Shinjuku has one of the busiest railway station in the world and it’s best known for its shopping and nightlife. Staying a night in Shinjuku is recommended especially if you want to explore the sleepless town of Kabukicho (Japan’s largest red light district).
Things to do in Shinjuku at night:
1. Kabukicho, Kabukicho, Kabukicho. Even if you just walk around the block, you’ll be fascinated by the brightly lit giant billboard featuring attractive women and men.
As you can see, it's mostly tourist walking around Kabukicho.
They have everything here. Cabarets, nightclubs, sex shops, hostess/host clubs… Venture into these premises at your own risk. Not recommended if you don’t speak Japanese and look obviously like a foreign tourist.
2. Take a photo with the life size Godzilla in front of Hotel Gracery Shinjuku, located in the middle of Kabukicho!
3. Shop at Shinjuku branch of Don Quijote, a big discount chain store which opens 24 hours a day. You’ll find everything inside the store from snacks, cosmetics, clothes, toys, bags to electronics, even contact lenses! The aisles and shelves are cluttered, disorganized and disorientating. Shopping here feels like digging through junk to find treasure. I bought a luggage trolley bag here. It’s cheaper and has more variety than what I found at Yodobashi Camera.
4. Visit the Robot Restaurant at Kabukicho. There are three to four 90-minute shows each night. Entrance fee is 8,000 yen (discount if buy online), meal fee is 1,000-1,500 yen.
5. Take a walk through the narrow Golden Gai and maybe take a drink at one of the bars, with most bars only able to seat 6-7 guests at once.
Where to stay in Shinjuku?
Basically, hotels in Shinjuku are concentrated in three areas: South, East and West. The southern part is convenient for people who wants to stay near the Busta Shinjuku (Expressway Bus Terminal). Sunroute Plaza Tokyo Hotel has direct limousine bus service to Narita Airport.
East Shinjuku is the liveliest part of Shinjuku where Kabukicho is, perfect for those who wants to shop till they drop or partying through the night. You can probably consider Shinjuku Prince Hotel or Hotel Gracery Shinjuku if you’re a Godzilla fan.
I chose to stay in West Shinjuku near to Yodobashi Camera which is in a quieter area. Kadoya Hotel is a business hotel. I booked a double room for 14,211 yen. Check latest hotel room rate at Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia. Official website: http://www.kadoya-hotel.co.jp/eng/
It’s 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station west exit or Oedo line Tochomae Station. From Shinjuku’s Station’s underground passage, take either S3 exit, Exit 7 or S-tec Exit.
Kadoya Hotel is also 5 minutes away from the limousine bus stop in front of Keio Department Store/Shinjuku Station West Exit to Narita Airport.
Kadoya Hotel also provides a phone with free internet connection for hotel guest’s use during their stay. You can bring this phone with you when you go out and return it when you check out! It’s the first hotel that I’ve seen providing this service! You can also buy discounted metro pass from the reception counter. I have no qualms recommending this hotel.
What to eat?
There are plenty of restaurants in Shinjuku and you’ll be spoilt with choices. The first and foremost question you should ask yourself is what you want to eat.
I stumbled upon this small Indian restaurant nearby Kadoya Hotel as my sister was craving for some curry and naan. The restaurant is aptly named as “Curry and Naan”. So it’s a no-brainer that we went in.
The interior of the restaurant is simple but comfortable, fitted with wooden table and chairs.
The curry was surprisingly delicious - flavourful and just nice with the right amount of spice. The service is good too and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here.
The meal is set at reasonable price. A lunch box is as cheap as 500 yen. Definitely recommended. This summarized my night in Shinjuku.
Kabukicho Ichibangai
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