SHINJUKU RAINY-DAY GUIDE
A fun thing to do in Shinjuku on a rainy day: one hour of rotating wanko soba, indoors
On a rainy day in Shinjuku, Kurukuru Wanko in Kabukicho is an easy indoor plan: it is on the 5th floor of a building a 1-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station (4 minutes from the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station).
The experience itself takes 40 minutes — Japan's first rotating wanko soba, all you can eat for ¥3,800 (tax included, walk-in) — so the whole visit fits in about an hour.
Open every day, 11:00–18:30 (last entry). No phone or in-person reservations — walk-ins are served in order of arrival, and you can book online (timed entry, ¥4,700). You can check the current wait on AirWAIT before you leave.
Updated: Published: Kurukuru Wanko
A one-hour rainy-day plan
- Check the waitBefore you go, check the current wait on AirWAIT.
- Walk 1 minute from the stationFrom Seibu-Shinjuku Station it is a 1-minute walk; from the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station, 4 minutes. Head to the J-Gold Building, 1-22-9 Kabukicho.
- Go up to the 5th floorKurukuru Wanko is on the 5th floor. Aprons are free to borrow — come empty-handed.
- 40 minutes of wanko sobaTake one-mouthful bowls of soba from the revolving lane, stack the empties, and see how high you can go.
- Back out into ShinjukuDone in about an hour, with the rest of the day still free.
Why it works on a rainy day
- Indoors: the restaurant is on the 5th floor of a building.
- Close to the station: 1 minute from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, 4 minutes from JR Shinjuku Station (east exit).
- Short and fixed: the eating time is 40 minutes.
- Open every day, including weekends and holidays: 11:00–18:30 (last entry).
- Easy for visitors: English-speaking staff every day; Chinese and Korean menus.
At a glance
- Time
- About 1 hour in total (40 minutes of eating)
- Price
- ¥3,800 per person (tax included, walk-in)
- Counter
- Standing counter, 12 spots (no seats)
- Age
- No age restriction (children not yet in elementary school eat free when sharing a seat with a parent or guardian, one child per adult; additional children or a separate seat are charged for one seat; elementary school children and older pay the adult price)
- Hours
- 11:00–18:30 (last entry), closing at 19:30, open every day
- Booking
- No phone or in-person reservations (walk-ins in order of arrival, ¥3,800 at the door). You can book online on Asoview, Activity Japan or Klook (timed entry, ¥4,700).
Good to know
- The all-time record is 925 bowls. Monthly champions (the top man and the top woman each month) receive ¥10,000 each.
- Halal-friendly (halal-aware staff always on site) and wheelchair accessible.
Access
- Address
- 5F J-Gold Bldg, 1-22-9 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021
- Stations
- 1 min walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station (main exit); 4 min walk from JR Shinjuku Station (east exit)
- Hours
- 11:00–18:30 (last entry), closes 19:30, open every day
- Phone
- +81-3-6265-9881
- Landmark
- 1 min walk from the Godzilla Head (Shinjuku Toho Building)
Online booking sites
Book a time on one of these online booking sites (¥4,700).
FAQ
- What can I do in Shinjuku on a rainy day?
- Try rotating wanko soba indoors at Kurukuru Wanko in Kabukicho — Japan's first. It is 1 minute from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, takes 40 minutes and costs ¥3,800.
- How long does it take?
- Eating time is 40 minutes, so a visit fits in about an hour. Waiting time depends on the day — check AirWAIT. When there are online bookings for a time slot, those guests are served first.
- Is it indoors?
- Yes. It is on the 5th floor of the J-Gold Building, 1-22-9 Kabukicho.
- Do I need to book?
- We don't take reservations by phone or in person; walk-in guests are served in order of arrival. You can book online via Asoview, Activity Japan and Klook (¥4,700 for a set time; ¥3,800 at the door).
- Is it open on weekends and holidays?
- Yes, every day, 11:00–18:30 (last entry).
- Are there seats?
- No. It is a standing counter with 12 spots.
See the live waitOpen in Google MapsStep-by-step directions
More guides
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