Introduction
Shinjuku Station’s underground passages can feel like a maze, but they are extremely useful. Whether it’s pouring rain or the sun is intense on a midsummer day, you can often reach your destination without opening an umbrella or walking under direct sunlight. In this Shinjuku UpDate feature, I’m sharing a practical, curated way to spend time using Shinjuku’s underground walkways—focusing on a few easy lunch spots, cafés, and shopping stops.
1) Shinjuku’s Underground Walkways Connect Stations and Major Shopping Facilities
Shinjuku’s underground network links multiple stations and lines, including Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station, and Shinjuku-sanchome Station, making transfers and short-cut routes surprisingly convenient.
Beyond stations, the underground routes also connect directly to large commercial facilities—useful when you want to shop without getting wet. The original article lists examples such as Keio Department Store, Odakyu Department Store, Odakyu HALC, Studio ALTA, Isetan Shinjuku, Shinjuku Takashimaya, LUMINE 1 & 2, EST, Marui (Main Building and Annex), and Bicqlo, along with their nearby exits.
2) Underground Dining Areas Are a “Food Treasure Zone”
Another advantage is how many dining options are concentrated underground. Shinjuku has several underground malls with a wide variety of food—curry, burgers, ramen, and international dishes—plus cafés for quick breaks.
Shinjuku also has several underground shopping areas—such as Shinjuku Subnade, Odakyu Ace (North and South), and Keio Mall—where you can choose from everything from familiar chain spots to more unique, independent places, all in one convenient zone.
3) Two Easy Lunch Picks Underground
If you want a relatively approachable and “hidden-gem” lunch option underground, the article narrows it down to two recommendations.
First is Café Haiti (Shinjuku Subnade), known for its long-running dry curry and coffee in a relaxed setting. It’s described as comfortable and easy to enter, with many solo visitors as well as an older customer base.
Second is PECK (Shinjuku Takashimaya B1F), an Italian food shop originally from Milan that sells deli items, cheese, bread, and wine. In the back, there’s an eat-in space (around 17 seats), where you can enjoy good-value lunch sets. The penne Bolognese is specifically called out as a standout.
4) Café Time and Shopping Ideas Below Ground
For café time, the article recommends choosing a spot with sweets you actually want to eat.
One featured option is Café Amati (Odakyu Ace South), a European-style café with antique furniture and softly lit, slightly dim lighting. The cinnamon toast is mentioned as a simple, comforting match with blended coffee.
Another is Papas Café (Shinjuku Takashimaya 7F), described as surprisingly open and airy for a café inside a commercial facility. The cake set has many choices (cheesecake, chiffon, tarts, and more), with roll cake noted as a personal favorite.
For shopping, the article gives a few purpose-based ideas that work well with underground access: a bookstore stop at Kinokuniya Shinjuku Main Store (reachable directly from the underground via Exit B7, with its first-floor renovation recently completed), furniture and home goods at Karimoku 60 Shinjuku and ACTUS Shinjuku, and a calming browse at AQUA FOREST (Shinjuku Subnade)—a tropical fish shop stocked with small freshwater fish and a large selection of aquatic plants.
Summary
Shinjuku’s underground walkways let you move, eat, rest at a café, and shop—often without stepping outside even once. On rainy days or when the summer sun is harsh, using the underground network can make Shinjuku noticeably more comfortable and efficient.
Looking for the original article in Japanese?
Click here to view the Japanese version on Daily Shinjuku.
https://daily-shinjuku.tokyo/2022/06/26/shinjuku-update-0626/
