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Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s youth hubs, so it’s a must-stop if you’re into fashion, fun food, or doing things for the ‘gram. But what else is there to do here? Is it worth visiting if you’re not 16? And is it a good place to stay? Our Shibuya area guide answers all of your questions.
Article by Helen Foster. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Where is Shibuya?
Shibuya is located in west Tokyo, a little bit south of Shinjuku.
It’s surrounded by other fun areas like Harajuku and Shimokitazawa, both hubs for trends, shopping, and all things teen Tokyo. If you’re traveling with teen girls, this area will be their happy place in Tokyo!
I’ll cover the sights of Harajuku in a separate post, so this post is just about Shibuya.
Shibuya is great for transport as it has direct access from Narita Station on the Narita Express, and you can change to seven different train lines in the rabbit warren, which is Shibuya Station. This is not as busy as Shinjuku Station, but it’s still a vast complex, so make sure you know which exit you need when you come to visit.
4 Sights Not To Miss in Shibuya
1. Shibuya Crossing
Also known as Shibuya Scramble, this crossing sees 2.4 million people cross it daily, and watching them from above is a fun way to pass half an hour – one of the best places to see the crossing is Mags Rooftop which overlooks the chaos.
Access to this is via the Magnet building north of the crossing, and the entrance fee is the price of a drink once you get up there. See more on their website.
2. Hachiko
Japan’s most famous dog has his statue in the main square outside Shibuya Station – and there are lots of associated Hachiko sights around the area.
If you’re a fan of Japan’s bestest boy, then head over to our special Hachiko post to see where to find these.
3. Shibuya Sky
The rooftop of ten thousand Instagrams, this viewpoint is incredibly popular at sunset – but, has good views the rest of the day as well. It’s a good idea to book in advance – but if you want to be up here at sunset, you have to book in advance.
The tickets go on sale two weeks before the date you want to visit and sunset slots sell out within a couple of days of going on sale.
Shibuya Sky is one of the best places to see Tokyo from above – but how does it compare to the Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree? See what we think in our guide to Tokyo’s best observation decks.
4. Shibuya Parco, 109, Loft, Hands and Tokyu Plaza
These are just a few of the must-see shops in Shibuya – although the word shop doesn’t really do them justice as they are shops within shops over many storeys. You can spend all day wandering around these and pick up everything from the latest Japanese fashions to cute stationary or (in my case) a massage stick that your achy muscles will be very thankful for!
But there are more than shops here – both Parco and Tokyu Plaza have gallery spaces/museums that have hosted everything from holographic Hachiko displays to the work of Banksy.
You’ll also find restaurants, cafes, and bars in the complexes. In Parco, you can visit the Mirai Sake Bar and try samples of different sakes or visit Campy Bar to take in a performance by one of Tokyo’s Drag Queens.
Over at Tokyo Plaza, you can have tea with Pepper the Robot at Pepper Parlor – and make him dance Gangnam Style, which was one of the many highlights of my last trip.
Once you wander into one of these, allow a while before you’re going to come back out, and you’ll probably have at least one bag!
Eating in Shibuya
The backstreets of Shibuya are full of small izakaya-style restaurants, and if you wander around the shopping district, you’ll find many fast food-style eateries – including innovative ideas like Oh My Dot – a ramen shop where you choose your own flavours and your final dish is mixed by robots – or the vending machine that only sells bananas.
You won’t go hungry around here – but, there are a few interesting cafes and restaurants you might want to seek out…
Torikatsu Chicken
This local secret is good if you’re craving things wrapped in crunchy breadcrumbs. They specialize in katsu cutlets and croquettes, and the set meals come with rice, miso soup, and cabbage.
They only take cash, and they are closed on a Monday. You also have to order at least two items from the fried menu (but it’s very, very affordable), so come here hungry.
Open 11am-8pm, Tuesday to Saturday. No website, it’s on Google Maps located in the area behind Mark City.
Kipposhi.
As I said, Shibuya is made for Instagram, and the blue soup at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in a Shibuya shopping mall snaps beautifully. But don’t be deceived—it’s also a delicate chicken broth with delicious slices of poached chicken, and you won’t be disappointed that you ordered it.
If blue isn’t your color, they also sell pink and green versions with slightly different spices. Open 12 pm-2.30 pm and 6 pm-8.30 pm every day except Wednesday. See more here.
Kumachan Onsen
Another restaurant you’ve probably seen on Instagram, this hot pot restaurant is famous because its soup broth is shaped like a bear that melts away as the soup in which he soaks onsen-style gets hotter – which is either unbearably (sorry) cute or highly traumatic depending on your sensitivities.
Only a set number of bears are made each day so it’s a good idea to reserve and get there early. It’s open 7 days a week, 11-3pm and then 5-10pm.
Need Extra Planning Help?
Our Japan trip planners can help. You might like our First-Timers Japan Planner, which will help you plan your trip to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka step-by-step, including tips on everything from picking hotels to sightseeing and dining. Or our super-duper Tokyo Disney Planner makes arranging your park trip MUCH easier. Find them in our Planners store – printable and digital versions are available.
Kiraku
Open in the Dogenzaka part of Shibuya since 1952, this is one of Tokyo’s oldest ramen shops, and the queues haven’t shrunk with time. The specialty dish is the Won Tan Ramen – they were one of the first shops to sell this in Tokyo, and it’s still a favourite.
Interestingly, people either love it – or hate it – here as the ramen isn’t traditional Japanese ramen, it’s a Chinese hybrid. There are only a few seats, so it’s very much an order, eat and leave restaurant – and the layout means it’s not pram or toddler-friendly. Portions are huge and cheap, though, which are major bonuses.
It’s open 11.30 am-8.30 pm but closed on Wednesdays. No website, but listed on Google Maps.
Pork Vindaloo Taberu Fukudaitoryo
They serve one dish – a pork vindaloo curry served on a bed of rice – but it’s good enough to have earned them a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award. It’s open from 11.30 am to 3 pm and then 5.30 pm-8.30 pm on weekdays. and 11.30 am-5 pm Saturday. See more at the PVTF website.
Where to Drink in Shibuya
Like Shinjuku, there are a few different drinking areas in Shibuya, the most atmospheric of which is Drunkard’s Alley – or Shibuya Nonbei Yokocho, which is full of small bars with just a handful of seats.
Because the bars are so small, they will usually charge a seat fee, some may prefer to serve their regular clients, and some might allow smoking, so just be aware of that.
One that is foreigner-friendly is the tiny, five-seater bar Tight.
If the bars in Nonbei Yokocho are a bit snug, then walk on over to Dogenzaka – this area is best known for its concentration of Love Hotels and, when I first went to Tokyo, more years ago than I care to reveal, had a sketchy reputation – but now, it’s a mix of local joints and up and coming bars so you won’t need to walk far to find somewhere welcoming.
If you like craft beer, Mikkeller Tokyo is a stop you’re going to want to make. As we’re more Japanese lager drinkers, we based ourselves around the point where Plaza Dori and Shibuya Central where there are plenty of inexpensive bars serving Asahi and other local brews. Our choice was the one on the left in the picture above – you can just see the word Katsuo on the sign.
Or for something different, head to Dagashi Bar. This is a fun Japanese idea where you can order alcohol but also get all-you-can-eat candy for two hours for a small seat fee. They also have other snacks if you need something to counteract the sugar. You must order at least one drink alongside the seat fee.
Lastly, a bar called Kotaro Shibuya has been voted the best izakaya in the world – although you might need a bit of help getting a reservation.
Should You Stay in Shibuya?
It’s definitely one of the top five areas in Tokyo to stay in. I’ve been to Shibuya a lot, but my last trip was my first time actually staying here rather than just visiting for the day. I enjoyed being able to wander around the area without having to rush and getting the opportunity to see it at different times of the day.
There aren’t quite as many hotel choices as in Shinjuku, but you can find options for all budgets.
I stayed at JR East Mets Hotel, which we chose for its slightly bigger rooms, but if size doesn’t matter to you, there are two fun capsule-style hotels in Shibuya.
The Millennials Shibuya offers pod-style rooms, while BookTeaBed offers more traditional, gender-segregated capsule-style spaces with an added literary theme.
I think Shibuya would be a better choice than somewhere like Shinjuku to try one of these as, while Shibuya aims at the young, it doesn’t have the same hard-partying image as Shinjuku.
If you have a slightly higher budget, then friends of mine who stayed at Shibuya Stream Hotel raved about it.
Top Tips for Visiting, or Staying in, Shibuya.
Shibuya is currently undergoing a lot of building work, which can make getting around a bit taxing as the hoardings make it very difficult to work out which way you’re facing. Make sure you know what exit you need to leave the station at.
This is particularly important as Google Maps doesn’t always work brilliantly around the tall buildings in Shibuya – especially, ironically, around Shibuya Sky and the Shibuya Stream area where Google is actually located! I stood outside their office one day, and it told me I was about three streets west! Allow plenty of time to get places in case you do get turned around sideways.
Shibuya isn’t an early morning place (find some suggestions for your Tokyo mornings here) – arrive here after lunch to find the most shops open, but also see the Shinjuku Crossing as it gets busier, or you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Early evening is when it’s at its most chaotic.
If you’re catching the bullet train before you check-in, or after you leave, your hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo Station is not the most convenient station for you. Use Shinagawa instead (look out for the Godzilla tile while you are there).
Shibuya used to be the heart of Tokyo’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and the best place at Halloween to see thousands of people in outfits wandering the streets, but the authorities have clamped down on both over these for the last couple of years so, pay attention to local news if you’re going to be here at either of those times. There may be restrictions on using the stations.
As part of this, the local Government plans to ban drinking on the street in Shibuya from October 2024. It’s probably not going to matter to most tourists, but if you’re traveling on a budget, and got used to buying a beer and watching the world go by outside the convenience store (yes, that’s a thing), check the signs to see if this has come in, and, if you see no alcohol signs, don’t try it here or you’ll get moved on.
So that’s our quick guide to Shibuya, if you have any more questions head over to our Japan planning group on Facebook to ask them there.
Who Writes This Blog?
My name is Helen Foster, and I’m a journalist and author. My travel articles have appeared in publications including The Australian, Escape, RAC Horizons, Jetstar Magazine, Sainsbury’s Magazine, and more.
I’ve traveled to Japan eight times before – solo and with my partner and visited over 25 towns and cities. My last visit was November 2024 so, everything here is pretty up to date.
