Right in the heart of Shinjuku, Kabukicho is Tokyo’s buzzing entertainment district, packed with neon lights, izakayas, and over-the-top themed spots. Some guides make it sound off-limits, even calling it “dangerous” because of the Yakuza’s historical ties to certain businesses in the red-light district. But honestly? As a tourist, you won’t notice a thing—it’s perfectly safe to walk around and soak in the chaos.

One of Kabukicho’s most famous residents is the Godzilla Head, towering over the streets from the Shinjuku Toho Building. But if we’re talking about giant creatures, my personal favorite is the Shinjuku Cat Billboard—a 3D screen with a ridiculously realistic giant cat that pops up throughout the day.

Now, let’s talk about claw machines—because this is where I had to be physically dragged away from them. Fede swears they’re rigged, but I refused to give up hope of winning a giant Snorlax. Spoiler: Snorlax remains undefeated.

Anyway, this is the kind of place where you can easily lose track of time—whether you’re hopping between arcades, testing your luck on claw machines, or just staring up at the massive billboards that make it feel like daytime, even in the middle of the night.