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日本語 
Even if you know nothing of Tokyo, you’ve probably seen images somewhere of an impossibly crowded intersection with hordes of people.
That was most likely Shibuya Crossing, the centerpiece of this Tokyo district bustling with people, shops, restaurants, museums, bars, and nightclubs. But beside that, what to do in Shibuya?
If you decide to make your way to Shibuya, you might find it hard to sift through everything and have an enjoyable time. What’s guaranteed, however, is that you will find something for your tastes, along with surprises and wonders. Here’s a list of 20 things to get you started exploring this stop on the Yamanote Line.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, read our comprehensive neighborhood guide to Shibuya!
What to look and see in Shibuya
Where to Learn and Be Involved in Shibuya
Shopping in Shibuya
Where to eat in Shibuya
Where to have fun in Shibuya
What to Look and See in Shibuya
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Once the traffic lights turn red at this intersection, swarms of people pour across the street in all directions. With more than two million users a day, this is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.
Find a corner somewhere down there, and watch. As the lights change, cars traverse the crossing, and yet more people bundle at the edges, waiting to repeat the scene.
You’ll have many opportunities to witness this in one day. You may even want to join the throng yourself, shifting to avoid bumping into others, gazing up at the skyscrapers and flashing billboards, glancing in the direction of booming music, and feeling small.
Hachiko Statue
This iconic meeting spot outside Shibuya Station is a statue of a dog. The story is that the dog, Hachiko, went to the station with his university professor master every morning, and went to meet him in the evenings.
After the master’s death, his canine devotee faithfully waited for his return outside the station gates daily. Hachiko eventually passed away as well.
Today, this landmark is where everyone from work colleagues, lovers, acquaintances, and swipe-righters meet to start their journey through this Tokyo district.
Views from above
Experiencing Shibuya Crossing might be thrilling, but get lost in awe for too long, and you could have an accident. For less frenzied views of the Crossing from above, the second floor of Starbucks is a popular choice.
Go even higher to the 11th-floor observation deck of the Hikarie building, and you might see Mt Fuji on a clear day. But at 229 meters above the crossing, the spanking new Shibuya Sky takes the crown, offering panoramic views of the city below.
It is located inside the Shibuya Scramble Square building, which has its ‘Sky Gate’ from the 14th to the 45th floors, leading to an indoor observation corridor, ‘Sky Gallery’, on the 46th floor.
Window shopping
If you’re able to hold off on actual shopping for a bit, have a walk around, and just look into the shops. Designer stores, vintage boutiques, trendy malls targeting a young crowd– it’s all here.
Shibuya is within walking distance of well-known fashion hubs, Harajuku and Omotesando. Cat Street, which runs between Harajuku and Shibuya has several thrift or vintage shops, and Omotesando has outlets for some of the world’s biggest luxury brands.
These include Prada, Dior and Louis Vuitton. Walking around also gives you a chance to soak up the changes in the atmosphere from residential, laid-back strips to commercially charged sections all but calling the yen out of your pocket.
Galleries/Museums
Murals and sculptures are a common sight in Shibuya. But the area also has some of the most well-known museums in the capital. Take a shortcut to visit all of Japan’s prefectures, and head to D47 museum in the Hikarie building.
This design museum holds themed exhibitions based on different aspects of the prefectures. Bunkamura, is an arts complex with a museum, concert hall, theater, and cinema.
Many of its attractions are currently closed, however, to be reopened in 2027. Tokyo Shibuya Koen Dori Gallery and Parco Art Museum Tokyo also hold regular exhibitions.
Photography Tours
There is a lot to see in Shibuya, and some people want to keep seeing the city’s sights even after they’ve left. Photography tours include those that give visitors insight into the best photo spots as well as camera techniques.
Some tours don’t require you to touch a camera once. All you have to do is pose with the city as your magnificent backdrop. Of course, you can always respectfully take pictures yourself.
Shrine Visits
Shrines might seem out of character for this cityscape, but contrasts give the metropolis some of its characters. Just four minutes on foot from Shibuya Station is Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, which has been designated a tangible cultural property by Shibuya City.
This shrine was where the Shibuya clan, from which the area gets its name, worshiped. There’s also the well-known Meiji Jingu, only a minute’s from Harajuku Station. Though surrounded by concrete and modernity, the shrine grounds comprise a 720-hectare forest with 234 varieties of trees.
Where to Learn and Be Involved in Shibuya
Learning Japanese at Coto Academy
Yes, Coto Academy is opening our fourth location in Shibuya! Our goal has always been to share the joy and excitement of learning Japanese with people from all over the world, and with this new location, we’ll be able to make the Japanese language learning more accessible than ever before.
Nestled in the heart of Tokyo, our new location is surrounded by options for entertainment and food, making it a perfect place to not only learn Japanese but also make new friends!
Our new school will be open in early autumn of 2023. While we haven’t accepted applications, you can inquire us at [email protected] — or better, join our waitlist for sneak peeks, school news and exclusive offers!
Volunteering in Shibuya
Want to start volunteering in Japan? Japan National Council of Social Welfare Volunteer Center is conveniently located in Shibuya! It’s one of the biggest volunteer centers in Japan! You can head to the volunteer center and discuss with the staff your interest in volunteering.
They’ll help consult you and introduce you to the right activities. There are a lot of volunteering opportunities, from cleaning public facilities to volunteering for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.
If you have hobbies like cooking, you can even make use of them (meal preparations, handicrafts, etc)! The process is pretty simple, but keep in mind that you might need to have some level of Japanese-speaking ability — and the right attitude to volunteer!
Shopping in Shibuya
Trend shopping
Shopping is by far the number one attraction in Shibuya, and the area has a reputation for youthful, trendy fashion. Shibuya 109 is historically seen as the place to get the hottest, newest fashions.
It has more than 100 shops on eight floors, selling clothes, shoes, cosmetics and various accessories, mainly for women. The men’s 109 has more than 40 shops selling mainly male fashion items, at fairly reasonable prices. Shibuya also has a lot of Japanese and overseas fast fashion brands.
Department Stores and Shopping Centers
Department stores generally have a wide variety of mostly fashion stores on their upper floors, and basement emporiums of fried foods, imported wines or high-priced fruit. There is also usually a restaurant floor with different types of cuisine. Seibu Shibuya is closer to being a traditional department store, and Miyashita Park, Shibuya Scramble Square, and Parco its more modern compatriots.
Seibu Shibuya
The Shibuya branch of this famous department store is located right in front of the Scramble Crossing. Luxury brands from all over the world along with the stores of some Japanese retailers can be found inside its A and B buildings. Cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, children’s products, food and even pet goodies, are all available over eight floors in each building.
Miyashita Park
Part of Shibuya’s redevelopment plan, this complex blends street stalls with high-end luxury. Once a public park in the vicinity of Shibuya Station, Miyashita Park now has an open rooftop lawn with sports facilities, several floors housing shops and restaurants, a hotel, and a ground-floor alley lined with eateries and outdoor seating.
The shopping mall section called, Rayard Miyashita Park, has about 40 stores from a mixture of popular and lesser-known brands. These include The North Face, Gucci, Adidas, and The Shibuya Souvenir Store.
Shibuya Scramble Square
Look around Shibuya and the tallest building you see will be this one. As one would imagine, a lot fits into 47 floors. Shops and restaurants fill up to the 14th floor, a community space takes up the entire 15th floor, and offices take up the rest of the space under the observation deck Shibuya Sky.
Parco
Also on the list of new buildings in Shibuya is Parco. This brand is a mainstay of the Japanese department store scene, but the Shibuya branch is just a few years old and is a little different from other locations.
First off, the basement food floor, Chaos Kitchen, is not the usual assortment of takeaway spots or depachika, found in Japanese department stores. It is an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants, including a vegan izakaya, a craft beer joint, and a traditional Japanese dessert stop.
If you’re a Pokemon fan, or even if you’re not, the sixth-floor Pokemon Center is worth a visit for its array of merchandise. This building also has a rooftop garden on the 8th floor, if you feel like taking a break from all the shopping.
Mega Donki
Don Quijote stores across Japan are known to be overflowing with a bevy of items from cosmetics to bedding to garden supplies. At affordable prices. The Mega Donki five minutes from Shibuya Station is just that multiplied by a lot. It is the largest of the stores in Japan. Spread over eight floors, it has everything you could need, ever. Another thing that sets this one apart is that it is a great stop for souvenirs.
Where to Eat in Shibuya
Culinary Tours
Shopping makes one tired and hungry. Shibuya, of course, has food from all over the world, unique restaurants, and places where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine. Get a taste of many different places without having to look them up yourself. There are a variety of day tours and night tours or pub crawls.
Japanese Food
Kaiseki ryori, or multi-course meals are one way to enjoy traditional Japanese food. Shibuya’s restaurants offering kaiseki include Imakoko and Sakuragaoka, located inside the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel. If you want sushi, you have your pick of a wide range of options.
Two well-known picks are Uobei where you can get conveyor belt sushi that doesn’t quite go around, and Gonpachi Sushi, where you can drink in views of the city while having your meal. There is certainly a lot more to Japanese food, so whatever your taste buds desire, look around Shibuya, and you’ll find it.
World Cuisine
Tokyo is known for having a high concentration of restaurants. In addition, cuisines from all over the world can be enjoyed here. In Shibuya, for example, if you feel for the flavors of South Asia, you might try Malay Asian Cuisine. For American chicken and waffles head to Moja in the House. Authentic Peruvian food can be had at Miraflores, and the list does go on.
Cheap eats and Sweet eats
Shibuya is a commerce center, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep much of your yen in your pockets, while still filling up on some yummy eats. Value options from family restaurants to sushi outlets and convenience stores abound. And if you want to skip a meal and head straight to dessert, Shibuya’s got you covered. Giant cotton candy cones, candied strawberries, and donuts with a question mark are just some of what awaits.
Where to Have Fun in Shibuya
Yoyogi Park
Located between Harajuku and Shibuya, Yoyogi Park is a sprawling green space where you can lounge all day. But you don’t have to. You can rent a bicycle and explore the park’s cycling path, you can walk or even jog its expanse. You may, however, find yourself watching with awe the various dance, performance, or martial arts groups practicing.
Nightclubs
If you come alive in the nighttime, Shibuya is where you may live your best life yet. Located just a few minutes from Shibuya Station, and offering breathtaking views of the city is Ce La Vie.
If you want to take the party elsewhere after Ce La Vie closes, Womb is open until 4:30 am. Branded as a club of electronic dance music and youth culture, including fashion, Womb is aptly located in Shibuya. Another party option is Atom, which has five floors.
Please keep in mind that you need to be at least 21 years old to buy/consume alcohol and enter clubs in Japan. Let’s be responsible!
Child’s Play
Children are not left out of Shibuya’s endless entertainment options. Much smaller than Yoyogi is Nabeshima Park, which features a playground and a pond. If you want to play indoors, the small and cozy Playground Shibuya Kids might be just what you need.
Or maybe you want the little ones to burn some of that energy climbing at PEKIDS Bouldering Studio. Afterward, why not put them to work creating their very own Kit Kat, which they can devour when they’re done?
Conclusion
There are many, many more than 20 things to do in Shibuya. You could probably do 20 things every day for 20 days, and still not run out of things to do. This sheer diversity of options gives Shibuya its reputation of having something for everyone.
