Shinjuku vs Tokyo Imperial Palace: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Shinjuku first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 93 for Tokyo Imperial Palace, and it has 346 ranked ways to see it versus 333. Tokyo Imperial Palace is the cheaper entry at £21, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Shinjuku in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Shinjuku in Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Side by side

Shinjuku compared with Tokyo Imperial Palace in Tokyo
ShinjukuTokyo Imperial Palace
Ranked experiences346333
Top Outty Ranking9695
Average ranking (top 10)9393
Cheapest experience¥900£21
Average time needed2.4h4h
Free cancellation100% of options100% of options
Free to visitYesNo

Best ways to see Shinjuku

  1. 1. Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (3-4 Stops, 14+ Tastings)

    Outty Ranking 96 · from ¥6,000 · 3.5h

  2. 2. Tokyo Shinjuku Chopsticks Making Class

    Outty Ranking 96 · from ¥900 · 1h

  3. 3. Tokyo: Shinjuku Historical Walking Tour & Secret Backstreets

    Outty Ranking 94 · from ¥1,000 · 1.5h

  4. 4. Tokyo: Shinjuku Local Bar & Izakaya Crawl Tour

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,000 · 3h

  5. 5. Tokyo Bar Hopping in Shinjuku: Free-flow, Full Dinner, Golden Gai

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥16,880 · 3h

All 346 Shinjuku experiences

Best ways to see Tokyo Imperial Palace

  1. 1. Tokyo Castle & Imperial Palace - Shogun Walking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥1,500 · 2h

  2. 2. Tokyo Guided Small-Group Biking Tour

    Outty Ranking 95 · from ¥16,500 · 6.5h

  3. 3. Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  4. 4. Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥6,600 · 4h

  5. 5. Tokyo Customized Private Tour See Top Attractions in 1 Day

    Outty Ranking 93 · from ¥3,700 · 4h

All 333 Tokyo Imperial Palace experiences

Frequently asked questions

Shinjuku or Tokyo Imperial Palace: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Shinjuku first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 93 against 93 for Tokyo Imperial Palace, and it has 346 ranked ways to see it versus 333. Tokyo Imperial Palace is the cheaper entry at £21, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Tokyo, pair them: plan Shinjuku in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Shinjuku or Tokyo Imperial Palace?

Ranked experiences at Shinjuku start from ¥900 and at Tokyo Imperial Palace from £21 per person. Shinjuku can also be visited for free; paid options add guides, skip-the-line access or transport.

How long do you need at Shinjuku and Tokyo Imperial Palace?

Experiences at Shinjuku run 2.4 hours on average and at Tokyo Imperial Palace 4 hours, so both fit in one day in Tokyo with a break in between.

Can you do Shinjuku and Tokyo Imperial Palace on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Shinjuku options and 100% of Tokyo Imperial Palace options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Shinjuku: Best of Shinjuku: Izakaya Food Tour (3-4 Stops, 14+ Tastings) (Outty Ranking 96, from ¥6,000). For Tokyo Imperial Palace: Tokyo Castle & Imperial Palace - Shogun Walking Tour (Outty Ranking 95, from ¥1,500).

More Tokyo matchups

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