Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku Station: a massive labyrinth where different worlds collide. To some, it’s the rain-soaked backdrop of The Garden of Words, where every raindrop feels like a poem. To others, it’s the shadow-filled corners of Tokyo Ghoul, where the lines between human and monster blur. Standing here, I’m not just a traveler; I’m a pilgrim tracing the ghosts of the stories that defined my love for Japan. Two completely different vibes, one iconic station.

I have to hand it to the staff of this massive station. They can deal with the total outage of one of the world's busiest train lines without issue. They take the time to answer questions amidst the chaos, and keep people moving.

We came to this large train station to catch the Romancecar train. The place is huge and filled with people. There are many lines and platforms so reading the signs carefully is needed. Unfortunately, our train was delayed and subsequently cancelled and we had to take a local train. Good thing the ticket office staff explained to us how to change to a local train and we made it to our destination.

A busy mega train station with good connection, easy lose way😂

Shinjuku Station is a marvel of efficiency and scale! As the busiest train station in the world, it’s incredible to see how seamlessly it manages millions of passengers each day. The station is massive, with multiple floors, countless exits, and an impressive range of shops, restaurants, and services, making it feel almost like a city within a city. Navigating can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the signage is helpful, and there are always staff available to point you in the right direction. It’s the perfect hub to access different parts of Tokyo and beyond. Just be prepared for crowds and give yourself a little extra time to get your bearings. Overall, an essential Tokyo experience

Lots of construction around the station 🏗️🚧 Plenty of lockers, convenience stores and ATMs.

Shinjuku Station is a massive maze in the heart of Tokyo. Arriving here feels like stepping into a real-life version of the game "Exit No.8". Yes... I got lost. Again! But despite the confusion, Shinjuku Station has everything - cafes, restaurants, even a 3COINS store. Need to transfer to a high-speed or long-distance bus? No problem. It's all here. Navigating this station is an adventure in itself!

I had a very unpleasant experience at the information counter. Although I already knew I needed to use the JR Line, the signboards were displayed almost entirely in Japanese, and I was unfamiliar with the ticket number system. When I politely asked which ticket number to buy for Nakano using Google Translate, the staff raised their voice and responded rudely, saying “just go inside, two stations,” without any proper explanation. This response was extremely unhelpful, as the map clearly shows multiple directions and lines — left, right, up, and down — all with different routes. Simply saying “two stations” does not clarify which direction or which line to take. If the signage were clear and understandable for foreign travelers, I would not have needed to approach the information counter in the first place. The attitude shown was unprofessional, dismissive, and disrespectful. Honestly, replacing staff like this with an AI system that understands multiple languages — and treats people with basic respect — would provide a far better experience for travelers. This was extremely disappointing, especially when compared to other cities like Sapporo, where staff are patient and genuinely helpful

I agree that this is a very very busy station and can be overwhelming. I recommend you upload the Suica card to pay for the train, subway, bus. It really makes things easier and you do not have to figure out the machines to buy the different tickets. You can also use the Suica card for vending machines and games. I recommend for your first time at this station and others don't let the rush of people overwhelm you. Go with time and read all the signs around you. It's really easy if you are patient and don't rush. I found the ticket office at the station very helpful as well. They can be found by the machines that charge you to get to the trains. It has been an amazing experience to take the trains here. Try it at least once.

Yelp Review 2024 #121: Jr Shinjuku Station is the busiest station not only in Japan but in the world. Close to 4 million people come here everyday. You can catch different trains through many lines, subways, and buses. Naturally, it has many exits, shops, restaurants and it can get super overwhelmingly crowded and confusing. However, Google Maps is your friend and it will help you navigate what line you need to take to wherever you need to go and what exit to take. Lots of ticket vending machines can be found - be sure you're buying the right transportation pass. You can also get a JR pass from the JR travel office which opens around 6am-8pm (order online so, it's cheaper). You can also exchange your voucher for an actual JR pass at a green kiosk by scanning the QR code found on your voucher if you need your JR pass outside of office hours. Need a ride to/ from the airport, you can catch the Narita Express, Keisei Line + JR Yamanote line or the Airport Limousine Bus from/to this station. You need to get to other parts of Tokyo? Use the train/ subway from this station. You need to go to different prefectures in Japan? Take a train to Ueno/ Shinagawa/ Tokyo station to take a shinkansen. I found it easier to use this station around 6am when only a few people are on their way to work. Avoid this station during morning rush hour 7am-9am, and evening rush hour 5pm-7pm. You'll be packed in each car like sardines. I've experienced that and people putting their body weight on my ribs til I can't breathe was not a fun feeling (it was giving Jon Snow in "Battle of the Bastards" vibe).

I'd give Shinjuku Station 3.5 for one main reason: it's like a maze!! We asked those who worked there to help us locate a place to buy Hakone tickets and everyone whom we asked gave us a different location/answer and we couldn't find it until 2hrs later haha. Okay, maybe I'm not from the big city so everything was a bit harder to find in Shinjuku. Even my local Japanese friends said they get lost often here too. Anyways, it's huge and sometimes the arrows weren't as clear so I had to backtrack a lot :p Other than that, you have everything you need in Shinjuku Station. Shop? Plenty of department stores attached. Food? You'll never go hungry and they had variety! Want to meet up with your friends? Sure, just be extra specific haha.

aMAZEment of kinds... With anchors from Okakyu and Keio Department Stores this huge train station hug is undergoing one of the biggest overhaul renovation that I wasn't aware or heard of but it's basically redoing it all costing major 78.2 billion yes is what I read about and the first partial completion to be at 2035 and final to be estimated at 2046 is quite disappointing though it's supposed to make navigation easier. This massive structure seemed to have come together in phases as each building is on different levels and pathways to access it somehow comes together with certain areas yet one wrong turn you're at a completely different exit lol! With a variety of platform of other railways like Odakyu, Keio and Tokyo Metro it's a matter of knowing where you need to go will depend on the direction is needed so take that moment to decide before the wrong turn may cost you 15-20 or more minutes of walking as there's so much new areas with literally no elevators at all...it's all stairs so get climbing. どうもありがとうございます！

Shinjuku Station is located in Shinjuku & Shibuya City, also known to being the world's busiest train station. It's been recorded to have had over 3 million traveling passengers that has used this station back in 2018. There's a total of 35 platforms all linked to each other. You'll find JR East, Keio Corporation, Odakyu Electric Railway, Toei Subway, and Tokyo Metro lines respectively. Outside you'll also see a Lumine Department Store. Stairs and escalators from other exits throughout the train station. There are a ton of shops and eateries all throughout the train station, security and ATM's all around. I've mostly used the JR Yamanote Lines to and from here while many passengers can connect to practically every where in Tokyo Metro and both Narita & Haneda International Airports. You'll feel really safe here as CCTV and generally Japan is a very safe country. But always be smart and travel safe.

Picked up this delicious be to from one of the stands before heading out to Kyoto. They were sold out of the bigger bento boxes so I settled for this one. It did not disappoint. The food was delicious. The service was great. The ambiance was popping.

This is a large station where you can get lost. You can always ask for help from staff. The place is busy, with so many people going about. Make sure you know your way around to get to the correct subway or train line. This station is close to several malls, which is convenient for shopping and eating.

For our 1-week vacation in Tokyo, we chose our hotel to be close to a train station for convenience. The Shinjuku Station is the mother of all subway stations, likely the busiest one in the world. Its very complicated with virtually every train line running through here. The advantage of course, is that you have multiple ways of getting to/from here if you make this your home base. It took us days to get used to navigating the station. Initially we were dazed and confused upon entering the station the first time. They have JR lines (labeled JR) and Tokyo Metro lines (each one colored and given a capital letter) than run all over the city. You can (and sometimes will) transfer from Metro to Metro, and Metro to JR or vice versa. Use Google Maps to plan your route outside the station, its a lifesaver! Inside the station, follow the many signs that point to your train. Double check you're on the right platform after that! There are also multiple commuter cards that charge you different fares based on JR, Tokyo Metro, and whether you plan to travel out of Tokyo using a bullet train. If staying in the limits, we used the Suica card which costs $5 US deposit and can be loaded/reloaded easily at many machines. To make things even more complicated, there are multiple exits and multiple levels. There are paths leading to entire malls and even a university! Follow the signs! After a week, I still haven't figured out how to walk from the West Exit (where my hotel is) to the East Exit (where all the good eats and shopping are) from inside the station! If there's one consolation to all this madness, its that there are lots of good restaurants inside the terminal, including a good Onigiri place for breakfast near Area B in the West Entrance. We also had good soba near the path leading to the Oedo line from the West Entrance. Plenty of restrooms too that are reasonably clean. Also, despite the massive amounts of people (perpetual rush hour), somehow the system is very efficient at moving people through. Trains come often and unlike BART back home, almost always run on time and are much cleaner and air-conditioned!

Can't really say anything bad about this station. For one of Japan's busiest, it does the job and more. As it was the station closest to our hotel, seemed like we were there quite often to catch the Yamanote Line to other parts of Tokyo. The station can be confusing with so many entrances/exits but just follow the signs and exercise patience. Although most signs were accurate, there were times that we felt lost, literally like small fish in a huge ocean. Pay attention to the crowd and which side they are walking on or you'll get swept away. Never felt bumped, jostled or rudely treated in the station however, I guess it's more of "organized chaos". The station does have an amazing array of shops/restaurants and it's like the station'sown city! Had a few mishaps using our Suica cards, asked the station attendants and they swiftly came to our rescue!

Cool This station is one of the bigger stations and offer much shopping shops such as - Starbucks - Godvia - Clothing Shops - 7/11 etc The train itself is also very well kept. I believe they clean it many times a day before passengers aboard. They also sell drinks and small desserts on the train if you forget to grab a snack or drink!

When I was first planning my trip to Tokyo; aside from listing all the various Hello Kitty places I wanted to visit (hehe), I also listed all the various train stops I thought I'd be going through. My hotel was right next to Shinjuku station and I wanted to be prepared. Perhaps nothing could quite prepare me though for when I first stepped out of the N'EX train and out into the big, bad world of Shinjuku Station. It was like as if I was instantly surrounded by millions of people in a single instant! Honestly it was overwhelming when I first got here but after awhile it really came down to reading signs. Shinjuku is huge and one can easily get lost but with a little help of google maps and lot of reading, navigating isn't that bad. It definitely gets busy here but if you avoid rush hour (8am in the morning and 5pm in the evening); it'll be ok. Now that I'm back in the States; I kinda miss the hustle and bustle. Crazy, Busy Asians :D

If you thought Grand Central Station was busy and overwhelming, then you better hold onto your underwear because this Station makes that look like child's play. This station was home base for us as we stayed in Shinjuku for a week, and after a while, you got to understand what exits led you where. The station is HUGE and there's tons of things to see and do inside the station itself. I do regret not trying the curry place inside; it smells so damn good in the morning rush hour. You can get JR rail trains here, and you can get onto the Shinkansen by connecting from here to Tokyo Station, which is literally 8 minutes on the train. The ease of this station is a major perk when planning your trip in Tokyo. The morning rush hour here is amazing. You easily get swept up in the sea of people that are in a trance walking with such urgency and purpose to get to work. If you decide to go against the flow, just be careful and alert. The staff working in this station are super patient and helpful; you're not really lost if you made it to this station.

I came here 6 months after the renovations were done and it was immaculate. Cleanest, prettiest, most organized train station I've been to. Yeah, it's a little daunting when you first arrive. But if you take a deep breath or encounter a polite guide/staffer, you'll be able to negotiate around the station and get to the train you need to get to. The shops around the station are rather fancy, so you're probably not going to shop there if you're a tourist. Unless you want to go to Dean & Deluca. The department stores connected are pretty nice, especially the food halls.

Why 5-star for a train station? Well, if you want to challenge yourself in navigating one of the most crowded train station in the world, then you can survive Tokyo :D Shinjuku station is CRAZY INSANE!!! Bus terminal, shopping malls , local and express train station. If you mistakenly take the wrong exit, you're done( just kidding). When I meet friends here , I always point out what exit of which line to meet or we will waste hours trying to find each other. It's probably much faster to meet in the final destination rather than in this station. Although, since almost everything is within 5-10 walk from the Station it's actually convenient.

Shinjuku Station is one of the primary subway hubs of Tokyo and beyond. Literately thousands of trains pass through here every day. You can get to wherever you need to be by starting your journey from this station. It is also one of the primary delivery points for access to Narita Airport. If you are taking a train from or want to take a train to Narita, this is where you go. This is a very large station. It may be a bit overwhelming for the newcomer. But, it is not that hard to navigate. They have signs in both Japanese and English, so if you know what subway line you are looking for, it is pretty easy to find your train. This station feeds into so many businesses I cannot even begin to list them all. There are restaurants inside the station, as well as newsstands, Starbucks, you name it. You can also quickly walk from where the trains emanate into department stores. So, it truly is a one stop shop. Not to mention, you walk out the door and you are in the heart of Shinjuku. Overall, this station is clean, well originated, and a sight to behold. Personally, I have filmed scenes for a couple of movies and music video inside this structure as it is simply a truly interesting visual experience. Most people pass through this station due to the fact that they are taking a train to another location or are arriving to go to a nearby business. But, for whatever reason, if you are in Tokyo, you must check out Shinjuku Station. It is truly a cultural landmark onto itself.

JR SHINJUKU STATION From my understanding, Shinjuku station is one of the busiest train stations in the world. Makes sense as I believe Shinjuku is kind of like their financial district. And apparently red light district as well, but I'm not sure how much that affects the crowds during transit. We were never at Shinjuku station during high commute hours, but we used this station a bunch of times to transfer or just check out Shinjuku for food, a show, etc. There was one time where it was packed, but not so much that they had to push everyone onto the train. If you are claustrophobic, I'd avoid this station during busy hours. You will get up close and personal with the people around you. A major hub with numerous platforms. Good area to stay in if you wanna visit a bunch of different districts in Tokyo as I believe most lines come through this station.

This Station is superb. It is very busy and it has lots of human traffic. The Station is well organized with legible direction to the infamous Shinjuku Crossing which is one of the top tourist stop to check out.

WOAH! That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this station. This massive terminal could be considered the heart that pumps blood through the city. You can pretty much get anywhere you need to go from this station. As a matter of fact when we came from the airport, went to Kyoto, and went throughout the city, we never had one issue finding a route from this station. Not only is there tons and I mean tons of trains coming and going from here. There are so many restaurants and shops. You can literally get anything and everything you need from this place. You can also work on your JR pass here if you have any issues or need to get a new one. The staff are so nice as well. Some of them speak a little English and even the ones that don't will always try to assist you when they here key words like "train", "Akhiabara", ETC. Honestly don't let its massive size and the fast paced people intimidate or turn you off. You will get to your location and you will always have an amazing time in Tokyo.

One of the biggest and craziest train stations in the world. This station is mega confusing to navigate so be careful and study closely where you are heading. It's multiple levels, a bunch of shopping malls attached plus multiple train lines coming in and going make for a complete cluster and an extremely busy place. I'd declare the foot traffic much higher than Grand Central Station in NYC. Be careful if you are a foreigner (not the band) as there are lines for express trains and regular trains. Don't be shy to ask for help. You can get some English help at certain areas. This station is a major commuter point for many people in Tokyo. Avoid at all cost during rush hours. If you come in a group with kids (hold on tight) or friends not familiar don't lose each other as it can be an absolute sea of black hair and dark suits coming and going from the trains. An interesting Sociological study if you want to see how people herd in and out of trains as a mode of transport inTokyo. Like ants coming and going from the ant hill!

This is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, train station in Japan. Tons of people walking in and out, going back and forth knowing exactly where to go. I was like a deer in headlights, but the workers are friendly and help out as much as they can. I recommend coming early if you need assistance finding your way to the airport from this station.

The Shinjuku JR station is absolutely enormous, confusing, and overwhelming. Especially if you just got off a 13-hour flight and have not had any real sleep in 24 hours. And you're dragging your luggage around with you. And it's the morning rush hour. Beware! You -do not- stand between Salaryman and his train! Fortunately, there are information booths and posted maps to help you navigate this labyrinth. And if that fails just stand there with a bewildered look on your face and I assure you that some kind Japanese local will come over and offer assistance. It happened to us twice! They may not speak much English (if any) but someone will try to help you!

One of the more fun things you can do while in Japan is to actually walk around and appreciate some of the different varieties of stores and eateries that are available in the various Metro stations. Shinjuku is one of the larger ones and is a very busy hub, because of the various lines that run through there. Since we were there meeting friends for dinner, we decided to walk around the station before we headed back to the hotel. They have a bunch of different vendors and shops selling all kinds of things and I guess because its the holidays, there was a large assortment of goods and foods for sale. They also have a lot of restaurants and snacks for sale, so there's no shortage of anything in this station. If you want to buy gifts or just something to snack on, this is definitely a place to check out. However, you need to be careful of where you walking, because this station is quite large and easy to get lost. But overall, you could actually just stay here and enjoy yourself for a couple of hours, but if you really want to get adventurous, just walk outside and enjoy the Shinjuku area, as it is right outside the metro and there are a multitude of businesses and areas to eat and do a multitude of things

If you can navigate this train station, you can handle most of the transportation locations in Japan. There is a lot going here with many places to shop and shop. Their are like 6 or 7 different malls you can access directly from the station and another 4 or 5 within 5 minutes. The subway, JR, and Toei lines all meet here. FYI, all require a different ticket. The bus station is across the street where the tourist info center is. They have free Wi-Fi. JR offers free Wi-Fi inside but you almost have to be inside the station to get some sort of reception. It is undergoing construction but the signs are sort of easy to follow but the staff is really friendly.

Enjoy this large crazy panic attack inducing beast that's easy to get lost in. This is the world's busiest train station, handling over 3.6 million passengers a day. Avoid rush hour at all costs or embrace and get lost in the ocean of people.

This place is insane. It's one of the biggest and busiest train stations on earth for a reason. If you come here during rush hour, you'll be killed if you're not used to it. Even during off-peak hours the crush of human traffic in the area can be daunting for folks not used to the station. It is also one of the best symbols of Japanese train insanity. The sheer number of trains that stop here is daunting for most tourists and it can be a real task to figure things out. However this is also a great nexus for getting around Tokyo and also quickly getting to a station that takes you out of the city. For instance, grabbing a train from here to Tokyo station is a snap. It's also rather easy to hit up the Yamanote line to connect to Shinagawa if you're looking for another shinkansen station to grab a bullet train. Travelers just be wary - this place can be a maze and it's easy to get lost. At least there's plenty of shopping and food options in the area. Make sure you pay attention to signs as it can be easy to get lost even going from one side of the station to the next. Either way - it may be crazy here, but it's also one of the most convenient train stations in the world if you're looking to get around one of the biggest cities on earth.

Not exactly sure how one is supposed to rate Shinjuku station ... is it a train station? is it a bus terminal ? is it a mall? is it a dining precinct? is it a maze? is it a all of the above ? At the end of the day, it is some sort of hub - probably big enough to be a suburb and one of the busiest places in the world. A few million people pass through this station each day and yet it still manages to function seamlessly and remain very clean. With a few hundred entrances and exits, it's no wonder people get lost in there but once you work out what train line you need to catch and whether you need to be on the West or East side when you exit - it really isn't all that bad given the enormity of the place. The majority of tourists stick to the JR Yamanote Line and the subway lines and possibly the Odakyu line for sight seeing trips out to the Hakone area. There are plenty of food options to cater to whatever you need at the time and it would take quite a period of time to sample everything on offer that is connected to Shinjuku station. TIP : make sure you get a Suica (or Pasmo) card to easily navigate between all the different train lines at Shinjuku station. These cards are usable throughout most of Japan!

"I usually don't get lost in a train station. But when I do, it's because I'm lost in world's busiest train station- Shinjuku Train Station". "Shinjuku Station is my favorite!" -No one ever I went here for a Yelp Happy hour event last month and scratched my head in confusion. Which exit to take me to the right side of the station. The GPS wouldn't work. Seems like a video game and everyone is walking towards you at every direction. Must avoid bumping people while trying to find your exit. When I found an exit I ended up at the wrong side of the station and took a cab to the event. Then I read the reviews and looked Shinjuku station online. I don't feel so bad at all. I got lost at the busiest train station in the world. Lots of places to eat within the station and outside. The bar, Abbot's choice, was a 10min walk or 5 min taxi. Try the Robot Restaurant or have a pint in the Golden Gai area. Enjoy Shinjuku and be patient while in the station. Also if you're new/visiting Tokyo, get a Suica/PASMO card. Purchasing tickets- "Ain't nobody got time for that".

There's nothing pleasant about this station. It's total clusterfuck and I want to avoid here at all cost. This station is far busier than Tokyo station. In fact, it was voted as the world's busiest train station in Japan. Thank god, it's not on my commute route...

Oh shinjuku station, why do I love you?!? First of all, it's massive!! Now add all the people that use it and it's a synchronized chaos. Yeah, I don't know how else to describe it. Since this station was our hub during our trip in Tokyo, we got lost here a few times! Yeah, I guess that's part of the adventure. We were here on different times of the day and I must say, I enjoyed people watching and navigating the station during rush hour. I don't know why, but being in that crowd, it's just pure excitement! I must be crazy!! Of Course, the bf hated it-

OMG , I hate Shinjuku station. it is so confusing and too big. The signs are no help as they lead in circles. It's a cool place that has a lot of restaurants and shops but being that its in a crowded station with tons of bodies walking around at a breakneck pace is not a very relaxing experience. If you need to make a train transfer, try to do it at another station and avoid here. Oh, and if you're a first time visitor to Japan and decide to get a hotel in Tokyo near a train station, try not to use Shinjuku as your transportation base.

If you're a visitor to Tokyo you will undoubtedly have to pass through Shinjuku Station and my best piece of advice is to have your shit together before attempting to navigate this enormous station. This includes planning your trip around the notorious Tokyo rush-hour and *especially* if you're hauling your luggage with you, knowing the approximate direction you need to be going (this helps tremendously as there are SO many exits/entries that don't always grant you access to all parts of the station), having your Suica/Passmo card in hand to scan at the ticket gates (or having your JR Pass ready to show the attendant as you enter/exit through the JR kiosk), and having a fully charged cell phone to access Google Maps to ensure that once you've found your train, you are in fact on the right train and actually traveling toward your destination. Don't let the size of the station scare you- as long as you take the time to familiarize yourself with its layout prior to arriving at the station you'll be fine, and if you still can't manage to find the right platform the station employees will be happy to direct you. Aside from the transportation services, Shinjuku Station is loaded with tons of shopping and dining options both inside the station and around it. A couple of tips not specific to Shinjuku Station: -do not attempt to navigate the station and board the train with large pieces of luggage unless you are using the the Narita Express train to/from the airport, it is a HUGE pain in the ass to try and maneuver anything larger than a very small carry-on through the masses of humanity. Ship your luggage from city to city instead with the super cheap and incredibly fast Takkyubjn service. -Even if you have the JR Pass, consider picking up a Suica or Passmo card and preload with $10-$50 just in case you find yourself wanting to travel somewhere the JR lines don't reach. This is considerably easier/faster than having to buy a physical ticket in the station and you can use it at convenience stores and vending machines as well. -Trains in Japan are *always* on time, make sure you are too!

It is a bit too crowded and too big a station for me. Having said that, it has so many shopping malls housing cutting-edge brands and cafes. A new addition is NeWoman, another wing of Lumine. When it comes to restaurants, it is a place to look for drinking places, rather than having a proper 'dinner.'

I've felt that this station and Tokyo station have to be the most confusing! I seriously still forget how I got around the couple days I was in the area and had to use the JR. I remember that I got off at one end, and I had to go through a platform to get to the other end. Fortunately, there are good people that are willing to help!

A famous train station. There are many people travelling. Yet it has many shops at the station. Travellers could still meet their needs while waiting for the train.

In my mind a great feat of engineering; over 200 entrance/exits, every imaginable train and subway in Tokyo coming through here, 50 + platforms, must be over 500 feet deep underground in some areas, good shopping of anything you want, great food, you can live down here and never see the light of day. It's Massive! Insanely busy with over 3 million people a day coming through here, you've never seen anything like it. In the Guiness book of world records. It's a dizzying mass of humanity funneling like a swollen river through a never ending gorge. Yet little me, within a few days of being in Tokyo, was asked by some lost travelers how to get from A to B and guess what? I had the answer and sent them on their happy way. Every city I land in people invariably ask me how to get somewhere and I always have the answer. It's a gift, folks. Whatever you do, make a stop at Shinjuku station and have an unforgettable experience.

This station is awesome. It's also very very very big. I spent 40 minutes walking around the station one time when I got out of the wrong exit. A lot of shopping to be done in and around the station as well from food to clothes to almost anything. It's also near Kubukicho (Kubukicho exit) where a lot of the entertainment is in Shinjuku. On the other side, there's a lot of stuff too. Giant department stores, etc. During Christmas, there are lots of Christmas lights on the opposite exit. It's big, it's quite a sight, and it's a good hub that will take you to most places. The bad things, it's gets crowded and there's no free wifi. So crowded that the amount of people that pass through the station each day is more than the population in some cities. haha.

One of my favorite things about Japan is the JR system and its railway stations. Shinjuku is the busiest station in Japan. This just means that you either need to be sure of where you are going or step out of the way to avoid near-trampling. Once you do that, you can enjoy the features of this enormous site. There are many local and express trains, as well as busses that depart from here. But, you can come here just to shop, eat, or walk. Basically, you can spend hours here even if you aren't traveling. I ate my first meal in Japan at a sushi bar here (standing only!). The food was delicious, and inexpensive. There are convenience stores, department stores, gourmet and fast food restaurants, currency exchanges, travel agencies, and boutiques here. As other Yelpers have described, it is a maze. I got lost here many times (as I did all over Japan). Still, the signs are in Japanese as well as English, so eventually I found my way home.

I miss the crowd. I miss the trains. I miss the music of the trains approaching. I miss the lady's voice inside the train. D: I miss Japan!!

For being the most busy station in the world, it's amazing how smooth and clean the station is. Yes, you will get lost, but know which line you need and follow the signs. You should find your train easily if you know where you're going and follow the signs. The station is conveniently located with plenty of food and shops nearby. My favorite outside of the station is Doughnut Planet which serves a variety of donuts including some vegan options. Score! A hint for travelers: Go to the JR ticket machines and purchase a Suica card. You don't have to guess how much the fare is and can reload it at any station. It works on all of the lines and not just the JR.

This is by far the best way to get around and sight see around Tokyo. It can be a little daunting at first because the posted maps in the station are all in kanji and pretty confusing. Grab a map, figure out where you want to go, color coordinate the letters of the stations and the colors of the railway route to your destination and you're on your way. Tokyo's subway network is operated by 2 companies, the Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway, each of which operate different routes although they connect at several points. If you buy a day pass you'll need a combo pass that covers both lines, it'll run you about ¥1500 or roughly $12 per person, well worth it. Tokyo's subway system is clean, efficient, prompt, and easy to navigate once you get your bearings. It does get pretty crowded during rush hour but it's the most economical and convenient way to get around Tokyo as a tourist. Taxi's are expensive and if we had to try and take the bus system we'd probably end up in the East China Sea. Again keep a subway map in your pocket at all times, it'll save your life. Subway hopping and getting lost in Tokyo is so much fun, each stop is so unique and has so much to see and do. Keep in mind the trains stop running at 1:30 am so don't get stranded wherever you end up.

One of the busiest station in Japan, yet everything seems to go so smoothly. It sits in the middle of many great hot spots such as shops. restaurants, and attractions. They even have nice shops in the station for all the last minute shoppers before heading home. The station is quite big and may get confusing but after a full day here, I got the hang of it. I think NYC or any train stations need to learn how to work like this.

In A Nutshell: -This where I prefer to stay when I visit Tokyo. -It's central to many hot spots and has good subway stations that will take you anywhere you want. -It's also known as a "red light district". Overall, can't wait to come back November 2014!

The JR line at Shinjuku provides an exemplary method of traversing all of the major rail arteries that feed all the top cities in Japan. Shinjuku station for all its craziness and density is still a great way to quickly get to key tourist sites and business centers. There are some points to keep in mind to make your time in Shinjuku more productive and reduce some of the natural confusion for first timers: please strongly consider acquiring the Google Maps app or the City Rail Map app. Both are free and can give you the direction and overall routes to review ahead of time. Another hint is to stay focused on following the JR signs inside the station until you hit the platform and train you need. In some cases this may involve turns and twists so if you suddenly find you can't see the JR signs anymore just retrace your steps, or ask one of the many security or station staff. Everyone I encountered spoke English and was super helpful and friendly.

As is known, this station is one of the largest stations in the world. So you may be surprised to see how many people use this station and also you will lose your ways in this station because this is too big. However much you may prepared not to lose your ways, it is impossible. This is very convenient from the viewpoint of transforming trains, but you will lose your ways. In this city there are a lot of shops, such as Yodobashi camera and Big camera. So you can buy any electrical appliances here. Akihabara has the same feature as this, but only shinjuku has the near-future scenery. Shinjuku has Shinjuku Imperial Garden, which is very beautiful and large and plays a role of an oasis in a big city.

Shinjuku Station is a really, really crowded kind of place. There's a lot of people hanging around here, going from place to place. It's a really big location, and it's very much a place where you can do most if not anything there. There's a Cinema complex and a series of restaurants to visit, as well as good shops to browse and check out. There's always a bouncy kind of busy atmosphere around here, as people go from place to place on their routes to and from work or school. It may be interesting to sit here and just watch people come and go if you ever get the free time, if not then it's a good stop for some provisions or to do some quick shopping before going onto your next stop.

I would suggest to anyone visiting this station to do your homework. If you are getting off at Shinjuku, make sure to know what exit number is closest to your destination. It is a never-ending labyrinth that seems to change with new discoveries every time one passes through. Lots of restaurants and shopping. Can connect you to pretty much any part of Japan. I would give it five stars if it were not for the guy trying to sell me train tickets, or the couple attempting to pickpocket me, in which they failed miserably.

If you imagine an airport with seven malls plopped down at every conceivable exit, then force the population of Los Angeles to pass through *every single day* you'd have a rough idea of what Shinjuku Station is like. It is the busiest train station in the world, and it doesn't front. Know ahead of time which exit you'll need to use, then follow the signs. A buddy of mine who studied abroad in Tokyo for a year told me that as soon as I arrived at Shinjuku Stn., I should look for signs that said "Kabukicho" and to follow those signs out. When prodded, he would dodge my questions about what Kabukicho actually was, but ominously mentioned that should I get lost, I absolutely should not stop someone and ask them for directions because they would give me a weird look. Or worse. Wait, what? Of course, if you already know what Kabukicho is, you've realized he was setting me up. Kabukicho is Tokyo's red light district, full of massage parlors, soaplands, shady bars and yakuza. And I bet half of you will be on google at the end of this sentence.

World's busiest train station for a reason: 3.5 million served daily. What seems like a sea of bodies moving every which way at first glance, it actually operates efficiently in what I like to call "controlled chaos". Yes, it seems labyrinth-like, but there's signage & color coding as well. If you do get lost, take a break at one of the places to eat or drink inside the station. At least you won't be lost AND hungry. If you plan on riding by train more than once, I suggest picking up a Suica card: takes guesswork out of figuring the exact fare & a lot more convenient.

Free Wifi! Fast train service (they pass about every couple minutes), and very clean!