The area surrounding Shinjuku Station is one of the most popular for accommodation areas of international visitors given its convenient location, numerous train lines running to and from the station, endless array of entertainment, nightlife and shopping in the vicinity, and wide-range of hotels and guesthouses. A stop on the Yamanote Line circling Tokyo, Shinjuku is a convenient base from where to explore the sprawling city. If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do in Shinjuku, check out our ’10 Must Visit Spots in Shinjuku’ page for inspiration.

Shinjuku really is the perfect base to stay for the duration of your Tokyo trip for many of the reasons listed above. It is a very walkable part of Tokyo, and you can reach each side of Shinjuku just by walking. Each distinct part of Shinjuku is marked with an exit from Shinjuku Station and each is well known for different content. For example, the West Exit is known for the its many hotels, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, Skyscrapers and electronics stores such as Yodabashi Camera. The East Exit is famous for shopping and nightlife with areas such as Kabukicho, major department stores like Isetan, and some of the busiest shopping streets. The South Exit is known for shopping like Takashimaya Times Square and Tokyu Hands, cafes and, Shinjuku Historical Museum and outdoor spaces such as the famous Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. There are many more exits in Shinjuku Station, but these are the busiest and most popular.

Shinjuku Station is serviced by multiple train lines, but the one that will be of most use during your stay will undoubtedly be the JR Yamanote Line. This is the most central of all train lines in Tokyo, and therefore you can reach all the main hot spots such as Tokyo, Shinjuku and Shibuya from Ueno easily. For example, you can be in Shibuya in 7 minutes and Ueno in 25 minutes. The JR Chuo Line will also be extremely useful whilst basing yourself in Shinjuku, where you can reach Tokyo in 14 minutes.

If you would like to opportunity to explore Shinjuku Station and the Shinjuku area with an experienced tour guide, why not join our ’Best of Both’ tour or our ’Hot Spots and Hidden Gems’ tour. We visit many of the key attractions in Shinjuku, as well as exploring Shibuya, and the hidden gem of Kagurazaka. Click the tour cards below to find out more information.

1 Day Tour

1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Shibuya : The Best of Both
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:30 – 17:30
Meeting Place	Inside Yotsuya-Sanchome Station
Adult Rate	¥19,800
Child Rate	¥13,000

1 Day Tour

1 Day Walking Tour in Shinjuku and Kagurazaka : Tokyo Hot Spots and Hidden Gems
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:30 – 17:30
Meeting Place	Inside Yotsuya Sanchome Station
Adult Rate	¥19,800
Child Rate	¥13,000

Many of the larger hotels can be found on the West side of Shinjuku station, with many high-end hotels having a foot-print in Shinjuku including the Park Hyatt along with popular options including the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, Keio Plaza, Hotel Sunroute Plaza and Hotel Century Southern Tower. The range of high-end to mid-range to budget makes Shinjuku appealing to many visitors, and with so much entertainment on your door step, it’s easy to see why people choose to base themselves around the station.

From the station, the Limited Express Azusa runs to Matsumoto – one of Central Japan’s most popular destinations, with other lines connecting the station to Mount Fuji and Hakone. Shinjuku’s appeal is that in the end, everything that Tokyo has to offer – from high-end restaurants to cheap eateries, 5-star hotels to absolute budget and plenty of shopping and nightlife – is available in the area.