Tokyo Stroll Supplement: Shinjuku Station Area

This page indexes, contains corrections and has additions to the Shinjuku Station Area chapter of Tokyo Stroll.

For information on Tokyo Stroll and this web supplement see Tokyo Stroll Supplement home page

For users of the Organic Maps, Maps.Me and Google Maps apps the items below have bookmarks you can import into those apps to make navigation easier.
Instructions and links are on the Viewing Locations in Organic Maps, Maps.Me, Google Maps, or Google Earth page.

Some entries on this page may include a note that says "Description to be added soon ." These entries are for items I felt should be listed even if the description is not ready to assist those who wish to plan a trip. When possible I included a link to an official web page, I suggest also doing web searchs for more information.

AiiRO CAFE

A scholar of Japanese religion, who I follow on social media, collects information about torii around the world. She recently posted about the torii in front of the AiiRO CAFE. So of course I have to include the cafe on this page. The bar was originally the Advocates Café and originally opened in 2000. Their web page states that they are popular with tourists and foreigners, some English is spoken. On weekends the crowd spills out onto the street.
WEB:: http://aliving.net/aiirocafe/

Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum / Bunka Gakuen Fukushoku Hakubutsukan: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 374

Disk Union: Shōwa Kayō Kan: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 381

Four Seasons Pathway / Shiki No Michi: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 385

Hanazono Jinja: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 390

Horse Trough / Basuisō: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 379

Ichibankan: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 392

Inari Kiō Jinja: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 392

Jōenji: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 377

Jōkakuji: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 393

Jūnisō Kumano Jinja: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 376

Kabukichō: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 382

Kabukichō Benzaiten: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 384

Kabukichō Ichibangai: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 384

Kabukichō Kōban: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 391

Kinokuniya Shinjuku: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 379

Korea Museum / Kōrai Hakubutsukan: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 393

Love Hotel district: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 391

Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates / Heiwa Kinen Tenji Shiryōkan: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 376

MODE GAKUEN Cocoon Tower: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 377

Nakamuraya: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 379

Naruko Tenjin (成子天神社)
[North of the area in the Shinjuku Station Area West Detail 1 map and just past Nishi-Shinjuku Station]

Possibly founded in 903, it is also said that the shrine was established by Yoritomo Minamoto in 1197. This Tenjin (Michizane Sugawara) shrine was relocated to this spot in 1661 and is the guardian shrine of the neighborhood. On the grounds you will see Seven chikaraishi, "strength stones," used in weightlifting contests. The names of some contestants and the weights are inscribed on the stones. On the grounds is a mound that was originally called Tenjinzan, in 1920 it was repurposed as a fujizuka. The entrance to the shrine is some distance away near the Nishi-Shinjuku subway station on the Marunouchi Line and is marked by a large rectangular stone with the shrine name on it.

Nishimuki Tenjinsha: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 396

NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 384

Samurai Museum: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 385

Senpukuji: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 396

Shanghai Xiaochi (上海小吃)

Founded in 1993 in Kabukichō not far from Golden Gai. As the name indicates their specialty is Shanghai cuisine, they also serve Sichuan and Hunan food. The staff is all Chinese and prepare quite a variety of dishes for a restaurant this size. With the large variety on their menu you may want to go with friends to get plenty of different dishes to choose from. One review I read recommended the "tomato iri rāmen." Around October - November, they serve Shanghai hairy crabs which they have shipped in from China. They also have unusual dishes such as fried scorpion, bee larva, fried snake meat (which has lots of bones), and more. These are not for being exotic or for shock value but for their actual flavor. If you are not up to such fare they have plenty of familiar Chinese food that you can choose from such as various noodles, rice dishes, boiled frog, rabbit, and more.
NOTE: They can be crowded so you may want to call in for reservations during business hours or use their online form.
HOURS: Open 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am, Sunday and holidays 5:00 pm to 2:00 am.
TRIVIA:
On display are animation cels from the movie Millennium Actress that director Kon Satoshi gave them.
In the Alice and Zoroku manga and anime there is a scene of two characters enjoying a meal. The dishes are identified so you may want to check them out.
Shanghai Xiaochi was used as the location for the Chinese restaurant in Miike Takashi's 2019 film First Love. This is where the boxer works, as well as it being the location of a drunk Chinese woman's rant about the dishonorable nature of the yakuza.
Nearest train and subway stations: Seibu-Shinjuku Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line), Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station (Toei Oedo Line), Shinjuku Station.
X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/ShanghaiXiaochi
WEB: https://shanghai-xiaochi.com

Shinjuku Bunmeidō (新宿文明堂)
[East of the area in the Shinjuku Station Area East Detail 8 map]

The main Shinjuku location for pastry shop making and selling Japanese and Western style cakes. The company was established in 1900, this Shinjuku branch dates from 1933. For more on the company see the main entry in the chapter on Nihonbashi North. There are also small Bunmeidō stores in the Shinjuku branches of the Keiō, Takashimaya, Isetan, and Odakyū department stores.
WEB: https://www.bunmeido.co.jp

Shinjuku Central Park / Shinjuku Chūō Kōen: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 376

Shinjuku Golden Gai: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 390

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden / Shinjuku Gyoen: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 395

Shinjuku Nichōme: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 395

Shinjuku NS Building: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 374

Shinjuku Omoide Yokochō: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 377

Shinjuku Subnade: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 383

Shinjuku Tōhō Building: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 385

Shinjuku Tourist Information Center: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 381

Shōjuin: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 393

Sompo Museum of Art: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 377

Studio ALTA: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 379 NOTE: In March 2023 it was announced that Studio ALTA will close on February 28, 2025 in preparation for the area to be redeveloped.

Suehirotei: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 381

Taisōji: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 395

Tansuya Shinjuku sabunādo-ten (たんす屋新宿サブナード店) In the Shinjuku Subnade. [Item 2 in the Detail 6 map]

Tansuya (たんす屋) is a famous chain selling new and used kimono and yukata. They describe themselves as a kimono recycle store. Frankly looking at the recycled kimono they are in great shape, not surprising as the Japanese tend to take good care of their stuff. There are many shops in Tokyo, I am adding them to these supplement pages the boomarks when I have a page for the area they are in.
WEB: https://tansuya.jp

Tenryūji: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 382

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building / Tōkyō To Chōsha: Tokyo Stroll, Shinjuku Station Area Chapter, page 374

Yayoiken Shinjuku Kabukichō in the Shiro Building 2F
[In the area in the Shinjuku Station East Detail 6 map]

Yayoiken Shinjukugyoen
[East of the area in the Shinjuku Station Area East Detail 8 map]

Yayoiken Nishi-Shinjuku (やよい軒 西新宿店)
[West of the area in the Shinjuku Station Area West Detail 2 map]

Local branchs of the restaurant chain Yayoi. I include these here as this chain is an excellent place to get a Japanese style breakfast at very reasonable prices. As you enter there is a machine where you can order and pay for your meal. This is a touch screen device and has an English menu option for easy selection. Pay for your meal, collect your ticket and change then seat yourself. You don't need to be able to speak Japanese as the ticket has your selection. Refills on rice and tea are free, just help yourself.
WEB: https://www.yayoiken.com/en/

Yuri Cafe Anchor (百合カフェ アンカー)

A manga cafe located on the second floor of a building in Shinjuku Nichōme. It was originally established in 2005 as a dining bar called Night Cafe Anchor, in 2020 it was reopened as Yuri Cafe Anchor. The cafe has over 2000 Manga, dōjinshi, and novels, classified by genre. Most of the books are in Japanese but they do have some in English and other languages. There is Wi-Fi, as well as power outlets and USB ports at each seat. A variety of food is available as are non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages including cocktails.
Thanks go to Erica Friedman for turning me on to this place, they have her excellent history of yuri, By Your Side, is in the collection.

NOTES:
As this is a manga cafe there is an admission fee for 30 minutes, stay longer with an extension fee, a food order counts as an extension fee.
No cash. Various credit cards and mobile payment systems accepted.
Nearest train station: Shinjuku-sanchōme Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line)
CLOSED: Tuesdays and Monday holidays.
WEB: http://yuricafe.tokyo