowing the guests to sit on the charcoal pit to experience the traditional Japanese ways of eating. You need to book a seat in advance.

5. Shop for Unique Souvenirs and Stylish Items

Don Quijote is the largest chain of convenience stores and discount stores in Japan, known for its super-cheap and diverse objects, like food, cosmetics, groceries, and daily necessities. Foreign paper currencies such as the US dollar, Euro, Thai Baht, and Korean won are accepted here. Besides, it provides express service. Buying some gifts for your friends and relatives here is a good choice. Other popular shopping malls and stores worth going in Shinjuku include Isetan, Yodobashi Camera, Keio, Takashimaya…

6. Visit Samurai Museum

Samurai Museum displays about 70 objects, including swords, helmets, and armor. It provides English service, helping visitors learn about the Japanese samurai culture and historical development. Visitors can even wear samurai armor or kimono to take photos. You also have the opportunity to appreciate a special swordplay show.

7. Experience Ninja Culture at Ninja Trick House

Ninja Trick House is a funny Ninja experience store. Ninja, also known as hidden art, is a martial art used in Japan to conduct espionage, including combat, chaos, and intelligence gathering. In the store, an instructor will guide tourists to experience the whole process, narrating the culture and background of Ninja. Experiences include watching ninja anime, wearing ninja sabers, hitting opponent dolls, throwing kunia, and watching professional ninja techniques and rituals. It is a good option for families with kids for the store provides interactive activities, especially for children. Shoes may need to be removed during the experience process, and it is essential to reserve in advance.

8. Watch a Performance by Robot

Although Robot Restaurant is a restaurant, it is not a good choice to have a meal here. People come here mainly for performances that combine traditional Japanese culture and robot elements. The exaggerated performances and colorful lights make people scream. The whole performance time is about 75 minutes, with 3 to 5 performances per day.

9. Play Video Games in TAITO STATION

TAITO STATION is a large arcade that sells a variety of video games and provides diverse game machines, like battle consoles, claw machines, and Purikura. Have a crazy gaming time here to relax yourself.

10. Enjoy Making Sushi Yourself

Cooking Sun in Tokyo provides authentic Japanese cooking classes to foreign visitors. Professional instructors will use simple English words to explain the cooking process and narrate related culture. You can opt for the food type you want to cook, like bento, sushi, izakaya, wagyu kaiseki. It is essential to reserve classes in advance.

How to Get to Shinjuku

All JR lines, Keio Line, Odaku Railway, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Toei Metro Shinjuku Line, and Oei Ōedo Line have a stop at Shinjuku Station; you can choose to take the line that suits you best.

You can also get off at Seibu Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, Shinjuku West Exit Station on the Toei Metro Oedo Line, and Shinjuku-sanchōme Station on the Toei Metro Shinjuku Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, and Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line.

From Airport:

1. From Narita Airport: You can take Limousin Bus to get to Shinjuku, and it takes about 120 minutes. If you would like to take the train, JR East Narita Express (N'EX) is recommended. It runs every 30 minutes to an hour and takes about 90 minutes. Besides, you can take Keisei Main Line or Keisei SkyAccess to Nippori Station, then change to JR Yamanote Line at Nippori Station to Shinjuku Station, and the whole single routine takes about 100 minutes.

2. From Haneda Airport: Taking the Limousin Bus to get to Shinjuku is a good choice, and it only takes about 55 minutes. It runs about every 30 minutes. The second option is to take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station, then change to the JR Yamanote Line to Shinjuku Station. In addition, you can take Keikyu to Shinagawa Station, and then change to the JR Yamanote Line from Shinagawa Station to Shinjuku Station. Both the second and third options take about 50 minutes.

Recommended Time for a Visit

It is worth spending one day to experience the culture, explore treasure stores, and enjoy the nightlife here. Living in Shinjuku is a good choice since it has varied hotels, and it is easy to get to other places.

Nearby Attractions:

1. Shin-Okubo is the largest Korean town in Japan, providing abundant Korean dishes, and attracting countless Korean fans. You can take JR-Yamanote-Line bound for Ikebukuro& Ueno at Shinjuku, and get off at Shin-Okubo. A single ride takes about 11 minutes.

2. Hanazono Shrine is called the oasis of Shinjuku. On weekends you can find many vendors around the shrine selling antiques, prints, crafts, and kimonos. The bright lanterns create a beautiful night view. It takes about 13 minutes to walk there from Shinjuku.