Shinjuku is a city inside a city. It’s even bigger than many capitals around the world. It’s chaotic, overwhelming, a bit massy, but very fascinating. The diverse sides of this area are striking, you have government buildings, lush parks and fancy neighbourhoods bordering smoky bars, red-light district and neon-lit madness. This guide covers the best things to do in Shinjuku and you can choose your favorite activities, depending on how much time you have.
You can include the visit to the neighbourhood in your 1-day Tokyo Itinerary.
Here’s also the 2-day itinerary tips for visiting Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Price: Free
Opening times: 8.30am-5pm, closed on weekends. South Observation deck can be open till 10pm.
How to get there: Take Yamanote line to Shinjuku station and walk to the Government building from there.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building offers the best free observation deck in the city. It provides wonderful panoramic views of the whole city. On a clear day, you might even spot Mount Fuji in the distance. It was clear enough on the day we visited, but fuji wasn’t in sight, not sure when that’s possible.
There are two observation decks – South and North. Both are located in building #1. Finding the entrance to the elevators can be a bit confusing. You should enter the courtyard, and you will spot the signs directing you to the entrance. Once you find the right place, you might have to queue a bit, but it’s usually quick. During our visit, there wasn’t even any. You go through a quick security check (considering that it’s a Government building) and the elevator takes you directly to the 46th floor.
South Observatory is usually more popular, especially because it’s open later – till 10pm. But the views are great from either of them. So just choose whichever you prefer, or whichever is open at the time of your visit – they close on short notice sometimes.
The observation space is spacious. While it was somewhat crowded during our visit in November, it wasn’t uncomfortable and we were able to enjoy views. There’s even a piano in the hall, where talented children often play. Don’t forget to look for the stamp, it’s quite easy to spot.
The observation deck even has a café if you wish to enjoy coffee and sweets.
Note: if you are here in the evening hours, the Tourist Information Center holds projection shows every 30 minutes. The times vary, but it’s usually from sunset to 21.30. You might find Godzilla, Gundam or other fun projections.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Price: 500 yen
Opening hours: 9am-4.30/6/or 7pm – closing times vary according to the season, check before visiting. Closed Mondays except in November and Sakura season.
Note: In Spring, for cherry blossom season, advance reservations might be required. Check the official website.
How to get there: the park is located about 20 minutes walk from the Metropolitan Government Building. There’s not many options for shortening this walk, while you could take metro or a bus, you will still have to walk about 15 minutes from to the stops. Alternatively, you can visit the Park by taking Yamanote line or one of the metro lines from around Tokyo, depending where you are.
The park has three gates: Shinjuku gate located in the north is the main gate most people enter from. This gate is closest to the Shinjuku station. Okido gate is in the north east and closest to the Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station if you are coming by Marinouchi line. Sendagaya gate is located towards the south – and is nearest the Sendagaya station on the Chuo-Sobu line.
Gyoen is the largest park in Tokyo and one of the most popular. It was the Naito family residence and garden during the Edo period. During the Meiji period it became a botanical garden. In the end, after WWII it was redesigned to become a national park. Currently, the park is considered one of Tokyo’s most beautiful. It is very popular for people to hang out whether for picknicks, for exercise, or just chatting.
Gyoen Park is especially crowded during the Sakura season, due to its cherry blossom trees – 1500 of them. It’s also lovely during the Momiji season, although when we visited in early November, it still wasn’t colorful.
https://www.env.go.jp/garden/content/000304312.jpg
Coming from the main Shinjuku gate, you can take the path to the right and view the cedar and cypress trees. You will then explore the Japanese traditional garden with several ponds on your way. You can also visit the traditional teahouse.
After the traditional garden, head towards the middle pond and walk to the cherry tree area. Make sure not to miss this especially during the Sakura season. Continue your path towards the Formal garden with its perfectly lined rows of trees and, in the right season, roses. From here circle around to visit the Landscape garden with its open spaces and beautiful lawn.
Finally, you will come to the Shinjuku Gyoen Museum and a western-style Greenhouse. The greenhouse was built in the 19th century and features tropical and subtropical plants, including orchids.
During our visit in November, Gyoen was a great respite from the hustle and bustle of Shinjuku. While there were many people, the vast size of the park allowed for quiet conversations and peaceful walks.
Note: you aren’t allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, or use musical instruments or sports equipment in the park.
Golden Gai
How to get there: Walk here from Shinjuku Gyoen, if you’re following the itinerary in order, or take the metro to Shinjuku Station from anywhere else in Tokyo. From the station, it’s about a 10-minute walk to Golden Gai.
One of the most popular things to do in Shinjuku is getting drinks in Golden Gai. After a long day of exploring temples, parks, and neighborhoods, the evening is the perfect time to experience a completely different side of Tokyo. Head into the neon-lit heart of Shinjuku and dive straight into the chaotic Golden Gai.
Golden Gai is a tiny area with narrow alleys – it comprises of only 6 alleys. The neighbourhood became popular from 1950s. It’s quirky, slightly claustrophobic, and energetic. It is certainly huge change from the other parts of Shinjuku you have explored on this day. You will have very little personal space, when visiting these narrow alleys. They are difficult to walk through when it gets crowded, and they will get crowded—especially after dark.
The bars and izakayas are very diverse here, you can find anything from jazz bars to cute anime style to romantic style. Many of them probably have very little room, so you may need to peek into a few before finding a spot.
People often say this area is mostly for tourists now. When we visited, more than half the crowd were fellow foreigners wandering, curious, and trying to find a place to drink. Still, there’s a certain charm in the chaos of it all.
Even if you don’t sit down at a bar (we didn’t), the experience of wandering the alleys alone will be a lot of fun.
A few facts you should consider, while visiting the area:
- In some locations you will find signs forbidding taking photos. Be sure to be aware of your surroundings and take photos accordingly.
- Some bars don’t allow tourists in.
- If you want to experience the local bar life though, make sure to bring cash, as most won’t take cards. Also, make sure to check what the cover charge and minimum order amount is.
Omoide Yokocho
How to get there: Located right next to Shinjuku Station’s west exit, Omoide Yokocho is easy to find.
If you’ve just finished wandering around Shinjuku Gyoen or arrived in the area for the evening, it’s a natural next stop before or after Golden Gai. Omoide Yokocho is another district with narrow alleys and nostalgic vibes. It’s a strange pocket neighbouring the neon-lit streets and skyscrapers.
Omoide Yokocho can be translated as “Memory Lane” or more bluntly – “Piss Alley.” This last name came by due to the fact that many drunk people wandered around at night.
Currently, the area is lined with tiny eateries and shops. You can sit outside and enjoy the street food. Similarly to the Golden Gai, most establishments take only cash, so come prepared, if you wish to buy anything.
Kabukicho
How to get there: Kabukicho is a short walk away from the Golden Gai, as well as from Shinjuku station.
Kabukicho – Tokyo’s red-light district – is a bright, noisy and chaotic neighbourhood. The amount of people, signs and flashing screens can be rather overwhelming.
We wandered around the neighborhood aimlessly a couple of times, and honestly, I still have trouble describing what’s going on there. Men stand around inviting passersby into bars and so-called hostess clubs. You find a lot of love hotels, which offer hourly rates. The ads around are pretty strange with faces of the women on them blurred.
The area has a reputation for being dangerous or shady, but it’s not as wild as it’s made out to be. Sure, some parts feel sketchy, especially down the side alleys, but if you have your wits about you, it’s not unsafe. We walked through several times as a couple and never had any trouble – no one bothered us, and we were mostly ignored.
That said, touts are a thing here, especially in the evenings. If you engage in conversation, you may get pressured into bars or clubs that come with hidden fees or surprise charges. They mostly target solo male travelers, so if that’s you, just be vigilant.
When wandering in the area, check out the Godzilla head on the top of a building. Here is its location.
Other Things to Do in Shinjuku
If you have more time, Shinjuku offers a lot more things to do. It’s the heaven on earth, if you like shopping. You will find a number of department stores and smaller shops all around the Shinjuku station. This huge area is very easy to get lost in. You can shop for clothes and home goods, electronics and stationary, food and anime figurines – you can practically find anything around here.
While walking around the area, don’t forget to have a look at the 3D cat billboard. It’s very close to the station – this is the exact location. The videos do change, so you can watch the show for a while. We stood there for quite some time enjoying it 😊 It’s one of the cutest things you will see around the area.
If you are traveling with the kids, there’s a Ninja Trick House (Price: 3800 for adults and 1500-2500 for kids according to their age) in Shinjuku, where the kids and adults alike can have a lot of fun with ninja competitions and swordplay.
If you are an art lover, you will find SOMPO Museum of Arts (Price: 800 yen) in Shinjuku. In addition to the art display, which among other artists, include Van Gogh, it’s also a high-rise building with lovely views over the city.
Besides, just walking around the area, among the skyscrapers, you may notice small temples. It’s a very interesting contrast of modernity with spirituality.
Shinjuku is the beating heart of the metropolis and deserves a place on any Tokyo itinerary. Even if you have just one day in the city, try to visit in the evening – just a couple of hours here will give you a real feel for Tokyo’s energy, contrasts, and character.
Looking for ideas on how to plan your trip?
Check out my detailed 1-day Tokyo itinerary
Planning a longer stay? Don’t miss my 2-day, 3-day and 4-day Tokyo itineraries
Hello I am Ket,
A traveler, planner, and sweet tooth behind Hit the Road Ket.
Travel isn’t just my passion – it’s a lifeline for my mental health. Having lived in three cities and explored 60 countries (and counting!), I created this blog to share my experiences, smart tips, and itinerary advice with fellow travel lovers. I’m all about making the most of limited time, finding scenic routes, and turning every trip into something memorable – coffee in hand, of course.