❶ Shin-Okubo Shopping Street/Koreatown

Near Shin-Okubo and Okubo stations is a cosmopolitan hub of Korean and ethnic restaurants, supermarkets, and variety stores. Especially popular among the younger generation is “Ikemen-dori St.” (literally, “handsome guy street”), a street lined with cafes and stores selling Korean cosmetics and idol merchandise.

Shin-Okubo (JR), Okubo (JR)

❷ TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER

This super high-rise, 225 m tall complex has 48 floors aboveground and 5 floors underground. The variety of facilities include a hotel, movie theater, stage theater, and music hall. The “festival” themed food hall combines cuisine, music, and video.

Seibu-shinjuku (Seibu), Shinjuku-nishiguchi (Subway), Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio), Shinjuku-sanchome (Subway)

https://www.tokyu-kabukicho-tower.jp.e.ari.hp.transer.com/

❸ Shinjuku Toho Building (Godzilla)

This landmark of Kabukicho contains restaurants, a movie theater, and a hotel inside its 30-story structure above ground. Its most prominent feature is the “Godzilla Head” on the 8th-floor outdoor terrace. This life-size bust of Godzilla, Japan’s representative monster, is as impressive as it looks in the movies.

Seibu-shinjuku (Seibu), Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio)

https://shinjuku-toho-bldg.toho.co.jp

❹ Kabukicho

Dubbed the “Town That Never Sleeps,” Kabukicho is one of Asia’s largest entertainment districts. The area buzzes with various 24-hour establishments, from restaurants, bars, izakaya, and pubs to cinemas, theaters, arcades, bowling arenas, and karaoke boxes.

Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio), Seibu-shinjuku (Seibu)

http://www.kabukicho.or.jp/?lang=en

❺ Hanamichi Tokyo Kabukicho

Enjoy Edo-period fashion, food, and theater in one place at this complex created to promote Japanese culture from Kabukicho. The atmosphere of those Edo times, Japan’s favorite period, is reflected everywhere, including the plays at the theater and the historical atmosphere of the restaurants.

Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio)

https://hanamichi.tokyo/en/

❻ Shinjuku Golden-Gai

This entertainment district is home to over 300 small bars squeezed into narrow alleyways. It is also known as the epicenter of Tokyo’s subculture, where creatives including like writers and actors congregate. In recent years, there has been a rise in new bars run by the younger generation. It has also become a popular destination for international travelers. Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using sports equipment and musical instruments in the garden are prohibited.

Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio)

http://goldengai.jp/

❼ Hanazono Shrine

Located in the heart of Shinjuku, this shrine has watched over the development of Shinjuku over the course of its long history. The shrine holds seasonal events and attracts many people every year. The shrine also hosts many local events such as antique markets and theatrical performances.

Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio), Shinjuku-sanchome (Subway)

http://hanazono-jinja.or.jp/

❽ Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is one of Tokyo’s landmarks and the starting point of the Tokyo Marathon. The Main Building No. 1 has two free observatories, North Observatory and South Observatory, and you can get an expansive view of Tokyo from a height of 202 meters. You can also obtain travel information in many different languages at the Tokyo Tourist Information Center on the first floor of the Main Building No. 1.

Tochomae (Subway), Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio)

https://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

❾ Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal

Located at the South Exit of Shinjuku Station, this is one of Japan’s biggest highway bus terminals. Travelers can smoothly transfer from buses arriving from all over Japan to trains and taxis. You’ll find the Tokyo Tourist Information Center along with the trendy shopping center “NEWoMan” next to the terminal.

Shinjuku (JR, Subway, Odakyu, Keio)

http://shinjuku-busterminal.co.jp/en/

❿ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Though originally created as a garden for the Imperial Household, this garden was opened to the public in 1949. On the vast premises, you will find the Japanese Traditional Garden, Landscape Garden, and Formal Garden boasting magnificent rows of London planes. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is appreciated as a masterpiece of modern, Western-style gardens in Japan.
*Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using sports equipment and musical instruments in the garden are prohibited.
Running is allowed on a designated loop only. Groups of 10 or more are not allowed to run together. Running is NOT allowed between March 25 and April 24.

Shinjuku-gyoemmae (Subway)

https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/

⓫ Meiji Jingu Shrine

Established in 1920, this shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It is a work of human ingenuity built by some 100,000 trees donated from across Japan. This metropolitan oasis envelops its visitors in its divine, majestic atmosphere.

Harajuku (JR), Yoyogi (JR), Meiji-jingumae <Harajuku> (Subway), Sangubashi (Odakyu)

https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/