Stand on the second floor of the Starbucks overlooking Shibuya Crossing and the intersection below turns into a slow tide of people, moving in every direction at once. A few minutes' walk away, a small bronze dog sits quietly in a plaza while crowds stream past on their way to dinner or the last train. Shibuya works on foot and on impulse: you arrive, you pick a direction, and the district keeps offering something at street level.
This guide suits first-time visitors who want the classic Shibuya experience, and returning travellers who want to slow down and look at the art, the architecture and the side streets rather than just the scramble. It covers the crossing and its viewpoints, the meeting points locals actually use, the main shopping and culture complexes, and a handful of quieter stops within the ward.
Everything below can be strung together in a single day, though the district rewards a second visit. Note that parts of the area around Shibuya Station are under long-term redevelopment, so some buildings and routes change from year to year.
Top things to do in Shibuya
1. Shibuya Crossing
The crossing is the reason many people come to Shibuya at all: pedestrians pour across in every direction at once, and the effect is best watched rather than rushed through. Join the crowd once for the experience, then step back and watch it from above.
The second floor of the Starbucks has long been a favoured spot for photographing the crossing. That coffee shop closed in 2023 for renovation of the building and was due to reopen in late April 2024 with a larger cafe and lounge, so check before you plan your visit around it.
2. Hachikō
A diminutive statue of a dog, tucked into one corner of the big plaza outside the station. It is best known as a meeting place, and the story behind it — a dog who waited for his deceased master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935 — made him a national sensation.
Hachikō is also the name of one of the many exits from Shibuya Station and the prime meeting place before a night out. Hanging out near Hachikō for a while gives you some of the best people-watching in the area.
3. Center Gai
The narrow street leading away from the station to the left of the giant video screen, famous as the birthplace of many of Japan's youth fashion trends. It is packed with clothing stores, music stores and video game arcades.
This is a good place to stroll rather than shop with a purpose — walk it slowly in the evening and you get the Shibuya vibe at its most concentrated.
4. Moyai statues
Another popular meeting spot, this time on the south side of the station. The two Moyai statues are a spin on Easter Island's famous moai, made from volcanic pumice on Niijima in the Izu Islands far south of Tokyo.
These statues, not the originals, were the inspiration for the 🗿 emoji. Use them as a rendezvous point if the Hachikō plaza is too crowded to find anyone.
5. Myth of Tomorrow
A huge mural by the artist Tarō Okamoto, commemorating the Hiroshima atomic bombing. A human figure in it burns while others appear to run from flames.
The mural is at the entrance of the Inokashira line, roughly 100 m from Hachikō, so it pairs naturally with the statue and the crossing. It was built in Mexico, found there in 2004 and brought to Japan in 2005; it was under repair from October 2023, so expect scaffolding or a partial view.
6. Bunkamura
A complex on Bunkamura-dori featuring an excellent art museum, along with theaters for film and stage plays. It is the kind of stop that fills a rainy afternoon or a gap between meals.
On the basement floor there is an art and design bookstore as well as a branch of Paris' famous Les Deux Magots café — a useful combination if you want to browse and then sit down in the same building.
7. Hikarie
A massive building on the east side of Shibuya Station, opened in 2012, with many restaurants, galleries and theaters inside. It is a practical base for a meal or a performance without leaving the station area.
Because it sits directly by the station, Hikarie works well as a first or last stop of the day, when you want food and a warm seat close to the platforms.
8. Yamatane Museum of Art
A short walk from Ebisu station, this museum specializes in modern Japanese-style paintings and holds a notable collection. Only a handful of works are on display at one time because of preservation concerns, so treat it as a small, focused visit rather than a full afternoon.
It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and admission is ¥600 per adult. The telephone number is +81 3-3239-5911. Pair it with a wander around Ebisu rather than trying to combine it with the station-area sights in the same hour.
9. Tokyo Anime Center
Located on the second floor of Shibuya MODI at Jinnan 1-21-3, this center offers information, showings, demonstrations and events centered around animation and gaming. In the recording studio, visitors can experience a post-recording on certain days.
It is open from 11:00 to 20:00 and is free, except for special exhibitions. To reach it, go north from the JR station, past the Seibu department stores.
10. NTT DoCoMo Building
A gigantic tower resembling a granite Empire State Building, owned by NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest cell-phone carrier. The upper part of the building is a mobile communications tower.
It is sometimes called DoCoMo Tower and sits south of Shinjuku Station, so it is a landmark to look out for rather than a stop in the middle of the Shibuya scramble. Note that the source places it south of Shinjuku Station, not beside Shibuya Station, so plan accordingly.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Hachikō, the statue in the plaza outside the station and the classic meeting point. From there walk the short distance to the Myth of Tomorrow mural at the entrance of the Inokashira line, then take in Shibuya Crossing on foot before the crowds peak. If the Starbucks above the crossing has reopened, go up for the view; if not, watch from street level.
Afternoon. Walk Center Gai, the narrow street leading away from the station to the left of the giant video screen, for the shops and arcades. Continue to Hikarie on the east side of the station for lunch and a look at the galleries and theaters. If you want more art, take the short walk from Ebisu station to the Yamatane Museum of Art, open 10:00–17:00, and finish with the art and design bookstore and Les Deux Magots café in the basement of Bunkamura.
Evening. Return to the station area and use the Moyai statues on the south side as your meeting point. Have dinner around Hikarie or Center Gai, and if you have energy left, spend an hour at the Tokyo Anime Center in Shibuya MODI, open until 20:00.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to meet someone in Shibuya?
Hachikō, the dog statue in the plaza outside the station, is the prime meeting place before a night out, and it also gives its name to one of the station exits. The Moyai statues on the south side of the station are the other popular option.
Can I photograph Shibuya Crossing from above?
The second floor of the Starbucks overlooking the crossing has long been a great spot for photos. That branch closed in 2023 for renovation of the building and was due to reopen in late April 2024 with a larger cafe and lounge, so confirm its status before relying on it.
Is the Myth of Tomorrow mural always visible?
Not necessarily. The mural, at the entrance of the Inokashira line about 100 m from Hachikō, was under repair from October 2023, so you may find it covered or partly obscured during your visit.
How much does the Yamatane Museum of Art cost, and when is it open?
Admission is ¥600 per adult, and it is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. It is a short walk from Ebisu station, and only a handful of works are displayed at a time.
Pick your dates, decide whether the crossing or the quieter stops matter more to you, and start building your Shibuya day around the places above.