I love all of Tokyo. But there is something so special about Shibuya, and I fall in love with it all over again each time I visit Japan. It is the birthplace of so many cool fashion trends. The sights and sounds just enthrall you at every corner. At night, it is especially lovely with everything all lit up. Billboards, giant screens running colorful ads, music all over, street performances…there is never a dull moment. Here are some of my favorite sights, activities, shops, and restaurants in Shibuya.
Table of Contents
Sightseeing
Meiji Jingu Shrine
One of the most well-known historical sites in Tokyo is Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. After passing through the main torii gate, a wide gravel path leads you through a forest of tall, tall trees. I felt totally immersed in the nature, and the sound of the cicadas in the trees provided a peaceful soundtrack.
Partway through the path is a row of sake barrels that are donated every year as offerings to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken.
Once you enter the main shrine area, you can symbolically purify yourself at the temizuya, a water basin with ladles for cleansing your hands and mouth.
The structures are beautiful, the majority of which demonstrate traditional Shinto architecture and were built using Japanese cypress and copper. It feels very spiritual to be surrounded by these structures.
For a donation, you can get a small omikuji scroll that contains waka poetry written by the emperor or empress. The poem I received was by Empress Shōken about how the heart should be as clear and honest as a mirror. You can also buy an ema wooden tablet or kiganbun letter to write wishes or express gratitude. The tablets are then attached to hooks and displayed around a large camphor tree. There are also omamori charms, talismans, and amulets for sale at the shrine to bring good fortune.
For an extra fee, you can visit the Meiji Jingu Inner Garden within the lush forests surrounding the shrine, which I wrote more about in a list of my favorite gardens in Tokyo. In the summer, more than 1,000 iris plants are in bloom within the garden. This is also the location of Kiyomasa’s Well, a power spot believed to give off positive energy.
Shibuya Crossing
No visit to Shibuya is complete without a visit to Shibuya Crossing, a giant intersection that receives a lot of pedestrian traffic every day. The intersection is surrounded by tall buildings and multiple video screens playing advertisements for new music, TV shows, products, etc. There is noise all around. The feeling of walking across the street full of neon-lit buildings in a sea of people while music and ads can be heard in every direction is a feeling like no other. You really feel like you’re one with Tokyo.
Center Gai
Just off of Shibuya Crossing is Center Gai, a popular area for Tokyo youth full of stores, restaurants, and karaoke joints. There is a lot packed into this area. It really is amazing to stand at the end and look out upon hundreds of bright neon signs lighting up the night sky.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park, which I wrote about in more detail in a post about my favorite parks in Japan, covers 134 acres in Shibuya. This giant park is scenic and relaxing during the weekdays and bustling with activity on the weekends when a bevy of street performers, joggers, sports groups, families, and friends meet up. The park is free to visit.
Shopping
Takeshita Dōri
One of my favorite places in all of Tokyo is Takeshita Dōri, the focal point of Harajuku culture. Get ready to feast your eyes on a carnival of color. It’s hard for me to contain my excitement each time I walk through the perpetually crowded narrow street and see such interesting fashion stores and hear J-pop songs wafting through their open doors.
I could go on and on about Takeshita Dōri, but I’ll try to keep it brief. The stores along this street sell all kinds of Japanese fashion trends, from Gothic looks to Sweet Lolita to everyday wear. There is no shortage of accessory stores either, whether you’re looking for jewelry or stockings or headbands or purses. And there are several thrift shops and vintage stores. The majority of these stores are marketed to Tokyo’s teens and young adults, but I’ve seen people of all ages (and lots of tourists) shopping here.
This is also a good street for souvenir shopping in Shibuya. Daiso is a multi-level store selling a bunch of items priced around 100 yen. It sells everything from packaged snacks to stationery to toys to key chains to pottery. Many other stores, such as Paris Kids, sell affordable accessories that can make for fun gifts.
Before leaving, participate in a beloved Harajuku activity – purikura. Purikura is the name given to special photo booths that take a series of pictures to then be decorated and printed out. Many of them let you choose the lighting, background, or theme of the photo shoot. After getting your picture taken, you move onto a screen that lets you add stamps, illustrations, words, makeup, etc. to your photo. It’s a lot of fun and definitely begets a few laughs in the process when you try out some of the funny effects.
Laforet
Make sure you have enough stamina for fashion-forward department store Laforet. It is made up of half floors, which is why it seems endless; just when you think you’re ready to move onto the next floor, there is another half floor to explore.
The store contains sections for notable Japanese fashion brands and international designers, beauty products, and accessories. Most floors are grouped according to style. I love the basement floors that contain the eye-catching designs of brands like Angelic Pretty, Nile Perch, Alice and the Pirates, and Metamorphose. You won’t see designs like these in many other places!
Laforet is a bit more expensive than Takeshita Dōri, so I tend to go there to just admire the fashion styles with my eyes instead of my wallet. It’s still worth a visit even if you’re not planning on buying anything.
NOTE: Keep in mind that photography is discouraged in most of the department store. You’ll see an image of a camera with a big “X” through it in most sections.
Omotesandō
Omotesandō is a long stretch of shops and restaurants comparable to Ginza’s main street – lots of cool architecture, lots of hefty price tags. Both sides of the tree-lined street contain stores selling international luxury brands. Here you’ll find brands like Dior, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. It’s nice just to window shop and check out the neat architecture of the storefronts and buildings.
Kiddy Land
Though most of Omotesandō’s main street caters to a wealthy, more mature clientele, Kiddy Land is a store that breaks the mold. It may just be one of the most adorable, happiness-inducing stores in the world. It is jam-packed with merchandise of beloved characters from Japan and beyond. The products and characters featured seem to rotate out quite often. There have been sections for Disney, Peanuts & Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli, Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, LINE, and many more franchises. This cute store always puts a smile on my face.
Tower Records
If you are a music fan, head over to Tower Records’ Shibuya outpost. There are racks upon racks of music CDs of all genres from all over the world. A bunch of listening stations with headphones are set up around each floor so you can preview new music. If there’s any Japanese music you’ve been itching to buy, you can probably find it at Tower Records.
Shibuya 109
Near Shibuya Crossing is Shibuya 109, a department store easy to recognize by its towering cylindrical building. There are more than 100 individual stores and boutiques inside selling Japanese fashion and beauty brands mostly geared towards young women. Its offerings are somewhat similar to Takeshita Dōri and Laforet, but they have a few unique brands that are not found anywhere else in Shibuya.
If you are someone like me whose eyes are immediately attracted to bright, pretty pastels, then your eyes will be darting in all directions in Shibuya 109. Swankiss, Liz Lisa, Ingni, and Secret Honey are just a few of the boutiques inside that sell super adorable clothing designs.
NOTE: For men’s fashion, 109 Men’s is in a separate building across the street from Shibuya 109.
Dining
Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
For a dining experience with a beautiful, floral ambience, look no further than the Aoyama Flower Market. It’s technically right at the edge of Shibuya and Minato, but it’s within perfect walking distance of the Shibuya sightseeing mentioned above.
The second you walk in, you are greeted with a burst of colors – vibrant red, pink, and yellow flowers cover almost every inch of the space. The front is a flower shop, and hidden in the back is a tea house that looks like a quaint cottage, flowers and vines everywhere.
The tea menu has nice herbal and floral blends that are quite unique and served in transparent glasses and cups. For food, they have small plates like rose jelly, flower parfaits, and French toast. I tried the kimono tea blend, which was very refreshing. Life doesn’t get much better than drinking a nice cup of tea surrounded by flowers.
Tendon Tenya
I love vegetable tempura. A lot. I’ve ordered it in many places in Japan and beyond. Yet my favorite is Tendon Tenya, a super cheap tempura restaurant just off of Takeshita Dōri. The small restaurant has a large menu full of different tempura/noodle/rice/soup combinations. The service is fast and efficient, and the prices are unbeatable.
Each tempura piece is fried to perfection and topped with a delicious sauce. The udon and soba noodles are good, too. And there are good vegetarian options! As an added bonus: each table has a canister of complimentary barley tea. This is a great place for a quick lunch that won’t break the bank.
Crêpes along Takeshita Dōri
Crêpes have become a staple in Harajuku, and there are several little crêperies set up along Takeshita Dōri selling the iconic French food right out of their storefront windows.
These sweet treats come in many varieties, mixing and matching ingredients like strawberries, bananas, chocolate, caramel, cheesecake, red beans, and ice cream. I had one with red beans and green tea ice cream – yum! It’s a good snack to eat in between perusing the latest Japanese fashion trends.
Glaciel
Tucked away behind Omotesandō’s busy main street is Glaciel, a hidden gem of an eatery serving desserts that are almost too pretty to eat. The parfaits are as much a feast for the eyes as the stomach. I ordered the pudding and fruit parfait, which came topped with a generous serving of flan. You can either order take out from the bakery on the first floor or sit down in the cozy, elegant restaurant on the second floor. If you need to satisfy a sweet tooth in Shibuya, this is the place to go.
Final Thoughts
Shibuya really is an amazing part of Tokyo, one that is always fascinating to explore. It is fashionable, hip, lively, and full of good food. I hope you have the time of your life on your visit! If you’ve already been, let me know your favorite things to see and do in Shibuya!
(All photos taken by Clara Juliette)
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Clara hopes to share her love of exploring cultures and inspire others through the power of storytelling. In addition to writing and travel, she loves psychology, nature, green tea, and cats.