Shinjuku (Vh) is one of the 23 city wards of Tokyo, but the name commonly refers to just the large entertainment, business and shopping area around Shinjuku Station.
Shinjuku Station is the world's busiest railway station, handling more than two million passengers every day. It is served by about a dozen railway and subway lines, including the JR Yamanote Line. Shinjuku is also one of Tokyo's major stops for long-distance highway buses. A large bus terminal, named Busta Shinjuku, is conveniently located on top of the railway station.
West of the station is Shinjuku's skyscraper district, home to many of Tokyo's tallest buildings, including several premier hotels and the twin towers of the Metropolitan Government Office, whose observation decks are open to the public for free.
Northeast of the station lies Kabukicho, Japan's largest and wildest red light district, while department stores, subterranean malls and electronic shops surround Shinjuku Station on all four sides, including the redeveloped Southern Terrace.
Districts
Shinjuku Skyscraper District
Restaurants: Hours vary but are typically from 11:00 to 22:00. Some restaurants close for a few hours between lunch and dinner.
The area west of Shinjuku Station is home to a large number of skyscrapers including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and leading hotels such as the Keio Plaza, Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Park Hyatt (featured in Lost in Translation). Several of the skyscrapers have shops and restaurants on their ground floors and additional restaurants with great views of the city on their top floors.
Kabukicho
Restaurants: Typically 11:00 to 24:00 (some open 24 hours) Bars: Typically from 19:00 or 20:00 until the next morning Closed: Some establishments are closed on Sundays
Named after a kabuki theater, whose construction plans have never been realized, Japan's largest red light district features countless restaurants, bars, nightclubs, pachinko parlors, love hotels and a wide variety of red light establishments for all sexes and sexual orientations. Explore with caution and beware of exorbitant cover fees and drink spiking resulting in loss of cash and credit cards. The latter typically occurs at establishments run by non-Japanese patrons and is initiated by touts targeting foreign tourists.
Golden Gai
Hours: Typically from 19:00 or 20:00 until the next morning Closed: Typically Sundays
Golden Gai is a small, atmospheric nightlife district in Kabukicho packed with over 200 small bars and eateries. Most places are very small, seating only a few customers, and typically cater to a few regular customers. A few of the bars openly welcome foreign guests with signs and menus set outside listing prices in English.
Omoide Yokocho
Restaurants: Typically from 17:00 to 24:00 (some are open for lunch) Closed: Irregular closing days
Omoide Yokocho (lit. memory lane), also known under its more colorful nickname Piss Alley, is a small network of alleyways along the tracks northwest of Shinjuku Station. The narrow lanes are filled with dozens of tiny eateries serving ramen, soba, sushi, yakitori and kushiyaki. Many restaurants consist of just one counter with some chairs, while others have a couple of tables.
Shin-Okubo Koreatown
Shop and restaurant hours vary
Shin-Okubo Koreatown is a collection of Korean shops and restaurants found along the main road and side streets around Shin-Okubo Station, one stop north of Shinjuku Station. Many of the shops and restaurants are operated by Korean residents and sell a variety of Korean goods, including K-Pop music, videos and groceries.
Hours: 9:30 to 22:00 (entry until 21:30) Closed: Dec 29 to Jan 3 (except Jan 1) and occasional inspection days Admission: Free
The 243 meter tall twin towers and surrounding buildings contain the offices and the assembly hall of the metropolitan government of Tokyo, as well as observatories on the 45th floor of each tower. The view from the southern tower is considered slightly more interesting.
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 16:30 in winter, until 19:00 in summer) Closed: Mondays (or next day if Mon is a holiday), and Dec 29 to Jan 3. No closing days from late Mar to late Apr and in the first half of Nov. Admission: 500 yen
This public park behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government twin towers houses Kumano Shrine. It used to have a sizable homeless population living in blue tarp shanties and cardboard box homes.
Department stores
Isetan
Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 Restaurants: Typically 11:00 to 22:00
With a history of over 100 years Isetan is a veteran among Shinjuku's department stores. The Shinjuku store is Isetan's flagship and consists of ten floors, including restaurants on the top floors and a food department in the basement.
Takashimaya
Hours: 10:30 to 19:30 Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00
Opened in 1996, the Shinjuku branch of Takashimaya consists of 15 floors, including a food department in the basement and three restaurant floors. It is the main store of the "Takashimaya Times Square" complex that also houses a Hands branch and Kinokuniya book store with a large foreign language section..
Keio
Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00
Keio Department Store consists of 11 floors, including a food department in the basement and several restaurants on the restaurant floor. The department store belongs to the Keio Group, which also operates a suburban railway line from Shinjuku to western Tokyo. The Keio department store is scheduled to be rebuilt in a major redevelopment project in the near future.
Lumine
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00 Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00
Lumine is owned by JR East and located both next to and above Shinjuku Station's South and East exits. Lumine is divided into "Lumine 1" and "Lumine 2" on either side of the South Exit and "Lumine Est" (formerly known as "My City") above the East Exit.
Mylord
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00 (Mosaic Dori from 10:00) Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00
Mylord offers seven floors of shopping and three restaurant floors. The complex also includes "Mosaic Dori", a narrow pedestrian street behind the Keio department store. Mylord is affiliated with the Odakyu Group and is also scheduled for redevelopment.
Electronics stores
Yodobashi Camera
Hours: 9:30 to 22:00
Yodobashi Camera is one of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers, and especially strong on camera equipment. Yodobashi's main store is located near the west exit of Shinjuku Station, while a smaller branch is located near the station's east exit.
Bic Camera
Hours: 10:00 to 21:00
Bic Camera is another of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers. It has two large stores in Shinjuku: one in the Odakyu Halc Building near the station's west exit and one east of the station near the Isetan department store.
Getting there and around
Shinjuku Station is Japan's busiest railway station, served by about a dozen railway lines, including the JR Yamanote Line.
From Tokyo Station
The frequently departing, orange trains on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid Service) take less than 15 minutes and cost 210 yen from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station.
From Ueno Station
By JR Yamanote Line it takes 25 minutes and costs 210 yen to get from Ueno to Shinjuku. A slightly faster alternative is to take the JR Yamanote or JR Keihin-Tohoku Line from Ueno to Kanda Station, and then the JR Chuo Line from Kanda to Shinjuku.
High above Shinjukufs lively streets, the wide windows of Park Hyatt Tokyofs spacious rooms offer beautiful views of Mount Fuji or Shinjuku. An indoor pool and 52nd-floor restaurant are featured. Rooms at the Tokyo Park Hyatt boast Hokkaido wood panelling and Egyptian cotton sheets. Guests can pour a drink at the wet bar and relax in the deep bathtub, or stretch out in the fluffy bathrobe and watch a video-on-demand movie. Free toiletries, slippers and a hairdryer are provided. Rooms also feature a seating area, desk and free high-speed wired internet as well as WiFi access. Shinjuku Central Park is a 3-minute walk from the hotel. JR Shinjuku Train Station is a 15-minute walk away, and Shinjuku Gyoen is a 20-minute walk. Guests can enjoy the massage or sauna at Club on the Park Spa or work out at the fitness room, which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotelfs library offers a wide selection and the front desk is open 24-hours a day. Currency exchange service is available at the hotel. The 52nd-floor New York Grill offers spectacular skyline views. Guests can enjoy a drink at The Peak Bar while watching the sun set in the Tokyo Skyline. Sumptuous cakes and seasonal sweets can be purchased at the Pastry Boutique, while modern Japanese dishes, French cuisine and a stylish cafe are also available on site.
Boasting a fitness centre, a restaurant as well as a bar, BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel is situated in the centre of Tokyo, 400 metres from Okubo Park. The property is close to Korea Museum, Studio Alta and Yaso Saijo Monument. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel provides some rooms with garden views, and rooms have a kettle. An American breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. Popular points of interest near BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel include Seibu Shinjuku PePe Shopping Mall, Samurai Museum and Choko-ji Temple. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 22 km from the hotel.
Set in the Shinjuku Ward district in Tokyo, FLOWER TERRACE Higashi Shinjuku offers 4-star rooms with free WiFi. Popular points of interest nearby include Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park, Korea Museum and Itsukushima Shrine Nukebenten. The property is 200 metres from Full Gospel Tokyo Church, and within 3.6 km of the city centre. At the hotel the rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen, towels and a balcony with a city view. All guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Popular points of interest near FLOWER TERRACE Higashi Shinjuku include Okubo Baptist Church, Inari Kio Shrine and Samurai Museum. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 23 km from the accommodation.
Offering a seasonal outdoor pool and spa centre, Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand is set in Tokyo in the Tokyo Prefecture Region, 1.5 km from Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Opened in December, 2016, the new Club Floor "Premier Grand" welcomes guests with green tea and hand towels. Exclusive service such as private check-in and check-out is available on the 45th floor. Premier Grand features panoramic views of Tokyo. Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV. Some rooms include a seating area to relax in after a busy day. You will find a coffee machine and a kettle in the room. Each room is fitted with a private bathroom with a bath and bidet, with bathrobes and slippers provided. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. There is free shuttle service, a 24-hour front desk and hairdresser's at the property. Meiji Jingu Shrine is 1.8 km from Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Gran, while Meiji Jingu Stadium is 2.7 km from the property. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 16 km from Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand.
Oakwood Apartments Nishi-Shinjuku features accommodation within 4.2 km of the centre of Tokyo, with free WiFi, and a kitchen with a dishwasher, a stovetop and kitchenware. This 4-star aparthotel offers a lift and a concierge service. Choko-ji Temple is 700 metres from the aparthotel and Belle Salle Shinjuku Grand Hall is 700 metres away. The aparthotel will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a desk, a kettle, a microwave, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a balcony and a private bathroom with a bidet. At the aparthotel, each unit has bed linen and towels. There is a coffee shop on-site. Popular points of interest near the aparthotel include Joenji Temple, Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art and Studio Alta. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 22 km from Oakwood Apartments Nishi-Shinjuku.
Located in Tokyo, within 500 metres of Zenrosai Hall Space Zero and 500 metres of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, MIMARU TOKYO SHINJUKU WEST provides accommodation with free WiFi throughout the property. Popular points of interest nearby include Kumano Shrine, Yamano Hall and Lumine Shinjuku 1. The property is 200 metres from Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, and within 4 km of the city centre. Guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a fridge, a microwave, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. At the hotel each room has a private bathroom and bed linen. Popular points of interest near MIMARU TOKYO SHINJUKU WEST include Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates, Shinjuku Central Park and Bellesalle Nishi Shinjuku. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 21 km from the accommodation.
Opened in August 2014, this hotel is located just a 3-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station, offering direct access to Harajuku, Shibuya and Akihabara areas, all within a 20-minute train ride. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. Sophisticated guest rooms at JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku feature decor inspired by traditional Japanese motifs and materials. In-room facilities include a flat-screen TV, fridge and air purifier/humidifier. The private bathrooms feature free toiletries. The Blossom Shinjuku Hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, coin launderette and free luggage storage services. Massages can be arranged at a surcharge. Drink vending machines are available on site. The hotel is within a 15-minute walk from the lively Kabukicho area, Golden-gai and Tokyo Metroplitan Government Building. The tranquil Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is also a 15-minute stroll away. Tokyo Tower is a 30-minute train ride away. The Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store is only a 5-minute walk, where guests can enjoy shopping. On-site Umaya restaurant offers various Japanese meals, including Kyushu regionfs specialities.
Well located in the centre of Tokyo, Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside provides buffet breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. Guests can enjoy city views. All units are equipped with a fridge, microwave, a kettle, a shower, slippers and a desk. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with a bidet and a hairdryer, guest rooms at the hotel have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and selected rooms come with a terrace. At Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside each room has bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Inari Kio Shrine, Samurai Museum and Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 23 km from Tokyu Stay Shinjuku Eastside.
Hundred Stay Shinjuku provides modern service apartments with flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. Featuring a fitness room and cafe, it is a 3-minute walk to JR Okubo Train Station. One- and two-bedroom apartments at Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku come with a fully equipped kitchen, living room and washing machine. All rooms include a microwave, fridge and en suite bathroom. Guests can watch a DVD or relax in the bathtub. From nearby Okubo Station, Shinjuku Station is 1 train stop away, and Tokyo Station is a 25-minute ride. Shin-Okubo Korea Town is 500 metres away. The lively Kabukicho area is a 15-minute walk. The hotel features free internet access. Laundry services are available and a concierge is on call 24/7.
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Nishi-Shinjuku in Tokyo features 4-star accommodation with a shared lounge. Well located in the Shinjuku Ward district, the property is located 2.1 km from Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and 2.4 km from Meiji Jingu Shrine. The property is 3.3 km from Meiji Jingu Stadium and 3.3 km from NHK Studio Park. The units in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. The private bathroom is fitted with a bath. The rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Staff at the 24-hour front desk speak Japanese and English. Shibuya Center Town is 4 km from the accommodation, while Hachiko Statue is 4 km from the property. Tokyo Haneda International Airport is 23 km away.
Take the subway to Asakusa Station (Ginza Line) Exit 4 and walk for 20 seconds. It is 220 meters away from Sensoji Kaminarimon Gate. The location is perfect!
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Come face to face with Japanese culture that has been kept alive through many years, such as the presence of a referee which began in the Sengoku period (about 1467-1603)