Shinjuku After Dark
A free skyline sunset, smoke-filled alleys, a giant Godzilla, and 200 tiny bars.
Shinjuku at night is the Tokyo everyone arrives wanting to see, and this is the order to see it in. Catch sunset for free from the government towers, eat yakitori under the rail tracks while the neon comes on, then drift east through Kabukicho into the lantern-lit maze of Golden Gai. Pace yourself, the bars are tiny and the night is long.
Tap to follow the route on the interactive map- 馃憗 Viewpoint 路 Shinjuku
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The free observation deck at sunset, with Fuji silhouetted on a clear evening. Skip the paid decks elsewhere, this one is better positioned anyway.
- 馃毝 10 min walk馃幍 Nightlife 路 Shinjuku
Omoide Yokocho at night
Two narrow alleys of smoke and charcoal by the tracks. Sit where there is space, order beer and whatever is grilling, and accept that your clothes will smell amazing.
- 馃毝 4 min walk馃幍 Nightlife 路 Shinjuku
Kabukicho
Walk the neon gauntlet of the biggest entertainment district in Asia. You do not need to go into anywhere, the streets are the show.
- 馃毝 1 min walk馃椉 Landmark 路 Shinjuku
Godzilla Head
Look up from the Toho cinema square. He roars on the hour in the evening, and the square below is the best people-watching bench in Shinjuku.
- 馃毝 4 min walk馃幍 Nightlife 路 Shinjuku
Golden Gai
Two hundred bars, each seating about eight people, each with its own micro-culture. Look for places with English signs and no cover charge for your first round, then get braver.
