is a
special ward in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (
Shinjuku Station
is a major railway station in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan. In Shinjuku, it is part of the Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku districts. In Shibuya, it is located in the Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts. It is the world's busiest rai ...
) and the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The , also referred to as the for short, is the seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs the special wards, cities, towns, and villages that constitute the Tokyo Metropolis.
Located in Shinjuku ward, the building was designed b ...
, the administration centre for the
government of Tokyo
The is the government of the Tokyo Metropolis. One of the 56 prefectures of Japan, the government consists of a popularly elected governor and assembly. The headquarters building is located in the ward of Shinjuku. The metropolitan government ...
. As of 2018, the ward has an estimated
population
Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using a ...
of 346,235, and a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
of 18,232 people per km
2. The total area is 18.23 km
2. Since the end of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Shinjuku has been a major secondary center of Tokyo (
''fukutoshin''), rivaling to the original city center in
Marunouchi
Marunouchi () is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat. It is also Tokyo's financial di ...
and
Ginza
Ginza ( ; ja, 銀座 ) is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi. It is a popular upscale shopping area of Tokyo, with numerous intern ...
. It literally means "New Inn Ward".
Shinjuku is also commonly used to refer to the entire area surrounding
Shinjuku Station
is a major railway station in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan. In Shinjuku, it is part of the Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku districts. In Shibuya, it is located in the Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts. It is the world's busiest rai ...
. The southern half of this area and of the station in fact belong to
Yoyogi and
Sendagaya districts of the neighboring
Shibuya
Shibuya ( 渋谷 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern half) and Shibuya Station.
As of April 1 ...
ward.
Geography
Shinjuku is surrounded by
Chiyoda to the east;
Bunkyo and
Toshima
is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Located in the northern area of Tokyo, Toshima is bordered by the wards of Nerima, Itabashi, and Kita in the north and Nakano, Shinjuku, a ...
to the north;
Nakano to the west, and
Shibuya
Shibuya ( 渋谷 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern half) and Shibuya Station.
As of April 1 ...
and
Minato
Minato (港 or 湊) is Japanese for 'harbor', and may refer to:
Places
* Minato, Tokyo or Minato City, a special ward in Tokyo, Japan
* Minato-ku, Nagoya, a ward of Nagoya, Japan
* Minato-ku, Osaka, a ward of Osaka, Japan
* Minato (湊), a neig ...
to the south.
The current city of Shinjuku grew out of several separate towns and villages, which have retained some distinctions despite growing together as part of the Tokyo metropolis.
* East Shinjuku (or administratively called Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku): The area east of
Shinjuku Station
is a major railway station in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan. In Shinjuku, it is part of the Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku districts. In Shibuya, it is located in the Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts. It is the world's busiest rai ...
and surrounding
Shinjuku-sanchome Station, historically known as Naito-Shinjuku, houses the city hall and the flagship
Isetan department store, as well as several smaller areas of interest:
**
Kabukichō: Tokyo's best-known red-light district, renowned for its variety of bars, restaurants, and
sex-related establishments.
**
Golden Gai: An area of tiny shanty-style bars and clubs. Musicians, artists, journalists, actors and directors gather here, and the ramshackle walls of the bars are literally plastered with film posters.
**
Shinjuku Gyo-en
is a large park and garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family in the Edo period. Afterward, it became a garden under the management of Japan Imperial Household Agency. It is now a nation ...
: A large park, 58.3 hectares, 3.5 km in circumference, blending
Japanese traditional,
English Landscape and
French Formal style gardens.
**
Shinjuku Ni-chōme
Shinjuku Ni-chōme (新宿二丁目), referred to colloquially as Ni-chōme or simply Nichō, is Area 2 in the Shinjuku District of the Shinjuku Special Ward of Tokyo, Japan. With Tokyo home to 13 million people, and Shinjuku known as the nois ...
: Tokyo's best-known
gay district.
*
Nishi-Shinjuku: The area west of Shinjuku Station, historically known as Yodobashi, is home to Tokyo's largest concentration of
skyscrapers. Several of the
tallest buildings in Tokyo
Tokyo is the most populated of Japan's 47 prefectures. In Tokyo, there are 53 buildings and structures that stand taller than 187 metres (614 ft). The tallest structure in the prefecture is Tokyo Skytree, a lattice tower th ...
are located in this area, including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, KDDI Building and
Park Tower.
* Ochiai: The northwestern corner of Shinjuku, extending to the area around
Ochiai-minami-nagasaki Station and the south side of
Mejiro Station
is a railway station on the Yamanote Line in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
Lines
Mejiro Station is served by the circular Yamanote Line. It is one of only two stations on the Yamanote Line that do ...
, is largely residential with a small business district around
Nakai Station
is the name of two railway stations in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, served by the Seibu Shinjuku Line (station number SS04) and the Toei Ōedo Line (station number E-32) respectively. The two stations are separated by approximately two minutes' walk ...
.
*
Ōkubo: The area surrounding
Okubo Station,
Shin-Okubo Station and
Higashi-Shinjuku Station is best known as Tokyo's historic ethnic Korean neighborhood after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
* Totsuka: The northern portion of Shinjuku surrounding
Takadanobaba Station
is a railway station in the Takadanobaba area of Tokyo's Shinjuku ward, situated between the commercial districts of Ikebukuro and Shinjuku.
The station is a major commuting hub, linking the Seibu Shinjuku Line, Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line and Yama ...
and
Waseda University, today commonly referred to as Nishi-Waseda. The
Takadanobaba area is a major residential and nightlife area for students, as well as a commuter hub.
*
Toyama
Toyama may refer to:
Places and organizations
* Toyama Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on the main Honshu island
* Toyama, Toyama, the capital city of Toyama Prefecture
* Toyama Station, the main station of Toyama, ...
: A largely residential and school area, in the east of Ōkubo and south of
Waseda University, extending to the area around
Nishi-Waseda Station,
Gakushuin Women's College
is a private women's college in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; part of the Gakushūin School Corporation (学習院). The predecessor of the school was founded in 1847 by Emperor Kōmei. It was chartered as a junior college in 1949 and became a four-yea ...
and Toyama Park.
*
Ushigome: A largely residential area in the eastern portion of the city.
**
Ichigaya: A commercial area in eastern Shinjuku, site of the
Ministry of Defense.
**
Kagurazaka
is a neighbourhood in Tokyo, northwest of Iidabashi Station. It has a shopping street at its center, lined by numerous cafés and restaurants. It is served by Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and Toei Oedo Line.
History
The main road of Kagurazaka was o ...
: A hill descending to the
Iidabashi Station area, once one of Tokyo's last remaining ''
hanamachi
A is a district where geisha live and work in Japan. Each typically has its own name, crest, and distinct geisha population, with geisha not typically working outside of their own district. usually contain (geisha houses) and (teahouses whe ...
'' or ''
geisha'' districts, and currently known for hosting a sizable French community.
*
Yotsuya
is a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
It is a former ward (四谷区 ''Yotsuya-ku'') in the now-defunct Tokyo City. In 1947, when the 35 wards of Tokyo were reorganized into 23, it was merged with Ushigome ward of Tokyo City and Yodobas ...
: An upscale residential and commercial district in the southeast corner of Shinjuku. The Arakichō area is well known for its many small restaurants, bars, and ''izakaya''.
"Shinjuku" is often popularly understood to mean the entire area surrounding
Shinjuku Station
is a major railway station in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan. In Shinjuku, it is part of the Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku districts. In Shibuya, it is located in the Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts. It is the world's busiest rai ...
, but the Shinjuku Southern Terrace complex and the areas to the west of the station and south of
Kōshū Kaidō
The was one of the five routes of the Edo period. It was built to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kai Province in modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The route continues from there to connect with the Nakasendō's Shimosuwa-shuku in Na ...
are part of the
Yoyogi and
Sendagaya districts of the special ward of
Shibuya
Shibuya ( 渋谷 区 ''Shibuya-ku'') is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. As a major commercial and finance center, it houses two of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shinjuku Station (southern half) and Shibuya Station.
As of April 1 ...
.
Naturally, most of Shinjuku is occupied by the Yodobashi Plateau, the most elevated portion of which extends through most of the Shinjuku Station area. The Kanda River runs through the Ochiai and Totsuka areas near sea level, but the Toshima Plateau also builds elevation in the northern extremities of Totsuka and Ochiai. The highest point in Shinjuku is Hakone-san in Toyama Park, 44.6 m above sea level.
Districts and neighborhoods
;Ushigome Area
* Ageba-chō
* Akagishitamachi
* Akagimotomachi
* Babashitamachi
* Bentenchō
* Enokimachi
* Fukuromachi
* Haraikata-chō
* Haramachi
* Higashienokichō
* Higashigoken-chō
* Ichigayachōenjimachi
* Ichigayadai-chō
* Ichigayafunagawaramachi
* Ichigayahachiman-chō
* Ichigayahonmura-chō
* Ichigayakaga-chō
* Ichigayakōrachō
* Ichigayanakano-chō
* Ichigayasadohara-chō
* Ichigayasanai-chō
* Ichigayata-chō
* Ichigayatakajōmachi
* Ichigayayakuouji-chō
* Ichigayayamabushichō
* Ichigayayanagi-chō
* Iwato-chō
* Kaguragashi
* Kagurazaka
* Kaitaichō
*
Kikuichō
is a district located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Geography
Kikuichō is bordered by eight other districts of Shinjuku: (clockwise, from the north) Babashitachō, Waseda-tsurumakichō, Waseda-minamichō, Bentenchō, Haramac ...
* Kitamachi
* Kitayamabushichō
* Kōdachō
* Minamienokichō
* Minamimachi
* Minamiyamabushi-chō
* Nakamachi
* Nakazatochō
* Nandochō
* Nijūkimachi
* Nishigoken-chō
* Nishiwaseda
*
* Saikuchō
* Shimomiyabi-chō
* Shinogawamachi
* Shiroganechō
* Suidōmachi
* Sumiyoshi-chō
* Tansumachi
* Tenjinmachi
* Tomihisa-chō
* Toyama
*
* Tsukiji-chō
* Tsukudo-chō
* Tsukudohachimanchō
* Wakamatsumachi
* Wakamiyachō
* Waseda-chō
* Wasedaminamimachi
* Wasedatsurumaki-chō
* Wasedamachi
* Yamabuki-chō
* Yaraimachi
* Yochō-machi
*
* Yokoteramachi
;Yodobashi Area
* Kamiochiai
* Kitashinjuku
* Nakai
* Nakaochiai
* Ōkubo
* Shimoochiai
* Takadanobaba
* Totsuka-chō
* Nishiochiai
*
Nishishinjuku
* Hyakuninmachi
* Kabukichō
*
* Shinjuku
*
* Toyama
*
* Nishiwaseda
*
* Yochō-chō
*
;Yotsuya Area
* Aisumichō
* Arakimachi
*
Daikyōmachi
* Funamachi
* Kabukichō
*
*
Kasumigaokachō
* Katamachi
* Minamimotomachi
* Naitōchō
* Samonmachi
*
Shinanomachi
is a district of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while exte ...
* Shinjuku
*
* Sugamachi
* Wakaba
* Yotsuya
* Yotsuyahonshiochō
* Yotsuyasakamachi
* Yotsuyasaneichō
History
In 1634, during the
Edo period
The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...
, as the outer moat of the
Edo Castle
is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan in Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. In modern times it is part of the Tokyo Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo and is therefore also known as .
Tokugawa Ieyasu established the ...
was built, a number of temples and shrines moved to the Yotsuya area on the western edge of Shinjuku. In 1698, Naitō-Shinjuku had developed as a new (shin) station (
shuku or juku) on the
Kōshū Kaidō
The was one of the five routes of the Edo period. It was built to connect Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kai Province in modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The route continues from there to connect with the Nakasendō's Shimosuwa-shuku in Na ...
, one of the major
highways
A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...
of that era. Naitō was the family name of a ''
daimyō
were powerful Japanese magnates, feudal lords who, from the 10th century to the early Meiji era, Meiji period in the middle 19th century, ruled most of Japan from their vast, hereditary land holdings. They were subordinate to the shogun and n ...
'' whose mansion stood in the area; his land is now a public park, the Shinjuku Gyoen. In 1898, the Yodobashi Water Purification Plant, the city's first modern water treatment facility, was built in the area that is now between the park and the train station.
In 1920, the town of Naitō-Shinjuku, which comprised large parts of present-day Shinjuku (the neighbourhood, not the municipality), parts of
Nishi-Shinjuku and
Kabukichō was integrated into
Tokyo City
was a Cities of Japan, municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo Prefecture (1868–1943), Tokyo-fu which existed from 1 May 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on 1 July 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by ...
. Shinjuku began to develop into its current form after the
Great Kantō Earthquake
Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements
* Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size
* Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent
People
* List of people known as "the Great"
*Artel Great (born ...
in 1923, since the seismically stable area largely escaped the devastation. Consequently, West Shinjuku is one of the few areas in Tokyo with many
skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Modern sources currently define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition. Skyscrapers are very tall high-ris ...
s.
The
Tokyo air raids from May to August 1945 destroyed almost 90% of the buildings in the area in and around Shinjuku Station. The pre-war form of Shinjuku, and the rest of Tokyo, for that matter, was retained after the war because the roads and rails, damaged as they were, remained, and these formed the heart of the Shinjuku in the post-war construction. Only in Kabuki-cho was a grand reconstruction plan put into action.
The present ward was established on March 15, 1947 with the merger of the former wards of Yotsuya, Ushigome, and Yodobashi. It served as part of the
athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competiti ...
50 km walk and marathon course during the
1964 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 ( ja, 東京1964), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this ho ...
. In the 1970s, the Yodobashi Water Purification Plant closed and was replaced by skyscrapers.
In 1991, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government moved from the
Marunouchi
Marunouchi () is a commercial district of Tokyo located in Chiyoda between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace. The name, meaning "inside the circle", derives from its location within the palace's outer moat. It is also Tokyo's financial di ...
district of
Chiyoda to the current building in Shinjuku. (The
Tokyo International Forum
The is a multi-purpose exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan. The complex is generally considered to be in the Yūrakuchō business district, being adjacent to Yūrakuchō Station, but it is administratively in the Marunouchi district.
Tokyo Int ...
stands on the former site vacated by the government.)
Economy
The area surrounding Shinjuku Station is a major economic hub of Tokyo. Many companies have their headquarters or Tokyo offices in this area, including regional telephone operator
NTT East, global camera and medical device manufacturer
Olympus Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscopes and thermometers. Olympus holds roughly a 70-percent share of the global endoscope market, estimated ...
, electronics giant
Seiko Epson, video game developer
Square Enix
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate, best known for its ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', ''Star Ocean'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'' role-playing video game ...
, fast food chains
McDonald's Japan and
Yoshinoya, travel agency
H.I.S.,
Subaru Corporation (
Subaru
( or ; ) is the automaker, automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate (company), conglomerate Subaru Corporation (formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries), the Automotive industry#By manufacturer, twenty-first ...
), railway operator
Odakyu Electric Railway, construction giants
Taisei Corporation and
Kumagai Gumi, medical equipment manufacturer
Nihon Kohden,
, navigation software company
Jorudan is a Japanese company headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It has been involved in the publishing and developing of video games since 1991, and is currently primarily known for operating jorudan.co.jp, a public transport route navigation website. , instant noodle giant
Nissin Foods, automotive components manufacturer
Keihin Corporation, and regional airline
Airtransse. The station area also hosts numerous major retailers such as
Isetan,
Takashimaya,
Marui
is a Japanese multinational retail company which operates a chain of department stores in Tokyo as well in other major Japanese cities. They are best known for their women's fashion and accessories, which are aimed at the 25–35 age range. ...
,
Bic Camera
is a consumer electronics retailer chain in Japan. Currently, it has 41 stores in Japan. Bic Camera has a 50% ownership of former rival store Kojima and full ownership of computer store chain Sofmap.
As of 2018, Bic Camera is the third largest ...
,
Yodobashi Camera
is a major Japanese retail chain specializing in electronics, PCs, cameras and photographic equipment.
Yodobashi Camera's sales rank fourth among consumer electronics mass retailers in Japan, after Yamada Denki, Bic Camera and the EDION Gro ...
and
Yamada Denki
is one of the largest consumer electronics retailer chains in Japan. Some of its stores also sell other products, such as books.
Overview
The company was founded in 1973 as a privately owned store. Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. was established in 1 ...
.
Northeastern Shinjuku has an active publishing industry and is home to the publishers
Shinchosha
is a publisher founded in 1896 in Japan and headquartered in Yaraichō, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Shinchosha is one of the sponsors of the Japan Fantasy Novel Award.
Books
* Haruki Murakami: ''Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World'' (1985), ...
and
Futabasha. The main store of the
Books Kinokuniya
is a Japanese bookstore chain operated by , founded in 1927, with its first store located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Its name translates to "Bookstore of Kii Province". The company has its headquarters in Meguro, Tokyo.
One of the company's g ...
bookstore chain is also located in Shinjuku.
Demographics
As of December 2017 Shinjuku had the highest concentration of non-Japanese citizens in Japan, and by 2012 people of Chinese citizenship became the most numerous foreign citizens in Shinjuku. Previously the most common citizenship was collectively those of North and South Korea.
Government and politics
Like the other
special wards of Tokyo, Shinjuku has a status equivalent to that of a
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
. The current mayor is Kenichi Yoshizumi. The consists of 38 elected members; the
Liberal Democratic Party and
New Komeitō Party
, formerly New Komeito and abbreviated NKP, is a conservative political party in Japan founded by lay members of the Buddhist Japanese new religious movement Soka Gakkai in 1964. Since 2012, it has served in government as the junior coalitio ...
together currently hold a majority. The
Democratic Party of Japan
The was a centristThe Democratic Party of Japan was widely described as centrist:
*
*
*
*
*
*
* to centre-left liberal or social-liberal political party in Japan from 1998 to 2016.
The party's origins lie in the previous Democratic Part ...
,
Japanese Communist Party
The is a left-wing to far-left political party in Japan. With approximately 270,000 members belonging to 18,000 branches, it is one of the largest non-governing communist parties in the world.
The party advocates the establishment of a democr ...
and the
Social Democratic Party
The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology.
Active parties
For ...
are also represented together with four
independents. Shinjuku's is located on the southeastern edge of Kabukichō.
Shinjuku is also the location of the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The governor's office, the metropolitan assembly chamber, and all administrative head offices are located in the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
The , also referred to as the for short, is the seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which governs the special wards, cities, towns, and villages that constitute the Tokyo Metropolis.
Located in Shinjuku ward, the building was designed b ...
. Technically, Shinjuku is therefore the
prefectural capital
A prefectural capital is a city where a prefectural government and assembly is located.
Japan
In Japan, a prefectural capital is officially called , but the term is also used ().
List of Japanese prefectural capitals
Notes: ¹
Non-capital ...
of
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
; but according to a statement by the governor's office, Tokyo (the – as administrative unit: former –
Tokyo City
was a Cities of Japan, municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo Prefecture (1868–1943), Tokyo-fu which existed from 1 May 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on 1 July 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by ...
, the area of today's 23
special wards collectively) can usually be considered the capital of Tokyo (prefecture/"Metropolis") for geographical purposes. The Geographical Survey Institute (Kokudo Chiriin) names Tōkyō (the city) as capital of Tōkyō-to (the prefecture/"Metropolis").
Elections
*
2004 Shinjuku local election
4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures.
In mathematics
Four is the smallest c ...
*
2006 Shinjuku mayoral election
*
2007 Shinjuku local election
Transportation
Shinjuku is a major urban transit hub.
Shinjuku Station
is a major railway station in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan. In Shinjuku, it is part of the Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku districts. In Shibuya, it is located in the Yoyogi and Sendagaya districts. It is the world's busiest rai ...
sees an estimated 3.64 million passengers pass through each day, making it the busiest station in the world. It houses interchanges to three subway lines and three privately owned commuter lines, as well as several JR lines.
Rail
A list of railway lines passing through and stations located within Shinjuku includes:
*
JR East
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
**
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line ( ja, 山手線, Yamanote-sen) is a loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban ...
: , , Shinjuku
**
Chūō Line (Rapid)
The is the name given to rapid services on the eastern section of the Chūō Main Line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between and stations. The official map shows services travel as far as Otsuki.
Basic data
*Operat ...
,
Chūō-Sōbu Line: , , Shinjuku,
**
Saikyō Line
The Saikyō Line ( ja, 埼京線, ) is a Japanese railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Ōsaki Station in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Ōmiya Station in Saitama Prefecture. The line's name is an abbreviation of ...
,
Shōnan-Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku
*
Tokyo Metro
**
Marunouchi Line: Yotsuya, , , , Shinjuku,
**
Yūrakuchō Line: Ichigaya,
**
Tōzai Line: , , Takadanobaba,
**
Fukutoshin Line: , , Shinjuku-sanchōme
**
Namboku Line: Iidabashi, Ichigaya, Yotsuya
*
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
The , also known as , is a bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government which operates public transport services in Tokyo. Among its services, the Toei Subway is one of two rapid transit systems which make up the Tokyo subway system, the other b ...
**
Toei Shinjuku Line: , Shinjuku-sanchōme, Shinjuku
**
Toei Ōedo Line: , , , , , , , , Higashi-Shinjuku,
**
Toden Arakawa Line
The , branded as the , is a hybrid light rail/tram line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei). The Arakawa Line is the sole survivor of Tokyo's once-extensive Tokyo Toden streetcar system. It is one ...
: Omokagebashi, Waseda
*
Odakyu Electric Railway Odawara Line: Shinjuku
*
Keio Corporation
() is a private railway operator in Tokyo, Japan, and the central firm of the that is involved in transport, retail, real estate and other industries.
The name is derived from taking one character each from the places through which the railw ...
Keio Line,
Keio New Line: Shinjuku
*
Seibu Railway
is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism, and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviati ...
Seibu Shinjuku Line: , Takadanobaba, , Nakai
Roads
Shuto Expressway:
* No.4 Shinjuku Route (Miyakezaka JCT - Takaido)
* No.5 Ikebukuro Route (Takebashi JCT - Bijogi JCT)
National highways:
*
National Route 20 (Shinjuku-dōri, Kōshū-kaidō)
Other major routes:
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 8 (Mejiro-dōri, Shin-Mejiro-dōri)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 302 (Yasukuni-dōri, Ōme-kaidō)
* Tokyo Metropolitan Route 305 (Meiji-dōri)
Education
Colleges and universities
*
Chuo University graduate school
*
Gakushuin Women's College
is a private women's college in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; part of the Gakushūin School Corporation (学習院). The predecessor of the school was founded in 1847 by Emperor Kōmei. It was chartered as a junior college in 1949 and became a four-yea ...
*
Keio University
, mottoeng = The pen is mightier than the sword
, type = Private research coeducational higher education institution
, established = 1858
, founder = Yukichi Fukuzawa
, endowmen ...
Medical College
*
Kogakuin University
*
Lakeland College Japan
and VWU Global is a two-year liberal arts college located in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo, Japan and is a branch campus of Lakeland University in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. and Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
LUJ/VW ...
*
Mejiro University
is a private university in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1923, it was chartered as a women's junior college in 1963, and opened as a four-year university in 1994. The school also has facilities in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, including t ...
*
Sophia University Mejiro Seibo Campus
*
Tokyo Fuji University
*
Tokyo Medical University
*
Tokyo University of Science
, formerly "Science University of Tokyo" or TUS, informally or simply is a private research university located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
History
Tokyo University of Science was founded in 1881 as The Tokyo Academy of Physics by 21 graduates ...
*
Tokyo Women's Medical University
, TWMU, is a private university in Tokyo, Japan.
The University olso operates the Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital within the campus, as well as a separate hospital in Yachiyo, Chiba.
History
TWMU originated from , which was founded b ...
*
Waseda University
Schools
High schools
Public high schools are operated by the
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education (東京都教育委員会 ''Tōkyō-to Kyōiku Iinkai'') is the board of education in Tokyo, Japan. The board directly manages all of the public high schools in all 23 special wards, the Western T ...
.
*
*
Shinjuku Yamabuki High School
*
Closed:
*
Private schools:
*, private girls' school, affiliated with
Gakushuin University
is a private university in Mejiro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo. It was re-established after World War II as an affiliate of the Gakushūin School Corporation. The privatized successor to the original Gakushūin University (or "Peers School") was estab ...
and Gakushuin Women's College
*, private boys' school
*, private boys' school
*, private girls' school
*, private boys' school
*, private boys' school, affiliated with Waseda University
*
Meijiro Kenshin Junior and Senior High School is a private junior and senior high school in Shinjuku, Tokyo
is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) and ...
Elementary and junior high schools
Public elementary and junior high schools in Shinjuku are operated by the Shinjuku City (the Shinjuku Ward) Board of Education.
Public institutions
Libraries
Shinjuku operates several public libraries, including the Central Library (with the Children's Library), the Yotsuya Library, the Tsurumaki Library, Tsunohazu Library, the Nishi-Ochiai Library, the Toyama Library, the Kita-Shinjuku Library, the Okubo Library, and the Nakamachi Library. In addition there is a branch library, Branch Library of Central Library in the City Office, located in the city office.
Hospitals
There are several major hospitals located within the city limits.
* Keio University Hospital
* Center Hospital of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine
* Tokyo Yamate Medical Center
* Tokyo Medical University Hospital
*
Tokyo Women's Medical University
, TWMU, is a private university in Tokyo, Japan.
The University olso operates the Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital within the campus, as well as a separate hospital in Yachiyo, Chiba.
History
TWMU originated from , which was founded b ...
Hospital
* Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Medical Treatment Corporation Ohkubo Hospital
Cultural centers
Museums
* National Printing Bureau Banknote and Postage Stamp Museum
* National Museum of Nature and Science, Shinjuku Branch
* Shinjuku Historical Museum
* Tokyo Fire Department Museum
* Tokyo Toy Museum
Halls
*
Tokyo Opera City
is a skyscraper located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. Completed in 1996, it stands 234 metres (768 feet) high and has 54 floors. The tower is the third-tallest building in Shinjuku, Tokyo and seventh-tallest in Tokyo. The closest train statio ...
* Shinjuku Bunka Center
* Meiji Yasuda Life Hall
Sister cities
Shinjuku has sister city agreements with several localities:
Friendship cities
* Lefkada, Greece
* Mitte
Mitte () is the first and most central borough of Berlin. The borough consists of six sub-entities: Mitte proper, Gesundbrunnen, Hansaviertel, Moabit, Tiergarten and Wedding.
It is one of the two boroughs (the other being Friedrichshain-Kreuzb ...
, Berlin, Germany
* Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
* Ina, Nagano
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 68,177 in 27587 households, and a population density of 100 persons per km². The total area of the city is . In 2016, the former town of ...
, Japan
See also
* Citizens' Plaza, an urban space in Shinjuku
*Tourism in Japan
Japan attracted 31.88 million international tourists in 2019. Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular foreigner attractions include Tokyo and Hiroshima, Mount Fuji, ...
References
Shinjuku Ward Office, History of Shinjuku
* Hiroo Ichikawa "Reconstructing Tokyo: The Attempt to Transform a Metropolis" in C. Hein, J.M. Diefendorf, and I. Yorifusa (Eds.) (2003). ''Building Urban Japan after 1945.'' New York: Palgrave.
External links
*
Shinjuku City Official website
The Shinjuku Historical Museum: a nicely arranged museum with interesting exhibits of Tokyo's past
{{Authority control
Olympic athletics venues
Venues of the 1964 Summer Olympics
Wards of Tokyo