Golden Gai is about a 10-minute walk from the east exit of Shinjuku Station. Hours of closing vary, but are typically 5 a.m., except for Sundays, when businesses start to shutter around midnight.

For those with a bad case of felinophobia, don't look up when leaving the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo or your worst nightmare will come true. A massive 3-D mikeneko (calico cat ...