The famous intersection with the iconic pedestrian crossing is located right in the centre of Shibuya and is one of the most famous places in all of Japan.

Head here to experience the true Asian chaos, enjoying the atmosphere of the huge illuminated advertisements and the adjacent streets full of shops and restaurants.

Read more on our website:

• 👉 O ur tips on where to stay in Tokyo
• 🏨 Hotel Indigo Shibuya.

Is Shibuya worth a visit?

✅ Yes, if:

• you are in Tokyo for the first time and want to visit the most iconic places
• you love the bustling, chaotic district full of restaurants, bars and shops
• you're looking for the famous "instagram spots" (this one won't disappoint)
  • 👉 My tip: also visit the similarly bustling districts of Shinjuku or Akihabara

❌ Not if:

• you prefer quieter places (Tokyo is full of beautiful parks)
• you are more interested in historical sites
• you don't like extreme crowds and concentration of people
  • 👉 My tip: visit the peaceful Kiyomasa Park or Hama-rikyu Gardens

If you only have 2-3 days in Tokyo, Shibuya is the perfect place to stay - it's one of the city's main attractions and has great transport links to other attractions.

Top 10 hotels in the Shibuya area

The busiest pedestrian crossing.

Shibuya has earned its place on the world map of tourist attractions by being the busiest pedestrian crossing in Tokyo.

Every 2 minutes, around 2,000 pedestrians cross the intersection in all directions at once.

The phenomenon of the traffic light turning green for pedestrians from all directions has given Shibuya its English nickname scramble crossing.

Today, it is estimated that more than half of the pedestrians are tourists who sprint to the middle of the intersection when the light turns green to take the best photo for their Instagram feed.

Yes, Shibuya is an extremely touristy place, but that's what it looks like in instagram photos, so I wasn't disappointed.

I knew what to expect and that's exactly the impression I take away from the place.

Where are the best vantage points to see the intersection from?

The traffic and organized chaos of the Shibuya intersection is best seen from a bird's eye view.

There are several spots in close proximity from which to observe the Shibuya pedestrian crossing, and I've checked out most of them.

1. Share Lounge Shibuya

Probably the best view is from the coworking space, where you pay to enter for 60 minutes, and within that you can use the seats not only to work, but also to relax and look out over the intersection.

This space is more like an airport lounge. The price of admission includes simple snacks such as chilled drinks, coffee from the vending machine or small sweets.

• 1 870 jpy - 60 minutes with unlimited consumption
• 8:00-23:00
• Reservation: not required, pay on the spot when leaving the lounge (can only be paid by card)
• Waiting time: queues do not usually form even in the evening

2. Starbucks

One of the most famous Starbucks branches in the world is located in the same building, just one floor below.

It has a nice view of the Shibuya intersection, although not as perfect as Share Lounge, as it is slightly obstructed by the roof structure.

• Free - but the view is only available if you order something from the café.
• 7:00-22:30
• Reservation: not necessary
• Waiting time: queues often form for 30+ minutes in the evening

3. Mag8 Lounge

An outdoor viewing platform located on the roof of the building located right at the intersection.

There is a nice view of the Scramble crossing from here, but even though the viewing platform is outside, the glass is high, so you can't get a clear shot without glass anyway.

Furthermore, the time here is limited to just 150 seconds and the price is really high for such a short time.

Personally, I would definitely not recommend this viewpoint.

• 1 800 jpy - Entrance only to the restaurant, from where the view of the intersection is almost non-existent + 1 500 jpy for entry to the observation deck for 150 seconds.
• 10:00-21:30
• Reservations: required via klook.com
• Waiting time: if you have a reservation, then there are no queues

Hotels overlooking Shibuya Junction

Views directly from hotel rooms of iconic places are a big pet peeve of mine, so naturally I looked for accommodation with a view of Shibuya before visiting.

The only hotel that directly offers rooms with a view "scramble crossing" is Indigo Tokyo Shibuya.

What is the reality and how much does a room cost per night? Find out in my review of the stay.

What are the other hotels nearby?

• Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu **** - right on Shibuya Station, but the rooms don't have a good view of the intersection
• Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel **** - well rated hotel near Miyashita Park, but no view of the intersection
• Book Tea Bed SHIBUYA - cheap capsule hotel less than 10 minutes walk from the intersection

When is the best time to visit Shibuya Junction?

I personally recommend visiting Shibuya in the early evening.

It's between about 5:30 and 7:30 pm that the intersection is busiest, plus the glowing traffic lights already stand out.

In the summer time, it gets darker later, until around 8:30pm, when it is still very busy.

View hotels near Shibuya Station

A bustling district full of shops and restaurants

The streets north of the intersection are bustling pedestrian zones lined with restaurants, shops, and houses covered in neon signs.

Shibuya is the perfect place for dinner, for example. An even wilder and more colorful neighborhood is perhaps Shinjuku, which is only 2 train stops (about 10 minutes) from Shibuya.

The unique rooftop Miyashita Park

Right at the Shibuya intersection, head to the rooftop of the mall, where one of the Shibuya district's few green spaces is spread out.

Miyashita Park is a bit reminiscent of New York's High Line - it's an artificially created narrow strip of green space on top of industrial-looking department store buildings. On one side are the tracks of the busy YR Yamamote rail line, on the other side are the tracks of the Saikyo Line.

Miyashita Park is a nice place for a short rest - you can visit for free 24/7.

My day in the Shibuya area (route tips)

Shibuya is one of Tokyo's main centers and fits perfectly into a half-day program combined with the surrounding attractions.

I stayed right on Shibuya and my day looked like this:

• Morning check-in at Hotel Indigo
  • 👉 Review and my photos from the hotel
• Morning exploring the area around Shibuya Junction and shopping
• Lunch at a local restaurant
  • 👉 My 5 restaurant tips in Tokyo
• Afternoon transfer by JR Yamanote Line train (about 5 minutes) to Yoyogi Park
  • Visit the sacred well of Kiyomasa
  • Visit Meiji Shrine
• Return to Shibuya to check-in at the hotel and then take the JR Yamanote Line train again to the Shinjuku district (10 minutes)
  • Afternoon visit to the free observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
  • Evening stroll around the bustling Shinjuku district
• Evening sightseeing over Shibuya Junction (info above)

Hotels near Shibuya - view here

For everything about trains and the subway, fares and how to find connections, see the Tokyo Subway chapter.

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