Shinjuku

Shinjuku forms the west part of Tokyo. It is a secondary center of population and trade situated some 7mi (10km) from the center of the capital. During the Edo period (1603-1867) Naito-Shinjuku was a posting station. Nowadays it is one of the busiest traffic junctions in Tokyo. Shinjuku Station, serving railway and underground, handles vast numbers of commuters each day.

East of the Railway Station stands the second largest shopping center in Tokyo with stores and an underground mall. Above all, here is to be found the well-known entertainment district of Kabuki-cho with cafes, jazz cellars, discos, cinemas, theaters and galleries.

There are also several skyscrapers, which at one time were something of a rarity in Japan. Among them are the Keio Plaza Intercontinental Hotel (558ft (169m) and 47 stories; the Shinjuku-Sumitono Building (660ft (200m) and 52 stories; the Shinjuku-Mitsui Building (640ft (212m) and 55 stories. From the viewing platforms at the top of the skyscrapers there is a magnificent view over the city at nighttime.

The Shinjuku Park and the Waseda University with its Tsubouchi Theatre Museum are to be found in Shinjuku.