Like Akihabara, Shinjuku is a chaotic area and so far my favourite. Also a special ward from Tokyo, it is home to the busiest train station in the world and a major commercial and administrative centre. You can say it has different faces that change accordingly to the part where you are. The area where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is located has nothing to do with the Kabukichõ area and so on. Everything comes somehow together and that's what makes Shinjuku. The station works like a border between west - famous for its seriousness and the government administration buildings - and east - famous for its shopping mess. The Kabukichõ, also often called the "Sleepless Town", is an entertainment and red-light district on the east side and location of many restaurants, shops, love hotels, night and host clubs - quite enjoyed in Japan. Perhaps the two spots you should remember to visit are: the Golden Gai and the Robot Restaurant (the name says it all), both located in the same perimeter. The Golden Gai is a popular and festive neighbourhood with many narrow and winding alleyways, as well as tiny old taverns. It is surrounded by a huge advertisement stage, with oversized screens included - the Yunika Vision building - and sometimes its entrance can be missed. A bit south from it, you'll find the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a 143-acre park with diverse garden areas, a greenhouse and where you can relax and see some cherry blossom trees during springtime.
Further south is the buzzing Harajuku, a district inside the Shibuya Ward, which attracts many locals and tourists due to its backstreets, fashion scene and vivid street art. In the Takeshita Street, probably the most famed, there are cosplay stores, vintage clothing and second hand shops, and a sweets trend. On the Omotesando Hills is quite the opposite feeling, traditional upmarket boutiques fill the streets - like in the Cat Street - and another kind of crowd can easily be noted.
Further south is the buzzing Harajuku, a district inside the Shibuya Ward, which attracts many locals and tourists due to its backstreets, fashion scene and vivid street art. In the Takeshita Street, probably the most famed, there are cosplay stores, vintage clothing and second hand shops, and a sweets trend. On the Omotesando Hills is quite the opposite feeling, traditional upmarket boutiques fill the streets - like in the Cat Street - and another kind of crowd can easily be noted.
Shibuya is since long a place that brings in tourism. Already used as set in many movies, the Shibuya Crossing is perhaps one of the most touristic things one can do in Tokyo. The quantity of people, the multiple crossing ways and the environment, together with a bit of confusion, will make you feel like a small lost child. More of the same, restaurants, cafés, shops and tiny streets can also be found in the quarters. The Hachiko Memorial Statue - honouring the famously loyal Akita dog - is located in one of the five exits from the main station and is a popular meeting spot.
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