Exploring Tokyo's WORST Area After Midnight: Shinjuku

I've never liked the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Tonight I'm aiming to change that as I wander the backstreets after last train. Stuck in Shinjuku until Morning... How will it play out.

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Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku

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Norm Nakamura - Tokyo Creative Redhorse Corporation Co. Ltd
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[TokyoLens]

Gotta ask... Do YOU Like Shinjuku? Chime in Below!! [ --- also Special REMINDER Below --- ]
*Releasing Tokyo Lens Maps, Behind-the-scenes updates, Meetups, Secrets, and more in the new Tokyo Lens Newsletter Below!!*
BUT FIRST!!! CHECK OUT My Friends at MAGICAL TRIP! (Honestly.... even just steal travel ideas from their website lol - they're cool with it)
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Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku

---

*NEW* Tokyo Lens Newsletter - Maps, Tips, Meetups & More!

I also put together a Tokyo Shopping Guide!! (free download)

[SPECIAL REMINDER]
*EXPLORE ALWAYS Merch Disappears at 1Million Subscribers*

[With_Me_JAPAN]

Although Shinjuku has some negative images especially at night, Norm added lots of positive aspects such as the spectacular Hanazono shrine, findings of unique posters and Godzilla!😆Really enjoyed watching all the fascinating night shots! Thank you☺️

[potentiallyclever]

20 years ago when I was a young Airman, I was stuck downtown because I didn't know that the train stopped at midnight. I came from Fussa and was stuck in Shibuya. I wandered around until 7AM and a little after the train started running again. I didn't have a map and I wandererd for a while thru Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku and the outskirts of Tokyo proper. I found a lot of cool places. Was harassed by a dude who thought I had weed, and played pachinko for longer than I thought I would. I also learned that Tokyo metropolitan is a crazy diverse place where you can find all kinds of cool stuff. Thank you for reminding me of me drunken experiences from 20 years ago.

[milliehollliday]

Always happy to see a new Tokyo lens video :) Tokyo nightlife always seems to hit so different during the night especially with the hidden spots that aren’t always noticeable !!

[Chihi]

As a female Japanese person, I do put on a more unfriendly expression and posture when I’m marching thru the hordes of touts… but I do frequent the cinemas and adore Hanazono shrine at night.
I prefer Shinjuku to Shibuya! The small eateries towards Shinjuku 3-chome areas and Golden Gai can be really nice and once you get to know the ppl, they’re little oases among all the noise. Those spots in Shibuya are bulldozed over now and replaced by rowdy teens/tourists drinking on the street against regulations.
Shout out to the many good Turkish restaurants spanning from Shinjuku to Yoyogi!

[Tokyo-Slim]

When I first came to Japan in 2003, Shinjuku was my "idea" of what Tokyo was supposed to be. The crush of people, the narrow back streets, the barrage of lights, signs, and noise - and the occasional hidden island of calm in there. It's definitely a concentrated experience - so I think that's one of the things it offers tourists. Nowhere is it more apparent that you aren't "home" and that you're exploring some completely foreign landscape than in Shinjuku.

I think it's a useful place to live NEAR, but not in (my house is a few stops away on the train). I could not imagine having Shinjuku station be something I need to traverse on a daily basis. I don't want to have to worry about my friends and guests being hassled by street touts or scouts in my neighborhood. It's an entertainment district, and serves that purpose - but these days, it's just as nice to get on a train and leave.

[TK_Creative_Studio]

Did a solo female trip and all my tours were with Magical Trips! One of my tours in Kyoto ended up only being me and the guide and it was such an awesome time! Highly recommend the Shinjuku and Shibuya bar/food tours too - as a solo female traveler it was the safest way and it built up my confidence!

[naiomysanchez]

As a women who's eager to go to Japan, (but is a tad afraid of solo travel) I appreciate seeing Tokyo through your lens! :)

[SilverScale.]

As a woman who would likely travel to Japan solo, I really enjoy living vicariously through your videos! I'm enjoying all the places I definitely would not walk through alone, and certainly not late at night if I could help it! Your enthusiasm makes it such a good time, too. Thanks, Norm! ❤

[PixelBaller]

As a solo male here I had a couple scary experiences here.

Walking from my hotel (Gracery, the big Godzilla one) to the robot restaurant, I got harassed by the African bouncers of a nightclub, they grabbed my arm and tried to force me in their club and stood in front and blocked my way to the restaurant. I did a U turn and tried to head back to my hotel and they literally followed me down 2 streets. I had to duck into a shop and browse for 15 minutes until they left.

The next morning I left to travel to my next location and see a young, maybe early 20s American guy naked except for boxer shorts, sitting in the middle of the street crying. I asked if he needed help and he said he thinks we was drugged and had bouncers threaten to keep his passport until he paid them.

Japan is an amazing place but it has a real dodgy area where the police simply won't help you in these areas.

By contrast, Osaka and Kyoto were totally safe.

[Mercuryscomet]

Yay! A new Norm vid, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon ❤

[AmandadeOliveira]

Your videos make me want to go to Japan and never sleep because you make all the times of the day seem beautiful.

[chungkingcansuckit]

I think it looks magical. I love stuff at 2AM. When I was younger my Mom would drive me around in the car at night and I can remember the light of an autobody shop. I love all the lights. I also have fond memory of a TV show that was on at like 3AM or so and that theme song always reminds me of that time in the morning.

I love that it's super busy at that time of the morning.

[TTTHEENDDD]

I love shinjuku and the colorful lights and it gives me cyberpunk/bladerunner vibes

[StSparky]

My weirdest time in Shinjuku was in 1994 - as my time in Tokyo working for Kodansha was ending. I had grabbed a suite at the Hyatt that got me a King sized bed (I was mostly at a apartment house with an extra long twin bed), and I tried to short cut my way there. I walked through a miniature park. As my eyes adapted to the night - I noticed there were silent couples in the bushes, hoping I wouldn’t notice them.

It was different.

I scooted out the park as fast as I could.

Life has wonders.

[TheCyberMantis]

You are close to 1-MILLION subs! Gratz, Norm. You deserve it. Your content is always pro-level quality.
Shinjuku is an interesting place, but also sketchy at certain times. Be careful out there.

[dia]

I'm not drinker/partier, but shinjuku is definitely a spot to hit up a little for me. There are some record stores, trading card stores, lots of S tier ramen, and the area is aesthetic as heck. The niboshi ramen in golden gai is great to get during the day because it isn't as busy as night.

[FrankTheTank]

Kudos to the Yakuza video game series for showcasing in such detail all these locations .

[ChristopherHarris]

Awesome video as always Norm. You always find and the most positive things about every place you take a night walk in even if that place doesn’t always have the best reputation.

[Chonky_boi]

What a treat on a Sunday morning in beautiful Vancouver! Thanks for an informative video to get my day started. You never let us down, Norm.