How to Plan a Free Date in Shinjuku
Dating can be expensive. They’re a lot of effort to plan, too, and so often, when you’re looking for just the right person, it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money.
As for me, I went on a free date because I am poor af.
Well, whether you’re cautious or just broke, if you’re looking for free date ideas in Shinjuku, I’ve got you covered.
Places to Go for Free in Shinjuku
There’s actually some pretty cool stuff to do in Shinjuku for free.
First, we went to the observatory.
Shinjuku Observatory
The Located in the government building, the observatory is on the 45th floor. Here is what the buttons look like:
Guess the rest of the building is off limits lol
You get up there and it’s warm in winter because of all the glass and sunlight.
There’s seats up there, so you can sit as long as you want, and also vending machines and toilets. But if you’re using a vending machine, you’re doing it wrong. This is a free date, buddy.
Anyway, the view is amazing. You can see Skytree and Yoyogi Park and stadiums and all the crazy architecture Tokyo has to offer.
There are 4 sections, and each is labeled north, south, east, or west, so you can tell where you’re looking as you try to point out your favorite spots together. And don’t forget the photo ops!
It’s a great spot for a date.
Have a Picnic at Shinjuku Chuo Park
Next we had a picnic in the park. There were statues and dog walkers and college girls drinking wine out of plastic cups on a picnic blanket. There’s a Starbucks there as well, if you’re feeling boojie.
But if not, why don’t you break out that lunch you packed and have yourselves a lovely little picnic?
The spot we chose had a view of an art and design school with funky architecture.
It was a great spot for people watching, and what’s more, folks aren’t allowed to smoke. We actually saw a guy walking around telling people to put it out. So if you don’t like the stink cigarettes, Shinjuku Chuo Koen is the park for you.
Drink Lemon Sour and Walk Around
It’ll get dark next, and that’s when you want to go to a nearby combini and buy a few lemon sours.
Okay, I get it, the lemon sours aren’t free. But neither was your train ticket to Shinjuku. This is still basically a free date. And look at all the time you spent together! Some people like to go out to fancy restaurants, buy 800 yen coffees, and spend the evening at an expensive bar. But for all that money, you might not even be getting to spend quality time with your date!
That’s why I think going on free dates are the best, especially if they’re planned out well. But leave some room for spontaneity!
You don’t need to plan where you walk around after dark. There’s always a lot of crazy shenanigans going on in Shinjuku at the weekend — always some rowdy kids for you and your date to laugh at, a peaceful bridge that reflects the moonlight, or some crazy lit-up display to admire that you never even knew of before.
When all is said and done, with the right attitude, you and your date have a great time whether you spend loads of money or none at all.
