Shinjuku in September 2020 ー Shopping, Coronavirus, and Fall Weather in Downtown Tokyo

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  Let's start at JR Shinjuku Station, a huge labyrinth where more than a few have lost their way! It did seem less crowded than before, with fewer people milling around, but it certainly wasn't empty. Friends were chatting and making their way through the crowds, with the simple addition of face masks covering the mouth and nose. The most noticable difference in Shinjuku Station is the total lack of tourists! On the train itself, I ended up hopping on around 6 in the evening (during rush hour!) and it wasn't nearly as crowded as I've seen it in the past.

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  This paved area sits in front of the Flags shopping mall, home to Tower Records and plenty of trendy clothing stores, and even now it never goes totally quiet. People still mill around the space and pass through on their way to some Shinjuku destination or another, lining up for the escalator that leads to Shinjuku Station. But in recent years this spot has almost always been taken up by musicians busking or artists otherwise performing for the many passers-by, and now that COVID-19 has made that a rarity, the space seems a little too calm.

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  From this intersection we can see the scene at Lumine Est and BIC Camera's Shinjuku East store.

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  On another corner is ABC-Mart, a popular Japanese shoe store, open for business. (Across the street is Under Amour's striking Shinjuku "brand house."

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  Between the Uniqlo, GU, and BIC Camera in this one building, it's an easy place to empty out your wallet in no time! I've seen bigger crowds, but the streets are certainly not empty.

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  Finally, I finished up my little tour with a surprisingly quiet view of Shinjuku's Kabukicho area, usually a bustling center of nightlife. Godzilla looks a little shocked at the current situation!

Shinjuku 2020