- HANEDA AIRPORT EXPRESS »
- Feature Articles »
- Play all day in Shibuya, one of the biggest tourist spots in Japan!
Shibuya is the origin of the forefront of Japanese culture where a variety of popular spots in fashion, pop culture, shopping and music all gather in one area. You can play all day from morning till night just around the station. An early-morning and late-night bus service between Haneda Airport and Shibuya is available, so you should make the best use of it.
One of the biggest crossings in the world with thousands of people crossing at a time
As soon as you arrive in Shibuya, drop your bag at your hotel and start exploring the town! You should first head to the Shibuya Crossing where you can find a Tourist Information Center. This crossing uses a scramble crossing system where all the pedestrian lights turn green at once. Data show that about 500,000 people a day, about 3,000 people at a time, cross this intersection on a busy day, making this place a popular tourist spot for being one of the biggest crossings in the world. There is a cafe that commands the whole view of this crossing. It is fun to see the view while relaxing at the cafe.
-
The statue of a cute dog is a famous meeting spot
On the Shibuya Station side of Shibuya Crossing stands the "Statue of Hachiko", one of the most famous meeting spots in Japan. The statue was built to commemorate a dog named Hachiko that came to Shibuya Station every day to meet his master even after he died, about 90 years ago. You can see this story in the movie starring Richard Gere, "Hachi: A Dog's Tale".
-
Make a plan to explore Shibuya at Aogaeru!
There is a retro train commonly called "Aogaeru" (green frog) because of its color and look in front of the Statue of Hachiko. It is a train car that was actually running in the neighborhood, but it is currently a Tourist Information Center run by Shibuya City Tourism Association.
-
English or Chinese-speaking staff members will kindly assist your sightseeing in Shibuya.
-
Aogaeru (Shibuya City Tourism Association)
Dogenzaka-Shita, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
The birthplace of pop culture/ SHIBUYA109
The silver cylinder type building that you can also see from Shibuya Crossing is SHIBUYA 109, the birthplace of popular fashion for young girls in every period. It is a mecca for fashion-conscious teenagers even now.
-
SHIBUYA109
2-29-1, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
-
Enjoy dessert time at a long-established fruit shop founded in 1910.
At "Nishimura Sohonten", a specialized store for fruit with over 100 years of history, you can enjoy a parfait or sandwiches that use plenty of premium fruits. It is also fun to see the variety of choices on the menu and think which to order.
-
From seasonal desserts to the standard menu
They change the menu 7 times a year as they use seasonal fruits. The standard menu throughout the year includes Fruit parfaits, Fruits sandwiches, Pancakes and Pudding a la mode. Try a dessert that brings out the best flavor of fruits.
-
Shibuya Nishimura Fruits Parlor
Second floor, 22-2 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
-
How about a lunch box for a souvenir?
Goods made in Japan for packing lunch are now popular worldwide. The ones using traditional Japanese materials and colors are as popular as ever, but specialized ones that function to retain heat and store have recently been receiving a good reputation. Tokyu Hands has plenty of collections of all types of lunch boxes, so you can find a souvenir very easily.
-
Water bottles of Japanese quality with a high heat-retaining performance
Tokyu Hands, which has business nationwide, is a general goods store and it is said that you can find anything you want here. They carry a variety of products of all kinds of design and function for water bottles indispensable for travelling and walking.
-
Tokyu Hands Shibuya Store
12-18 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo -
No need for a language! Enjoy time with Japanese people through a board game
If you want to meet Japanese people in a fun and relaxing way, a board game café is a good place. You can play with Japanese people if you choose a game that does not need any language to play.
-
You don't know the rules? No worries!
For any board game you choose, the staff will show you how to play it until you get used to it. The fee is charged for an afternoon or a night slot and it is often crowded on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
-
JELLY JELLY CAFE
202 Shin-Tokyo Building, 10-2 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
-
A shop specialized in the very Japanese souvenirs
For souvenirs with very Japanese atmosphere including kimonos, small articles and imitation swords, you should shop at Shibuya Maruara Watanabe. It is a shop which was established in 1926. English-speaking staff are there to assist you, so you can tell them what you want smoothly. You will be surprised to see that a vending machine outside the shop is selling souvenirs, too!
-
Shibuya Maruara Watanabe
16-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
-
A place where you can enjoy a bird's eye view of Japan
On the 8th floor of Shibuya Hikarie standing in front of Shibuya Station, there is a corner called "d47" where you can experience all the 47 prefectures of Japan at one time. You can learn about Japan through all 5 senses at the museum and store with a traditional crafts and arts theme and the cafeteria that serves local specialties from all over Japan.
-
Shibuya Hikarie
2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo -
Let's experience standard leisure activities in a little extraordinary way!
EST Shibuya East Exit Hall, 1 minute walk away from Shibuya Station, is a general amusement building where you can enjoy bowling, billiards & darts, table tennis, karaoke and a video arcade from the basement floor all the way up to the 9th floor.
-
You can enjoy standard leisure activities in an extraordinary environment including a bowling alley that uses UV light and a glassed bowling alley with a pub next to it. You can also have well-prepared food and alcohol instead of just simple snacks while playing, which is another reason why this place is popular. They are open until morning, which makes it a perfect place to finish your day off in Shibuya.
-
EST Shibuya East Exit Hall
1-14-14 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Go a little further and head to "Harajuku", a birthplace of fashion, culture and art
Harajuku is just one station away from Shibuya, but walking to Harajuku is recommended as many shops line the streets on the way, a distance of about 1.5 km. On popular Takeshida-dori Street, shops that are specialized in Japan's "Kawaii" stand in a row and many people come here to shop every day. Ordinary activities such as taking Purikura, or a photo booth picture, and eating a crepe look cool in Harajuku.
1 to 2 buses run every hour for Shibuya
Timetable from Haneda Airport from Shibuya Station
Shibuya Station West Exit, Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, Shibuya Mark City 1,030 yen for adults
one bus per day for Haneda Airport,
3 buses per day for Haneda
Fare for the early-morning and late-night bus
One way 2,060 yen for adults (1,040 yen for children)
For reservations please contact the Keikyu Highway Bus Reservation Center. Phone: 03-3743-0022 (9:00 am - 6:30 pm). English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Korean operators available.
Natsumi Shiiyama
Natsumi Shiiyama, a popular actress and personality on stage and in events, is giving us a report on some tourist spots she recommends.
