Short answer: 1. Unplan Kagurazaka is the one we send solo travelers and solo female travelers to, 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel is the best all-round backpacker base if you want to walk home from Golden Gai, and 3. The Millennials Shibuya is for anyone who wants a quiet pod and somewhere to open a laptop. Tokyo prices swing hard by season, so run your dates through Hostelz first and see what every booking site is charging before you commit to one.
Shinjuku is the Tokyo people picture before they ever get there. Neon stacked six storeys high, karaoke rooms that never seem to close, a pachinko parlour bleeding noise onto the pavement, and then two streets over, a shrine that clearly never got the memo about which neighbourhood it ended up in. That collision of loud and old is the part of Japan Shinjuku does better than anywhere else in the city.
Most people will tell you it’s one of the best areas to stay in Tokyo. We agree, with one caveat we’ll get to further down. Either way, that’s why we put this guide to the best hostels in Shinjuku together.
Our favorite hostels in Shinjuku are:
- Unplan Kagurazaka - best for female solo travelers
- Imano Tokyo Hostel - best for backpackers
- The Millennials Shibuya - best for solo travelers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
1. Unplan Kagurazaka
2. Imano Tokyo Hostel
3. The Millennials Shibuya
If you’re planning on backpacking Japan, we also have a guide on all of the best hostels in Japan as well as one on the best hostels throughout Tokyo.
We also have some suggestions on itineraries and things to do in Tokyo: Fun things to do in Tokyo.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
- Introduction
- All hostels compared at a glance
- 3 best hostels in detail
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here, and all our guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Shinjuku
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Shinjuku cost $14 – $32 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $94 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com. Hostelz pulls the price from several booking sites at once, which is the fastest way to spot the nights where one platform is quietly charging more than the others.
Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
One Tokyo-specific thing worth knowing: dorm beds here get booked out weeks ahead in cherry blossom season and around Golden Week, and the good ones go first. Shinjuku is not a walk-in-and-find-a-bed kind of neighbourhood in spring.
Hostelgeeks Tip: If your flight lands late, filter for a 24-hour reception before anything else. Plenty of Tokyo hostels lock the door at 22:00 and a Narita arrival can easily put you at the door well past midnight.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Shinjuku are …
Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Shinjuku.
- Unplan Kagurazaka – best for female solo travelers
- Imano Tokyo Hostel – best for backpackers
- The Millennials Shibuya – best for solo travelers
These are our favorite hostels in Shinjuku. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.
1. Unplan Kagurazaka
2. Imano Tokyo Hostel
3. The Millennials Shibuya
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | The Millennials Shibuya |
| 🤑 Budget-friendly: | Imano Tokyo Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ Female Solo Traveler: | Unplan Kagurazaka |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | Imano Tokyo Hostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | The Millennials Shibuya |
| 🏙️Nice City Views: | Unplan Kagurazaka |
Best Hostels in Shinjuku Compared at a Glance
Three hostels, three different trips. Here’s the short version before we get into the detail.
| Hostel | Best for | Vibe | Area | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Unplan Kagurazaka | Solo female travelers, couples wanting a private room | Warm, chatty, design-led, calm at night | Kagurazaka side of Shinjuku ward | A lounge people actually sit in, and staff who remember your name |
| 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel | Backpackers and first-timers in Tokyo | Social, easygoing, bar-led | Shinjuku, walkable to the station | 24-hour reception, in-house bar, entirely non-smoking |
| 3. The Millennials Shibuya | Digital nomads and light sleepers | Quiet, modern, pod-style | Shibuya, one stop from Shinjuku | Smart pods with under-bed storage, USB plugs and a silent alarm |
The 3 Best Hostels in Shinjuku, In Detail
1. Unplan Kagurazaka
Some hostels you recommend because they tick the boxes. Unplan Kagurazaka is one we recommend because of how often people message us afterwards to say they extended.
The crowd is the whole thing here. It’s the kind of place where people talk to each other, which sounds like a low bar until you’ve stayed in a few Japanese hostels and realised how many of them are spotless, efficient and completely silent. This one isn’t. There’s a lounge where you can sit with a drink or a home-cooked meal, and it fills up in the evening instead of emptying out.
The name is built around the idea of an unplanned journey: the detour, the scenery, the person you end up talking to for three hours. Corny? Sure. But it does actually describe the place.
There are dorms and private rooms, so it works whether you’re solo or travelling as a pair. What people keep mentioning is the attention to detail. Small things, done properly, over and over, until the place starts feeling like somewhere you live rather than somewhere you’re passing through.
One honest note: it’s in the Kagurazaka corner of Shinjuku ward, not in the neon part next to the station. That’s a feature if you want to sleep. Less so if you want to roll out of Golden Gai and be in bed in four minutes.
The best choice in Shinjuku for
- Solo female travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Imano Tokyo Hostel
Location is what earned Imano Tokyo Hostel its spot here. You’re properly in Shinjuku, which in practice means you can walk home from Golden Gai instead of doing the maths on which last train you’ve already missed.
The 24-hour reception is the other reason we like it. Staff are good for directions, for the “where do I actually eat tonight” question, and for letting you in at 2am without a lecture. There’s a bar downstairs if you’d rather not go out at all, plus a kitchen in the common area and a few extras you can add for a small fee.
Rooms have air conditioning, which matters more than you’d think in a Tokyo August. It’s also an entirely non-smoking hostel, and that is genuinely not a given in Japan. If you’ve ever walked into an izakaya and walked straight back out again, you’ll appreciate it.
A great choice for
- Backpackers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. The Millennials Shibuya
Right, a confession. The Millennials Shibuya is not in Shinjuku.
It’s in Shibuya, which is one stop down the Yamanote Line and roughly four minutes of your life. We’ve kept it in this guide because it’s a fantastic place and because plenty of people searching for Shinjuku actually want “central Tokyo, well connected, good bed”. This is that.
It’s a pod-style setup and the pods are the good kind: USB plugs, storage under the bed, a silent alarm that wakes you instead of the eleven strangers around you. There’s an open lounge and kitchen too, which is where the laptop crowd tends to end up in the mornings.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
The place is spotless, the staff are on it, and you’re standing on top of most of the things people come to Tokyo to see. The usual outcome is that you book three nights and then quietly extend.
If you want a unique hostel experience in Tokyo with interior design that’s clearly had money and thought put into it, this is the one to look at. Just know it leans quiet. It’s a pod hotel more than a party hostel, and if you’re after a common room full of noise, book somewhere else.
This is one of the best hostels in Shinjuku for
- Digital nomads
- Solo travelers
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
How to Pick the Right Shinjuku Hostel
Three good options, and the right one depends entirely on what kind of trip you’re having. Find yourself on this list:
- Solo female traveler: 1. Unplan Kagurazaka. Warm crowd, calm street, staff who look out for you.
- Solo traveler who wants to meet people: 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel. The bar and the 24-hour reception do the work for you.
- Couple or two friends wanting a private room: 1. Unplan Kagurazaka has private rooms as well as dorms.
- Digital nomad or anyone working from the road: 3. The Millennials Shibuya. Pods, plugs, and a lounge you can sit in all morning.
- Light sleeper: also 3. The Millennials Shibuya. Pod curtains and a silent alarm are a genuinely different experience to a bunk room.
- Here for the nightlife: 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel is the closest to Kabukicho and Golden Gai. For something louder, see our guide to the coolest party hostels in Tokyo.
- Groups of three or more: check dorm sizes before booking. Small Tokyo dorms fill fast and you can easily end up split across two rooms.
- On the tightest budget: compare all three on Hostelz for your exact dates. The cheapest of the three changes week to week.
Best Hostels in Shinjuku for Solo Travelers?
We think the best hostel here for a solo trip is The Millennials Shibuya. The facilities are some of the best we’ve seen in a Tokyo hostel, and it manages to feel cozy and modern at the same time, which is a harder trick than it sounds.
It’s well located and well connected to just about every train line you’ll need, and the staff will actually help if something goes sideways on your trip.
Alternatively, Unplan Kagurazaka is a terrific option, and probably the better shout if what you want from a hostel is people rather than privacy. Solo travelers who are nervous about their first night in Japan tend to do better there.
Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
More Hostels worth a mention
At the moment, we think you’re set with the hostels we just shared. We try to keep these guides genuinely up to date rather than padding them out, so if we find something that would improve your stay here, it goes in. Until then, three is three.
Cheapest Hostels in Shinjuku
Shinjuku is not the cheapest place to sleep in Tokyo. Beds a few stops out in Asakusa or Ueno usually come in lower, and if you’re counting every yen, that’s the trade to consider: cheaper bed, more time on trains.
If you want to stay in Shinjuku anyway, the cheapest bed on any given night is rarely the same hostel twice. Compare your dates on Hostelz, which checks the booking platforms side by side, and you’ll usually find the same room listed at a different price depending on where you book it.
What about the cheapest hostels in Shinjuku?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Shinjuku.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Shinjuku
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Discounts and Promo Codes
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Shinjuku best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
How to Book a Hostel in Shinjuku
Book earlier than you think you need to. Tokyo dorms in late March, early April and Golden Week sell out weeks ahead, and the ones left over at the last minute are left over for a reason.
Our usual routine: compare prices across platforms first, then book on whichever one is cheapest for those dates. Read the most recent reviews rather than the overall score, because a hostel that changed management six months ago is effectively a different hostel. And check the cancellation policy. Japan trips get rearranged constantly once you realise how much train time is involved.
Hostelgeeks Tip: Before you pay, screenshot the hostel’s address in Japanese. Taxi drivers and konbini staff can read it instantly, and it turns a fifteen-minute wander into a thirty-second conversation.
Need an eSIM Card for Shinjuku?
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All Hostels and Sights on a Map
Our Favorite Hostels in Shinjuku put on a map + sights
We’re listing all the three best Shinjuku hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.
Here are a few of the top things we like to check out in Shinjuku when we visit:
- Shinjuku Golden Gai (a couple of hundred tiny bars in six alleys, most seating six people. Many charge a cover, and a lot of them are cash only)
- Kabukicho (neon, Godzilla’s head on the Toho building, and the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower for food and drinks)
- Omoide Yokochō (yakitori smoke and counter seats under the train tracks, best around 7pm)
- Metropolitan Government Building Observatory (free, two towers, and Mount Fuji on a clear winter morning if you’re lucky. The north deck closes in the late afternoon, the south one stays open into the evening)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (small entry fee, and the best place in the neighbourhood to do nothing for an hour)
- Hanazono Shrine (a shrine sitting directly behind the red light district, which tells you most of what you need to know about Shinjuku)
- Yayoi Kusama Museum (open Thursday to Sunday, timed tickets only, and they’re released online well in advance. Book the moment they go on sale or you won’t get in)
- Zauo Fishing Restaurant Shinjuku (inside the Shinjuku Washington Hotel, and yes, you literally fish your own dinner)
- NTT InterCommunication Centre (for fans of media art, over in Tokyo Opera City)
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Best Time to Visit Shinjuku
Late October into November is our pick. Cool, dry, clear enough to actually see Fuji from the observatory, and the ginkgo trees around Shinjuku Gyoen go gold.
Cherry blossom season in late March and early April is the other obvious answer, and Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the best places in Tokyo to see it. It’s also when beds cost the most and sell out first. Worth it, but plan it properly.
Summer is hot and humid in a way that surprises people. June is rainy season. And avoid Golden Week (late April into early May) and New Year unless you enjoy paying more for less.
How Many Days Do You Need?
For Tokyo as a whole, four or five days is the realistic minimum, and you’ll still leave with a list. For Shinjuku specifically, one evening and one morning covers the neighbourhood properly.
Most backpackers base themselves in Shinjuku for three to five nights and day-trip out from there. It’s a good call. The station connects to almost everything, including Nikko, Kamakura and the Fuji Five Lakes.
Getting to Shinjuku and Getting Around
From Narita, the Narita Express runs direct to Shinjuku Station and is the easy option with a big backpack. The Keisei Skyliner to Nippori plus the Yamanote Line is often quicker and cheaper, at the cost of one transfer. The Keisei Main Line is the cheapest of the lot and the slowest. Airport buses drop at Busta Shinjuku, the terminal above the station’s south exit, which is handy but at the mercy of traffic.
From Haneda, you’re much closer. The monorail to Hamamatsucho then the Yamanote Line works, as does the Keikyu line, and there are direct buses to Shinjuku too.
Once you’re in the city, get an IC card (Suica or Pasmo, or the version on your phone) on day one and stop thinking about tickets. And a warning nobody gives loudly enough: Shinjuku Station is the busiest station on earth and has well over 100 exits. Ask your hostel which exit to use before you arrive. Getting out on the wrong side can add twenty minutes and a small identity crisis.
Hostelgeeks Tip: Last trains run around midnight, and taxis in Tokyo are brutal. If you’re out in Golden Gai past 23:30, either commit to staying until the trains restart around 5am or leave earlier than feels natural. There’s no cheap middle option.
Is Shinjuku Safe?
Yes, and by most standards it’s extremely safe. Solo female travelers routinely walk back through Shinjuku at night without issue, and violent crime is rare.
The friction is in Kabukicho, and it’s financial rather than physical. Ignore the touts on the street. If someone approaches you offering a bar, a club or a girl, keep walking. The scam is a bar with no menu and a bill at the end that bears no relation to what you drank. Stick to places you walked into on your own, and don’t let a stranger lead you into a building.
Beyond that: watch your drink, use the cash machines inside convenience stores, and be aware that Golden Gai’s tiny bars run on cash and cover charges, which is not a scam, just a system nobody explains to you.
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked questions:
What is the best hostel in Shinjuku?
1. Unplan Kagurazaka is our overall pick, especially for solo travelers and solo female travelers, thanks to a genuinely social lounge and a calmer street. 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel is the better shout if you want to be a short walk from Shinjuku Station and the nightlife.
How much does a hostel in Shinjuku cost?
Hostels in Shinjuku cost $14 - $32 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms averaging around $94. Prices move a lot by season, so check your exact dates on Hostelz rather than relying on averages.
Is Shinjuku a good area to stay in Tokyo?
It's one of the best, mostly because of the station. You can reach almost anywhere in Tokyo and most day trips out of it without a transfer. The trade-off is noise and crowds, so pick your street carefully.
What's the best part of Shinjuku to stay in?
Shinjuku San-chome is the sweet spot: bars and restaurants, easy access, less chaos than Kabukicho. Nishi-Shinjuku is quieter and full of skyscrapers. Kabukicho puts you in the middle of the nightlife and the noise that comes with it.
Are hostels in Shinjuku safe?
Yes. Japanese hostels are generally very secure, with lockers, key card access and staff on site. The usual advice still applies: use the locker, bring a padlock if one isn't provided, and keep your passport on you rather than in the room.
What's the best hostel in Shinjuku for solo female travelers?
1. Unplan Kagurazaka. The crowd is warm and easy to talk to, the neighbourhood is calm at night, and staff are attentive without being intrusive. Female-only dorms are common across Tokyo hostels, so filter for one when you book.
What's the best party hostel near Shinjuku?
None of the three here are party hostels, and Shinjuku doesn't really need one. Golden Gai and Kabukicho are the party. 2. Imano Tokyo Hostel is the closest base for it, and our guide to the coolest party hostels in Tokyo covers the louder options citywide.
Do Tokyo hostels have female-only dorms?
Most do, and many also have women-only floors with separate access. It's one of the things Japanese hostels handle better than most countries. Check the room list before booking, since female dorms sell out first in peak season.
How many days should I spend in Tokyo?
Four to five days minimum, and you'll still miss things. Shinjuku itself is an evening and a morning. Most backpackers base here for three to five nights and day trip out.
When is the best time to visit Shinjuku?
Late October into November for clear skies and autumn colour, or late March into early April for cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen. Avoid Golden Week in early May and the New Year period if you can, when prices spike and everything is full.
How do I get from Narita Airport to Shinjuku?
The Narita Express runs direct to Shinjuku Station and is the simplest option with luggage. The Keisei Skyliner to Nippori plus the Yamanote Line is often faster and cheaper with one transfer, and airport buses run to Busta Shinjuku above the station's south exit.
How do I get from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku?
Haneda is much closer. Take the monorail to Hamamatsucho and change to the Yamanote Line, or use the Keikyu line, or catch one of the frequent direct buses to Shinjuku Station's west exit.
Is Kabukicho safe at night?
It's safe to walk through, and busy until very late. The risk is bar scams rather than violence. Don't follow touts into venues, avoid bars with no posted prices, and you'll be fine.
Any questions about hostels in Shinjuku?
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Flights to Tokyo
Flights to Shinjuku?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More handmade Guides for you
For those on a longer voyage: check out our huge guide on the best hostels in Japan with itineraries, fun things to do in Tokyo, and all our 5-Star Hostels in Asia.
We also created more guides to help you in Japan:
- best hostels in Tokyo
- coolest party hostels in Tokyo
- best hostels in Kyoto
- coolest hostels in Osaka
- best hostels in Kobe
- best hostels in Hiroshima
- best hostels in Sapporo
- best hostels in Fukuoka
- Cup of Tea Hostel in Takayama – 5-star hostel
Other countries and cities outside of Japan include:
- best hostels in Taiwan
- best hostels in Seoul
- best hostels in Busan
- best hostels in Beijing
- best hostels in Shanghai
- top hostels in Hong Kong
- 6 coolest hostels in Hawaii
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Shinjuku guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
