Travel Guide
Introduction
Like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, Shibuya is one of the 3 representative entertainment areas in Tokyo. Shibuya is one of the twenty-three city wards of Tokyo. The name "Shibuya" is often refers to the shopping and entertainment district which surrounds Shibuya Station, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations.
Shibuya is a center for youth fashion and culture, and its streets are the birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. In addition to numerous fashionable cafés, bars, clubs, and dining spots, there are many Shibuya shopping venues including large department stores, shopping centers, and the store credited with originating the youth fashion culture. Shibuya is definitely the place to go to if you want to get the latest kawaii (cute) trends published in magazines.
During the late 1990s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English,[citation needed] a pun on both "Bitter Valley", the literal translation of "Shibuya", as well as bit, the computer term for binary digits.
Things to do
A prominent landmark of Shibuya is the large intersection in front of the station's Hachiko Exit. The intersection is said to be the busiest in the world, with the same kind of frantic hustle and bustle you would find in Times Square in New York City. The intersection is heavily decorated by neon advertisements and giant video screens and gets flooded by pedestrians each time the crossing light turns green, making it a popular photo and movie filming spot.
At one of the station’s exits is the Hachiko. A diminutive statue of a dog tucked away in one corner of the big plaza outside the station, best known as a meeting place and for the story. It is also the name of one of the many exits from Shibuya Station and the prime meeting place before a night out.
109 is Shibuya’s landmark, a fashion building popular among young people.
Center Gai is the narrow street leading away from the station to the left of the giant video screen, it's famous as the birthplace of many of Japan's youth fashion trends. Center Gai is jam-packed with clothing stores, music stores, and video game arcades. This is a great place to stroll and feel the Shibuya vibe.
Other things to do in Shibuya include visiting two rather unusual museums. The Tobacco and Salt Museum highlights the cultural and commercial history of these two products, and includes a rare and extensive collection of ukiyo-e (woodblock) prints, tobacco pipes, bags, and trays. The TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) Electric Energy Museum has free admission and many fascinating hands-on displays and activities that will delight children who won’t care that the museum is actually full of propaganda promoting the electric company.
Travel Advice
Hachiko
Hachiko was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Odate, Akita Prefecture who is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner which continued for many years after his owner's death.
In 1924, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachiko as a pet. During his owner's life, Hachiko greeted him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachiko was waiting. Each day for the next nine years Hachiko awaited Ueno's return, appearing precisely when the train was due at the station. Finally, when he himself died on March 8th 1935, many a heart was touched. He was given a huge send off and his body now rests in the National Science Museum. In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station.
Visit
| Address | Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo | |
| Phone | ||
| Admission | Free | |
| Hours | Free time | |
| Closed | Open 7 Days a Week | |
| Duration | 2 hours | |
| Getting There | By Train 1 minute walk from Shinjuku Station on Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Inogashira Line, Denentoshi Line, Tokyo Toyoko Line, subway Ginza Line or subway Hanzomon Line. |
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| Parking | Paid parking available | |
Attractions in Japan