The 5 Best Things to do in Shibuya: Old and New

Shibuya is arguably the heart of Tokyo. It's a place where historical statues (like Hachiko just outside Shibuya Station) share real estate with some of the city's most exciting up-and-coming icons. It's the home of Shibuya Scramble, aka Shibuya Crossing, the LED-lit crosswalk that's trampled by literal millions of feet daily, around 2.4 million pairs to be exact. 

It's a place ever evolving and one rich with history. While other iconic neighborhoods have their own unique quirks — Ginza, the upmarket shopping, Akihabara the geek-dom charm, Odaiba the futuristic ambiance, Asakusa the traditional history — Shibuya mixes all of that into one. 

In Shibuya, you'll find the shrine of Meiji Jingu just across the road from slick streetwear stores and pastel-pink crepe stands of Harajuku. You can just as easily lose yourself in the modern sleekness of the recently rebuilt Miyashita Park as you can in the charming ramshackle drinking spots of Nonbei Yokocho nestled just behind it.  

We've compiled a list of the best spots in Shibuya, highlighting classics and post-pandemic changes. Step into a side of the city where you never know what exactly you're going to get, but trust us, it'll be a bit of everything. 

Tokyo is an ever-changing city, always wrestling between upholding institutions and making way for the next big thing. Changes to Shibuya's scenery over the past few years are a perfect example. 

Some of the neighborhood's more aged relics, like Tokyu Department Store and Sushi Daidokoya Shibuya's first kaitenzushi (conveyor-belt sushi, founded in 1979), closed in recent times, but there's no shortage of businesses opening up in their shadows. 

One key upgrade you can't miss is Miyashita Park, which has been updated with modern amenities and attractions. It's now a slick shopping center and outdoor space, housing a modern yokocho on the ground floor and a park and cafe on the roof, well two cafes, actually, including Starbucks. There's also Shibuya Scramble Square, the newest cloud-ticking skyscraper in the area; head to the top for access to one of the best viewing platforms in the city. 

Right in front of the aptly named "Hachiko Exit" of Shibuya Station, the station's busiest exit, is a bronze statue of the city's most legendary canine. 

The story of Hachiko goes like this: Every day, a loyal Akita Inu named Hachiko (1923-1935) waited at Shibuya Station to greet his owner as he got off the train from work. One day, the owner passed away in an accident, and Hachiko was left alone. Despite his owner never returning, loyal Hachiko came to the station day after day, waiting for his beloved master to come home.

A bronze statue was erected just outside Shibuya station in honor of Hachiko's loyalty. Today he's been immortalized and is waiting for you to take his picture. Hachiko's sculpture is usually surrounded by people waiting to meet up with friends or coworkers. Hachiko has become a popular landmark, so plenty of tour groups start their Shibuya excursions here too!

The classic Hachiko statue, with its worn-down front legs and austere face, has been standing in wait since 1934. But in 2020, Shibuya's clever city planners posted a new pooch just outside Miyashita Park. This whimsical take on the Hachiko meeting point invites guests to rendezvous before exploring the newly renovated facilities, which opened during the pandemic after much anticipation. 

Established in 1885 (and redeveloped to its modern incarnation in 1932), when the Tokyu rail service connected to Shibuya station, Shibuya Scramble Crossing is one of Tokyo's most well-known attractions. 

It's easy to see the crossing as Tokyo's beating heart, pumping people through veins and arteries on the streets of Shibuya every few minutes. Tap into the spirit of Tokyo by joining the flow, and then scale one of the many nearby buildings to witness the organized chaos.

If you want to watch the action from a closer angle, pull up a table at the adjacent Starbucks, and get a front-seat view. If you don't mind spending a few hundred Yen for an unobscured view, head to the observation deck on Magnet by Shibuya 109's 8th floor. It's usually not crowded, and you can enjoy a look at the season's trendiest menswear afterward.

Moving higher up, the floor-to-ceiling windows on Hikarie's 11th floor are also a great place to view the crossing, monuments like Yoyogi Park, and even Mt. Fuji on a clear day. 

Even higher still is Shibuya Sky, a part of the renovation efforts around Shibuya Station slated for completion in 2027. Shibuya Sky's observation deck towers over the crossing at a dizzying 229 meters above the ground. With an entrance fee of 1,800 Yen, you'll be glad to have ample time and space to take in the expansive views of Tokyo. Wait for the golden hour to light up Tokyo's skyline for an unforgettable start to your evening before exploring Shibuya's many bars and restaurants.

Stay in the highly-rated Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu and enjoy the street views from your suite.

After dark, Shibuya's storefronts light up the night with glittering video ads and neon signs. Get your fill of sensory overload with a stroll through the backstreets of Dogenzaka and Shibuya Center-Gai. 

This area is populated by plenty of brand-new dining experiences and legacy establishments standing side by side. One of the best examples of this unique combination of old and new is Shibuya Yokocho, located just under Miyashita Park and the adjacent Nonbei Yokocho. 

You can enjoy Japan's after-work drinking culture, rain, shine, or snow in these cozy halls. Spend a few hours hopping between the stands while you fraternize with the locals in this very traveler-friendly space.

When you're done indoors, duck into the dim alleys lit by red izakaya lanterns to experience Shibuya's original drinking street Nonbei Yokocho. Nonbei Yokocho in English means "Drunkard Street", so you can probably guess what to expect here. The small block is lined with old Japanese drinking holes and izakaya bars, it's got an intimidating name but an easy atmosphere. 

Nonbei Yokocho dates back to the fifties, with many of the bars proudly displaying original Japanese-style facades complete with noren curtains and lanterns. Here the scent of yakitori (and spilt beer) wafts from windows, and the city's salarymen, jam-packed into the bars, are practically spilling out onto the streets. Join the all-night drinking party Japanese-style at nostalgic spots where doors open after work and don't close until 5 am!

From the moment you enter Shibuya Station, you can find eye-catching art that awes and inspires you. For those on a budget, consider a DIY free art tour of Shibuya!

Start from the "Myth of Tomorrow" Mural on the Shibuya Mark City walkway. This mural is called Japan's "Guernica", depicting the horrors of the atomic bombing during World War 2. Painted in the 1960s, "Myth of Tomorrow" is the oldest piece in our guide. It was even lost in Mexico for a number of years and has a story as compelling as its visuals.

Just outside Shibuya Station, you can see a mosaic mural designed by Ryutaro Kitahara. The "Hachiko Family Mural" was created in the 1990s with 3-dimensional reliefs and colorful tiling. The mosaic is easy to miss if you don't take a second to look behind you when you exit the station, so be careful! Its imagery depicts 20 Akita inu, the imagined extended family of loyal Akita Hachiko.

Just across the street, impressive screens serve as living murals with a giant Akita inu puppy bouncing through 3D space. You may have seen the wraparound cat billboard before, but Shibuya brings an extra touch with its moving mural. Shibuya's digital dogs freely travel across eight impressive screens, so you can follow the pooch (or seasonal advertisements) as you explore the city. The Shibuhachi Hit Vision billboard in front of Shibuya Station has the most prominent display, but you can check them all out from vantage points like the Hikarie observation deck.

Shibuya has been a youth center for decades. Institutions like Shibuya 109 mall have defined trends since 1979. Through cutesy "otome" fashion, garish "gyaru", and more, Shibuya 109 offers a glance at the lives of young Japanese women. Newer offshoots like men's specialty mall, Magnet, and numerous recent renovations to department stores in the area ensure every shopper goes home satisfied. 

Although the Tokyu Department store that stood in Shibuya for half a century has permanently closed, you can enjoy the just-opened Shibuya Stream, a multi-storied shopping and dining complex attached to Shibuya station. 

At Shibuya Stream, you'll find limited popup shops rubbing elbows with Japanese and foreign luxury brands. State-of-the-art vending machines offer a way to buy high-end products you can only find on the streets of Tokyo. Check out the local fashion brands like Beams, United Arrows and Journal Standard to shop for some unique pieces or explore the latest Tokyo fashion trends.

Shibuya's shopping caters to those who aren't eager to stuff their suitcase with more clothes, too. The massive Tower Records store, one of the only remaining ones in the world, is a must-go for music lovers, with ten floors of records from home and abroad. Sip a coffee in the in-store cafe and listen to some Japanese jams. Pop culture fans can spend hours lost among the shelves of subterranean Mandarake, a second-hand specialty store for lovers of everything anime and manga related.

Shibuya is full of fun things to do for every visitor, with plenty of accommodation options. Its central location makes getting to the rest of Tokyo a breeze, too, with Shibuya station servicing the JR, Tokyo Metro, Keio, and Tokyu lines. Be sure to check out our guide on the best hotels in Shibuya to pick your perfect stay. 

Relax in state-of-the-art accommodations right next to Miyashita park, or take advantage of convenient business-style hotels. Centrally located, Shibuya is the heart of Tokyo. It's a town with unlimited, exciting discoveries, both old and new!