MaedaAkihiko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shinjuku

Skyscrapers, neon bars and a huge station

Shinjuku is a major district in western Tokyo built around Shinjuku Station, the busiest railway station in the world. West of the station, skyscrapers hold offices and hotels, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with its free observation decks. Department stores surround the station and Kabukicho, a nightlife quarter, is to the northeast. Nearby, Golden Gai has more than 200 tiny bars and Omoide Yokocho has small eateries in narrow alleys. Shinjuku Gyoen is a large park for a break. It works as a base for first visits, since rail lines go out across the city and beyond.

Add to list Map view

City in Tokyo

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

Safety: 8.4

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	9
Tap water:	9

Read details

3/5

English is widely used in hotels, major shops, and restaurants, but less so in small local spots. Most signage is bilingual, and staff at tourist centers are helpful, though not everyone is fluent.2

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: Oct 19, 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Shinjuku Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Outstanding for nightlife and city views. Explore entertainment districts, visit observation decks, enjoy endless dining options and relax in large city parks between skyscrapers.

Place score

9.3

Best at:

Large cities

Nightlife

Walkable

Fine dining

Gardens & parks

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

👩 10

Solo

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) $1 ≈ ¥158
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transportation.
Obon (August)	A time to honor ancestors, many businesses close, and transportation can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transportation is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Shinjuku, Japan

☀️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌬️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🔥

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	April - May, Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	Jan., March, Aug., Dec.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Shinjuku Gyoen garden closed Mondays and December 29 to January 3, cherry blossoms late March to early April

Many shops and restaurants closed January 1 to 3, department stores sell lucky bags from January 2

Golden Week, late April to early May: very crowded, especially on weekends

Don't miss

🌆 Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation decks
🌳 Stroll the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
🦖 Snap a photo with the giant Godzilla head in Kabukicho
🍶 Explore the bustling nightlife and bars of Golden Gai
🍢 Wander through Omoide Yokocho’s narrow dining alleys
🛍️ Experience shopping at Shinjuku’s large department stores

You've been here?

Shinjuku is a district of Tokyo with skyscrapers, nightlife, small bars and quiet gardens close to each other. Offices and business fill the area by day and the entertainment streets get busy after dark.

The district has two clear sides. The west has corporate towers and hotels, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with its free observation deck. A few blocks east is Kabukicho, a nightlife quarter with host clubs, game centers and bars in narrow alleys. It's loud and edgy and not for everyone.

There's also green space in the middle of it. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a short walk from the station and has wide lawns, ponds and cherry trees that bloom in spring. It's a good place to take a break from the crowds.

The station itself is the busiest in the world and getting lost among its tunnels and exits is common. Once you know your way around it's a convenient base, with good rail links and plenty of food and shopping nearby.

Why travel to Shinjuku?

Shinjuku shows several sides of Tokyo within a short walk. West of the station, skyscrapers line wide streets. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building has free observatories on the 45th floors of both towers, open into the evening, with views across the city and toward Mount Fuji on clear days. The night is the other draw. Kabukicho, northeast of the station, is one of Japan's best known nightlife and red light districts, with restaurants, bars and entertainment halls. Golden Gai is a small area of more than 200 tiny bars, many seating only a handful of people. Omoide Yokocho is a set of narrow alleys full of small eateries serving yakitori, ramen and other quick dishes. It feels like a different world from the glass towers. Shinjuku Gyoen is a large garden with lawns, ponds and trees. It's a good break from the crowds and especially popular during cherry blossom season and in autumn. Shinjuku Central Park behind the government towers has the small Kumano Shrine. Most visitors spend half a day here, usually from late afternoon into the evening. Shinjuku is also a starting point for trips to Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes, because the Odakyu line and highway buses leave from here.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Hanazono Jinja Shrine
2 Tokyo Opera City
3 Omoide-yokocho
4 Shinjuku Golden Gai
5 Samurai Museum
6 Kabukichō

🎡Places for activities

1 Fire Museum
2 Shinjuku Piccadilly
3 Shinjuku Sports Center
4 Shinjuku Batting Center
5 Tokyo mystery circus

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Chuo Park
2 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
3 Toyama Park
4 Meiji Jingu Gaien
5 Kansen-en Park

🛍️Shopping

1 LUMINE
2 Isetan
3 Odakyu Department Store
4 Yodobashi Camera
5 Marui
6 Takashimaya Times Square
7 Bicqlo
8 Don Quijote
9 Keio Mall
10 Shinjuku Subnade

🍽️Eat & Drink

1 Sasamoto
Motsuyaki, giblet skewers grilled over charcoal, and motsu nikomi, a giblet stew, at a small counter shop in Omoide Yokocho. The lane is right outside the west exit of Shinjuku Station.
2 Fuunji
Tsukemen, noodles dipped in a smoky hot broth of niboshi, dried baby sardines and pork. Diners order from an English-labeled ticket machine. It is a 6-minute walk from the south exit of Shinjuku Station.
3 Tenken
Edomae-style tempura, the traditional Tokyo way of frying seafood and vegetables, at a restaurant that has run for more than 120 years. It is steps from the west exit of Shinjuku Station.
4 Funabashiya
Tempura fried in sesame oil, which gives a light nutty flavor, at a restaurant that has run for more than 135 years. It is near the east exit of Shinjuku Station.
5 Shinjuku Tsunahachi Sohonten
Tempura of Japanese tiger prawns, seafood and vegetables, fried to order in sesame oil. The restaurant is the flagship of a tempura company founded in Shinjuku more than 100 years ago.
6 Restaurant & Cafe Manna
Indian curry, from a recipe brought by an Indian independence activist, on the menu for about 100 years. The restaurant is two floors below street level in the Nakamuraya Building, near the east exit.
7 Takano Fruit Parlor
Fruit desserts and fresh-cut fruit at a fruit parlor on the fifth floor of a fruit shop that has run for more than 140 years. A 120-minute plan with unlimited cut fruit and a three-tier afternoon tea set is offered.

🎈Events

Shinjuku Eisa Festival
Shinjuku Gyoen Cherry Blossom Viewing
Hanazono Shrine Tori-no-Ichi Festival
Shinjuku Creators Festa
Shinjuku Jazz Festival
Chrysanthemum Flower Exhibition
Golden Gai Summer Festival
Tokyo Marathon (passes through Shinjuku)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Pick the right exit, since Shinjuku Station has dozens of them.
The free observation decks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building stay open until about 10:00 PM most days.
Only some Golden Gai bars welcome foreign guests, so choose ones with English menus and posted cover fees.
Shinjuku Gyoen costs ¥500 ($3.15) and closes on Mondays, so check the opening calendar before you go.

How to travel to Shinjuku

Shinjuku is one of the best-connected places in Tokyo. About a dozen rail and subway lines serve the station, including the JR Yamanote Line. From Tokyo Station, the JR Chuo Line rapid train takes under 15 minutes. From Ueno, the Yamanote Line takes about 25 minutes. From Narita Airport (NRT), the Narita Express runs to Shinjuku in roughly 80 to 90 minutes. From Haneda (HND), airport limousine buses and train routes with one change take roughly 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Busta Shinjuku, the bus terminal above the station, is a key stop for highway buses to Mount Fuji and other regions. The Odakyu Line links the station with Hakone. Driving into Shinjuku isn't worth the traffic and parking costs.

Access summary

From Haneda Airport (HND): Keikyu/monorail plus JR lines, about 40–50 minutes.
From Narita Airport (NRT): Narita Express or Keisei+JR trains, roughly 60–90 minutes.
From central Tokyo (Tokyo Station): JR Chuo or Yamanote Line, around 15–20 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Shinjuku

Shinjuku has one of the widest ranges of lodging in Tokyo, from luxury hotels in the west side skyscrapers to business hotels, capsule hotels and hostels near the station. Its transport links make it an easy base for a first trip to Tokyo and for day trips out of the city. The west side is quieter at night and has the upscale towers. The east side and Kabukicho are lively until late, with many cheaper rooms but also more noise. If you prefer a calm night, choose a hotel away from the nightlife streets. Book early for cherry blossom time and autumn, since rooms in central Tokyo fill quickly. If Shinjuku is full or too busy, Shibuya and the area around Tokyo Station are the other practical bases with similar rail access.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

8.8

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo

8.8

Shinjuku Washington Hotel - Main Building

8.1

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

8.7

Tokyo Dome Hotel

8.9

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

8.8

Lavista TokyoBay -Kyoritsu Resort

9.0

remm Roppongi

8.9

Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo / Ginza

9.1

APA Hotel TKP Nippori Ekimae

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Shinjuku

Shinjuku is easiest on foot once you're out of the station. The station itself is a maze with exits that lead to very different parts of the district. West exits lead to the skyscrapers, east exits to department stores and Kabukicho and the south exits to Shinjuku Gyoen. Check the exit name before you leave a platform.

Walking:
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is about a 10 minute walk from the west exit. Kabukicho and Golden Gai are a few minutes northeast of the east exit and Omoide Yokocho is next to the west side of the station.

Other stations:
Tochomae Station on the Oedo Line is closest to the government towers. Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Line is the closest stop for the garden.

Taxis:
Taxis are easy to find at the station but traffic around Kabukicho can be heavy at night. Construction around the west exit area can change walking routes.

Food in Shinjuku

Food in Shinjuku covers nearly everything Tokyo has to offer. Ramen, yakitori, tonkatsu and sushi are the staples with plenty of izakaya, the casual pubs where you share dishes. Omoide Yokocho is known for yakitori and small noodle counters.

Department store basements sell prepared food, bento boxes and sweets and are handy for a quick takeaway meal. Chain restaurants and standing noodle bars around the station have cheap lunches.

Golden Gai and Kabukicho are mostly for drinking. Many restaurants stay open until midnight while bars open from about 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. Some places have cover charges, so check the menu or sign outside before you sit down.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-36 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 36% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-17 %

Your exchange rate (USD to JPY) is 17% better than in recent years. That means traveling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	$56	$162	$462
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	$25	$100	$250
🍝 Food per day	$25	$52	$156
🚕 Transportation per day	$6	$10	$56

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	$21
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	$7.50
🍟 Fast food combo	$5
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	$10
☕ Cappuccino	$3.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz	$3.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	$1.40
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	$35
⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal	$1.15

Other

🎞️ Movie ticket	$13
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	$35
🤧 Cold medication	$9.50
💇 Basic haircut	$22

Safety information overview

General safety

Shinjuku is generally safe but includes a big nightlife area. In Kabukicho, touts and overpriced bars target visitors and drink spiking has been reported, so avoid street invitations. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded stations. The area is busy and well lit at night.

Health & Medical

Shinjuku has many hospitals and clinics and pharmacies are common around the station. Tokyo's medical care is of a high standard. Summer heat and crowded trains are the main everyday concerns, so carry water and take breaks in air conditioned places.

Accessibility

Major stations have lifts. The huge Shinjuku Station can be confusing, with long walks between exits and ongoing redevelopment on the west side. Kabukicho, Golden Gai and Omoide Yokocho have narrow alleys and small steps that are hard for wheelchairs.

Tap water

Tap water in Tokyo is safe to drink. Vending machines and convenience stores sell bottled drinks on nearly every block. There's little need to carry more than a small bottle in the district, so refill at your hotel before heading out.