Why is Shibuya Crossing Tokyo so Iconic?
Arriving by subway or train at Shibuya Station, you can’t miss Tokyo’s famous Shibuya Crossing. However, the first challenge to get to the iconic Shibuya Crossing is to leave the station through the right exit, the Hachiko Exit (Exit #8).
Shibuya Scramble Crossing | Photo: Travel In Culture
Shibuya is a universe of entertainment in Tokyo, especially popular with young people with its many fashion shops, anime culture, coffee shops and top-notch restaurants. Likewise, the area is popular among visitors to Tokyo, as you can find almost anything that is trending here. In recent years, a new attraction has started to draw even more visitors, Shibuya Sky, a 360° outdoor observation deck right above Shibuya Crossing. It is 230 meters above the famous scramble and gives visitors a stunning view of the crowds below, in addition to the Tokyo skyline.
The Hachiko dog statue | Photo: Travel In Culture
The Hachiko Exit is named after the iconic Hachiko dog (and statue), and the dog monument is perhaps the most famous meeting point in Japan! The Hachiko dog is said to have been an extremely faithful dog, waiting every day at Shibuya Station for its master to return from work – even after his death!
Photo: Travel In Culture
Today, the Hachiko dog has almost achieved cult status in Japan – and many visitors come to Shibuya Station and Shibuya Crossing to see both the famous crossing and the famous dog for themselves!
Shibuya Station is one of the major train stations in Tokyo, located between Ebisu and Harajuku on the western side of the circular Yamanote line. The Shibuya hub serves a handful of rail and subway lines and, therefore, provides easy access to many other Tokyo stations and districts.
The station opened in 1885, serving a train line similar to the current Yamanote Line. In 1940, the station was expanded with a new platform, and decades later, in 1996, the Saikyō Line platform opened. Over the past few years, the station has also undergone some changes, with four tracks now serving both the Yamanote Line, the Saikyō Line, the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, and the Narita Express.
Shibuya – the famous Tokyo Crossing gets crowded during rush hour | Photo: StockSnap / Pixabay
Where is the Shibuya Crossing Location? Leaving Shibuya Station through the Hachiko Exit, you will immediately spot the spectacular crossing with broad white-striped fields covering most of the street.
Facts about Shibuya Crossing – Japan – can actually be quite overwhelming. Up to 3,000 people can cross here at the times of the day when the Shibuya Scramble is busiest – and even then, traffic jams and other incidents are rare! What makes it even more incredible is that the entire ‘show’ is repeated every two minutes, when the lights change again.
A great place to watch the entertaining pedestrian crossing and the surrounding neon billboards with their various advertisements is from above, for example, from the first floor of Starbucks next to the spectacular intersection. That is the perfect place for people-watching!
The zigzag crossing is the heart of Shibuya’s shopping district with its vast array of products of all kinds – from the latest trend-setting clothing fashions to countless high-end electronics and geeky anime subculture.
Every time the signals change at the busy intersection in Tokyo, crowds of people move into the area of the five zebra crossings from all directions, while cars are held back by the red light. In some strange way, people rarely bump into each other. The scramble works like a charm – even in the busiest moments of rush hour when myriads of people step out at the same time.
Shibuya Crossing in one of the calmer moments on a Sunday | Photo: Travel In Culture
When all the Japanese commuters coming from the station line up at the Shibuya crossing, it’s the countdown… 3, 2, 1 … and, ultimately, everyone is off in the crowd of people on the white zigzagging stripes.
At first glance, it seems like an impossible challenge to cross the opposing group from the other side. It looks massive! The crowd approaches the magnetic centre of the scramble from all directions, and then, miraculously, everyone glides smoothly through the mass of pedestrians without touching each other.
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Read more about Tokyo in our Tokyo Travel Guide, which gives you more helpful information and travel tips for your Tokyo stay (see & do, accommodation, price level, transportation, safety, climate, history):
Do you need a 3-day itinerary in Tokyo? Then you might want to take a look at this itinerary, which includes a number of top attractions in Tokyo:
If you are in Tokyo for 2 days, consider our 2-day itinerary: Explore Tokyo in 2 Days
Read next: Hotel with a Japanese Onsen in Tokyo and Where to Watch Sumo Training in Tokyo for inspiration on where to stay in a local ryokan with a communal hot bath – and where to go to watch sumo wrestling practice at one of Tokyo’s sumo stables.
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Welcome to Shibuya Crossing – Scramble Square in Tokyo
Shibuya Scramble Square Crossing Tokyo:
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