Hilton Tokyo-Shinjuku Reduces Shuttle Bus Service By Two Hours Daily

The Hilton Tokyo in Shinjuku is one of the few hotels that still has a shuttle service between the property and Shinjuku but now they have cut back on the hours of the service, limiting the usefulness.

Previously some hotels have operated shuttle buses between their locations in large metropolitan areas and the city center, but that quickly stopped during Covid and many of them simply never came back.

The adjacent Hyatt Regency didn’t bring back its shuttle bus at all (and is currently undergoing a dreadful renovation while keeping operations open) so I guess one can’t fault the Hilton for making a small adjustment but still, it might impact guests with train transfers.

I realized the change this week when I was glancing over their schedule and saw that the last shuttle from Shinjuku Station to the hotel now leaves at 8:40 pm:

It always used to be an hour later. Likewise, they also cut an hour in the morning with the first bus now leaving at 9:12 am.

This used to be much different with more extensive hours, as can be seen on the old schedule:

So what they did was take an hour off in the morning and another hour off in the evening. Guests who enjoy an evening walk through Shinjuku will now have to either come back very early or simply walk to the hotel. Or take a cab which – admittedly – is cheap enough.

Likewise, if you arrive or depart by train at Shinjuku station, your times should now match the shuttle schedule, or you have to take a taxi down.

There is also the public bus, just in case.

I covered the bus situation in Shinjuku back in 2023 after the long Covid hiatus:

Hotel Shuttle Buses Are Back At Some Properties As Guest Numbers Increase

The shuttle was always a very useful feature when staying at either the Hilton or the Hyatt Regency. The bus at the Regency is gone for good, so only Hilton is left. The Park Hyatt is currently under renovation but I expect the minibus to come back as well.

Sometimes there are hotels that are a bit on the outskirts of the city center, but still want to attract travelers, so a shuttle bus is offered to maintain a transportation link and attract visitors (especially tourists). This is not the case in Shinjuku, which is very well connected even by public transport, but other destinations for sure.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many hotels have taken the red pen to their shuttle services and cut those in the name of Covid, but even after the pandemic was long over, some properties never put the shuttles back into operation. Thankfully, some did, just like the Hilton, even though they have now reduced the operational hours on the schedule.

If you’re looking for an alternative there is also the Shinjuku WE Bus that can be taken for 100 Yen and offers easy transportation around Shinjuku, in case you’re staying there. The public bus is 240 Yen flat, no matter how many stations you ride.

Should you plan to arrive or depart with baggage from Shinjuku Station and expect to take the shuttle, please pay attention to the new times!

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