Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi ()
The eastern side of Tokyo’s Shinjuku is home to the largest entertainment district in Asia and a vast national garden.
Getting to the Higashi-Shinjuku (east Shinjuku) is about an hour or so via train from Kanto Plain bases, or a 15-minute bus ride from Hardy Barracks.
Shinjuku Station nearby, is known as one of the busiest in the world, with Guiness World Records documenting 3.5 million passengers per day. Also in the area, Kabukicho is a district named after a Japanese traditional performing art, thought there is no Kabuki theater here. During post-World War II reconstruction, a kabuki theater was planned for the district, but never came to fruition.
Go through the entrance gate of Kabukicho’s red neon sign, and you sure will be overwhelmed with its bizarre and fantastical ambiance consisting of flashy bars, restaurants, karaoke, clubs, arcades, shops and movie theaters. Down the street, you can find the Toho Cinema with an enormous Godzilla bust looming over the town.
A short walk away, Tokyo Kabukicho Tower, a new 48-story entertainment complex offers a live hall, restaurants, bars, a game arcade and more. Head to the second floor food court for Japanese, Okinawan and Korean dishes in a photogenic atmosphere.
Nearby, Shinjuku Gyoen is a 144-acre garden constructed in 1906 on the site of mansion of feudal lord, offering an oasis in the heart of Tokyo. This beautiful garden has blended styles from a French formal garden, English landscape garden and Japanese traditional garden, and has developed as a palace garden for international diplomacy. With the history of palace garden, there are historical buildings relating to the Imperial family and various museums in the garden. At restaurants and cafes scattered in the garden, you can enjoy seasonal views of the garden while having lunches or sweets.
Higashi-Shinjuku is definitely the center of entertainment you won’t want to miss while you’re in Tokyo!
Kabukicho Town URL
Tokyu Kabukicho Tower URL
Shinjuku Gyoen garden URL
