Shibuya

Shibuya is one of the main hubs of modern Tokyo. It’s a seething frenzy of shopping, dining and drinking. This is the place to come to experience Tokyo in all its glory.

[Shibuya Crossing: Osugi / Shutterstock.com]

Shibuya is probably the Tokyo you imagine when you think of Tokyo: It’s all neon lights, trendy Japanese teens in wild outfits, huge departments stores and crowds all the time. There are not many sights to see in Shibuya. Rather, Shibuya itself is a sight to see. The main activities here are shopping, people watching and partying. I highly recommend a visit here to feel the energy of modern Japan!

Shibuya Highlights

• Shibuya Crossing
• Hachiko Statue
• Shibuya Scramble Square

[Shibuya Crossing: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com]

Things To Do And See In Shibuya

Shibuya is not all about specific attractions — there aren’t many. Shibuya itself is the attraction. Thus, apart from one or two small art museums, the thing to do here is just walk around and experience the place.

• Shibuya Crossing (famous intersection)
  Shibuya crossing is the main intersection of Shibuya. It’s the one you’ve seen all the pictures of: thousands of pedestrians surrounded by huge shopping complexes and giant video screens. If you’re coming to Shibuya, you’re going to come here. Enjoy the experience of crossing the street with a veritable tide of humanity.

[Shibuya Scramble Square © Chris Rowthorn]

• Shibuya Scramble Square (entertainment complex)
  Named after the world’s most iconic pedestrian crossing, the 230 meter-tall Shibuya Scramble Square building towers over the trendy youth district. Head here for shopping and entertainment options galore, plus a fabulous panoramic view from the Shibuya Sky observation deck.

[Hachiko Statue: Punk Man / Shutterstock.com]

• Hachiko Statue (statue)
  Everyone knows the story of the faithful dog Hachiko who met his owner at Shibuya Station every day and continued to do so long after his owner’s death. They even made a movie about it with Richard Gere. If you want to know more, check out the Hachiko Wiki page. To get to the statue, take the Hachiko Exit (which is the same one for Shibuya Crossing).
• Bunkamura Museum of Art (art museum)
  Some excellent exhibitions are held here at this cultural hall on the west side of Shibuya. Most of the shows focus on 19th and 20th century European art. See the Bunkamura Museum site for upcoming attractions.
• Shibuya Parco (entertainment complex)
  From drag queen-run cocktail bars to high fashion shopping to Tokyo’s first Nintendo merchandise store, visitors will find much to enjoy in Shibuya Parco.
• Toguri Museum of Art (Asian ceramics museum)
  This small museum of Asian pottery located on a hill northwest of Shibuya is probably only of interest to serious fans of ceramics. Check the Toguri Museum website for details of upcoming shows.

Places To Eat In Shibuya

Shibuya is crammed with places to eat. Needless to say, you’ll find extensive food floors in all the major department stores and shopping complexes here. These are good places if you want a lot of variety and easy-to-enter places. Outside, on street level, you’ll find lots more to choose from.

• Han no Daidokoro Dogenzaka (Korean barbeque/yakiniku)
  This is an excellent place to try Korean barbeque/yakiniku on the east side of Shibuya. If you like wagyu, this is a must!
• Ganso Unatetsu
  If you love eel and you’re feeling adventurous, head over to Ganso Unatetsu in Shibuya. This hole-in-the-wall unagi specialist serves skewers using all parts of the eel from head to tail. Grilled over charcoal, it’s a real treat for eel-lovers!
• Ichiran (ramen)
  Ramen in a private booth! At this basement ramen specialist on the east side of Shibuya, you buy your tickets from a machine and then eat your ramen in a semi-private booth. The ramen is great: thick soup and chewy noodles. There’s a tiny bit of English on the sign.
• Milan Nataraj
  For delicious Indian food that’s vegan and budget-friendly, head over to Milan Nataraj, located a short walk from Shibuya crossing. Where else are you going to find vegan naan in this city? There are vegan, vegetarian, and garlic/onion-free options on the menu — something for everyone here!
• Priya Indian Restaurant (Indian)
  This brilliant Indian restaurant is a bit out of central Shibuya, but it’s worth the trip for some superb curries. Consider taking a taxi. If you go by subway, it’s closest to Hiroo Station.

Tokyo Holiday Essentials

Eat Like A Local In Shibuya

Want an even more adventurous eating experience where you mingle with Shibuya locals? Try these places.

• Echigoya Sandayu
  Echigoya Sandayu is a tasty, inexpensive teishoku lunch spot that’s open all afternoon in Shibuya. You can’t argue with that!
• Fukudaya
  A narrow back street in Dogenzaka houses some of the best soba noodles in Shibuya - a great lunch between all the shopping.
• Yakitori Tetsu
  Tetsu is a cheap and cheerful yakitori restaurant right by Shibuya Station. Just stick to drinks and grilled skewers - avoid everything else on the menu.
• Morimoto
  For an old-school yakitori experience in the heart of Tokyo, eat some grilled chicken with the regulars at Shibuya’s Morimoto.
• Uoriki
  If you’re in Shibuya and craving fresh, tasty sushi that won’t break the bank, look no further than Uoriki.
• Browse all Eat Like A Local In Tokyo places across the city.

Luxury Hotels In Shibuya

• Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  With a great location close to Shibuya Station, this beautiful luxury hotel offers relatively spacious and comfortable rooms and all the features you’d expect in a luxury hotel. And, it’s much cheaper than most luxury hotels in Tokyo.
• Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Directly connected to Shinbuya Station, this large and popular hotel is like an upscale business hotel. The rooms are large-ish and comfortable. And, the rates here are at the low end of this price bracket.

Mid-Range Hotels In Shibuya

• Shibuya Tobu Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Very well located in Shibuya’s shopping district, this standard business hotel offers very reasonable rates and decent rooms. It’s a good value.
• Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  With a central Shibuya location, attentive staff, great boutique style and comfortable rooms, the Indigo is one of the best hotels in Shibuya and a great choice for those in the market for a stylish upper mid-range hotel in Tokyo.
• Tokyu Stay Shibuya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Tokyu Stay Shibuya is a great little apartment-style hotel a bit of a walk from Shibuya Station. The rates are very reasonable and it’s a great value.
• Shibuya Creston Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  If you’re looking for a reasonable hotel in Shibuya and you like small-scale hotels with personal service, the Creston is a great choice. It’s close to the action but down a small quiet street so it’s nice and quiet.
• Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Super close to Shibuya Station, this well-run business hotel is one of the best mid-range hotel values in the area.
• Shibuya Granbell Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Just steps from Shibuya Station, this stylish business hotel is a very good choice in the mid-range bracket.
• Tokyu Stay Shibuya Shin-Minamiguchi
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Tokyu Stay Shinbuya Shin-Minamiguchi is a great little apartment-style hotel within easy walking distance of Shibuya Station.
• Dormy Inn Express Meguro Aobadai
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  If you don’t mind staying out on the western edge of Shibuya, you can usually get competitive rates at this decent business hotel.
• Dormy Inn Premium Shibuya Jingumae
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Halfway between Shibuya and Harajuku, this decent business hotel offers free breakfast. It’s an okay value.

Budget Hotels In Shibuya

• Hotel Fukudaya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  This ryokan-style hotel is a long way out from Shibuya Station (about 30 minutes walk), but the rates here are usually very reasonable.
• Sakura Fleur Aoyama Hotel
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Very close to Shibuya Station, this twee business hotel offers decent rooms at rock-bottom rates. But, it can be noisy and they don’t allow children.
• The Millennials Shibuya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The Millennials Shibuya is best described as a “boutique capsule hotel.” It’s great for those who want to be right in the heart of the action in Shibuya and for those who really want to meet other travelers.
• Book Tea Bed Shibuya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  If you’d like to try the capsule hotel experience, Book Tea Bed is a great place to do it. Located a short distance up the hill from Shibuya Station, it’s a friendly place that welcomes both men and women (something of a rarity).
• Hotel Lotus Shibuya
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Hotel Lotus Shibuya is a classic “love hotel” in the heart of Shibuya. It may not be the nicest love hotel in Tokyo, but it’s conveniently located in the heart of the Dogenzaka district and it can be booked online.

Shopping In Shibuya

• Tokyu Hands Shibuya
  For DIY, gadgets, curios and interesting gifts, this is your one-stop-shop in Shibuya.
• Nintendo Tokyo
  Gamers, rejoice: Japan’s first official Nintendo store is now open in Shibuya Parco. Here’s where you can pick up all the coolest Nintendo swag, from Mario-themed cushions to Animal Crossing bento boxes.
• Loft
  This popular youth-oriented department store in the middle of Shibuya’s “department store ghetto” is one of the best places in town to look for unusual souvenirs and lifestyle-design products.
• Tokyu Honten
  This vast department store is a great place to shop for gifts, food and fashion near Shibuya Station. Don’t miss the food floor here.
• Mandarake Shibuya
  For all your Japanese pop culture needs (manga etc), this is the place.
• Hikarie
  A vast shopping complex on the east side of Shibuya Station, this is a good place to browse a huge variety of shops and restaurants.
• Shibuya Stream
  Shibuya Stream is a shopping/dining/hotel complex very close to Shibuya Station. While not as appealing at some other centers in Shibuya, there are some good eateries and it’s worth a look if you find yourself in the area.

Nightlife In Shibuya

• Bello Visto (hotel bar with view)
  On the 40th floor of the Tokyu Hotel, this is an elegant spot for a drink and the view over the city is awesome.
• The Room (music bar/club)
  A friendly and fantastic bar near Shibuya Station, this is a great place for a night out in Shibuya. Sometimes there’s live music.
• JZ Brat (hotel jazz bar)
  In the Cerulean Tower hotel, this is a good spot for live jazz.
• Club Quattro (club/live music and DJ venue)
  Club Quattro is a Tokyo institution for major foreign touring acts and shows. Check out their site for upcoming shows.
• Womb (club)
  This vast club is one of the city’s largest electronica dance clubs.
• Aldgate (English-style pub)
  The Aldgate is a friendly “gaijin bar” where you can rub shoulders with other travelers, locals and expats over a few pints.
• Crocodile (live music pub)
  For some great local and international bands and the occasional comedy night, check out this popular club located between Shibuya and Harajuku.
• Club Asia (club)
  Another popular dance club in Shibuya. Check their site for upcoming events.

Where Are These Places Located?

• Open the Tokyo map
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
• If you’re using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.

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