10 Free Things to do in Shinjuku That You Shouldn't Miss

May 22, 2021 Rebbecca Marino

In busy Shinjuku, you’ll find some of the tallest buildings in Toyko, as well as tons of shopping malls, bars and clubs. To escape the hustle and bustle, TripAdvisor travelers recommend visiting Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a beautiful and peaceful park in the middle of the city.
Restaurants in Shinjuku

1. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings

2-8-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 163-8001 Tokyo Prefecture https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/index.html
Excellent
45%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,558 reviews

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings

The tallest building in Shinjuku, TMG No. 1 offers sweeping views of Tokyo -- all the way to Mt. Fuji on a clear day -- from the 45th floor observatory.

Reviewed By kc3302 - Riverwood, Australia

Fantastic views of the Tokyo City and suburbs. Free entry. There are two observation towers - one in each of the building's two towers. It is located above Tochomae Station (on the Toei Oedo line), or is a comfortable 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station (all other train lines including JR, Keio, Seibu, Odakyu and other subway lines).

2. Hobby Center Kato Tokyo

1-24-10 Nishiochiai, Shinjuku 161-0031 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-3954-2171 http://www.katomodels.com/hobbycenter/tokyo.php
Excellent
58%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 60 reviews

Hobby Center Kato Tokyo

Reviewed By AndyinOmaha - Omaha, United States

The Kato Hobby Center in Shinjuku is a dream destination for any kid -- or dad -- who's loved playing with model trains at any time in his life. There are full-size displays of running model trains, in gauges (in the same layout) of HO through N. The detail is amazing, and the quality for modelers is top-notch. Upstairs are layouts where kids can bring their own trains in for test runs and play. The Hobby Center is also a retail outlet for full train "Starter Sets" [tracks, power packs, and engine with train cars] as well as individual train cars/engines....plus every imagninable replacement part in bins. Kato makes train cars of all types of Japan's railways, European railways, and the US as well. The coolest thing they make (quoting the TSA inspector who examined my carry-on luggage as I re-entered the USA) is the nifty N gauge starter set of the brand new N700 "Nozomi" series of the shinkansen [bullet train] that runs on the Tokyo to Hiroshima Tokaido route. A VERY cool souvenir for anyone who loves model trains. The Hobby Center is located beyond Shinjuku, which makes it a distant (and expensive) 5,000 yen cab ride if you're coming from the heart of Tokyo. I never could have found the place without a cabbie with GPS, so it's worth the extra yen to get there directly.

3. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Decks

2-8-1 45th floor, TMG No.1 Building, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 163-8001 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-5321-1111 http://www.yokoso.metro.tokyo.jp/tenbou/index.html
Excellent
50%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,447 reviews

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Decks

The South Observatory will remain closed, due to remodeling work on the TMG Buildings. It is scheduled for a renewal opening around spring of 2019. (The Norh Observatory is open.)

Reviewed By CHRISL525

head on up to the view deck for a free view of the city , great view day or night and it's free , so great for families. right in the heart of shinjuku.

4. Hanazono Shrine

5-17-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0022 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-3209-5265 http://www.hanazono-jinja.or.jp/mt/top/
Excellent
20%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 605 reviews

Hanazono Shrine

Reviewed By Genevieve_aust - Gold Coast, Australia

Hanazono Jinja is a lovely Shrine so close to sShinjuku station, but once you are inside you could be in a different time. Quiet lovely to look around the temple area, and on Sundays they host a Flea market with lots of antiques and other curios, I have picked up some great things there.

5. Isetan Shinjuku Store

14-1, Shinjuku 3 Chome, Shinjuku 160-0022 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-3352-1111 https://www.isetan.mistore.jp/shinjuku.html?_ga=2.93538717.168586720.1564464389-111479689.1564464389
Excellent
45%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
1%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,136 reviews

Isetan Shinjuku Store

This department store is one of the trendiest in Japan, and its flagship Shinjuku store houses the finest in clothing, accessories, and homeware. It is also known for its impressive variety of foods.

Reviewed By aj4422016 - Melbourne, Australia

My goodness! What an amazing experience! Head straight to the basement and browse the endless selection of food stalls - there’s Japanese, other Asian and Western stalls, and a gourmet supermarket meaning endless options all for takeaway. The highlight for me was the desert section - maybe 20+ stalls of the finest European chocolate, pastries, cakes and desserts and you are treated like royalty when you buy something- the first class staff will exquisitely package, wrap and bag your food (even with cold packs) so it is still immaculately presentable when you get it home. A luxury shopping experience! Thanks Isetan!

6. Shinjuku Golden Gai

1-1-6, Kabukicho, Shinjuku 160-0021 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-3209-6418 http://goldengai.jp/index.html
Excellent
44%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,225 reviews

Shinjuku Golden Gai

Reviewed By bish-sg - Singapore, Singapore

A great place to walk around and get transformed back in time to how the drinking scene in Tokyo was.. great place to grab a couple of drinks just for the experience. Most places charge a cover fee for entrance and usually seat any where between 6-8 people. There are some that are strictly for members and will have it written on the door clearly, so don’t bother with them

7. Fire Museum

3-10, Yotsuya, Shinjuku 160-0004 Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-3353-9119 http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/ts/museum.html
Excellent
36%
Good
49%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 266 reviews

Fire Museum

Reviewed By Valkyrie_108

I had this museum high on my list considering my father is a firefighter in Australia. The history levels and the static displays of the fire fighting equipment was fascinating, comparable to the Fire Museum in Penrith, Australia with the amount of displays of vehicles, in air sea and on the ground. The day I visited, the displays you could usually sit in where closed to the public; though you could still view them. It will be on my father's list to visit when he is able to.

8. Kagurazaka

Kaguradzaka, Shinjuku 160-0022 Tokyo Prefecture +81 70-5562-4125 http://www.kagurazaka.in/
Excellent
33%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 740 reviews

Kagurazaka

Reviewed By JPSalik - New York City, United States

We were fortunate enough to find an airbnb apartment in this neighborhood and we enjoyed it so much. This is reminiscent of St Germain in Paris (Japanese style of course) with all the small alleyway, full of restaurants on every level of the buildings. So many choices. We spent 10 glorious days and did not feel like going anywhere else as there is so much to discover. This neighborhood has French influence with many restaurants, we tried a couple but the Japanese food is so good that we could not have enough time for all. Walking day and nights in the small alleyways we never felt threatened as we found Japanese people so welcoming, kind, polite and patient with us as we do not speak the language. We learned to say the minimum and to bow, this was enough to show our appreciation for their kindness. Where in the world do you have the owner, the waiter and the cook following you in the street and bowing good bye and thank you? We were deeply impressed by their courtesy and this was not unique, this is the norm here. We will come back to this airbnb and neighborhood again.

9. Omoide Yokocho

1-2, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0023 Tokyo Prefecture http://shinjuku-omoide.com/
Excellent
33%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,109 reviews

Omoide Yokocho

Reviewed By matthenry9 - London, United Kingdom

I had a lovely time wandering through these couple of alleys, before sitting in one of the tiny restaurants for some yakitori- I had beef & also a bunch of veggies wrapped in bacon! Delicious. Some of the restaurants (which are all pretty tiny) have second floors, so dont assume they're all full. Like most bars/restaurants around Tokyo, all have a cover fee ranging from ¥300-1000.

10. NS Bulding

2-4-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0023 Tokyo Prefecture http://www.shinjuku-ns.co.jp
Excellent
19%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
41%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 123 reviews

NS Bulding

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.