Tokyo’s busiest district, Shinjuku is the central hub where most of Tokyo’s train and bus lines meet. The area surrounding Shinjuku Station is a multitude of shops, department stores, and restaurants, where locals typically shop or dine out. Shinjuku is also home to Tokyo’s most popular drinking spots, making it one of the most exciting places to spend the night in Tokyo.
Top Attractions & Places of Interests in Shinjuku
Shinjuku Gyoen
This vast park is among the best places to see cherry blossoms and autumn foliage in Tokyo. It has different areas to explore, including a traditional Japanese, a greenhouse, and Western gardens. The manicured lawns are also ideal for a picnic. You can spread out a mat and just lie there, basking in the sun and taking in the view of seasonal blooms.
Shinjuku Gyoen is also the location for the Makoto Shinkai animated feature film, The Garden of Words (Koto no Ha no Niwa).
Shinjuku Gyoen (Shinjuku National Garden, 新宿御苑)
07:00-18:00
Admission Fee: JPY 500
Official Website
Google Maps
Hanazono Shrine
Shinjuku’s most prominent shrine, Hanazono’s resident deity is Okami Inari, the deity of trade and worldly success. The shrine is also a beloved plum blossom and cherry blossom sightseeing spot.
Hanazono Shrine (Hanazono Jinja, 花園神社)
09:30 to 16:30
No admission fee
Official Website (Japanese only)
Google Maps
Shinjuku Golden Gai
Reportedly with over 200 bars, Shinjuku’s Golden Gai is ideal for bar-hopping and rubbing shoulders with locals. Each bar is cozy and can only fit a few people at a time. Some bars come with peculiar themes and kitschy decor; it’s almost like stumbling upon a gritty Wonderland.
Golden Gai (新宿ゴールデン街)
Most shops open from 17:00
Official Website (Japanese only)
Google Maps
Omoide Yokocho
Known to English speakers as Piss Alley, Omoide Yokocho, like Golden Gai, is filled with small restaurants that can only pack a few people at a time. Unlike Golden Gai, however, Omoide Yokocho is more open to tourists, often with English menus available for use.
Omoide Yokocho (思い出横丁)
Most shops open from 17:00
Official Website
Google Maps
Shinjuku Ni-chome
Want to get in Tokyo’s LGBT scene? Head to Ni-chome for a fun time at Tokyo’s gay and lesbian bars. People are generally fun to hang out with, regardless of where you are on the gender spectrum.
Shinjuku Ni-chome (新宿2丁目)
Most shops open from 17:00
Google Maps
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
One of the best views of Shinjuku can be seen from the district’s skyscraper city hall, Tokyo Tocho or Tokyo Metropolitan. The best part of it is that it’s free!
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Tōkyōto-chō, 東京都庁)
Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:00
Official Website
Google Maps
8bit Cafe
For a novel dining experience, head to 8bit Cafe where you can find a collection of retro games. Consoles on display are free for customers to use. Some items on the menu are also game-themed.
8bit Cafe
18:00 to 24:00, closed on Tuesdays
Official Website (Japanese only)
Google Maps
Entertainment Spots for Groups & Families
Shinjuku Copabowl
Kick your bowling experience up a notch with blacklit lanes. This flamboyant bowling alley comprises the 3rd and 4th floors of Humax Pavillion. Regular lanes are also available if you prefer a more subdued atmosphere.
Shinjuku Copabowl (新宿コパボウル)
11:00 to 06:30 the next day
Official Website
Google Maps
Ninja Trick House
Live your ninja fantasy at the Ninja Trick House, where you can dress up like a ninja, throw ninja stars, as well as experience swordplay. Recommended for both adults and kids alike.
Ninja Trick House in Tokyo (手裏剣道場 新宿忍者からくり屋敷)
Saturdays & Sundays, 10:00 to 15:00
Official Website
Google Maps
Recommended Cafes and Restaurants
Ramen Yamaguchi
Located near Shinjuku Gyoen, Ramen Yamaguchi has consistently been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2015. Their tori soba or chicken soba is a crowd favorite.
Ramen Yamaguchi (らぁ麺やまぐち)
11:30 to 15:00, 17:30 to 21:00; closed on Mondays
Official Website (Japanese only)
Google Maps
Ain Soph Journey
Whether you’re vegan or not, you’ll enjoy Ain Soph’s delicious vegan dishes. The pancakes are an absolute must!
Ain Soph.Journey Shinjuku
11:30 to 15:00
Official Website
Google Maps
Cafe Aaliya
This cozy restaurant specializes in French toast. For an affordable price, you can try it with various delicious toppings.
cafe AALIYA
10:00 to 22:00
Official Website
Google Maps
Odd Spots & Unique Locations
Taisoji
A seemingly quiet temple with a curious origin story, Taisoji is home to the baby-eating Enma statue.
Related:
The Baby-Eating Enma Statue of Taisoji
Tasoji (太宗寺、たいそうじ)
No entrance fee
Website (Japanese Only)
Google Maps
Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine
Before Sadako of the Ring and Kayako of the Grudge, there was Lady Oiwa. A model housewife and mother in her lifetime, Lady Oiwa was later portrayed as a vengeful ghost in the kabuki play Yotsuya Kaidan. This play has made such a profound impact that Japanese horror films still draw on this story today. The shrine celebrates the real Lady Oiwa, but pays homage to the fictional character as well.
Related:
Oiwa Inari Shrine and the Big Bad Boss of Vengeful Female Ghosts
Oiwa Inari Tamiya Shrine (於岩稲荷田宮神社)
08:00 to 17:00
Google Maps
Inari Kio Shrine
The characters for Kio (鬼王) literally mean “Demon King,” and it is said that Inari Kio is the only shrine in Japan that worships such.
Related:
Inari Kio: A Shrine to the Demon King?
Inari Kio Shrine (Inari Kiō Jinja, 稲荷鬼王神社)
Official Website
Google Maps
Christon Cafe
A concept cafe that draws upon the Gothic aspects of Christianity, some may argue that Christon Cafe is borderline sacrilegious. Other than it’s just a regular restaurant, with an atmosphere that draws Goths and perhaps people with vampire fantasies.
Christon Cafe
12:00 to 23:30
Official Website (Japanese only)
Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Shinjuku at night?
Shinjuku has plenty of bars, karaoke, and izakaya that cater to different kinds of social gatherings. Head to Golden Gai or Omoide Yokocho for a more local experience, or to Ni-chome for an LGBT-friendly environment. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can also find host clubs and kyabakura in the area, but make sure you have plenty of cash to spare. There’s also an abundance of love hotels, which can be an entirely unique experience on their own.
Is it safe to go around Shinjuku at night?
Generally, yes. Japan’s crime rate is low and the streets of Tokyo are well lit. You may encounter pushy restaurant and karaoke staff who will try and get you to visit their establishment. You will also see quite a number of drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights, but these people tend to be close to passing out that they can hardly do harm to others. As long as you keep your wits about you, you’ll likely be alright. A little annoyed maybe, or even amused by the passed-out people sleeping on the streets, but more or less safe.
Is Shinjuku a red-light district?
Kabukicho is a known red-light district and it is part of Shinjuku. Otherwise, Shinjuku is just a sizeable ward with a lot of shopping, entertainment, and business centers, as well as a very populated residential area. Accounts that Shinjuku is a red-light district probably come from people who have only seen one part of the ward and have generalized it to represent a whole.
Is Shinjuku tourist-friendly?
For the most part, yes. Shinjuku is a popular destination for tourists and you will find staff who can accommodate non-Japanese-speaking guests. However, you will also find smaller pubs that have signs that say they do not welcome foreigners; these are a minority. Other than this, try to be alert and discerning when visiting Kabukicho. There’s a chance that establishments in the area are connected to underground organizations (see works of Robert Whiting and Jake Adelstein for more information on the subject), and there have been accounts of tourists being taken advantage of.
