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Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kanto - Tokyo - Western Tokyo
Shinjuku	# 1   of 60 most visited sights in Tokyo
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Shinjuku (�V�h) 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 and city buses. 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 recently redeveloped Southern Terrace. Districts: Shinjuku Skyscraper District Restaurants: Hours vary but are typically from 11:00 to 23:00. 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 both sexes and sexual orientations. Explore with caution and beware of exorbitant cover fees. Golden Gai Hours: Typically from 19:00 or 20:00 until the next morning Admission: Many bars have a seating fee of 500 to 1000 yen 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 consists 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 immigrants and sell a variety of Korean goods, including K-Pop music, videos and groceries. Attractions and Parks: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (Tocho) Hours: 9:30 to 23:00 (South Observatory until 17:30) Closed: Dec 29 to Jan 3 (except Jan 1), Oct 16 and occasional inspection days, the 2nd and 4th Mondays (North Observatory) and the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (South Observatory) of each month except on holidays 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. Japanese Sword Museum Hours: 10:00 to 16:30 Closed: Mondays and New Year holidays Admission: 600 yen The Japanese Sword Museum is a sword enthusiast's dream. Along with the countless blades on display, there are also exhibits on sword making and care as well as excellent English pamphlets. Shinjuku Gyoen (more details) Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00) Closed: Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday), and December 29 to January 3. There are no closure days from late March to late April (cherry blossoms) and in the first half of November (chrysanthemums). Admission: 200 yen Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's largest and most pleasant parks and one of the city's best cherry blossom viewing spots. It was opened to the public in 1949, after it had served as a garden for the Imperial Family since 1903. Central Park Hours: Always open Admission: Free This public park directly behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government twin towers houses Kumano Shrine (Kumano Jinja) as well as 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 Closed: No closing days 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: 10:00 to 20:30 Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00 Closed: January 1 (except restaurants) 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 Tokyu Hands branch and Kinokuniya book store with a large foreign language section. Odakyu Hours: 10:00 to 20:30 (Sundays until 20:00) Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:30 Closed: No closing days Odakyu Department Store consists of 16 floors, including a wonderful food department in the basement and restaurants on its top floors. The department store belongs to the Odakyu Group, which also operates a suburban railway line from Shinjuku to Odawara (Odakyu is an abbreviation for "Odawara Express"). Keio Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00 Closed: No closing days 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. Lumine Hours: 11:00 to 22:00 Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00 Closed: No closing days 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 Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00 Closed: No closing days Mylord offers seven floors of shopping and three restaurant floors. The complex also includes "Mosaic Dori", a narrow pedestrian street between the Keio and Odakyu department stores. Mylord is affiliated with the Odakyu Group. Electronics Stores: Yodobashi Camera Hours: 9:30 to 22:00 Closed: No closing days Yodobashi Camera is one of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers, and especially strong on camera equipment. Yodobashi's main store is divided up between half a dozen buildings 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 Closed: No closing days Bic Camera is another of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers. Bic's main store is located in Ikebukuro, but it also operates two branches next to Shinjuku Station, one in the Odakyu Halc Building near the station's west exit and one east of the station near the Isetan department store. Yamada Denki Hours: 10:30 to 22:30 (Sundays and holidays 10:00 to 22:00) Closed: No closing days Yamada Denki is one of Japan's most successful electronics chains, and has recently opened a large new branch store northeast of Shinjuku Station near the entrance to Kabukicho. Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

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 190 yen from Tokyo Station to Shinjuku Station. From Ueno Station By JR Yamanote Line it takes 25 minutes and costs 190 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. Orientation in Tokyo

Hotels and Ryokan

Shinjuku is a very popular district among tourists to stay thanks to its convenient location and abundance of shopping, entertainment and sightseeing opportunities. Many excellent four and five star hotels are located among the skyscrapers on the station's west side, while many cheaper options are concentrated on the east side and around the Kabukicho red light district. Read more in our Tokyo Hotel Guide

Sponsor Hotels Shin-Okubo International Hotel Opened in 2011. From 4000Yen. 5min walk from JR Shin-Okubo Sta. and Okubo Sta. Walking distance of Shinjuku downtown.

Recommended Hotels around Shinjuku - with lowest rates by selected hotel reservation websites Green Plaza Shinjuku Capsule A well maintained, large capsule hotel, ten minutes from the station. Men only. Hostelworld from $47 (1 person) from $94 (2 persons) Hotel Century Southern Tower The most conveniently located hotel in Shinjuku, just a few steps from the station entrance. Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku Just a few steps from Shinjuku Station, this hotel ranks among Tokyo's best values. Agoda from $152 (1 person) from $170 (2 persons) Keio Plaza Hotel One of Tokyo's most popular hotels and best values, a 5-10 minute walk from the station. Agoda from $212 (1 person) from $212 (2 persons) Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel 5-star hotel featured in Lost in Translation, a 15 minute walk from the station. Agoda from $666 (1 person) from $665 (2 persons) Shinjuku Washington Hotel Usually the most affordable hotel in Shinjuku's skyscraper district. Agoda from $113 (1 person) from $137 (2 persons)

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News and Reports

December 13, 2011 Tokyo Autumn Color Report by schauwecker December 5, 2011 Tokyo Autumn Color Report by scott November 27, 2011 Tokyo Autumn Color Report by scott November 22, 2011 Tokyo Autumn Color Report by scott November 15, 2011 Tokyo Autumn Color Report by scott November 14, 2011 Christmas lights in Roppongi Hills Tokyo by aginorz October 24, 2011 Halloween in Tokyo by aginorz October 13, 2011 Tokyo Fall Colors? by schauwecker More reports...

Travel Community

Ratings for Shinjuku: japan-guide.com Rating:   best of Japan   User Rating (by 2169 users): 86/100   recommended Popularity of Shinjuku: Users who have been to Tokyo: 5855 Users who have been to Shinjuku: 3859 1st of 60 most visited sights in Tokyo. 1st of 726 most visited sights nationwide. Have you been to Shinjuku? No - I have not been there yetYes - no ratingYes - highly recommendedYes - recommendedYes - mildly interestingYes - nothing specialYes - not recommended User Feedback We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

Useful Vocabulary

Shop Directory

THE SUIT COMPANY - Shinjuku South Gate The Suit Company has been a trusted retailer for quality men and women dress apparel at affordable prices. Find... The Suit Company Shinjuku Station East The Suit Company has been a trusted retailer for quality men and women dress apparel at affordable prices. Find... SHINJUKU MARUI ONE SHINJUKU MARUI ONE is the launch pad for Tokyo's cool fashion culture. A super-individualistic fashion building... Terafuku Shinjuku Ikesu Sushi & Sashimi More shops...

Tours and Packages

Tokyo Tours Various tours and travel packages for Tokyo and surroundings.

English Links

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Official English website. Sword Museum Official English website. Odakyu Department Store Official English website. Takashimaya Department Store Official English website. Isetan Department Store Official English website.

Product Links

Tokyo Realtime - Kabukicho (CD with photobook) Tokyo Realtime - Kabukicho takes you on a stroll through Japan's most imaginative adult entertainment district. Get an insiders view of the hyper-energetic mix of bright lights, boisterous crowds, less-dressed girls, loud touts and discretely guarded doors.

Japanese Links

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Official website. Kabukicho Official website of the business association. Golden Gai Official website of the business association. Omoide Yokocho Official website of the business association. Sword Museum Official website. Isetan Official website. Odakyu Department Store Official website. Keio Department Store Official website. Lumine Department Stores Official website. Mylord Shinjuku Department Store Official website. Takashimaya Department Store Official website. Isetan Department Store Official website. Yodobashi Camera Official website. Bic Camera Official website. Yamada Denki Official website.