Shinjuku – an absolute haven of Japanese madness. Here are the top eight fun things to do in Shinjuku.

1) Visit the robot restaurant

You may have seen various articles that include this. Don’t be fooled by the title, it’s definitely NOT a restaurant. But, it does have robots, dancing, traditional taiko drumming, strobe lights and popcorn (alongside other snacks and drinks). It’s a two-hour show with intervals, so you can nip to the loo or buy some snazzy souvenirs. I have been twice now; once with my family and again with a friend, and I didn’t get bored. It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Shinjuku, so check it out! Make sure to buy your tickets online for 5,000¥ rather than on the door for 8,000¥. Get yours here!

2) Visit the Lockup (Escaped Monsters) restaurant

Another great thing to do in Shinjuku – and this one actually serves food, and surprisingly tasty food at that! The highlight here is that the restaurant is themed to represent a prison. When you first enter, the waiter or waitress will ask your group to select one “prisoner”. They will then be handcuffed and led to your “cell” to eat while you follow behind (probably in a fit of laughter). The food and drinks are all themed too! For example, there is food in the shape of a crucifix and drinks that come served in test tubes. Oh, and there are also beakers containing floating “eyes”. Once every hour or so, sirens blare and escaped monsters rattle on the bars and invade your cell. It’s all good fun and great value for money as it’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink for only 2,800¥ per person. Find the restaurant here!

3) Play a live interaction spy game

inSPYre is a place that my friends and I often go to for a bit of a laugh. We also get an overwhelming sense of disappointment when we inevitably lose the mission set for us each time. From decoding to avoiding laser beams, you won’t be bored in this high-tension atmosphere. You get to transform into a spy and have to complete a mission in only ten minutes. It’s 1,000¥ per go (and trust me, you will almost definitely fail). Or, you can buy a bulk set of tries for a better price and try your luck… And still probably fail. But, it’s so much fun, you’ll keep going back for more! Click here for more information.

4) Visit a cat cafe

For those cat lovers out there, you don’t want to miss going to one of these! Here, you can sit and drink your tea or coffee while stroking or cuddling a fluffy companion. The cat cafe that I liked was Cafe Calico. This is because you can see the genuine care and affection that the staff and cats have for each other. There is also an option to feed the cats if you pay extra for special cat food. Some cats can’t have the food due to allergies and will be wearing little neckties to show this. Other less-friendly or ill cats will be pointed out to you by the staff so that you can either avoid or be extra careful with them. Find this place here!

5) Sing karaoke, Japanese-style!

When I first invited my mum to sing karaoke with me, she flinched and immediately refused the idea. This is because she hates the idea of singing in front of others. Enter, Japanese karaoke! Here, you are in your own individual booth so that only the people you go with can hear you. My mum had an absolute whale of a time and raved about bringing Japanese karaoke back to the UK with her. Alongside singing your heart out as much as you want for the time you specify (anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours or more – you choose!), you can also order food and drinks to your booth or cut your losses and get the all-you-can-drink menu for a night of karaoke madness. I recommend Maneki Neko! For a more up-market karaoke experience, complete with a course meal and the yummiest dessert ever, check out Pasela Resorts.

6) Visit a maid cafe

There are maaaany different types of maid café. For a typical cutesy Japanese-style maid cafe, I recommend checking out Maid Dreamin’. The maids serve you food and drinks and ask you to call them over by mewing. Before you eat or drink, you must say a chant with them and use specific gestures that they teach you. If you pay extra, you can get a souvenir or ask the maids to do a live performance in which they sing and dance. You can also choose your favourite maid and have your picture taken with her! There is a small branch in Shinjuku that you can visit here. However, I personally recommend visiting the branch that they have in Shibuya. It’s twice the size and has an actual stage for the maids to perform on! Check that one out here.

7) Godzilla

Godzilla is the official tourism ambassador of Shinjuku (I wish I was joking). He also spurts blue flames and steam out of his mouth every hour on the hour from midday until about 8pm. I recommend going to see him after dark so you can see the effects better! It is almost definitely not worth the trip to Shinjuku only for this short show. However, if you’re in the area, I recommend that you go and pay him your respects. Find him here!

8) Bar Champion

For an evening spin on things, I recommend checking out the best bar (in my opinion) in Tokyo. It’s a tiny standing bar run by fun Filipinos! It has traditional public karaoke where you can sing a song of your choice for only 100¥. The drinks at the bar are all super cheap too! It costs only 500¥ per drink and 300¥ for sake, which is served in traditional Japanese sake cups. They look like little boxes; make sure to sip from the corners or you may have some spills! For a crazy evening that can last all night long, definitely check this one out, guys. Find it here.

Related Post: Top 14 Things You Should Know Before You Visit Japan

Hope you enjoy Shinjuku as much as I do!

じゃあね,

Jade xxx