Why Shinjuku is the best place to stay in Tokyo for first time visitors ~ The Historian Traveller

Last Updated on August 20, 2026 by Laura

Known for having the busiest train station on earth (with its 2 millions daily passengers) Shinjuku is probably the most eclectic, incredible yet undervalued place to stay in Tokyo. You can find nearly everything in here. From dashing neon lights to every sort of entertainment but also quiet spaces and incredibly photogenic corners. In addition to my personal reasons why I opted for Shinjuku as my base camp for Tokyo, it is good to know why objectively this area is one of the best (if not the best) places to stay in Tokyo. Here below, you will find some of my top reasons why staying in Shinjuku Tokyo ranks among the best choices first time travellers to Japan can for their trip.

Table of Contents

It’s the place that will come to your mind when thinking about Tokyo

There are places we instinctively associate with certain locations. When I think of Tokyo, the first image that comes to mind is Shinjuku, perhaps like the one above. Even after visiting, Tokyo, for me, will always be that buzzing, chaotic city of neon lights, with a Godzilla perched on the top of a building.

Of course, Tokyo is far more than this, but my association with Shinjuku feels almost unbreakable. If Tokyo were a story, Shinjuku would undoubtedly be its main character, the one that defines the ethos of the narrative and leaves the strongest visual and emotional imprint on the reader.

It’s one of the main central hub for transport in Tokyo and beyond

Well, if you haven’t heard this yet, Shinjuku hosts the busiest train station in the entire planed. A perfect place where to get lost forever and perhaps reaching every corner of Japan. There are over 2 million peoples a day moving around Shinjuku station and, if you don’t freak out at the idea of navigating this massive hub, this means you have found the holy grail. Indeed, one of the personal reason why I opted for Shinjuku as my base camp, specifically at Hotel Groove, was exactly its proximity to Shinjuku Station. This saved me a considerable amount of time when I wanted to do a day trip from Tokyo by train, and also just getting around from one place to another around the city.

It’s the heart of Tokyo’s entertainment

Want to be entertained? Shinjuku has it all. From buzzing night clubs, to classy restaurant, game arcades, cinemas and immense shopping malls.

For those interested in Tokyo’s nightlife, staying in Shinjuku means stepping directly into the action. Yet the appeal is not limited to large, flashy venues. Tucked away in narrow alleyways you will find places like Golden Gai, a collection of tiny bars each with its own unique character, and Omoide Yokocho, where traditional food stalls create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from the surrounding skyscrapers. Kabuchiko, known as Japan’s largest red-light district, is actually less intimidating than it looks like is very lively and quite safe to walk.

If you are a little intimidated by the buzzing nightlife of Shinjuku and perhaps want a guide for your first day, this tour offers a 4 hours deep dive into the best neighbourhood spots!

Kabuchiko Tower

Tokyu Kabuchiko Tower is a 225 mt architectural jewel opened only in 2023 and hosting the heart of Shinjuku’s entertainment as well as two top-tiers hotels. It’s a very fun place to explore and if you are new to the area, this is certainly a good place where to start!

Inside the Kabuchiko Tower you can find literally everything. From an underground disco club, to a 900-seats theatre, a cinema, a pool with a bar and view on Shinkjku, a sauna, a Bandai Namco game station and even concert hall! And, of course, several restaurants. I would have probably needed a month to explore every single option this place offered. I was incredibly happy to have this back-up option in case that one of the nights we were to tired to follow our pre-planned itinerary.

Here is a summary of the different things you can find in each floor:

Floor 1: Starbucks, Shogun Burger, Yamato Transport, Tourist Information
Floor 2: Shinjuku Kabuki Hall (restaurants)
Floor 3: NAMCO Tokyo
Floor 5: Water Terrace, X Place, X Casino, Prus Sauna
Floors 6-8: Theatre Milano-za
Floors 9-10: Cinema Premium Shinjuku
Floor 17: Jam17 Dining & Bar
Floors 18-38: Hotel Groove Shinjuku
Floors 39-47: Bellustar Tokyo Hotel
Basement: Zepp Shinjuku, Zero Tokyo

There are unlimited shopping and dining choices

Staying in Shinjuku Tokyo – Omoide Yokocho

Being such a lively place, Shinjuku offers and incredible amount of dining choices and shopping experiences. Dining in Shinjuku reflects the breadth of Tokyo’s culinary identity. Within minutes, you can move from a quick bowl of noodles to an intimate, high-end sushi counter. Tucked beneath the railway tracks, Omoide Yokocho offers a more nostalgic experience, where narrow lanes are lined with tiny yakitori stalls, their grills sending smoke into the evening air. A short walk away, Golden Gai presents an entirely different atmosphere. Indeed, its maze of micro-bars and late-night spots drawing both locals and curious visitors. For something more contemporary, the streets around Kabukicho are filled with lively restaurants and izakayas, many open well past midnight.

If you don’t want to get overwhelmed and need a guide to move around, I do recommend this two lovely tours:

Shinjuku Dining Choices

However, if you need some more recommendation on must-try places in the area here are these top recommendations:

🍖 Gyukatsu Motomura -Tonkatsu restaurant

A cult favourite for gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet), served rare and cooked further on a personal grill. It’s one of the most popular casual dining experiences in Shinjuku.

🍲 Momo Paradise Shinjuku Higashi-guchi – Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu restaurant

Perfect for a more immersive meal, this spot specialises in all-you-can-eat sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, a great way to experience Japanese hot pot culture.

🍜 Kameya Shinjuku – Soba noodle shop

A classic, no-frills soba noodle shop, ideal for a quick, authentic, and very affordable meal, even late at night.

🍱 GYUKATSU Kyoto Katsugyu Shinjuku Otakibashi-dori – Syokudo and Teishoku restaurant
Another excellent option for beef lovers, offering a slightly more polished take on gyukatsu with set meals.

🍣 Shinjuku Sushi Hatsume
For a more refined experience, this is a high-end sushi restaurant, perfect for a special evening.

Shinjuku Best shopping areas

Shopping in Shinjuku was just as convenient (Uniqlo knows something since I spent there an entire afternoon LOL). Around Shinjuku Station, everything seems seamlessly connected. I could move from one department store to another without really thinking about it, passing from underground walkways into vast, beautifully curated retail spaces. Here below you can find some of my favourite shopping areas in Shinjuku:

Isetan Shinjuku – This is one of Japan’s most iconic department stores, known for:

high-end fashion
beautifully curated displays
an exceptional basement food hall (depachika) with sushi, bento, and desserts

Takashimaya Times Square. This is a large shopping area offering:

international and Japanese brands
restaurants with city views
a famous food hall with sweets and ready-made meals

Lumine Shinjuku. Made of a cluster of buildings (Lumine 1,2 and East) This shopping area is directly connected to Shinjuku Station and very easy to explore from there (maybe after a day trip?). Here you can find:

trendy fashion boutiques
lifestyle stores and cosmetics
cafés and casual dining

NEWoMan Shinjuku

A more upscale and design-focused mall. It has some lovely shops including one of my favourites, Aesop! In addition you can find:

curated fashion brands
artisan food shops and bakeries
a slightly more refined, less crowded feel

There are also quiet havens

Despite being known for it buzzing nightlife and entertainment, Shinjuku has also some quieter areas that are often underrated.

One of my favourite places in the city is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. After the intensity of the surrounding district, walking through its wide, open spaces feels almost disorienting in the best possible way. The gardens are beautifully maintained, with a mix of Japanese, English, and French landscaping, and it’s the kind of place where you can easily spend a couple of hours without noticing time pass. It offered a completely different perspective on Shinjuku: calm, spacious, and unexpectedly serene.

Early mornings in Shinjuku have a completely different rhythm. Streets that were crowded the night before feel almost still, cafés open slowly, and the city seems to reset before the day begins again. Walking the early morning in Kabuchiko felt like a different planet. However, I admit the Starbucks at Kabuchiko Tower was unexpectedly crowded for being that early!

I also discovered, by a casual chance exiting the wrong part of the station, that the western side of Shinjuku Station is incredibly quiet. This part of the city is called Nishi-Shinjuku and has a completely different vibe! The focus of this area is definitely the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and all surrounding there are high skyscrapers, business offices and chic cafes. I was quite amazed on how different this area felt and looked compared to Kabuchiko. Such an incredible surprise!

It’s strangely affordable compared to other cities in Tokyo

While I was planning my trip to Tokyo, I’ve considered different areas where to stay: from the traditional ryokan of Asakusa to the luxury properties in Ginza o Roppongi. In the end, neither of those places, despite beautiful, were convenient in terms of proximity to Shinjuku Station. Moreover, despite of similar quality, most properties I was looking were at least 30% higher than similar hotels in Shinjuku. Part of this, perhaps, comes down to Shinjuku’s long-standing reputation, particularly around areas such as Kabukicho, which is often labelled as a “red-light district.” Yet this perception felt somewhat at odds with the reality I experienced. While locals may view it differently, as a visitor I found Shinjuku to be one of the most dynamic and convenient places to stay in Tokyo: vibrant, well-connected, and surprisingly accessible in terms of price.

As you can read in my detailed experience in Shinjuku here, our experience exceeded expectations. What I came to appreciate most was the atmosphere in the evenings. Returning after a long day of exploring, the streets still alive with light and movement, there was a sense of energy that felt uniquely Tokyo. Rather than overwhelming, I found it uplifting, a small but memorable part of the experience that made each day ending in a very happy way.

Is staying in Shinjuku safe?

Despite having initial doubts, I found Shinjuku to be quite safe. We wondered all around Kabuchiko in the middle of the night, we even returned very late and we never felt in danger or approached by doubtful individuals. It’s quite chaotic, crowded and definitively overwhelming at traits. There are numerous people trying to attract tourists in their shops/restaurants/clubs and lots of younger people living their life to the fullest and enjoy music or a drink like it’s right for their age. Maybe they are loud or a little drunk but I found this ok and not threatening in any way. Not so much different than a night out in London.

In 6 days and 5 nights that Shinjuku, particularly Kabuchiko was my base camp I never seen anything resembling a crime or vaguely suspicious. I’m not saying that there is no crime but I believe that having common sense and exercise a regular level of caution will be enough to be safe and sound like any other place in the world.

Where to stay in Shinjuku

There is a great number of hotels to stay in Shinjuku but I had a great experience at Hotel Groove Shinjuku. This is located directly inside the Kabuchiko Tower and it’s very convenient to stay either for your Tokyo adventure or day trips from the city. Read my complete review of the hotel here.