Shinjuku

Shinjuku is known for shopping, eating out and drinking.

Below is a map of Shinjuku with all the major areas and what they are famous for (as far as “When Japan” in concerned). Shinjuku is mainly a shopping and eating area, which more restaurants than you could ever visit in one lifetime and the major Japanese department stores flagship locations. International brands also have locations here. The “red light district” of Kabukicho if a popular place for drinking and eating, and is one of the few places in Tokyo where there are people on the streets beckoning you into their establishment. Along the more dodgy streets are plenty of “無料案内所”, which translates to “free information center”. Read more about these places here (hint: what they deal in isn’t free). It isn’t a coincidence that the love hotel area is right next-door. As a tourist, feel free to wander around, but the place gets pretty rough towards midnight and is one of the few places in Tokyo that has a litter problem.

Taking Shinjuku station as a reference point, there are 4 main exits. These are marked on the map below. These are not the only exits, but these four and the ones leading to places you might want to go.

East Exit

Head out this exit for Kabukicho, the love hotel area and (a fairly long walk) the Korean area in Okubo (you can take the train there but it’s only a 20 minute walk). The east exit will also lead you to the main shopping areas with the Isetan and Marui department stores. The east exit gets very busy but it is also fairly easy to navigate once you get out of the station building. The majority of the action in Shinjuku is accessible from the east exit, which is why this exit is so busy. The famous drinking hole, Golden Gai, is a short walk away and very popular with foreigners.

West Exit

The west exit leads to the massive Yodobashi Camera complex of about 10 buildings, interspersed with restaurants and game centers. You can also walk to the Shinjuku Metropolitan Buildings here and the higher-class hotels such as the Park Hyatt (famous from the Lost in Translation movie). There isn’t much else this side of the station. The Shinjuku Central Park is not worth a visit.

South East Exit

The south east exit leads directly onto a busy area of restaurants and smaller shops as well as being the closest exit for the gay area (10 minutes walk). You can also walk down to the Takashimaya and Tokyu Hands department stores from here. This is also the nearest exit for Shinjuku Gyoen Park, which is popular with tourists (no beer!).

New South Exit

Recently finished after a good 10 years of construction in and around area, the new south exit leads directly onto the Takashimaya and Tokyu Hands as well as being a short walk to Yoyogi Park. It is the least busy exit (relatively speaking – it’s still very busy) and you have less chance of getting lost.

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