Planet-ta-kun’s Observations of New Japan
In this column, our original company character ‘Planet-ta-kun’ will travel to tourist spots in Japan that are popular with overseas visitors and will introduce some topics related to the charms and inbound expenditure of these places.
The area bustling every day with domestic and international tourists, located around what is said to be the world’s busiest train station and with origins as a post town established between Nihonbashi and Takaido on the Koshu Kaido highway.
Shinjuku
In this issue, together with Ms. Hidaka from IDA Ryogokudo Co., Ltd., that is using our services and has three directly managed shops around Shinjuku Station, and Ms. Kikuchi from the Shinjuku Convention & Visitors Bureau, we will introduce popular spots and inbound tourism information about Shinjuku.
Including variety shops, the many spots around Shinjuku Station where cosmetics can be purchased are particularly popular with tourists from the Greater China region.
Shinjuku Tourist Information
Opened in December 2016 underneath the Koshu Kaido highway overpass which faces onto the Shinjuku Station South East Exit Plaza. It offers many useful services for travelers, including guides by multilingual staffs, a variety of pamphlets and maps, free Wi-Fi, ATMs and automatic currency exchange machines. On a busy day there can be more than 1,200 visitors!
The North Observatory of Tokyo Metropolitan Government No.1 Building (Tocho)
The Observatory on the Tocho’s 45th floor (202m high) can be enjoyed for free. You can of course see all of Tokyo and even as far as Mt. Fuji on clear days!
Opening hours are from 9:30 to 23:00!
*The South Observatory is currently closed due to construction. It is scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2019.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Originally the Edo estate of a Tokugawa retainer. In the 5th year of the Meiji period (1872), with the aim of promoting modern agriculture, the Naito Shinjuku Experimental Station was established; following that, the area became a garden of the Imperial household. It became a national park after WWII and has been open to the public ever since.
In the midst of all the greenery is the Japanese garden area, beyond which skyscrapers poke their heads through. This unbalanced look seems to make it a popular photo spot for tourists.
Drinking areas
Shinjuku has many drinking areas, and its izakaya are very popular with foreign tourists. “Shinjuku Golden Gai” in particular has become a popular gathering spot for tourists, especially Westerners, but also solo travelers from South Korea, the Greater China region and many other countries.
Figures in this article are based on available information from relevant organizations at the time of publication.
