Exploring Shinjuku and Kabukichō

Yasukuni-dori

• Busy thoroughfare lined with shops, restaurants, and businesses.
• Runs through Chiyoda, Shinjuku, and Shibuya wards.
• Shonan-Shinjuku railway line passes over.

Kabukichō

• Famous entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku.
• Noted for vibrant nightlife, neon lights, and diverse entertainment.
• Iconic red Kabuki-chō Ichiban-gai gate.
• Landmark: Godzilla head on Hotel Gracery's terrace (unveiled in 2015).
• Host and hostess clubs: socialize with hosts/hostesses over drinks.
• Kabukicho Tower: 48-storey skyscraper.
• Famous for movie theaters, video arcades, discos, and fuzoku businesses.
• Historical background: post-WWII redevelopment by overseas Chinese in Japan.
• High foreign ownership in land (70% as of 2002).
• Enforcement of 1948 Businesses Affecting Public Morals Regulation Act since 2004.
• Influx of tourists from China and South Korea.
• Notable places: Don Quijote for souvenirs, Sakura-dori street for nightlife.
• Kabukicho Concierge Association for safe recommendations.
• Issues: Bottakuri scams - businesses with hidden fees.
• Famous areas: Golden Gai (network of narrow alleys with bars and clubs).

Golden Gai

• Composed of six narrow alleys with over 200 bars, clubs, and eateries.
• Two-story buildings with small bars and flats.
• Popular with well-off clientele and celebrities.
• Many bars require introduction by regular customers but some welcome newcomers.

Omoide Yokocho

• Close to Shinjuku Station.
• Characteristic street crammed with bars and stalls.
• Originally a black market post-WWII, now popular and safe.
• Famed for yakitori and other skewered meats.
• Roughly 80 premises, mostly bars and restaurants specializing in motsuyakiya and yakitoriya.

Historical Development

• Post-Great Kantō Earthquake (1923): Shinjuku's development.
• Tokyo air raids (1945): 90% buildings destroyed near Shinjuku Station.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government moved to Shinjuku in 1991.
• Shinjuku Station: busiest in the world with 3.59 million people/day (2018).

Various Attractions

• 3D billboards.
• Cat Cafe MOCHA: one of largest cat cafes in Tokyo.
• Traditional street foods: menchi katsu, monjayaki, ramen, tempura.
• High-end shopping streets, trendy department stores (Isetan Shinjuku Store).
• Secretive drinking dens from pre-economic boom era.

Cultural Notes

• Shinto shrine: Founded mid-17th century, dedicated to Inari (god of fertility and success).
• Shrine: Favorable for businessmen's success prayers, enters through Torii gates.
• Hanazono Shrine: Edo period construction by Hanazono family.

Dining Experience

• Authentic sushi, izakaya bars, yakitori restaurants.
• Diners often sit outside at small tables.
• Authentic dining can be intimidating due to lack of English menus.

Safety and Licensing

• Post-2003: Joint citizen and police patrols for business licensing enforcement.
• 2004: Enforcement of 1948 Public Morals Act for adult businesses to close by 1am.

Summary

• Shinjuku and Kabukichō are dynamic areas blending traditional and modern influences.
• Notable for historical development, vibrant nightlife, unique cultural experiences, and diverse entertainment options.