I'm planning on staying at Shinjuku New City Hotel. Is this a good location?

Question

I'm trying to find a easier location for me to get around the city. I want to go shopping, do some sightseeing and bar hopping.
This is their address
SHINJUKU NEW CITY HOTEL
31-1 Nishi-Shinjuku 4-chome,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo,Japan

Let me know if anyone is familiar w/ this location

And can anyone tell me phrases in Japanese I have to know before I go there.
I heard I wouldn't have a problem if I speak English but I want to be more respectful since I'm the guest in thier country.

Answer 1

Haven't stayed at this hotel, but the location is great!
Shinjuku is my favourite part of Tokyo... it has a VERY eclectic mix of people (really really really really really interesting), more fun in the wee early hours of the morning.
Shinjuku station is absolutely HUGE, but fairly easy to navigate.
Kabuki cho, is the 'red light' area (??) but I think it's the most fun area, there are some great clubs around there... sorry I cant remember the names.

Be aware of the crows at dawn, they make you feel like you're a part of a horror film haha. It just adds to the bizarreness that is Shinjuku.

There are lots of places to do shopping in Shinjuku, as well as in the station too.
Shopping in Japan is expensive... you might want to save some of your money for Korea, it's cheaper. However, Japanese toys are more fun to play with.

The joys of Shinjuku also are that you can basically get to any other part of Tokyo from there, including the airport... there is the express train (about $30) or you can be brave and take a number of trains (about 2-3) for half the price.

Harajuku is only two stops from Shinjuku and you can go to the famous Yoyogi park and see the kids all dressed up in their outfits, and then take a nice stroll through to Meiji Shrine. It's really surreal, a temple in the middle of the city, and you can't hear a thing. If you're lucky you will get to see a japanese style wedding there too.

Sumimasen= excuse me
............... doko desu ka= where is ............? (omit the u in desu)
Arigato gozaimasu= thank you (or you can just say arigato, if its a mouthful)
Konnichiwa= hello
Onegaishimasu= please
Ikura desu ka= how much? (Ikura pronounced: eekura, again omit u on desu)
Hai=yes
Iie=No (ee~eh)

Do your best to avoid taking taxis, they are the biggest cash blower I have ever known in Japan. Hmm you may want to avoid taking the trains at rush hour too.... normal times are a mission haha, ever heard of the 'train pushers'? People actually paid to push people into the trains, until the doors squeeze them shut, you may just want to think twice about taking lots of shopping with you... or a huge backpack.

Writing this is making me want to go back to Tokyo...........

Answer 2

The area is a good, safe and normal area. It is about a 10 minute walk from Shinjuku station. I am not familiar with that hotel, but since the area is mostly hotels and businesses, you will be OK. It is just adjacent to Shinjuku Central Park. Kabukicho is on the other side of the station, so you can do your bar hopping with a 10 minute walk. Shopping can be done anywhere. Shibuya is only 4 stops away.

Answer 3

Yes it is a good location.
Shinjuku is the most crowded part of Tokyo and is central to it all. Shibuya would probably be a little better place for shopping and nightlife but it's only a few minutes away by train, and if you are out past the last train it wouldn't be an unreasonable cab ride (by Tokyo standards anyways).

In Shinjuku, watch out for Kabukicho district. There a lot of "gentleman" clubs but it is run by the Yakuza. There are some fun clubs there and a good Irish style pub but you can get sucked into a hostess club and all of a sudden to you will have a tab of several hundred dollars or worse. And believe me the Yakuza has ways of getting their money.
Don't mean to scare you. I lived and partied there for 2.5 years and never had any problems and was never in and danger.

The most important word to know is "Sumimasen" (Sue-me-ma-sin). It means excuse me but you can use it in several ways. Use it to say thank you, I'm sorry, to get someone's attention, etc.

Answer 4

no