One of the most-loved Tokyo neighborhoods to stay and play in is Shinjuku, a city within a city. Here’s how to show this destination to your curious family when it comes time for a much-needed vacation.
Stay
You likely already know the Park Hyatt Tokyo from the film Lost in Translation, but even if your kids don’t know the movie, the whole family will enjoy a stay at this stylish property. One of the neighborhood’s best properties, the 5-star property offers amazing views of the city, great dining and drinking options and spacious guestrooms and suites.
Families will want to book one of several suite options, all of which come with ample seating and living space, and some of which come with multiple beds.
Play
One place you’ll for sure want to check out, just for the thrill of it, is the entrance and crossing at Shinjuku Station. One of the most crowded intersections in the world in front of the busiest railway station in the world, you haven’t seen a crowd until you’ve stood here. Keep a tight grip on the kids as you marvel at the huge amounts of people all converged in one spot, all with somewhere to go.
Kabukicho Street in Shinjuku. Photo: Bogdan Lazar | Dreamstime.com
Check out the art at the new(ish) Yayoi Kusama Museum, dedicated to the contemporary and eye-popping art of Yayoi Kusama. The artwork is spread across five floors. Even children will enjoy Yayoi Kusama’s whimsical style, which focuses frequently on colorful dots.
For an outdoor space and a little fresh air, visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. There are three different types of gardens within the space, including a Japanese landscape garden, English landscape garden and French garden. A greenhouse is home to tropical and subtropical flowers. If you do visit during the spring months, the garden is one of the best spots in Tokyo to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Eat & Drink
When it’s to dine, don’t miss the unique options offered in Tokyo that you most definitely won’t see anywhere else.
The Robot Restaurant is one of the favorite Shinjuku options. The insane, colorful, brightly lit dinner show experience is one-of-a-kind. Children will receive ear protectors to shield them from some of the experience’s loud noises, a mix of electronic and J-pop music, combined with cabaret-style performers in outlandish costumes. However, don’t come to this restaurant expecting to get a full meal. Snacks and drinks are the main sustenance, as the focus is all on the show.
Where you really want to eat is Golden Gai, a small area made up of interconnecting, narrow alleyways where you’ll have to walk single file between storefronts. However, these small spaces are crammed with more than 200 great eateries.
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