Shinjuku Things to Do

South Shinjuku/Yoyogi Tip: Alternate Names: NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building(official name), Tokyo Empire State Building(nickname)
Around Shinjuku there are lots of skyscrapers but NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, often referred to as NTT Docomo Tower or Tokyo Empire State Building, is one of the new comers opened in 2000.
It is located in Yoyogi area of Shibuya ward but it is purely the business space and not for tourists. There are no observation space unlike the other skyscrapers around Shinjuku. The building is also noted for the huge clock 15 meters in diameter. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Shinjuku is one of the great places to view this skyscraper.

Flags is also one of the most popular shopping complexes around Shinjuku station. Located adjacent to Lumine Shinjuku 2, it is best known for the place Tower Record in Shinjuku is located. People walking toward Shinjuku Gyoen might make a brief stop for the view of huge video screen while they wait for someone to join.

Lumine Shinjuku 2 which is also a part of Yamanote Line Shinjuku station building is a shopping complex mainly made up of apparel stores with affordable prices targeting young women ages 20-30s group. It is also known as Lumine the Yoshimoto at the seventh floor, a variety theater run by Yoshimoto Kogyo, one of the most popular entertainment conglomerate in Japan.

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Shrines and Temples Tip: Kumano Shrine at the northwestern corner of Shinjuku Central Park attests that Shinjuku has a long history. It was founded during late 14th century by local clan and had been popular scenic place until shrine lost most of its precincts because Yodobashi Water Purification Plant was built in 1898. The shrine is also called Juniso(Enshrining 12 deities) because it enshrines major 12 deities in Kumano Taisha Shrine in Wakayama. The shrine is a popular place for business people to pray for new year's wishes, shinto styled weddings, Shichi-Go-San(7-5-3) festival during November. The busiest time for the shrine is during its annual festival during mid September. The shrine has a lot of monuments and small sub-shrines. In a nutschell, it is the place in Shinjuku where you can feel what traditional Japan is like. I will talk in detail about the shrine in Shinjuku Customs and Traditions section.

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Shrines and Temples Tip: Situated at the helm of Shinjuku's entertainment zone filled with night clubs, drinking bars, restaurants and department stores, the shrine has been regarded as the guadian of the area. It was built even before Tokugawa Government was founded in 1603. The shrine is best known by Tori-no-Ichi Fair held in November. The shrine also welcomed show performances to maintain the shrine so one of its sub-shrines enshrining Konohana-Sakuyahime also the goddess deity of Mount Fuji is named as Geino Asama Shrine granting the wishes of art performers and entertainers. Even today show performances are occasionally held at the shrine.

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Shrines and Temples Tip: A Pure-World(Jodo-shu) Buddhist temple founded in 1596 is one of the major historical sites in Shinjuku-ward. It was also the burial sites for Naito Clan who was assigned Shinjuku area during Edo Period(1603-1868). The temple is known by the biggest Yama statue in Tokyo. And its copper jizo(Ksitigarbha Sedentery) statue is one of the six major Jizo(Ksitigarbha) statues in Tokyo. The temple also has a Kirishitan Stone Lantern, Shiokake(Putting-Salt) Statue as well as some monuments.

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Shinjuku Skyscrapers Tip: Shinjuku Park Tower, 235m, 52-floor, is best known by Park Hyatt Tokyo at the top part of the skyscraper from 39F to 52F. It was opened in 1994. Park Hyatt Hotel is used for the film, "Lost In Translation" in 2004. People often confuse this with Tokyo Metropotalian Government No.2 Tower because both look very similar. Both buildings were designed by legendary Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. This skyscraper is not easy to find from the ground because it is often blocked by the TMG buildings. The photo #1 is from Shinjuku Center Building Observation Floor, and #2 is from Tokyo Metropotalian Government Building No.1 (North Observation Floor).

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Shinjuku Skyscrapers Tip: Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is one of the newest Skyscrapers in West Shinjuku completed in 2008, 50-story, 204m in height. It is the one of the works by Tange Associates founded by Paul Noritaka Tange, the son of Kenzo Tange, who is one of the most renowned architects in Japan. Most of the buildings are used for three speciality colleges such as Tokyo Mode Gakuen, HAL Tokyo and Shuto Iko. It is one of the easiest Skyscrapers to spot.