Nature lovers and Zen seekers, you may want to sit this one out. Central Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood—officially Shibuya City—exemplifies everything urban about the Japanese capital. Skyscrapers, neon lights, shops selling anything you’d want to buy, restaurants selling anything you’d want to eat or drink, and the world’s busiest pedestrian crosswalk—there are lots of things to do in Shibuya. But if you need a bit of respite from the hustle and bustle, the lovely Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) are nearby.
Tokyo is a year-round travel destination, but spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) are most comfortable. There are good reasons to visit Shibuya at different times of day. If you’d like to walk freely without too much pedestrian traffic, try to come early in the morning. However, for shopping and dining, you’ll need to come during business hours—which can extend quite late into the evening. Weekends can be especially congested.
It’s easy to reach Shibuya from other parts of Tokyo by train. The main station is the JR Shibuya Station, where several metro and above-ground train lines converge. If there’s a particular destination in Shibuya you want to check out, take care to use the correct exit when leaving the station—taking the wrong one can send you in a totally different direction from where you want to go. While in Shibuya, it’s best to explore on foot.
Don’t be afraid of getting lost in Shibuya—or anywhere in Tokyo—as it’s almost inevitable. While the neighborhood might seem overwhelming at first, it’s not all that big, and sometimes ending up down random back streets can lead to interesting finds. Tokyo is typically very safe, day or night. If you do get completely lost, following above-ground train lines until you come to a station is a tried-and-true orientation tactic.
