Shinjuku
A major west-Tokyo transport hub with dense dining, nightlife and a wide range of accommodation.
first-time visitors · nightlife · transport connections
Best time
March to May and October to November offer comfortable walking weather.
At a glance
Cost per day €48183 Rate 2026-08-26 mid-range, per person
Time to give it 4 days on a first visit
Best for
- Eat
- Rāmen, €58 Rate 2026-08-26. A counter shop with a ticket machine and a queue of people eating alone. The basic bowl is the one to order.
- Book ahead
- Rooms tighten around Golden Week, Obon and New Year; otherwise a few weeks is enough. Book the onward shinkansen seat before the popular sights.
- Skip
- Paid observation decks when the free Metropolitan Government Building offers the same view, and themed cafés charging a cover before you have ordered anything.
Tokyo becomes manageable when each day focuses on adjacent neighbourhoods. Use the rail network for the long connection, then explore on foot.
The city rewards early starts, unscheduled evenings and a hotel near a useful station rather than a famous landmark.
Where to base yourself
Areas to understand
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Sources
- Tokyo travel guide, Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau, accessed
- Rail travel information, Japan Railways Group, accessed
- Credit cards in Japan, Japan National Tourism Organization, accessed