It comes as no surprise to anyone that there are LOTS of things to do in Shinjuku — it’s one of Tokyo’s most popular neighborhoods, after all.
Shinjuku is one of those areas that’s good for just about everything — sightseeing, shopping, eating, and drinking. With heaps of neon lights, noise, and crowds, it’s got a definite “Tokyo” vibe, but also has some peaceful spots, too. Read on for our pick of the best things to do in Shinjuku, day or night.
1. Grab yakitori at Omoide Yokochō
Omoide Yokochō is probably one of the most photographed places in Tokyo. It’s an olden-days alleyway lined with wooden buildings and paper lanterns. Inside the buildings are small, crammed, and exceedingly casual restaurants — mostly specializing in yakitori and motsu nikomi (stewed offal).
Omoide Yokochō means “Memory Lane,” and it very much does feel like Tokyo from another era. It also has the nickname “Piss Alley” — though it’s not really that grimy anymore. Here’s a roundup of more yokochō — alleys with bars and restaurants — in Tokyo.
2. Find your favorite bar in Golden Gai
Golden Gai is a little bit like Omoide Yokochō — it’s also a warren of ramshackle wooden buildings, except these ones house bars. Teeny, tiny bars. For decades, Golden Gai was the exclusive haunt of entertainment-media-creative people, but these days more and more bars welcome foreign travelers.
Many of the bars have some kind of theme, like “death metal,” which, naturally, attracts like-minded customers. Many of the bars also have cover charges (usually ¥500 to ¥1,000), so the cheapest option would be to pick one bar and stick with it. But the more fun option is to bar-hop until you find your favorite.
Our complete Golden Gai guide has some suggestions to get your started. You can also enlist the help of a local — try these top-rated bar hopping tour guides here and here to show you some of the top spots.
3. Experience the world’s busiest train station in Shinjuku
Well, you don’t really have a choice with this one, unless you walk to Shinjuku from elsewhere. Shinjuku Station is widely reported to be the world’s busiest train station. Millions of people pass through here every single day. We want to say that’s because there’s just so many things to do in Shinjuku, but to be honest a good chunk of these people are commuting to work, so that’s much less fun.
Shinjuku Station has something like 200 exits (we are not even exaggerating), whole underground malls, and, well, a lot of corridors in which to get lost. Bonus points if you can navigate to the nearest exit to your destination!
That being said, exploring Shinjuku Station is a great way to get under the skin of the city. You can even join a tour where a licensed guide will show you some of the highlights in and around Shinjuku Station — including a little-known rooftop shrine.
4. Have a picnic in Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
Shinjuku Gyoen is a former Imperial property turned public garden. It’s a wonderful oasis of green amidst all the concrete and clamor of Shinjuku. There are groves of cherry trees — which makes this a popular cherry blossom spot — and also a greenhouse, a teahouse, and a large pond. Best of all, however, are the manicured lawns, which are excellent for picnicking.
Unlike Tokyo’s many free parks, Shinjuku Gyoen does require an admission fee — though that helps keep it from getting too crowded.
Students: ¥250
Seniors: ¥250
5. Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
Tokyo’s capital building has free observatories atop both of its towers. From up here — at 202 meters (662ft) — you can look out over the whole city, and sometimes even see Mt. Fuji to the west. The observatories are open late, so if you’re wondering what to do in Shinjuku at night, you can come here and can see the nighttime twinkly version of Tokyo, too.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building also doubles as an architecture attraction: It was designed by Kenzo Tange, arguably Japan’s most famous modern architect. It’s in Nishi Shinjuku, on the west side of Shinjuku Station.
Pro tip: Find more places with good views in Tokyo.
6. Explore Kabukichō and catch a show at the Samurai Restaurant
Kabukichō is the most famous, or rather infamous, neighborhood within Shinjuku. It’s Japan’s largest red-light district, with lots of host and hostess bars, love hotels, and other NSFW attractions. But it has a lot of other stuff too, like the giant Godzilla head statue, above the Toho Cinema multiplex.
Also check out Kabukichō Tower, the all-night batting cages, arcades, and bowling alleys too. The wild-ride Samurai Restaurant is here too, along with the Shinjuku Ninja Live Show.
In Kabukichō entertainment — of all stripes — is the name of the game. Read our full guide to Kabukichō.
7. Raise a glass in Tokyo’s gayborhood, Shinjuku Nichōme
Japan’s largest LGBTQ+ enclave has hundreds of small bars and clubs. When the weather is warm, the scene fills the streets and there’s a whole vibe. Some spots can be a little cliquey, but others are welcoming.
A good place to get started is Aiiro Café — formerly known as Advocates — which has an excellent all-you-can-drink beer happy hour for just ¥1,000. Find more of our top Nichōme spots here.
8. Go for drinks with a view in Shinjuku
The Park Hyatt is currently closed for renovations. It’s due to reopen in October 2025.Shinjuku’s most iconic night spot is probably the New York Bar atop the Park Hyatt. It was famously featured in the 2004 movie Lost in Translation. Movie cred aside, it is also cool because it has views over Tokyo from big picture windows. It is, unfortunately, not very affordable and has a ¥2,750 cover charge.
Pro tip: For somewhat more wallet-friendly options, check out the Peak Lounge on the 41st floor, which has an all-you-can-drink plus snacks happy hour deal for ¥6,930 per person from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
9. See free art in Nishi Shinjuku
Nishi Shinjuku is Shinjuku’s business district. But tucked among the skyscrapers are some of Tokyo’s most famous public works of art. One of Robert Indiana’s Love sculptures is here. It’s a popular meet-up spot for dates, and also often appears in Japanese TV dramas set in Tokyo.
Nearby are two sculptures by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, Tokyo Brushstroke I and Tokyo Brushstroke II. These and more are part of the Shinjuku I-Land Tower complex.
10. Check out the latest fashions at Isetan
Of all of Tokyo’s major department stores, Isetan is the trendiest. It’s also among the most expensive, so we are not really recommending buying anything here. But it can be fun to check out the latest looks from up-and-coming Japanese labels, before they’re available outside Japan.
Pro tip: Isetan also has an excellent depachika (department store food hall), which is perfect for picking up supplies for a picnic at Shinjuku Gyoen. Or, if you don’t feel like walking to the garden, you can take your goodies up to Isetan’s roof terrace.
11. Catch a flea market or a festival at Hanazono Shrine
Hanazono Shrine is Shinjuku’s signature Shintō shrine. It doesn’t look like much — the building is fairly modern reconstruction and the grounds are largely paved — but the shrine really comes alive in November, when it hosts the Tori no Ichi (“Rooster Market”). Vendors sell elaborately decorated ornamental rakes that are believed to help business owners “rake in the money,” so to speak.
Meanwhile, most Sundays, a small flea market takes place on the grounds.
12. Shop for anything and everything at Donki
Don Quijote (aka Donki) is a Shinjuku landmark. The huge variety store stocks a wild array of goods, the layout is absolutely chaotic, and the theme song piped loudly throughout the store will definitely stick in your head. Maid costumes? Designer wallets? Granola? Check, check, and check. This isn’t the only Donki in town — but it’s one of the most fun.
13. Kick back in Shinjuku Central Park
Unlike Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Central Park (Shinjuku Chūō Kōen) is a public park, which means it’s free and open 24/7. There are lawns, terraces, children’s play areas, exercise equipment, and walking trails, though none of it is particularly scenic. Festivals and events, like flea markets, are held here occasionally.
There is also a Starbucks, small bouldering facility, and a restaurant in the park. Pro tip — look for “Shinjuku Niagara Falls”, a cheeky waterfall feature in the middle of the park. Also keep an eye out for the terrapins, who live around the back end of the falls.
14. Hang out on the Southern Terrace
Tokyo has relatively few places for outside dining and drinking, so even though the offerings here aren’t the most exciting, we appreciate this large open terrace across from Shinjuku Station. There are a couple of restaurants and a Starbucks with patio seating, and on a warm, sunny day this is a nice place to chill.
In winter, there are illuminations in the evenings.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in December 2014. Last updated in January, 2025.
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