Takashimaya Times Square
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- JR Shinjuku Station · 2 min walk (JR Yamanote Line, JR Saikyō Line, JR Chūō-Sōbu Line)
- Hours
- 10:30–19:30 (department store); 11:00–23:00 (Restaurants Park)
- Admission
- Free
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Best time to go
- Weekdays before 12:00 to explore the B1 food hall and 12F–14F restaurants before peak lunch queues, or dusk for open-air views from the 13F White Garden terrace.
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
Standing as a landmark in Shinjuku, Takashimaya Times Square is a massive multi-story retail complex anchored by a premium department store. It is worth visiting for its unparalleled variety, spanning luxury fashion, a massive Tokyu Hands craft store, and Kinokuniya bookstore. Expect a sleek, bustling shopping experience complete with an excellent upper-floor dining terrace and a gourmet basement food hall.
What Japanese guides note
Navigating from JR Shinjuku Station is smoothest via the elevated Shin-Minami or Miraina Tower ticket gates, which open onto Suica Penguin Square and connect to the building's 2nd-floor terrace deck. The South Building functions as a separate structure accessed via the exterior 2nd-floor walkway. While the main department store levels shut down at 19:30, the 12th-to-14th-floor Restaurants Park serves until 23:00.
Details from local sources
- Although connected to Shinjuku Station, the entire complex is officially registered within Sendagaya 5-chome in Shibuya Ward rather than Shinjuku Ward. [source]
- The complex was constructed on the former site of the JNR Shinjuku Freight Terminal and opened on October 4, 1996. [source]
- The South Building's first through fifth floors house home retailer Nitori, while Books Kinokuniya Tokyo occupies only the sixth floor with foreign books and manga. [source]
- The 13th floor features the White Garden, a free landscaped terrace overlooking Shinjuku Gyoen and the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building. [source]
- Basement level B1 features Meika Hyakusen, a curated sweets department stocking confections from over 300 traditional confectioners across Japan, including daily regional deliveries. [source]
- The 11th-floor tax-refund counter charges a 1.55 percent administrative handling fee on tax-free merchandise refunds. [source]
- Subway travelers can enter directly into basement floor B1 from Shinjuku-sanchome Station via the Fukutoshin Line passage without walking outside. [source]
Insider Tip
Head to the B1 'depachika' food hall for incredible bento boxes and seasonal Japanese sweets perfect for a picnic in nearby Gyoen Garden.
Frequently asked
Which exit of Shinjuku Station is closest to Takashimaya Times Square?
Use the Shin-Minami (New South) or Miraina Tower ticket gates of JR Shinjuku Station. Both exits step out directly onto the pedestrian deck connecting to the second-floor entrance within a two-minute walk. From the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, use the direct underground connection on level B1.
Where can English and foreign-language books be purchased here?
Foreign-language titles, art books, and translated manga are located at Books Kinokuniya Tokyo on the 6th floor of the South Building. The lower levels of that annex (floors 1 through 5) operate as a multi-story branch of the home retailer Nitori.
Is the 13th-floor outdoor terrace free to enter?
Yes, the White Garden observation terrace on the 13th floor is completely free to enter. It provides outdoor seating surrounded by greenery with views of the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building and Shinjuku Gyoen, though it closes around 18:00 or 19:00 depending on the season.
How does tax-free shopping work at the Shinjuku store?
Shoppers can consolidate eligible same-day department store purchases at the dedicated Tax Refund Counter on the 11th floor by presenting purchased goods, receipts, and their original passport. Takashimaya retains a 1.55 percent handling fee from the calculated consumption tax refund.
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