 | Tokyo Shibuya Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 50 |  |
Where once there had been tea plantations (circa 1880), Shibuya is now a very leafy shopping & cultural district. It is home to the famous multi-storied bright yellow Towers Record shop, the famous silver roofed Shibuya 109 department store with roof top video studio store, and home to numerous other international fashion brands. What's the pricing like, you might ask - it's more certainly expensive than the same item in HK, Singapore or Malaysia, but take note, the customer service is always excellent, whether you are simply browsing or seriously shopping. Change rooms are large, clean and there's usually a seat to rest your tired feet.
I was here on a Sunday morning and the streets (around Meiji Dori) was really rather quiet, with a few families seated at their favourite Cafe enjoying a leisurely breakfast.
The statue of the faithful dog Hachiko can also be found here- at one of the main entrances to Shibuya JR station (the entrance if named for the dog).
For those with a bit more time, check out the TEPCO Electric Energy Museum (Denryokukan: open Thursdays to Tuesdays from 10 am to 6pm) - it has 8 floors of electrical gadgets for curious adults and children to handle and play with. Leave a Comment |
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Shibuya is one of the many entertainment districts in Toyko.
Unlike others it is very much oriented for youthful people. Fashion is big and besides all the big department stores like Marui and Tôkyû you can find anywhere, one is very special. Close to the station is the 109 Department store. On its 10 floors all the latest fashion for girls can be found. Going through it as a tourist perfectly shows how Japanese people like consumption.
Famous is the Tower Records store which is in fact the largest record store in the world.
Other attractions are the Hachiko statue in front of the station and the striking Shibuya Crossing right next to it. It is said to be the busiest crossing in the world, with the most people crossing at one time. When all traffic signs turn red the whole crossing is filled up with a mass of people criss-crossing the streets. This gives a great spectacle best seen from the 2nd floor of Starbucks on the opposite side of the station.
What is more, are the many nightclubs and bars that are unlike Roppongi more frequented by Japanese. Another notorious feature of Shibuya is the Dôgenzaka-Hill with the biggest concentration of Love Hotels in Tokyo. Leave a Comment |
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The crossing outside of Shibuya station is a bit overwhelming the first time you experience it. Upon exiting Shibuya station you will see giant television style billboards and lots of people in every direction. Generally Shibuya is popular with Japanese teenagers.
Among the thousands of shops in the Shibuya area. Shibuya boasts many small specialty
records shops,
a gigantic HMV, and the
largest Tower Records in the world.
It would be easy for anyone to spend hours exploring all of the 8 floors of Tower Records .
Two major department stores, Seibu and Marui, are just as easy to lose oneself in. Both of these stores offer the best quality and most fashionable clothing possible. Also of interest is Tokyu Hands, a hardware store of sorts that encompasses every possible accessory for modern life.
In the area you will find also famous the
studios of NHK,
the Olympic gymnasium,
"Love Hotel Hill"
"Hachiko"
The building with "Shibuya 109", its a landmark.... The "109" name is clever. The Japanese word for 10 (ten) is "to", for 9 (nine) is "kyu". Join the two words together and you get "Tokyu"...:)
For entertainment most clubs and concert venues are located in the winding streets of the Dogen-zaka area of Shibuya. While classical concerts and museum expositions can be found at the Bunkamura center
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Because of the area where we were staying and because we were not traveling at rush hour, I was surprised at how relatively calm Tokyo seemed. (Compared to the popular image) It didn't seem anymore frantic than NY or other major cities. I did have a brief moment of the insantiy though when I popped out of the Metro station at Shibuya. Imagine Times Square neon and multi-street intersection with crowds, traffic, neon, subways, shops, video on a slightly smaller and closer scale and then image that the billboards all have sound. The resulting Cacaphony is impressive and wierd. Especially during a sunny day where it all seem disconcerting. I am 100% certain that without Shibuya, there could be no opening scene of Blade Runner. It's kind of cool and a good place to hang out watch people, shop, grab an inexpensive bit or coffee. |
Just outside Shibuya station is an intersection that is supposedly the world's busiest. And from what I saw on a Friday night there, I wouldn't doubt it one bit. Every three minutes the traffic lights turn red in all directions, allowing a freeflow of thousands of pedestrians across all at once. It's total madness and must be seen to be believed! Leave a Comment |
The statue outside the north exit of Shibuya station is a regular meeting point for Tokyoans (is that the correct term ?).
The tale is a bit on the weepie side (hankies at the ready), of a dog who for a couple of years went to the train station and waited for his master to return. His master, a professor, died at work - but the dog returned every day for 10 years.
This impressive example of loyalty really touched something deep in the Japansese soul - and the statue was the result.
The picture is not of the statue, but of the dog itself when it was alive in 1932
Photo: Akita-Inu Preservation Society Inc., Leave a Comment Directions: JR / Eidan Metro Shibuya Sta. |
One of the most popular places among young collage students, along the Streets are department stores, movie theaters, fast food stores, composing an amusement quarter, and offers a wide range of restaurants for all tastes and price categories. Leave a Comment Directions: This can be conveniently reached from JR Yamanote Line, Tokyu Line, Hanzomon Line |
Have you seen the pictures of really crowded street crossings? There is a great chance that the crossing in the picture was the one in front of Shibuya station.
Before going on into the rest of Shibuya, stay at the crossing for a while and amaze at the number of people that manage to gather before every walk signal. Talk about movement!
Also, this is the first place ever that I have heard stationary loudspeakers giving out commercial messages to the waiting pedestrians. Maybe this is a feature known to you (if you live in a megalopolis) but I haven't experienced this anywhere else...
In Shibuya there were also a lot of tiny restaurants offering Japanese fast-food very cheap. A great lunch tip for the budget conscious! Leave a Comment |
At the Hatchiko exit of Shibuya station is the world famous cross walk immortalized in Lost in Translation. It is truly amazing to watch. Hachiko is a very popular meeting point and you can people watch for ages. And yes if you wait long enough you should see the dinosaur on the giant screen. You can also cross the road and have a go at trying to get a window seat at the Starbucks. |
Shibuya is a place where a lot of the young people hang out. There`s lots to do, but I also got the impression that one should be a little careful when there. Leave a Comment |
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