14 Fun Things to See & Do in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s Most Exciting Neighborhood

When I first visited Tokyo over a decade ago, I knew my first stop had to be Shinjuku. The image I had in my head of modern Japan, complete with neon-lit streets, towering skyscrapers, and hidden temples & shrines, was completely validated as I explored all the fun things to do in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s most exciting neighborhood.

In this quick & easy guide, I’ll walk you through all my favorite places to visit in Shinjuku, from the 1960s throwback Golden Gai to the neon-washed streets of Kabukicho to the serenity of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden…

What to see & do in Shinjuku

Step back into the Tokyo of the fifties in Golden Gai

Following the Second World War, most of Tokyo was leveled in the name of development, and only a very small section survived. Golden Gai, a collection of narrow alleys, contains around two hundred pubs preserved from the sixties era and is one of the top points of interest in Shinjuku.

Walking through Golden Gai, I wandered past countless hole-in-the-wall bars and restaurants, most seating only between five and thirty patrons. Especially if it’s your first time in Tokyo, visiting this atmospheric area is an absolute must!

As I strolled around Golden Gai, each bar seemed to have its own defined, often quirky, style and culture, including karaoke, specialty drinks, and extraordinary decor. Most bars charge seating costs, and, as I discovered firsthand, some will only host Japanese customers.

Take a walk through Kabukicho

Kabukicho, also known as the “Sleepless Town,” is the largest red-light district in Japan. Walled by neon signs that reach into the night sky, this pedestrian area teems with people and is among the most interesting things to see in Shinjuku.

On my second trip to Tokyo, I stayed just a few blocks from Kabukicho. I had a chance to wander around the district several times, day and night. Of course, the neighborhood truly shines in the evening with its neon on full blast and throngs of people descending upon its entertainment options.

Guarded by a giant Godzilla head, Kabukicho is, like the monster itself, noisy and edgy. The area is filled with cinemas, shops (such as the massive 24-hour Don Quijote superstore), karaoke bars (like the famous Studio Himawari), restaurants, and, of course, slightly less-than-family-friendly massage parlors, nightclubs, and love hotels.

Although it’s not my scene, I was told by locals that host and hostess clubs often charge a fee for the table. I’d be prepared to start spending before you’ve even had a drink or a bite to eat.

I was also warned by my hotel concierge that both men and women risk being propositioned in Kabukicho. Take a friend along on your walk if you can. Also, I’d be sure to take precautions while roaming the area, as some dodgy types are all too ready to quickly relieve you of your money.

(Although I had no problems myself and “felt safe,” I heard enough warnings to heed caution and be aware of my surroundings.)

In my experience, most places in Kabukicho don’t accept credit cards; carry cash as needed.

Catch the wild & wacky Samurai Restaurant show

The Robot Restaurant ran its cabaret show of flashing lights, dinosaurs, pandas, and towering robot puppets from a building in Kabukicho for the better part of a decade. It topped nearly every list of only-in-Tokyo experiences while it lasted. Unfortunately, it closed for good in 2020.

The same address didn’t stay dark for long.

Samurai Restaurant Time now runs in the building’s GiraGiraGirls complex. From what I’ve read, it keeps a lot of the original’s DNA: LED lights, animatronic floating heads, full-volume dancing, live singers, and swordplay standing in for the old show’s robots.

If I were booking a show, I’d go for one of the afternoon slots at 2 pm or 4:30 pm rather than the 10:50 am opener, since a full sensory-overload spectacle like this feels better suited to later in the day.

Tickets run about ¥8,000 for the morning show and ¥10,000 for the afternoon and evening slots. Both prices include a simple meal. Choose from a sukiyaki beef bowl, ramen, udon, or sushi bento. Or you can pick a two-drink ticket instead if you’d rather skip the food.

(I’d take the meal option myself. Sitting through a hundred minutes of swordplay and light shows while sipping cocktails on an empty stomach sounds like an unoptimal plan to me.)

Whether Samurai Restaurant Time actually recaptures what made the original Robot Restaurant show so special is still an open question among people who saw both.

I’d go in expecting a completely different show in a familiar venue, not a complete reboot.

Explore the newest addition to the neighborhood at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower

Kabukicho picked up a new anchor in 2023: the 48-story Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, built right into the middle of the district’s neon and noise. It’s the kind of building that tries to do everything at once, and mostly pulls it off.

I’d start exploring Tokyu Kabukicho Tower at Kabuki Yokocho, the tower’s food hall. It features ten stalls covering regional Japanese cooking from Hokkaido to Okinawa, plus a Korean stall.

The whole floor at Kabuki Yokocho seats 1,300 people and stays open from six in the morning until five the next morning. There’s a stage running DJ sets, magic acts, and karaoke most nights. It’s less a food court and more dinner with a show built in.

If loud music is more your speed, Zepp Shinjuku fills four underground floors with a 1,500-person standing venue. Upstairs, 109 Cinemas Premium takes up eight screens with reclining seats. It’s worth a look if you want to catch a Japanese release in real comfort.

Gamers have namco TOKYO on the third floor, and Sword Art Online fans get their own interactive floor built around the franchise, Anomaly Quest.

For a quieter finish, I’d save room for a meal & drinks at JAM17 Dining & Bar. It sits on the 17th floor with separate lunch, teatime, and dinner menus.

I’d save a visit to Tokyu Kabukicho Tower for after dark, when Kabukicho below is lit up and easiest to appreciate from a distance.

Visit Taiso-ji Temple, a small Buddhist temple full of little surprises

Built in 1596, the Buddhist Taiso-ji Temple is close to Shinjuku Station. I stumbled upon this serene little temple, tucked away from many of the top tourist attractions in Shinjuku, on my first trip to Tokyo, and I think it’s well worth a quick visit.

Taiso-ji overlooks a large copper statue of Jizo Monk Shogen. This tranquil seated statue is frequently mistaken for an image of Buddha.

Inside Taiso-ji are statues of Enma Daiō, the ruler of hell. He has large pincers for removing the tongues of liars.

(Dark, I know.)

Alongside Enma stands the statue of a woman who removes the clothes of those passing over the river to hell. It’s said that your clothes carry the weight of your sin.

Wandering around the grounds of Taiso-ji, I found it full of little interesting moments, including small shrines where people make wishes and offerings of thanks.

Take a walk down memory lane at Omoide Yokocho

Once occupied by street vendors and black-market traders, Omoide Yokocho, also known as “Piss Alley” or “Memory Lane,” is now home to dozens of micro-restaurants that seat just five to ten diners and serve delicious street food.

After visiting this atmospheric area on my second trip to Tokyo, I could easily see why it sits near the top of many lists of what to do in Shinjuku. I popped in after checking out the nearby Golden Gai. Although it’s got a similar feel, I found Omoide Yokocho a little cozier and more colorful.

There’s a wide variety of options on Omoide Yokocho: some restaurants allow smoking, some charge a cover, and, like Golden Gai, some don’t feel very welcoming to foreigners. I’d recommend walking around to decide where to eat before you sit down.

Omoide Yokocho feels like authentic old Tokyo, with narrow alleys that are always teeming with people. You’ll have no problem delighting in great food, sake, and ice-cold beers around Omoide Yokocho. Following the delicious smells should lead you to the tastiest grill.

Although I enjoyed stopping by during the day, I’d recommend visiting Omoide Yokocho at night to make the most of its atmosphere.

Visit Shinjuku Pit Inn for the love of jazz

If you’re a lover of jazz, Shinjuku Pit Inn is one of the must-do activities in Shinjuku. Japan has a vibrant jazz music scene, and Pit Inn is one of the most interesting places to go in Tokyo to see accomplished jazz musicians strut their stuff.

The bar is more than fifty years old and carries the ambiance of an old jazz club, accentuated by posters and dimmed lights. Most visitors are serious jazz fans, so the show won’t be interrupted by idle chit-chat.

(I’d pick a seat near the back if being able to talk quietly between sets matters to you, since the front rows are for people who come purely to listen.)

There’s a show every night at eight, and the musicians entertain until about ten thirty. The entrance fee is three thousand yen, but it includes your first drink.

I’d check the lineup before committing to a night. Pit Inn books everything from traditional bebop to more experimental sets, and the two crowds feel pretty different.

Check the website (in English) to see who’s playing.

Take a break from the crowded streets at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The Japanese love their gardens, and wherever I traveled in the country, it wasn’t hard to find beautifully manicured and wild, free gardens. Even crowded Shinjuku is no exception.

To escape the chaos, I’d set aside at least an hour (and ¥500) to enjoy the serenity of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, one of the largest parks in Tokyo and one of the coolest places to see in Shinjuku. I absolutely love popping into this garden whenever I’m visiting the neighborhood for a much-needed break from the bustle just outside the gates.

Follow rambling paths that wind through expansive lawns and orchards full of cherry trees. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden features a Japanese landscape garden with ponds, bridges, and islands surrounded by pavilions and cropped shrubs and trees. There’s also an English landscape garden, a formal French garden, a greenhouse, an art gallery, and restaurants.

For an extra special visit to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, I recommend visiting during Tokyo’s cherry blossom season, when the park is at its absolute finest.

Pound back all the sake you can drink at the Sake Market Shinjuku

With more than one hundred fifty types of sake, fruit wine, umeshu, and shochu on tap, Sake Market Shinjuku runs a self-pour, all-you-can-drink setup on the sixth floor of a building right outside Shinjuku Sanchome Station. It’s open Monday to Friday from six to eleven at night. On weekends it splits into an afternoon session from noon to four and an evening one from six to eleven.

I’d go into Sake Market Shinjuku with a rough plan rather than sampling at random. I’d work through the umeshu first and save the harder shochu for later. (A hundred fifty options with no guide is a good way to end up too full to taste anything.) It’s a prepaid system, so you’re free to come and go as you please once you’re in.

You can bring your own food, which I’d take them up on. Pairing a good sake with a snack you picked yourself is far more predictable than just chancing it with whatever’s on offer at a self-serve counter.

The atmosphere at Sake Market Shinjuku leans toward guests mingling and getting to know one another throughout the night.

(I wouldn’t expect to be able to slip in and out quietly if you’re a social traveler.)

Find a corner of tranquility in the Shinto Hanazono Jinja (Shrine)

If you look carefully off Yasukuni-dori Avenue, you’ll find a beautiful Shinto shrine, Hanazono Jinja. It’s tucked in among Shinjuku’s office towers, and it’s easy to walk right past if you’re not looking for it.

I’d use that as a reason to go: Hanazon Jinja is one of the few spots in this part of the ward where the noise drops out almost completely.

Hanazono means “flower garden.” The shrine formed part of the Imperial Gardens when it was built in the 17th century. These days, it’s most popular among local businessmen praying to the deity for financial success.

(I wouldn’t be surprised to see a suit or two bowing in front of the main hall on a weekday lunch break.)

On Sunday, weather permitting, a traditional flea market takes over the grounds. I’d build a visit around that if your schedule allows it, rather than treating the shrine as a five-minute stop.

If you time it right, you might also catch one of Hanazono Shrine‘s festivals. It’s worth checking the calendar before you go rather than hoping to get lucky.

Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for a 360-degree view over the city

Whenever I’m traveling, I always love seeing cities from above. So, when I was in Shinjuku, naturally, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was high on my bucket list. With its free observation deck, the building is one of Tokyo’s most popular spots for tourists to gaze out at the city center.

From this vantage point, I was able to soak in epic 360-degree views of Tokyo. Locals told me that on a good day, you can even see as far as Mount Fuji.

(As it was cloudy during my visit, I wasn’t so lucky, but the city views still kept me entranced.)

The observation decks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building are open until eleven at night. Admission is free.

Catch your breath at Shinjuku Chuo Park

Shinjuku Chuo Park sits right next to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. It’s the largest park in Shinjuku that the ward itself runs. I’d pair the two as a single stop, since you’re already there for the observation deck.

The fountain everyone photographs, Shinjuku Niagara, anchors a wide-open lawn area good for just sitting down after a day of walking. Beyond the lawn, Park View Forest gives you a different angle on Shinjuku’s high-rises than you get from inside any of them, and the Citizens’ Forest section rotates through seasonal flowers.

Inside Shinjuku Chuo Park, tucked away from the main paths, sits Kumano-jinja, one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo. Most people walking through never notice it’s there. I’d go looking for it on purpose. A shrine that old, sitting quietly inside a park ringed by forty-story towers, is a better snapshot of Shinjuku than the towers themselves.

When you’ve seen enough, there’s a Starbucks inside the park itself. It might be the single easiest place in central Shinjuku to sit outside with a coffee.

Shinjuku Chuo Park is open around the clock, and getting in costs nothing.

Find three floors of international and Japanese restaurants at Takashimaya Times Square

As in any area of Tokyo, one of the most memorable things to do in Shinjuku is eating well. I’d start at Takashimaya Times Square if I only had one stop in mind. Three floors here are dedicated entirely to food, covering both Japanese and international restaurants.

Dim sum on the 12th floor and sukiyaki on the 14th are the two combinations I’d plan a meal around, since going up a department store for either feels like the kind of thing that only makes sense in Tokyo. If neither appeals, the sheer range on those three floors means there’s almost always a backup option one elevator ride away.

Once the food’s done, I’d explore the rest of Takashimaya Times Square for the shopping. It carries a wide mix of Japanese and international fashion brands under one roof, which makes it an easy stop if browsing is more your speed than hunting down individual boutiques.

Cross into Koreatown at Shin-Okubo

Tokyo’s Koreatown, Shin-Okubo, isn’t on the main strip around Shinjuku Station, but it’s just one JR stop north on the Yamanote Line. I’d treat it as part of any day exploring Shinjuku rather than as a separate trip. Shin-Okubo Station drops you right into the heart of the neighborhood.

If I were hungry, I’d start my Shin-Okubo itinerary with street food: hotteok, the sweet Korean pancake stuffed with brown sugar and cinnamon, and the Korean corn dogs sold from stands up and down the main strip.

Macchan is the spot I’d pick for a sit-down meal. A full lunch there, with bibimbap, kimchi fried rice, or spicy ramen, runs under a thousand yen. On a hot day, I’d end at Sul Bing for bingsu, the shaved-ice dessert piled with toppings like matcha ice cream or mango.

The shopping side of Shin-Okubo is just as much of a draw, especially if K-beauty and K-pop are already on your radar.

Myeongdong Cosme and Skin Garden both carry the same Korean cosmetics brands, MISSHA and Etude House among them, that made Myeongdong itself famous in Seoul.

Idol Park covers K-pop merchandise if that’s more your speed. For groceries, Seoul Ichiba is the largest Korean specialty store in Japan. It’s worth a look even if you’re not planning to cook.

I’d go to Shin-Okubo on a weekday morning if the schedule allows it. Weekends between noon and seven get shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. Most shops don’t open until ten or eleven anyway, so there’s no upside to arriving at dawn.

I’d keep some cash on hand, too. The bigger stores take cards, but the street stalls mostly don’t.

Where to stay

If you’ve got the yen for it, I think Shinjuku is among the coolest areas to stay in Tokyo. Hotels in Shinjuku run a little more expensive than in other districts like Minato or Taito. For many travelers, though, I’d say it’s worth every penny to spend your nights here embracing Tokyo’s wilder side.

Here are a few of my recommended spots to stay in Shinjuku…

Final recommendations

Still debating what to do in Shinjuku? Here are a few last-minute suggestions:

• Want to see Tokyo from above? Get in line to see one of the city’s best panoramas from the free observation decks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Building. I’d definitely head here on a clear day for a chance to spot Mount Fuji in the distance.
• Interested in Tokyo’s past? The traditional alleyways of Golden Gai and scrappy Omoide Yokocho peek back to the Tokyo of yesteryear. Whenever I visit Tokyo, I love plopping myself down at one of the street-side restaurants here to enjoy a little biiru and yakitori among an air of old Tokyo.
• Need to escape the buzz of Tokyo? Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the best spots I’ve found in the city for clearing your head. Walk through beautiful gardens and pavilions to find respite from the ever-present chaos of Shinjuku.