101 things to do in Shinjuku

Trying to navigate your way through Shinjuku Station is hard enough, but when you finally find the right exit, figuring out how to make sure you don't miss out on any of Shinjuku's myriad shops, restaurants, bars and tourist sights is a challenge all on its own. You could live in Tokyo for years and still not discover everything it offers.

This is where we come in. Doing what we do best, we've scoured the area for the top hotspots and narrowed the list down to a healthy 101 things to do, including chilling in jazzy coffee shops, shopping in massive (and boutique) department stores, tasting the best sake, visiting popular shrines and getting the best views of the city. It should keep you busy for a while. Pick up your copy of our guide – which we created in collaboration with Isetan Shinjuku – at Time Out Café & Diner, Haneda and Narita airports, and tourist information centres, as well as shops and venues throughout the Shibuya area (full list below). Bonus tip: make a reservation at Shinjuku's out-of-this-world Robot Restaurant, present the map and you'll get 20 percent off your meal.

Here's a preview of what to expect:

Shop for subculture Kaihoku (meaning 'liberated zone'), the department store known for innovation, has been reborn in the Isetan Honkan building with an unshackled mix of fashion and art that's set to be a new sanctuary of Japanese subculture.

Sip rare whisky while watching vintage films Choose from 300 varieties of Japanese whisky, many of which are no longer on the market, then sip on your evening malt while owner Atsushi Horigami treats you to an old silent comedy or vintage animation.

Feel a little fabulous First-time visitors to Tokyo's famous gay district could do far worse than shimmying into this ooh-la-la joint run by celeb cross-dresser Bourbonne. The ‘gay mix’ policy means straight customers won't feel out of place.

Have an arty meal This tiny three-storey restaurant with gallery attached attracts an eclectic mix of customers and serves upstairs customers through a hole in the floor, an operation that becomes increasingly perilous as the night progresses.

Distribution points

Airports:
Narita International Airport
Haneda Airport

Stations:
Toei Subway & Tokyo Metro: Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Sanchome Station
Tokyo Metro: Nishi-Shinjuku Station

Tourist information centres:
Shibuya Station Tourist Information Desk
Shibuya Tourist Information Centre
Tokyo Tourist Information Centre at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

Shops:
Tower Records Shibuya
Shibuya Shidax Village Club
Disk Union Shibuya Used Store
Disk Union Shibuya Jazz/Rare Groove Store
Disk Union Shibuya Hiphop/Dance Music Store
Disk Union Shibuya Punk Heavymetal Store
Shibuya Publishing Booksellers
Tsutaya Daikanyama T-Site

Hotels:
Aizuya Inn
Hilton Tokyo
Excel Hotel Tokyu
Keio Plaza Hotel
Les Clefs d'Or Japan
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Comfort Hotel Tokyo Higashi Nihonbashi
Toco. Tokyo Heritage Hostel
All Khaosan Tokyo locations
Citadines Tokyo Shinjuku
Nui. Hostel & Bar Lounge
Hyatt Regency Tokyo

Restaurants:
Time Out Café & Diner

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