SHINJUKU TOPSHOT HOTEL GUEST GUIDE

SIGHTSEEING

Things to see around the hotel

Ten places worth a half day from Takadanobaba — gardens, observation decks, museums, and a few quieter pockets of old Tokyo.

Shinjuku area

Shinjuku Gyoen

A green oasis through every season in central Tokyo.

A vast park combining Japanese, French and English gardens. About 1,000 cherry trees of 70 species in spring; vivid maples and ginkgos in autumn.

Admission
Adult JPY 500 / 65+ & student JPY 250 / under junior-high free
Hours / closed
9:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30) / Closed Mon (or next weekday if holiday), Dec 29–Jan 3
Reservation
Group (30+) advance application only; no individual reservation.
Language
Japanese; English signage; multilingual audio guides
Payment
Cash / major credit cards / transit IC
Address
11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0014

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Tyffonium Shinjuku

An indoor VR theme park inside a hotel complex.

On the 2nd floor of Keio Plaza Hotel South Tower. Five-plus VR attractions including horror title "Corridor" and IT, with 4D wind and scent effects. Each ~30 min — popular for rainy days or evening dates.

Admission
From JPY 2,300 per attraction
Hours / closed
10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30) / Open daily
Reservation
Advance booking recommended via Fever site/app; limited same-day tickets.
Language
Japanese; English-speaking staff; English brochure
Payment
Cash / credit / transit IC / Alipay / WeChat Pay
Address
Keio Plaza Hotel South Tower 2F, 2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8330

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Observation Deck

Free 360° views over Tokyo — Mt. Fuji on clear days.

A 202-m-high free observation deck with North and South rooms. Daytime overlooks Shinjuku skyline; evening reveals a jewel-like city view.

Admission
Free
Hours / closed
South Room 9:30–22:00 / North Room 9:30–17:30 / Closed maintenance days (see official calendar)
Reservation
No reservation (numbered tickets distributed when crowded)
Language
Japanese; English brochure; English-speaking staff
Payment
Free entry
Address
Tokyo Metropolitan Main Bldg No.1, 45F, 2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Shinjuku Golden Gai

A maze of tiny themed bars — Tokyo's deepest nightlife pocket.

About 200 tiny two-storey wooden bars line one-meter-wide alleys. Many have a theme — music, cinema, literature. English menus are increasingly common, making it more approachable for international visitors.

Admission
Varies by bar
Hours / closed
From ~19:00 to ~5:00 next day / Varies by bar
Reservation
Some bars take phone or SNS reservations
Language
Japanese; English menus increasingly available
Payment
Mostly cash; some bars accept cards
Address
1-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Yayoi Kusama Museum

Step into Yayoi Kusama's infinite dots.

The world's first museum dedicated to Yayoi Kusama. Since opening in 2017 it has hosted two exhibitions a year, including the popular 4F infinity room and rooftop sculptures. Timed, capped tickets keep the galleries quiet.

Admission
Adult JPY 1,100 / under 18 JPY 600 / under 6 free
Hours / closed
11:00–17:30 (last entry 16:30) / Closed Mon, Tue, Wed and exhibition-change weeks, year-end
Reservation
Timed tickets only via the official site; 90-min replacement; no walk-ins.
Language
Japanese; English website and captions
Payment
Online payment (major credit / PayPal / Apple Pay, etc.)
Address
107 Benten-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0851

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Ikebukuro area

Sunshine City

A landmark Ikebukuro complex for an all-day visit.

A large mixed-use complex with shopping, dining, an aquarium, observation deck and a hotel — easy for families, couples, or solo visitors.

Admission
Free admission (individual facilities priced separately, e.g. aquarium adult JPY 2,600)
Hours / closed
Shops 10:00–20:00 / Restaurants 11:00–22:00 (varies) / Open year-round (some exceptions)
Reservation
Not required (online tickets available for popular venues)
Language
Japanese / English / Chinese (simplified & traditional) / Korean
Payment
Cash / credit / e-money / QR pay
Address
3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo

One of Japan's largest official Pokémon stores.

On the 2nd floor of Sunshine City Alpa, with statues from every generation, a Pokémon GO Lab, and 3,000+ items — plushes, cards, exclusives. Plenty of photo spots.

Admission
Free (retail area)
Hours / closed
10:00–20:00 (per Sunshine City Alpa) / Open daily
Reservation
Not required (free entry)
Language
Japanese; English-speaking staff; tax-free counter
Payment
Cash / credit / transit IC / QR pay
Address
Sunshine City Alpa 2F, 3-1-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-6002

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Otome Road

The shopping street for female-focused anime fans.

A roughly 200-m strip west of Sunshine City packed with women-focused anime, manga and game shops — doujinshi, cosplay, exclusive goods. A pilgrimage site for international fans.

Admission
Free (purchases at individual shops)
Hours / closed
10:00–21:00 (varies by shop)
Reservation
Not required
Language
Japanese; some English signage
Payment
Cash / credit / e-money / QR pay (varies by shop)
Address
Around 1-chome, Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Mejiro Garden

A pocket-sized Japanese garden in quiet Mejiro.

A pond-stroll garden in a quiet residential corner of Toshima. Sukiya-style tea house "Sekichoan", waterfalls, and a hexagonal floating pavilion across the seasons. Spring sakura, summer fireflies and autumn foliage are highlights.

Admission
Free (Sekichoan tea house has a fee)
Hours / closed
9:00–17:00 (until 19:00 in Jul & Aug) / Closed 2nd & 4th Mon (next day if holiday), Dec 29–Jan 3
Reservation
Garden entry free; Sekichoan requires advance application
Language
Japanese (limited English)
Payment
Cash only (for tea-house use)
Address
3-20-18 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0031

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

Gokokuji Temple

A quiet 17th-century temple still woven into modern Tokyo.

Founded in 1681 by the 5th Tokugawa shogun for his mother. Head temple of the Buzan school of Shingon Buddhism. The Genroku-period main hall and the Momoyama-era "Gekkōden" study survive on the grounds — a rare cluster of cultural properties in central Tokyo.

Admission
Free
Hours / closed
9:00–16:00 (closed 12:00–13:00) / Open daily
Reservation
Not required
Language
Japanese; English brochure
Payment
Cash (for goshuin etc.)
Address
5-40-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012

Google Map →Tripadvisor →

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