Getting Around Shibuya
Shibuya is one of Tokyo's major commercial centers and a special ward of the city, home to Shibuya Station, one of the busiest railway stations in the world. For a visitor, the good news is that almost everything you will want to see sits within a compact, walkable core, and the rail network can take you almost anywhere else in Tokyo and beyond. The ward also includes well-known districts such as Harajuku, Ebisu, Omotesandō, Yoyogi and Sendagaya, several of which are close enough to reach on foot from central Shibuya.
How Tourists Move Around
Visitors to Shibuya rely on a combination of walking and trains. The area around Shibuya Station is dense with shops, restaurants and attractions, so short trips are usually made on foot, while longer hops within Tokyo and to neighboring cities are made by rail. The station itself is a notoriously convoluted web of passageways, so follow the signage and you should find your way out (or in).
Because Shibuya is a railway terminus that grew into a commercial hub, the station is the natural starting point for almost every journey. If you would rather avoid the station's maze, you can also walk to nearby Ebisu and Harajuku, where you can catch JR Yamanote Line trains, or to Omotesandō, where you can catch Tokyo Metro lines.
Rail, Metro and Tram Network
Shibuya Station is served by several operators, which means a single station connects you to a wide slice of the region:
- JR lines: the JR Yamanote Line, Saikyō Line and Shōnan-Shinjuku Line.
- Tōkyū lines: the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line and the Den-en-toshi Line.
- Keiō: the Keio Inokashira Line.
- Tokyo Metro: the Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line and Fukutoshin Line.
Two of these are especially useful for day trips. The Tōkyū Tōyoko Line is the cheapest and most convenient way to visit Yokohama; it runs several stories underground, where services continue onto the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line for points north. The JR Yamanote Line, meanwhile, is the classic loop around central Tokyo and is easy to pick up at Shibuya, Ebisu or Harajuku.
For tickets and passes, buy them as you would anywhere on the Tokyo network: single tickets or stored-value IC cards at station machines and counters, and day passes or tourist passes where the operator offers them. If you are transferring between operators, note that Shibuya's lines are run by different companies, so a through ticket is not always available and you may need to exit and re-enter.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses fill in the gaps that the rails do not cover, and airport limousine buses connect Shibuya directly with both of Tokyo's main airports (see below). Around the ward, local buses are a practical option for reaching neighborhoods away from the station, and the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Subway can bring you to Shibuya Station from the Tokyo City Air Terminal, or T-CAT.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are widely available in Shibuya and are a reasonable choice for late nights, heavy luggage, or trips that would otherwise require several train changes. They are metered, so short hops within the ward are straightforward, but they become expensive over longer distances. Ride-hailing apps operate in Tokyo as well, though availability and pickup points can be restricted around the busiest parts of the station, so it often pays to walk a block or two away from the main exits before requesting a car.
Walkability
Central Shibuya is very walkable. The Shibuya Crossing, known as the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, sits right by the station, and the statue of Hachikō and the surrounding Hachikō Square are among the most popular meeting points in the area. From the station you can reach major sights on foot, and the panoramic view of the city from the rooftop of Shibuya Scramble Square is an easy walk from the platforms.
Walking is also a smart way to link Shibuya with its neighboring districts: Ebisu, Harajuku and Omotesandō are all reachable on foot, and each gives you access to additional train lines if you would rather ride from there. Be aware that the area around Shibuya Station has been undergoing large-scale redevelopment, so pedestrian routes and station passages can change; follow the signs and allow a little extra time.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Shibuya is served from both of Tokyo's main airports, Narita and Haneda.
From Narita Airport:
- Narita Express (N'EX): a one-seat train service to Shibuya, running every 30–60 minutes, taking about 70 minutes and costing around ¥3190.
- Keisei Skyliner: take it to Nippori station and change to the JR Yamanote Line (about 75 minutes, around ¥2670).
- Budget option: a regular Keisei limited express from Narita to Nippori, then change to the Yamanote Line (about 110 minutes, around ¥1230). In the evenings, faster Access Tokkyu trains from Narita to Nippori shave about 20 minutes off the overall travel time for an extra charge of around ¥210.
- Airport limousine bus: runs from Narita to the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu and the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (90–120 minutes, around ¥3100). Discount bus tickets for foreigners are available to the Tokyo City Air Terminal, or T-CAT (about 1 hour, around ¥1900); from there, the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Subway brings you to Shibuya Station (about 20 minutes, around ¥200).
From Haneda Airport:
- Train: take the Keikyu Airport Line to Shinagawa and change to the JR Yamanote Line (about 35 minutes, around ¥580).
- Limousine bus: also runs from Haneda to the hotels listed above (about 1 hour, around ¥1030).
Whichever airport you use, the pattern is the same: either ride a direct service into Shibuya, or take a train or bus to a major interchange such as Nippori, Shinagawa or T-CAT and switch to a line that serves Shibuya Station.