The Best Things To Do In Shinjuku, Tokyo

welcome to Shinjuku! This neighborhood is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Tokyo, together with Shibuya and Minato. Shinjuku is mostly famous for its nightlife but this doesn’t mean partying is the only thing to do here. In this blog, I will share the best things to do in Shinjuku, no matter the time of the day you visit. Sounds interesting? Then keep on reading to find out more!

SHINJUKU

Most people think of Shinjuku and its lively nightlife but Shinjuku is also one of the most important business districts in Tokyo. Here are some other interesting facts about this neighborhood that you might not know:

Shinjuku has the busiest train station in the World, with over 3 million passengers every day. With over 200 hundred exits, this station is so big, that it is easy to get lost.
Shinjuku is also the special ward in Tokyo with the biggest number of restaurants. There are almost 6000 restaurants.
This neighborhood is also one with the biggest number of skyscrapers. Shinjuku makes a big contribution to Tokyo’s skyline!
10% of its residents are foreighners.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN SHINJUKU, TOKYO

Let’s get started with the best things to do in Shinjuku. As usual, at the end of this blog, you will find a map in which I have pinned all the places that I will mention here.

1. Get lost in Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku station is not only the busiest station in the World but it is also the biggest! It has over 200 exits so not getting lost here, is practically a miracle! Unfortunately, I was not an exception and got lost trying to find the line that would bring us back to our hotel in Ginza.

However, don’t let this scare you! Using, and getting lost in Shinjuku station is part of the Tokyo experience! And if we look on the positive side, after you have figured out your way in Shinjuku Station, you’ll be able to move around Japan without any other issue.

Photo by Pema G. Lama on Unsplash

2. Admire all the neon lights

Shinjuku is full of neon lights. As soon as you step out of Shinjuku Station, if you’re visiting during the night, a thousand neon panels and lights will welcome you.

My personal favorite was the Shinjuku 3D Cat Billboard! It is really entertaining to watch the cat perform.

3. Explore Kabukicho

Kabukicho is also known as Tokyo’s Red Light District but it is nothing like the one in Amsterdam. In Kabuchiko, you will find plenty of neons, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Themed cafés are very common in this area too.

This district within Shinjuku got its name because, in the 40s, it was planned to build here a big Kabuki theater. The theater never got built but the name stuck.

We didn’t spend much time in this area because we were quite tired from the day and we were not looking to party or visit any themed cafés. However, if you like these things, you should consider including Kabukicho in your itinerary.

Important: Tokyo is a very safe city in general. However, like many nightlife areas, robberies have become more frequent. Make sure not to bring valuables here if you’re going to party.

4. Find Godzilla's Head

Within Kabukicho, you will find Godzilla Road and the Gracery Hotel. This hotel is famous for having a giant Godzilla Head popping out of its rooftop. The head is 12 meters high and was created for the 1992 film “Godzilla vs. Mothra”.

Did you know that you can see Godzilla’s Head from up close? All you have to do is head up to the rooftop terrace at the Gracery Hotel and get yourself a drink in the bar.

5. Get A Drink At Golden Gai

Golden Gai, is the nightlife district within Kabukicho. It consists of small alleys packed with over 300 small bars and eateries. Most are so small that they can only seat a few customers and only accept regular customers. However, you can also find other places that welcome foreign clients.

6. Eat At An Izakaya At Omoide Yokocho

Omoide Yokocho, which in English translates as “Memory Lane” is a small narrow alley with many eateries known as Izakayas. The typical dish of Izakayas is Yakitori or grilled skewers. You can get them of almost anything: chicken, lamb, beef, veggies, etc.

Eating at Omoide Yokocho is definitely an experience to include in your visit to Tokyo and Shinjuku. Just wander around the alley and enter the Izakaya that most appeals to you!

7. Relax At The Beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen Park

Not everything in Shinjuku is about partying and nightlife. If you visit the neighborhood during the day, you should visit the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen. This park is one of the biggest parks in Tokyo and was designed as a place to rest for the emperor but now it is open for the general public. It is the perfect place to escape the hectic Tokyo life and a must-visit during the Sakura season.

Practical information

The park is open between 9:00 and 16:30 in the winter months and until 18:30 in the summer months.
Entrance fee is 500 yen

8. Visit The Free Observation Deck At Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is another must-visit place in Shinjuku. This skyscraper was designed by the architect Kenzo Tange with two impressive towers that are 243 meters high each. The building houses the offices for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government but both towers have an observation deck on floor 45. From here, you will get amazing views of the Shinjuku skyline.

Practical information:

View from both towers is more or less the same.
Entrance to the towers is completely free.
The only difference between the towers is the opening hours. The North Tower is open between 9:00 and 17:30 and is closed on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The South Tower is open between 9:00 and 21:30 and is closed on the first and third Monday of each month.

Photo by Charles Postiaux on Unsplash

Photo by Sebastian Hages on Unsplash

9. Admire The Architecture In Nishi Shinjuku

If you are a modern architecture lover, then a walk through the administrative area in Shinjuku is a must. Here you will find many of the skyscrapers that are part of the Tokyo Skyline.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED TO VISIT SHINJUKU?

This question is always difficult to answer because it really depends on what you want to see and do. It will all depend on whether you only want to enjoy Shinjuku at night or you want to also see it during the day.

In our case, we only visited during the evening, and since we were not looking to party, 3 to 4 hours was enough. However, this meant we were not able to see the Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens or the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in the daylight.

HOW TO GET TO SHINJUKU?

Getting to Shinjuku is easy, all you have to do is get on any sort of public transport that will bring you to Shinjuku Station.

If you have an active JR Pass, then your safest bet is the JR Yamanotte Line.
If, on the other hand, you don’t have a JR Pass, then the Tokyo Metro system is the choice for you. For example, from Tokyo station, the Maranouchi line will bring you to Shinjuku station in approximately 15 minutes.

EATING IN SHINJUKU

One of the best things in Tokyo is the endless food options you can find all around the city. Shinjuku is no exception of course. In our case, we had dinner in Omoide Yokocho and really enjoyed the experience. However, if this is not for you, then you will find many other options.

SLEEPING IN SHINJUKU

Shinjuku is a very interesting area to get your accommodation during your stay in Tokyo. It is close to many famous sites in Tokyo or it has good public transport options to get you almost anywhere. In addition, there is a lot of lively nightlife and restaurants.

During our stay in Tokyo, we decided to choose our hotel near Ginza so, based on my experience, I can’t recommend any hotel here. However, if I were to book a hotel in Shinjuku, here are some places I might consider.

MAP WITH ALL LOCATIONS

SHINJUKU INFOGRAPHIC

No time to read the blog right now? No problem, here is an infographic with the list of the things that you cannot miss.

And that’s it for this week’s blog. I hope you liked it and found it useful. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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