Shibuya’s Tips

• Among the crowds at the symbolic Shibuya Crossing.

• Hachiko dog statue.

• The latest in fashion and shopping in PARCO and Shibuya Stream.

• Movies, music, books - try to immerse yourself in Shibuya's art scene.

The hectic and busy center of modern Japanese culture.

Shibuya is where you find the intersection whose photos you often see in fashion and travel magazines, a chaotic but orderly symbol of Tokyo and the energy from which new fashions and art come to life. Crossing the intersection along with the crowd dispersing in a thousand directions are several streets and lanes with stores, cafes, clubs, and restaurants. Shibuya is also enlivened by a vibrant independent art scene waiting to be discovered, but it is worth popping in if only to feel the beating heart of Tokyo.

Don't get lost in Tokyo

A trip to Tokyo cannot be called such if you have not been to Shibuya Junction to join the crowds that fill the space in front of the station every two minutes waiting to cross it. And to immortalize your visit, photos from above in one of the many cafes overlooking the crosswalk or, if you're fast enough, a shot while you're in the middle of it. Along with sushi and sumo wrestlers on the street, Shibuya is an experience no tourist can miss.

Shopping for fashionistas, creatives, and designers

The streets of Shibuya continue to dictate fashion worldwide, but the area is also famous for Shibuya109 and its young fashion stores, Shibuya Hikarie and Seibu and the vast selection of fashion and elegant dining, and again the Jinnan area and its many multi-brand stores. Shibuya, however, is not just fashion: for those who are or feel creative or are interested in design, there are the Hands and Loft department stores, while for those in search of original souvenirs, there is the giant and well-stocked Don Quijote.

Shibuya Sky and the entertainment district.

As might be expected from the dynamic and constantly changing nature of Shibuya, a large number of businesses have sprung up here in recent years. In MIYASHITA PARK you can sample local dishes from all over Japan. In Shibuya Yokocho there are many restaurants offering an expansive range of food specialties, from sushi and ramen to gyoza and yakitori, prepared by hand by kitchen artisans, sumo wrestlers' dishes prepared by former wrestlers, and karaoke bars. You can also be entertained in a variety of ways by live performances that take place daily and include magic tricks, music, and events too.

Situated above Shibuya Station, Shibuya Scramble Square is an emblematic new building in Shibuya, famous for its "Shibuya Sky" observation platform, which offers a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view from a height of about 230 meters.

The newly renovated Shibuya Park is also receiving attention as a center of cutting-edge art, culture, and cuisine. There are a lot of interesting things like stores, restaurants, galleries, a cinema, a theater, and even a floor dedicated to manga and video games, as well as a garden on the said. Finally, mention Shibuya Fukuras, a tourist information point and art center with a built-in bus terminal, and the commercial activities of Tokyu Plaza Shibuya.

At the center of the art scene

As with trendy fashion, Shibuya is also the center of a diverse arts scene with small cinemas that screen lesser-known Japanese and international films and often hold events and festivals. If you are looking for records, live music, and nightclubs, however, Udagawacho and Maruyamacho are the right areas. And for a quieter atmosphere among clubs, restaurants, and bookstores with a great selection of excellent books, there is the Oku-Shibuya area.

A new center for anime

Inspired by Shibuya's reputation as a neighborhood beloved by young people that aims to be more than just an international neighborhood, the Tokyo Anime Center at the "DNP PLAZA SHIBUYA" opened in April 2021 as a new center for anime culture.

A large number of famous anime and manga are set in Shibuya, such as "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls" and "Jujutsu kaizen - Sorcery Fight" with the episode "Shibuya Incident."

There are also areas dedicated to anime and manga on the 6th floor of Park.

How to get there

The nearest station is Shibuya (JR lines, Keio Inokashira Line, Tokyu Toyoko, Tokyu Den-en-toshi, Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon, Fukutoshin). From Shibuya Station it is a 20-minute walk to Aoyama, Omotesando, and Harajuku (15 minutes to Daikan'yama).

• From Haneda Airport: by bus (55 minutes) or train (45 minutes).

• From Narita Airport: by bus (1 hour 55 minutes) or by train (1 hour 40 minutes).

• From Shinjuku station: JR Yamanote line (7 minutes).

• From Tokyo station: JR Yamanote line (23 minutes).