On the western exit side of Shinjuku, you can find a skyscraper group, which can be well seen from the distance and is conspicuous. If you care to see a good view of Tokyo, and at free of charge, suggestion will be to visit one of the observatory view space in either Shinjuku Center building, Sumitomo building, the Shinjuku NS building,Nomura building or Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Superb view from those palace are highly recommendable not only because it’s free, but for the spectacular birds eye view of Tokyo. It is only recommendable to visit on a sunny clear day.
Getting around western side of Shinyuku is not as easy as seems on the map, since the roads are composed of complicated underground path and the high-level-road, so make sure you have general grasp of the direction which you are heading, as wrong turn can get you off track a long way.
If you go off to the the east exit, you have less office building and you will find more of commercial area which is busy shopping area entertainment district of Kabuki-cho.
Shinjyuku is the most convenient place to visit, since you will have multitude of ways to get there by train. You can get to Shinjyuku by Yamanote Line, Saikyo-sen, Chuo Line, Toei Shinjuku Line, Oedo Line, the Keio line, Odakyu line. As to Seibu-Shinjyuku-line, it is a bit off from the central station, so, it is suggested to change train at Takatanobaba on JR line to reach Shinjyuku if you are Seibu-Shinjyuku-line.
It is easy to get to Shinjyuku but you will probably find it more difficult to get around the Shinjyuku station since is it huge, and underground path are like a maze. It is suggested that you know exactly where you are heading East Exit, West exit, Kabuki-cho area, and also it is advisable that you have a general map of Shinjuku, so that you wouldn’t spend 30 minutes just to get out to the right exit.
In most of the major skyscraper buildings in Shinjyuku, you will find free view space. Most of the free observatory space are adjacent to a restaurant floor so the space is free of charge, but the are is not so big. Observatory space found in Tokyo Metropolitan Government's view floor is build for observatory purpose so the space is sufficiently large.
Observatory space of Sumitomo building is located in the 51th floor. The observatory is located together with various restaurants, so you can make use of the facility together with the restaurants and food mall. Observatory window is small but space itself is large enough to accommodate a crowd.
The view itself from the Sumitomo building is no so recommendable since Tokyo Metropolitan Government is locatedin the front of the building and it is interrupting the view.
The view from The Shinjyuku NS building is recommendable, if you care for better view but don’t mind less height. The Shinjuku NS building observatory is comparatively lower that others at 30th floor, but advantage of the Shinjuku NS building is that elevator is equipped with window designed to give visitors a good view. The illumination at night is somewhat darker than other building such that nigh view is spectacular. The Shinjuku NS building is accessible from the underground path from Shinjuku station.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is one of the highest buildings found in Shinjuku (242m ) functioning as center of the public administration in Tokyo. Is suggested to visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government so that you can enjoy the bird’s eye view of Tokyo form the observatory as well to pick up information on Tokyo sightseeing available at the information center
he observatory in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located in northern observatory and South observatory.
Both observatories are opened except for some specific holiday periods such year end holidays. For further information please refer to the official Tokyo Metropolitan Government website.
Shinjuku Central Park is located a behind the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Open space on the vacant lot of Yodabashi water filtering plant, is a perfect place to have open air lunch or picnic
Opera City building is one of the highest building in Shinjuku 234m high. Opera City is composed of 6 theater halls and 2 museum including the New National Theater. You can also find Osamu Tezuka World Entertainment square and shop, an dedicated square for author of the famed anime Astro Boy.
At Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art, you can find the work of Gauguin, Cezanne including Gogh's "sunflower". After viewing the museum of Art, spend some time to view Tokyo bird’s eye view from the 42nd floor corridor.
If you are looking forward to see a Kabuki in Japan, Kabuki-cho, is the wrong place to look for. Under the post-war revival plan, various movie theater and theaters were built. Originally the town was named Kabuki-cho, with the intention of attracting the Kabuki theater. The plan to bring the Kabuki to Shinjiku failed, but the name Kabuki-cho still remained.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is the garden where you can enjoy varieties of gardens ranging from French type formal style garden, to English landscape garden as well as the Japanese garden. The garden is a perfect place to view the cherry blossom as well fall colored leafs.
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