Shibuya vs Shinjuku: Tokyo’s Two Best Neighborhoods (2024)

FAQs

Shibuya vs Shinjuku: Tokyo’s Two Best Neighborhoods? ›

Shinjuku and Shibuya are both the best place to stay in Tokyo for first-timers. It offers easy access to the train station. It is better to stay in Shinjuku than in Shibuya if you prefer more nightlife scene. It is better to stay in Shibuya than in Shinjuku if you prefer more shopping scene.

Shinjuku and Shibuya are both the best place to stay in Tokyo for first-timers. It offers easy access to the train station. It is better to stay in Shinjuku than in Shibuya if you prefer more nightlife scene. It is better to stay in Shibuya than in Shinjuku if you prefer more shopping scene.

High class residential areas in uptown Tokyo such as Hiroo, Azabu, Shoto, Akasaka, and Takanawadai are known throughout Japan as prestigious areas within Tokyo. A common feature among most of these areas is being located at the top of hills–in the center of Tokyo–with nice views in quiet living environments.

The best places to stay are Shinjuku, the Tokyo Station Area, Ginza/Hibiya, Shibuya or Roppongi. Other decent places to stay include Nihombashi, Shinagawa, Hamamatsucho and Shiodome. Try to stay near a Yamanote Line (Tokyo loop line) station.

Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossing, called Shibuya Crossing. It is located in front of the Shibuya Station Hachikō exit and stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection.

Hachiko Square (sometimes called Hachiko Plaza) is perhaps the busiest and best-known meeting place in Tokyo.

Aoyama (青山) is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Tokyo, located in the northwest portion of Minato Ward. The area is well known for its international fashion houses, cafes and restaurants.

Naka-Meguro, Yutenji and nearby areas are home to a number of actors, musicians and so forth (Exile, Johnny's Entertainment boy (some not so boyish these days) bands, members of Southern All Stars and YMO, etc.). Yoyogi, Shoto, and other more upscale residential areas of Shibuya are also popular.

Top 3 Areas in Tokyo with the Lowest Number of Violent Crimes. Places one and to go to Ota and Minato Ward, defined by Haneda Airport and Odaiba with the Tokyo Bay area respectively. These are areas where few people live and even though they do get crowded with people, violent crimes are few.

Where to avoid staying in Tokyo? ›

Avoiding Bad Neighborhoods

Two neighborhoods you should specifically avoid are Kabukicho and Kamagasaki. Kabukicho is Tokyo's red light district where sex workers congregate to offer their services to tourists and locals alike. However, it's also a popular tourist attraction known for its bright lights and neon signs.

Shinjuku is well-known for the cluster of high-rise buildings and the nightlife district consisting of a large number of restaurants and bars. At the center of the busy town, there is a sacred old Shinto shrine named Hanazono Shrine.

The vibe in Shibuya is a bit more hip and a little less mainstream. Shinjuku caters to everyone with the tiny bars of Golden Gai, the interesting mix of establishments in Kabukicho and the LGBT options in Shinjuku Nichome.

Kabukicho is a district located in Shinjuku ward, in the West of Tokyo. While the whole family can visit it throughout day time, there is a strong "adult" atmosphere once the moon has risen.

Shibuya is a bit more silent and with overall scale smaller than Shinjuku, but what makes the weather is the Shibuya-ku neighbourhood around and its tiny, youthful establishments all around the place.

Shibuya is a great area to stay in for tourists and first-time visitors to Tokyo, with plenty of things to keep you busy. A visit to Tokyo's most spectacular shrine, Meiji-Jingu Shrine, and a walk through the enormous Yoyogi-Koen Park easily ranks among the highlights of any visit to Tokyo.

“Shibuya, Tokyo's fashion mecca” Shibuya is the meeting place for many Tokyo's young fashionistas. It is one of the most famous places to visit during a trip to Tokyo! Together with Shinjuku, Harajuku (which is part of Shibuya), Koen-Ji and Shimokitazawa, Shibuya is one of our favorite areas to visit in Tokyo.

Shibuya has many shopping centres, including the famed Shibuya 109, Loft, Shibuya Hikarie, and Shibuya Parco. The district is also home to many restaurants, bars, clubs, and izakayas, making it a hub for Tokyo's youtful nightlife and pub crawls.

Ginza is the ritziest and biggest upscale shopping district in Tokyo, home to the city's posh boutiques and glamorous department stores, such as the classic Mitsukoshi and avant-garde Dover Street Market Ginza. On a global scale, it's comparable with Oxford Street in London or Fifth Avenue in New York.

Setagaya is the most populous of Tokyo's 23 wards.

What is the richest street in Tokyo? ›

Ginza is long known as the most expensive spot in Japan.

As of October 2022, Los Angeles was host to the highest number of Japanese residents among cities outside of Japan with about 65 thousand Japanese residents.

Hayama, the most expensive resort area on the list, is just south of Zushi. It's a 53-minute train ride from Shinagawa Station to Zushi Station. It's also 8 kilometers south of Kamakura. The southern end of Hayama is an especially wealthy and historic vacation home area.

Khloe, and I traveled to Japan while filming KUWTK last year. I loved spending time with my sisters sightseeing and exploring the culture of East Asia. It was a great bonding experience and marked our last adventure together before True was born. In Tokyo, we stayed at the Shangri La Hotel.

The majority of expats tend to congregate in Minato-ku ward in South Tokyo. Minato-ku is also home to many embassies and multinational firms. Due to this, it is a very convenient place for foreigners.

Sanya is a place that is commonly lived in by very low-income workers, people in construction trades, many of which are now part of the ageing population in Japan. As well as nondescript love hotels, squatter areas and the odd undistinguishable entertainment district.

Koenji – Tokyo's Hipster Neighborhood

It's particularly popular among the youth, considering it one of the most desirable places to live in the city. You'll find many vintage clothing and record stores here, especially along the Koenji Junjo Shotengai.

- CON: Expensive city

The cost of living in Tokyo consistently ranks among the highest in the world. While an expat's salary may appear lucrative, they will have to ensure it will be able to support all their expenses, especially rent and, for families with school-aged children, international school fees.

Places to Be Mindful of Your Surroundings

CCTVs are equipped at several places and the police make their rounds, but you should definitely be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid dangerous situations. In addition, areas around Roppongi and Shibuya stations can become somewhat rowdy in the late evenings as well.

Kyoto is one of the most beautiful and safest places to live in. It is the capital of Kyoto prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kansai region on the main island of Honshu. Out of 1.5 Million people, 21,000 crimes were reported, which makes the crime rate about 1.45%.

Is Shinjuku city safe? ›

Shinjuku is a safe place to visit. Despite it being the district with the highest amount of crime in Tokyo each year (averaging 2700 incidents), it is the biggest district in Tokyo, so numbers will always be higher.

Kabukicho in Shinjuku is a large, dangerous red light district that should be avoided. There's no reason to avoid Shinjuku itself. West Shinjuku is a relatively safe business district that has some of Tokyo's best hotels. Keep in mind that Shinjuku is the busiest train station in the world.

Currently, tourists with U.S. passports do not need visas for short-term visits (up to three months). Passengers who have been fully vaccinated and boosted with vaccines approved by the Japanese government and who are arriving in Japan after October 11, 2022, will not require a pre-travel COVID-19 test.

The best time to visit Tokyo is between March and April and September and November. Autumn ushers in colorful foliage and comfortable temperatures. Spring brings in much of the same, but instead of vibrant fall hues, the foliage you'll see here are cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

The Shinjuku ward is a bustling metropolis in the heart of Tokyo. There's an estimated 337,500 people living in the area and Shinjuku is home to the largest number of international residents in Tokyo.

Shinjuku is the best neighborhood for sightseeing in the entire city due to the Shinjuku skyline, Japanese culture, exciting nightlife, and luxury hotel options. Most hotels offer all the amenities you need, or want, for a great night's sleep.

Kabukicho Ichibangai is one of the most iconic streets of the famous Kabukicho in Shinjuku. At night, the bright neon lights make Kabukicho even more lively.

Kabukichō is the biggest red-light district in Tokyo, where you can “buy” girls on an iPad, see Godzilla, or spend the night in a love hotel, so embrace the seediness and head on in…

If you're looking to experience the best of Tokyo nightlife, you'll want to visit the neighborhoods of Shibuya, Shinjuku, Roppongi, Ginza, Shimokitazawa, and Ebisu. The first three tend to be most popular with international travelers, but the others are just as great for a night out.

Is Tokyo Red Light District for foreigner friendly? ›

Kabukicho is a district located in the Shinjuku ward in Tokyo, Japan. It was originally a vast swamp with the name 'Tsunohazu'. In 1920, the Japanese government built a school for girls here and the surroundings were developed into a residential area.

Leyûkaku, from the pleasure district to cultural efflorescence. Before hosting red-light districts on the Western model, Japan had "yukaku" (pleasure district), institutionalized in the Edo period (1603-1868). Far from being simply a place of prostitution, these neighborhoods were also cultural places.

As a general rule, foreigners are not allowed in many of the adult entertainment establishments in Japan. But once you are with a Japanese friend or speak some Japanese, the “Only Japanese” access rule may not be enforced.

Jingu-dori, the street that passes right in front of the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station, is where you'll find the world-famous Shibuya Crossing. Crossing the traffic lights, you can reach Shibuya Center-gai, which is full of young people, and Dogenzaka, which leads to Bunkamura-dori.

Stay in Shinjuku if you want easy transport access to sightseeing within Tokyo and day trips to Mt. Fuji and Hakone. Stay in Ginza or Tokyo Station if you you want to be close to your bullet train ride to get to Kyoto, Osaka and other regions in Japan. Stay in Shibuya if you love nightlife and want a youthful vibe.

Shibuya Crossing is one of Tokyo's most recognizable sights, pictured in countless films, magazines and blogs. During its busiest times, an estimated 1,000 to 2,500 people forge their way across this intersection every two minutes, enough to quickly fill up a football stadium.

Shinjuku is well-known for the cluster of high-rise buildings and the nightlife district consisting of a large number of restaurants and bars. At the center of the busy town, there is a sacred old Shinto shrine named Hanazono Shrine.

The Kabukicho arcade is the center of the Shinjuku commercial district. Shibuya is the second largest commercial section of Tokyo. There are may shops, restaurants, bars, and more. Compared to Shinjuku, the number of questionable establishments is smaller.

The best areas to stay in Tokyo for tourists are Shinjuku and Ginza. Other good places to stay in Tokyo are Tokyo Station, Shibuya and Asakusa. It is best to stay near JR Yamanote train line or any subway line for easy access to Tokyo tourist sites.

Is the red light district in Shinjuku? ›

Kabukicho is a district located in Shinjuku ward, in the West of Tokyo. While the whole family can visit it throughout day time, there is a strong "adult" atmosphere once the moon has risen.

9 Things to Do in Kabukichō Kabukichō is the biggest red-light district in Tokyo, where you can “buy” girls on an iPad, see Godzilla, or spend the night in a love hotel, so embrace the seediness and head on in…

Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku and Harajuku are regarded as Tokyo's best neighborhoods, and it is hard to tell whether one is better than another. Shibuya is known as an area for young people, while Ginza has no shortage of top-class sushi.

Jingu-dori, the street that passes right in front of the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station, is where you'll find the world-famous Shibuya Crossing.

Shibuya Crossing

It's a fairly well-known fact that Tokyo is the most populated city in the world. And in a busy city, the Shibuya Crossing is the busiest place of all. It's the world's most-used intersection, with around 3,000 people waiting to cross one of seven crossing points at any given time.