What to do in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s Liveliest Hub

Shinjuku takes the unofficial title of being the most vibrant hub in Tokyo. Located in the business district and not shying away from the nightlife, it’s a place that allows you to experience the two extremes of Tokyo city living.

From visiting iconic spots like Kabukichō, Godzilla Road, and Books Kinokuniya, shopping according to your tastes (and budget), and with plenty of food and beverage options, Shinjuku is sure to keep you entertained and fuelled during your trip to Tokyo. 

Here’s a list of the best things to experience in Shinjuku, an excellent microcosmic sample of the metropolis. You’ll find you can tick off a bunch of activities as you stroll through Shinjuku. From tourist attractions, shopping, food, and drinks, you’ll be sorted for a day or two, minimum.

One popular spot, often photographed, is the Godzilla statue in Kabukicho. A giant Godzilla head looms over the terrace on the 8th floor of Hotel Gracery. If you stand at the entrance of Kabukicho, you can capture the colorful neon lights framing this out-of-science-fiction scene.

Walk over to the digital 3D billboard (Cross Space), and you'll catch a kitten jumping out at you and seemingly poking its paw forward out of the billboard. The billboard also showcases upcoming events and advertisements, like Yayoi Kusama's collaboration with Louis Vuitton, which has been seen popping up on the billboard, complete with her famed dotted pumpkin style.

Also in central Shinjuku is the flagship Books Kinokuniya store that spans several floors. Open 10:30 am - 8:30 pm. There's another Kinokuniya in South Shinjuku that has a larger range of English-language books on the 6th floor. Spend some time perusing the shelves for novels, manga, non-fiction, magazines, and languages learning textbooks. 

As you walk through the streets of Shinjuku, you'll likely want a change of scenery. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a green escape with plenty of picnic-worthy spots and room to stretch your legs. You can walk around the garden's periphery for free, but it's ¥500 for adult admission to view the range of beautifully pruned flower gardens inside.

If you're after a shop, there are plenty of electronics and department stores, including Lumine, OIOI with 'depachika,' which literally means 'underground department,' often with fancy food stalls and gift stores. For stationery and crafts lovers, Tokyu Hands will keep you occupied wandering the aisles of paper crafts, art equipment, and frames. 

You can also visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and see some expansive views from two of their observatories for free. 

Shinjuku is certainly not short on food spots. But with so much to choose from, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start, so here are a few tips.

For breakfast, try Shinpachi Shokudo in the backstreets of Shinjuku. Enjoy a quintessential Japanese breakfast; grilled fish with rice, pickles, and miso soup. For coffee, there's All Seasons Coffee, Double Tall , and Eight Coffee which are all pretty close to Shinjuku Gyoen. If you want to visit a kissaten for a bit of retro-nostalgia, try Tajimaya Coffee.

For lunch, you can find trusty chain stores like Goemon Pasta (Japanese-style spaghetti), sushi spots like Sushi Maru, and plenty of udon and ramen. You know you're in Tokyo when you see queues of people waiting for food. One ramen store to check out is Hayashida which has several stores across Tokyo. 

While this store is technically in Yoyogi, it sits on the cusp of Shinjuku, and understandably, the neighborhood would want to take some credit for it. Udon Shin's signature udon noodles are hand-crafted to achieve a satisfyingly chewy texture, and it is definitely worth the wait in line to sink your teeth into these noodles. 

For early evening, don't miss Omoide Yokocho, a narrow alleyway with hanging lanterns featuring a bunch of 'izakaya,' Japanese bars, and 'yakitori' (chicken skewers) stalls, and opportunities for good food, beer, and memories, as the name suggests. 

At the end of the day, Shinjuku is probably best known for its bustling nightlife. Kabukichō is the red-light entertainment district that is home to small clubs, pubs, snack bars, and moodily-lit alleys. There’s a lineup of tightly packed bars in Golden Gai where you can enjoy a night of drinking and most likely make new friends. With over 200 bars in the area, you can choose what you feel like or bar-hop your way along the streets. There are theme bars, from R&B, Gothic, punk, post-war, and pretty much any other subculture you can think of.

Aside from the bold local vibes, you might want to try something a little classier. Head to Park Hyatt Tokyo and all the way up to the New York Bar on the 52nd floor for a night of international, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Famously known to be featured in the movie Lost in Translation, sip on some premium whisky or cocktails and gaze out at the night view of Tokyo.  

Considering the scale and density of Shinjuku, it is understandable that the government needed to enforce some measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. That has unfortunately included the temporary closure of several well-known locations, including the famous (or infamous) Robot Restaurant and the Samurai Museum. 

As a unique and wild experience, Robot Restaurant was certainly a popular tourist attraction. While this spot is still closed for the time being, if you are curious about actual robots, there are restaurants where robot waiters will actually serve your meal. If you need your robot fix, Café Gusto is a chain restaurant with fairly cheap and hearty food, where you can order off an iPad and receive your meal from a moving robot. 

During periods of state of emergency in Tokyo, many restaurants and hospitality establishments had limitations on opening hours and the ability to seat customers inside. Currently, most food and drink spots are open and operating as normal, but you’ll probably notice a greater level of sanitary measures. 

While some pop-up clinics come and go, there are several locations where you can get a quick test for COVID-19. If you’re feeling any symptoms as you explore Shinjuku, it’s a handy way to get some confirmation and peace of mind. 

If you want to be in the heart of the action, then staying in Shinjuku is the way to go. The area offers a wide variety of accommodation options from the high-end like the Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo and the Hilton Tokyo, to budget-friendly capsule hotel options, like nine hours. There are also traditional onsen ryokan-style stays like Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku, no-fuss business hotels, and family-friendly options. Take a browse through what's on offer to find the best hotel to suit your needs.