Tokyo · Shibuya and Harajuku
Shibuya Scramble Crossing
The crossing in front of the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station. Five traffic lights turn red at the same time, and all the pedestrians from the four directions cross together: up to about 3,000 people in each cycle of about two minutes, which is why it is sometimes called the busiest crossing in the world.
Shibuya Station opened as early as 1885, but the crossing in its current form, with all directions crossing together, was introduced only in 1973, after foot traffic grew faster than the capacity of the regular traffic lights.
For a view from above there are a few options: the cafe on the second floor of the Tsutaya building opposite the crossing, where you buy a drink and wait for a window seat; and for a fee, Shibuya Sky at a height of 229 meters and the rooftop terrace of Magnet by Shibuya 109, both of which look straight at the crossing.
Good to know
- The Hachiko statue, in the square next to the station exit, is the second one: the first, from 1934, was melted down for war metal in 1944, and the current one, by the son of the original sculptor, was placed in 1948.
- Do not stop in the middle of the crossing to take photos. It is dangerous and it also disrupts the flow of thousands of people.
- The crossing looks most dramatic in the rain, when the pavement reflects the giant signs all around.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
- HereShibuya Scramble Crossing
- 1 min
Hachiko Statue More to see
Hachiko waited for his owner at Shibuya Station every day even after the owner died in 1925, until his own death in 1935. The current statue, the second, was placed in 1948. Such a popular meeting point that there is a line to take a photo next to it.
- ~2 min
Shibuya Center Gai Street
The short main street leading in from the crossing, full of restaurants, karaoke and cheap fashion shops. In 2011 it got a new official name, Basketball Street, but everyone still calls it Center Gai.
- ~2 min
MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 Rooftop More to see
An observation terrace on the roof of the building right at the corner of the crossing, renovated and reopened on 3 March 2026. ¥1,800 including one drink, no cash. A photo spot with the crossing in the background, and a covered lounge for a rainy day.
- ~3 min
SHIBUYA109 Clothes and crafts
The fashion tower that opened in 1979 and in the 90s became a symbol of gyaru culture. The name 109 is a play on words on the name of the operating company, Tokyu: to (10) and kyu (9).
- ~5 min
Shibuya Sky More to see
An open-air observatory on floor 47, 229 meters above the crossing. Online: ¥2,700 until 15:00, ¥3,400 after (sunset). At the counter on the day it costs ¥300 more. The open roof closes in strong wind or rain, and the indoor observatory on floor 46 stays open.
- ~5 min
Miyashita Park More to see
A rooftop park above a mall and a hotel, about 330 meters along the railway tracks, reopened in July 2020. Lawn, a skateboard park and a bouldering wall. Entry is free.
- ~5 min
Nonbei Yokocho Street
About 40 tiny bars behind the railway track, most of them for only 6 to 8 guests. Hours vary by bar, usually from 18:00 or 19:00. Some charge a seating fee of ¥500 to ¥1,000.
- ~6 min
Shibuya Yokocho Food
19 stalls by region of Japan under one roof at Miyashita Park: yakitori, ramen from Hokkaido, kushikatsu from Osaka. About ¥1,500 to ¥3,000 for a meal, depending on how many stalls you visit.
More in Shibuya and Harajuku
Appears in: Shibuya, Harajuku and Meiji Shrine: the first day in Tokyo