Why are Shibuya and Shinjuku so popular with foreign visitors tourists?

What are the popular areas in Japan?

According to a 2024 survey by the Japan Tourism Agency, Tokyo ranked first among prefectures in terms of the number of foreign visitors overnight stays, at approximately 57.2 million.

Which areas in Tokyo are the most popular? According to a 2023 survey by the Tokyo, the most popular destination in Tokyo is " Shibuya " (67.1%), followed by " Shinjuku/Okubo " (57.4%).

What is the appeal of Shibuya and Shinjuku, which come in first and second place, beating out Asakusa , where you can experience Japanese traditions and culture, and Akihabara, the electronics district?

Hotel "COCOSHUKU SHINJUKU HANAZONO" in the Shinjuku area

The Charm of Shibuya

First, let's talk about Shibuya.

Until recently, Shibuya was known as a "city for young people."

However, the area around Shibuya is currently undergoing a large-scale redevelopment that is said to occur once every 100 years. One of the visions is "Entertainment City SHIBUYA," and the area is being developed into a place where various content can be gathered and enjoyed by everyone. One of these is SHIBUYA SKY , an observation facility 229 meters above ground. Many tourists visit the area to enjoy a 360-degree view of Tokyo's cityscape.

There are also other new facilities such as the Pokemon Center and Miyashita Park, making it a great place to enjoy dining and shopping.

On the other hand, the classic spots such as the Scramble Crossing , Hachiko , and Center Street are still popular.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Among them, when you actually visit the "Scramble Crossing," you will see many foreign tourists holding up their smartphones. According to them, this intersection, where many people come and go as soon as the traffic lights change, is a scene that represents "Tokyo-ness."

The redevelopment is expected to continue until 2027, so it looks like the city will continue to see changes that are not to be missed.

The Charm of Shinjuku

There seem to be several reasons why Shinjuku is popular with overseas travelers.

Representative examples are drinking districts such as Kabukicho, Golden Gai, and Omoide Yokocho.

For Japanese people, the sight of multi-use buildings crowded into a small area is a familiar one, but the retro, chaotic atmosphere with its shining neon lights appears to be an extraordinary space to foreign tourists.

Indeed, unlike areas that have been developed along with the wave of redevelopment, this area, with its naturally occurring array of unique restaurants and bars, seems to have evolved in its own unique way.

On the other hand, there are many large department stores, shopping facilities, and restaurants in front of the station, so one of Shinjuku's charms is that you can find anything you want there.

There are also large parks such as Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden , making the area popular with tourists as it offers a good balance of shopping, dining, and nature while still being in the city.

Furthermore, Shinjuku can be said to play a central role in Tokyo in terms of accessibility.

One of the reasons for the large number of users is that people visit Shinjuku to take the express bus at " Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal " to access local areas such as Mount Fuji and the airport, as well as to take public transportation such as trains.

Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal

6 minutes walk to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Click here for the official website of COCOSHUKU SHINJUKU HANAZONO.

The charm of the town

When looking at tourist attractions, various places such as "TOKYO TOWER," "TOKYO SKYTREE," "Asakusa Temple," "Meiji Shrine," and more recently "teamLab Planets" are ranked high, but when looking at it as a city, you are likely to discover a different kind of charm.

Neither the Scramble Crossing nor Kabukicho were created specifically for tourism, which is why they have a truly Japanese feel and are so attractive to tourists from overseas. In that sense, there are probably still many fascinating areas that remain to be discovered.

Please visit various places and discover the charm of Japan that is unique to you.

COCOSHUKU SHINJUKU HANAZONO

160-0022 1-32-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

This Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden area and the lush greenery of Shinjuku Gyoen are both nearby. Enjoy a stay in Tokyo that combines the best of both worlds.