Shinjuku - redevelopment and foreign tourists : May 29, 2025

I walked around Shinjuku area in a while. I found two major changes –- redevelopments of the area and increasing number of foreign tourists.

 

 

Many urban redevelopment projects – including a plan in Shinjuku -- are under way in Tokyo.

  The Odakyu Department Store building that stood above JR Shinjuku Station was demolished in 2022, and a new building is planned to be constructed by 2029. (See also the 2nd photo)

  

Redevelopment is also taking place around the station. Cranes are lining up all over the place. (See the top photo)

 

Some works are in progress inside the station. Some passageways and gates are closed and tentative ones are set. I found it difficult to find transfers in some places, and staff were directing directions.

 

The Alta building at the east exit of Shinjuku Station had a large display on the wall and was known as a cultural hub. This building was close in February 2025, and demolition work has begun. Redevelopment plans are under consideration. (The Alta building photo in 2021)

 

The number of foreign tourists to Japan is increasing. It reached a record high of 36.86 million people in 2024, and it is expected to exceed 40 million people in 2025.

  Foreign tourists were noticeable in Shinjuku as well.

 

The street in front of Toho Cinemas in Kabukicho was overflowing with foreign tourists. A guide was explaining things to group tourists, such as the Godzilla statue. (Se also the 3rd photo)

 

It seemed like there were more foreign tourists than Japanese people stopping at the east exit.

  The scenery in Shinjuku is changing every year.

 

Covid rules eased; people still wear masks： March 15-16, 2023

 

Japan on March 13 withdrew its request for the people to wear masks when they go out. The request was issued just after the outbreak of Covid 19 in 2020. Now, people are free to decide whether or not to wear masks.

The country also decided to downgrade the legal status of the Covid-19 from “Class 2” to “Class 5.” Class 5 is a category applied for seasonal influenza.

The easing is a move to follow the trends in European countries, U.S. and some other countries.

I visited several places in Tokyo after the request on masks was got rid of. I found that most people still wore masks.

Almost all people were with masks at the Godzilla street in Shinjuku. (See the top photo). The left photo was taken at Shinjuku Station.

 

The situation is similar at Tokyo Station. I found people wearing masks at the ticket gates (the 2nd photo), in front of the station building (3rd from the top), and in the main entrance (left).

 

This is a scene in Yasukuni Shrine.

 

There are, of course, some changes. People are allowed to root for favorite teams, instead of just to silently watch the games, in the sport matches.

Many people tooted for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic games held in Tokyo this week. 

The left photo was taken just before the game between Japan and Italy on March 16.

Most people were with masks outside the dome when they were waiting to enter (See the p2nd photo).  

More people visit restaurants and drinking bars.

With easing the rules, Japan entered into the “with-covid” era. People’s lives are changing gradually.

Kanda River Walk 2022 (3): May 4, 2022

I had the 3^rd day of my Kanda River Walk in the Golden Week holidays in 2022. Today’s walk was from Yodobashi, about 12km from the origin of the river, to Iidabashi, about 19km from the origin.

 

Yodobashi is quite near from the business area in Shinjuku.

 

The river flows between the buildings.

We can see Shinjuku’s skyscrapers over the river in the area.

 

The river goes through Higashi Nakano and Kami-Ochiai districts before arriving Takadanobaba area.

This photo was taken from the water reclamation center in Ochiai, where sewage water is cleaned. The river provides green spaces in the artificial towns.

 

There are many offices, shops and schools in Takadanobaba area.

There are paints of Astro Boy and other comic characters on the walls in the area. These characters are created by Osamu Tezuka, Japan’s great manga artist. He once lived in the area. The paints were drawn to commemorate him. (See the top photo)

Tens of carp streamers were tied across Kanda River in the area. (See the 2nd photo)

 

Street cars (the Toden Arakawa Line) run on the street which goes along Kanda River in the Waseda area.

 

I passed the Edogawa park area, where parks as well as nature rich Chinzanso Hotel locate. In the Edo period, the water from Kanda River was collected at this place and redistributed to many towns in Edo (Tokyo’s former name).

 

Huge highways were built along the river after the 1960s in the downtown areas.

 

This is a scene taken from a place near Iidabashi station.

Some parts of the river are covered with roads.

 

 

Kanda River Walk 2022 (2): Maｙ2, 2022

I enjoyed the 2nd day of my Kanda River walk in 2022. 

Today’s walk was from Eifuku Bridge (about 7km from the source of the river) to Yodobashi (about 12 km).

Electricity transmission towers stand around Eifuku Bridge. 

There are several schools along the river in this area.

I found many elder people joying local community activities, such as traffic control to guard school kids from accidents, as volunteers.

 

There is a reservoir at the cross of the river and the Ring Route 7. The facility was built to prevent flood disaster.

 

The river enters Nakano City from Suginami City.

 

There is a stock yard of subway trains around Nakano Fujimi-cho. (See also the 2nd photo)

Zanpukuji River, a tributary, flows into Kanda river in this area. i

Carp streamers were displayed in Hongo Fureai Park in this area.

 

I arrived at Nakano Shinbashi. 

The scene of skyscrapers appeared over the river. Shinjuku district is not far from here.(See the top photo)

Planes flew over the towers of Tokyo Metropolitan Government. I saw (and heard) the flight in every 5 minutes at the busiest time of the flights.

 

There are construction works of skyscrapers under way at Yodobashi bridge. It is about 10 minutes-walk distance from Shinjuku Station.

 

Tokyo scenes during the Olympic Games: July 23-Aug 8. 2021

 

The Tokyo Olympic Games were held from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

The games were held under the COVID-19 pandemic.

The competitions were played without any spectators.

Tokyo was under a declaration of emergency during the Olympic Games period.

People were asked to stay in their homes as much as possible and to watch the Olympic Games by TV.

People continued their new lives under the COVID-19.

There were a number of people walking in the Shinjuku district although it was less crowded than before (pre-COVID-19 era).

Under the declaration of emergency, people are only asked to stay home or refrain from eating out. The declaration does not have the power to compel people to do so.

We found several scenes related to Olympic Games in many places in the towns.

The competition results were displayed in a large screen at the Studio Alta building near Shinjuku Station. People took glances at it. (See also the top photo)

Not a few people gathered around the National Stadium to share the atmosphere of the Olympic Games. The photo was taken from a commercial complex in Shinjuku.

 

People gathered in front of the Equestrian Park. Equestrian competitions were held there. (See also the 2nd and 3rd photos)

 The competitions were displayed in a large screen placed on the audience seats, which people could see from outside.

 The Games ended on August 8 without serious accidents -- such as infection explosion or cyber attacks.