These are the best places to travel this summer

Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book
500px Photo ID: 63661709 -

Jormungand / 500px

LONELY PLANET’S RECOMMENDED eSIM

Stay connected in Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

with

Saily is an affordable eSIM service that helps you stay connected and secure, anywhere in the world.

Get your eSIM

Overview

Shinjuku is a whole city within the city; developed in the latter half of the 20th century, it's become widely synonymous with Tokyo itself. The breadth and scale are simply awesome – over three million people a day pass through the train station. To the west of the station is Nishi-Shinjuku, a planned district of soaring skyscrapers; to the east, the city's largest entertainment district, a glitter with colored LED lights. North of Shinjuku is another major hub, Ikebukuro, that similarly feels as if it contains a whole world within.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Shinjuku, Tokyo, Kanto region, Japan. Tiny alleys crowded with night bars and clubs at Golden Gai district.

    Golden Gai

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Golden Gai – a Shinjuku institution for over half a century – is a collection of tiny bars, often literally no bigger than a closet and seating maybe a…

  • asia, city, godzilla, japan, shinjuku, tokyo, urban, monster, asia city godzilla japan shinjuku tokyo urban monster Godzilla at Hotel Gracery, Shinjuku.

    Godzilla Head

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Godzilla, a portmanteau of the Japanese words for gorilla (gorira) and whale (kujira), is king of the kaijū (strange beasts) that ruled Japanese popular…

  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, Shinjuku

    Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Tokyo's city hall – a landmark building designed by Tange Kenzō – has observatories (202m) atop both the south and north towers of Building 1 (the views…

  • Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo, Japan in the spring cherry blossom season.; Shutterstock ID 245037472; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    Shinjuku-gyoen

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Shinjuku-gyoen was designed as an imperial retreat (completed 1906); since opening to the public in 1951, it has become a favourite destination for…

  • Myōnichikan

    Myōnichikan

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Lucky are the girls who attended the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed 'School of the Free Spirit' (Jiyū Gakuen; 自由学園). Built in 1921, Myōnichikan functioned as…

  • Hanazono-jinja

    Hanazono-jinja

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Merchants from nearby Kabukichō come to this Shintō shrine to pray for the solvency of their business ventures. Founded in the 17th century, the shrine is…

  • Yayoi Kusama Museum

    Yayoi Kusama Museum

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    Kusama Yayoi (b 1929) is one of Japan's most internationally famous contemporary artists, particularly known for her obsession with dots and pumpkins. She…

  • Chinzan-sō

    Chinzan-sō

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    This strolling garden was once the estate of a Meiji-era statesman and is now the grounds of a luxury hotel, though it's open to the public. The shaded…

View more attractions

Plan with a local

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

Explore all books

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo