Shinjuku is one of the most popular and famous districts in Tokyo, Japan, a large commercial area with shopping, cinemas, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Shinjuku is also a major urban transit hub with the JR (Japan Railways) Shinjuku Station, with over 3.6 million passengers daily, the busiest station in the world. It houses interchanges to three subway lines and three privately owned commuter lines, as well as several JR lines.
Located northeast of Shinjuku Station, you will find the red-light district of Kabukicho, with bars, restaurants, pachinko parlors, brothels and many love hotels.
Tokyo’s largest skyscraper district is called Nishi-shinjuku, located west of Shinjuku Station. Several of the tallest buildings in Tokyo can be found in this area.
Completed in October 2008, the unique Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is a 204-metre (669 ft), 50-story educational facility, the second tallest educational building in the world and the 17th tallest building in Tokyo.
Nearby is the home of Tokyo City Hall called Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. The design of the building (which was meant to resemble a computer chip), by architect Kenzo Tange, has many symbolic touches, including the look of a Gothic cathedral.
You can also see views of Tokyo from the two observation decks on the top of this building (no charge).
One of the most popular sightseeing spots is the Shinjuku Gyoen (the Shinjuku Imperial Gardens), especially during Cherry Blossom season. Its 100th anniversary of founding was in 2006.
Finally, Ōkubo is Tokyo’s best-known Korean district, where you can find lots of Korean restaurants, stores selling Korean goods (food, idol stuff, etc.) and pachinko parlors.
As always, great photos!
I was just in Shinjuku today. First, I started out visiting both Kinokuniya bookstores (looking for a present for my brother’s birthday coming up), then I decided to hike along Yasukuni Dori from Shinjuku to Ochanomizu (I could have continued on to Akihabara, but I’ve made that part of the trek before. Took about 2 hours. Not a whole lot to see, but it took me past Shinjuku Gyoen, and I can now say that I know what the street-side view looks like along the Chuu-ou/Sobu train line both both sides of the Yamanote.
Nishi Shinjuku has a whole lot more to offer than just the skyscrapers. There’s Yodabashi Camera, lots of UFO Catcher machines, and a bunch of other small bars and restaurants. If you haven’t yet, keep an eye out for the elevating restaurant. There’s one skyscraper where an entire restaurant moves up and down the side of the building. I have yet to ride in it, but that’s on the to-do list. There’s also a small park in that area with a senior citizen’s center. The residents display examples of their artwork in the community room, and the quality of the work is pretty good. I need to go back there again some day, too…
Thanks for the comments. This short blog post doesn’t really do justice to describe all the things to see and do in Shinjuku (maybe Part 2 someday).
I think Shinjuku at night looks beautiful!
True, I agree. I have taken a several pictures around Shinjuku at night, but I just noticed that I mostly have daytime pictures on my blog post, no Shinjuku lights at all
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