Shinjuku (しんじゅく/新宿) is the business, entertainment and shopping mecca of Tokyo. A must visit for anyone traveling or living in Japan.
Budget travel tips
- Avoid eating at the expensive department store restaurants, the restaurants elsewhere are much cheaper and offer a better experience.
- If Shinjuku is a bit hectic, try heading to Koenji or Shimo-Kitazawa.
Things to do
A big park, great any time of the year. Click here for details.
Tokyo Metropolitan Observation Desks (FREE)
A great place to get a view over Tokyo. Click here for details.
Shinjuku Street
The main shopping street in Shinjuku. The main chains are here, but also some stores unique to Shinjuku. Check the map and have a walk!
All you can eat restaurants
Shinjuku is full of all you can eat restaurants. Posh Pizzas, crazy pizzas, Thai, yakiniku (BBQ)…… Check the map above for locations.
Bicqlo
This new building contains both a huge Bic Camera electronics store and Uniqlo, the discount clothes store.
Tokyu Hands and Kinokuniya
Tokyu Hands is full of crazy, strange Japanese goods for you to laugh at and enjoy. Back scratchers, weird massage chairs, crazy robot toys….. Great for souvenirs and any novelties you want to take home. Kinokuniya, a large book shop with an English language floor, is next door.
Don Quijote
This mega discount store has almost anything you would want. Cosmetics, games, used goods, chopsticks…..anything you want.
Golden Gai
A maze of over 100 tiny bars to explore. Staff are often chatty and will offer great travel advice. Many of the bars have a cover charge, so look at the board outside or ask inside. But it’s still really worth a walk around.
How to get there
From Ikebukuro station, take the Shonan-Shinjuku line (orange and blue JR line) to Shinjuku station (5 mins, 150 yen).
From Tokyo station, take the Chuo line (orange JR line) to Shinjuku station (14 mins, 190 yen).
From Shibuya station, take the Saikyo line (dark green JR line) to Shinjuku station (6 mins, 150 yen).
Recommended Hostels and Cheap Hotels
Tokyo Central Youth Hostel
Between central Shinjuku and Akihabara, this is in a great location. Check prices at Booking.com.
Green Plaza Shinjuku Capsule (men only)
Great location and good English support. Also includes a modern spa. Check prices at Booking.com
Ace Inn Shinjuku
This hostel is not far from central Shinjuku, and is quite modern. Dorms only. Check prices at Booking.com.
Shinjuku City Hotel N.U.T.S TOKYO
Forget the strange name, this is a modern hotel with really cheap prices for private rooms. Check prices at Booking.com.
Compare prices at Booking.com
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