HOME Tokyo and Surroundings Tokyo Shinjuku Tokyo Shinjuku Area Guide: Quick Tips on Must-Sees & Dos!
Tokyo Shinjuku Area Guide: Quick Tips on Must-Sees & Dos!

Tokyo Shinjuku Area Guide: Quick Tips on Must-Sees & Dos!

Last updated: 15 June 2020

Shinjuku Station is a huge labyrinth: more than 3 million people travel through it every single day and more than ten train lines intersect here. With a capacity of over one million commuters at any one time, this is clearly the busiest station in the world. Shinjuku is constantly a bustling, busy town, being a business district in the day and an entertainment district at night. But the area was not always like that. It initially flourished as a post town for travelers, and gradually developed after the railway station was completed after the Meiji period. Nowadays, offices of large companies line the streets in Nishi-Shinjuku, making it a leading business district in Japan. On the other hand, Higashi-Shinjuku and its Kabukicho is a large-scale entertainment district, bustling with life till late into the night.

Kabukicho

Kabukicho

Kabukicho is one of Tokyo's most famous entertainment and nightlife districts. Originally a swamp area known as Tsunohazu, it was notably named in the 1940s for a kabuki theater that was never actually built. Visitors will instead find a veritable urban playground full of restaurants, clubs, bars, movie theaters, internet cafes, and hotels. It's one of, if not the most, wild areas in Japan; a spot where a variety of services are offered to meet a variety of tastes. Truly, Kabukicho is an unquestioned must-visit for anyone going to Tokyo.

Kabukicho’s famed Robot Restaurant has become a defining feature of the stranger side of Tokyo’s nightlife; it’s noisy, colorful, eccentric, and sexy. For many tourists whose expectations of Tokyo involve a noisy, flashing neon spectacle resembling a video game come to life, it is the prime place to go.

At the entrance of the district, don’t miss Don Quijote, a famous shop where you can find various products such as food, cosmetics, and souvenirs at discounted prices.
Another must-see in the area, especially for those interested in Japanese martial arts, is the Samurai Museum. Over fifty swords, helmets, rifles, and suits of armor are on display. Friendly staff is always there to give explanations, and every room offers descriptions of the items on display in English, Chinese, Korean, and of course, Japanese.

  • Kabukicho
    • Address Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0021
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Shinjuku Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Chuo Main Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Toei Shinjuku Line / Toei Oedo Line / Keio Line / Keio New Line / Odakyu Odawara Line)
  • SAMURAI MUSEUM
    • Address 2-25-6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0021
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Shinjuku Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Chuo Main Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Toei Shinjuku Line / Toei Oedo Line / Keio Line / Keio New Line / Odakyu Odawara Line)
      8 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-6457-6411

Shinjuku East Side

Shinjuku East Side

The East Exit of the Shinjuku Station is usually where young people meet in the evening, especially under the big screen of Studio Alta. From there, you cannot miss Shinjuku Road, where popular fashion stores stand in line. If you'd like to buy food as a souvenir, the basement floor of the main building of "Shinjuku Isetan" is recommended. In this famous department store, Japanese tea, sweets made by popular pastry chefs, international liquors, and many souvenirs are available. A few minutes away, don’t miss the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a place that is especially famous in spring, when people come to view the cherry blossoms.

  • Shinjuku ALTA
    • Address 3-24-3, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0022
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Shinjuku Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Chuo Main Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Toei Shinjuku Line / Toei Oedo Line / Keio Line / Keio New Line / Odakyu Odawara Line)
      1 minute on foot
    • Phone Number 03-3350-5500

Shinjuku West Side

Shinjuku West Side

The west of the Shinjuku district is where the skyscrapers are located, which includes several luxurious hotels like the Hilton Tokyo, but also interesting landmark such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office. The area is also known for the many sightseeing buses departing here. Don’t miss "Tokyo Opera City", a complex with restaurants, concert halls, art galleries, and more. From the observatory restaurant on the 54th floor, you can overlook the town of Shinjuku. Various concerts and exhibitions are held there. Shopping lovers can also have a great time with the Odakyu Department Store, a 14-storey building that carries a large variety of products. A little further away, Yodobashi Camera will answer all your multimedia needs.

Click Below to search for more Spots in Shinjuku by Category!

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

Share this article.

Limited time offer: 10% discount coupons available now!

 
Search