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How To Get There
=> Click here for Shibuya map
From Tokyo Station
10 Stops, 25 minutes by JR Yamanote Line.
From Shinjuku Station
3 Stops, 8 minutes by JR Yamanote Line.
Related Pages
=> Getting To Tokyo
=> Transportation In Tokyo
=> Tokyo Maps
Helpful Links
=> Shibuya (Official Japanese)
=> Shibuya 109 (Official Japanese)
=> Click here for Shibuya map
From Tokyo Station
10 Stops, 25 minutes by JR Yamanote Line.
From Shinjuku Station
3 Stops, 8 minutes by JR Yamanote Line.
Related Pages
=> Getting To Tokyo
=> Transportation In Tokyo
=> Tokyo Maps
Helpful Links
=> Shibuya (Official Japanese)
=> Shibuya 109 (Official Japanese)
Shibuya (渋谷) is a popular place for youth to hang out and is one of Tokyo's most
crowded places in fact the Shibuya Station Crossing is known as the buissiest
intersection in the world.
It is even especialy popular among the younger women as it offers some of the
most trendy shopping centers and fashions oriented stores.
crowded places in fact the Shibuya Station Crossing is known as the buissiest
intersection in the world.
It is even especialy popular among the younger women as it offers some of the
most trendy shopping centers and fashions oriented stores.
History
Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as
a railway terminal for southwest Tokyo, and eventually as a major commercial and
entertainment center. Shibuya was incorporated as a village in 1889, as a town in
1909, as a ward of Tokyo City in 1932, and as a ward of Tokyo Metropolis in 1943.
The present-day special ward was established on March 15, 1947.
Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last thirty
years. There are several famous fashion department stores in Shibuya.
During the late 1990s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT industry
in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on "Bitter Valley", the
literal translation of "Shibuya".
Major Sites & Stores
Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as
a railway terminal for southwest Tokyo, and eventually as a major commercial and
entertainment center. Shibuya was incorporated as a village in 1889, as a town in
1909, as a ward of Tokyo City in 1932, and as a ward of Tokyo Metropolis in 1943.
The present-day special ward was established on March 15, 1947.
Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last thirty
years. There are several famous fashion department stores in Shibuya.
During the late 1990s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT industry
in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on "Bitter Valley", the
literal translation of "Shibuya".
Major Sites & Stores
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Cartoons
=> Mandarake. BEAM B2F, Udagawa 31-2. Massive shop devoted to manga,
anime, figurines and collectible offshoots, with staff all dressed up as cartoon
characters. Worth a visit for the sheer bizarre spectacle.
=> NHK Studio Park. Jinnan 2-2-1 (end of Koen-dori). Studio sightseeing
operation run by Japan's state broadcaster NHK, home to a gift shop selling the
widest collection of Domo-kun figures on the planet.
Music
Shibuya has copious music shopping opportunities, but expect some sticker
shock as Japanese CDs often clock in at ¥3000+; imports are usually cheaper! In
addition to the superstores below, also check out the miniature alternative ghetto
(Jinnan 11 and nearby, just past Tokyu Hands), full of tiny specialist record
shops.
=> Disk Union. Antenna 21, Udagawa 30-7 (Center-gai) Used and new record
dealer with floors each specializing in punk, rock, jazz and dance music.
* HMV. Udagawa 24-1 (off Inogashira-dori). Six floors of music from all around the
world.
=> RECOfan. BEAM 4F, Udagawa 31-2, (and other outlets incl. one on
Center-gai). Good shopping for second-hand music in this cavernous hall: all
records are categorized and alphabetized for quick browsing, and prices start at
¥100.
=> Tower Records. Jinnan 1-22-14 (Koen-dori). For a while the largest record
store in the world, now merely mind-bogglingly huge. Good selection of English
books and magazines on the top floor.
=> For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the
JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)
Other
=> Book 1st. (Bunkamura-dori) One of Tokyo's largest bookstores. Carries a
good range of foreign language magazines, add to a huge array of venues to eat
and drink.
=> Tokyu Hands. (end of Center-gai). A department store specializing in all sorts
of home decorations and D.I.Y. gear (with a heavy emphasis on the all sorts, this
place is much more interesting than it sounds!).
Night Clubs & Entertainment
=> Womb in Dogenzaka is one of Tokyo's newest, hottest and largest clubs,
designed by the people behind New York's Twilo. Entrance is fairly steep at
¥3500 with 2 drinks. http://www.womb.co.jp/
=> Club Pure on Senta-Gai is a tiny little club usually offering ¥2500 nomihoudai
(all you can drink) on the weekends. Popular with foreigners and with "Gaijin
Hunters."
=> Club Harlem is large 2 floor all hip-hop club located in Shibuya. Few foreign
patrons. http://www.harlem.co.jp/harlem/en/harlem_info/index.html
=> Club Asia, situated in between dozens of love hotels is popular for trance
music all night long. This club isn't very popular with foreign patrons.
http://www.clubasia.co.jp/
=> Gas Panic, http://www.gaspanic.co.jp/
=> Mandarake. BEAM B2F, Udagawa 31-2. Massive shop devoted to manga,
anime, figurines and collectible offshoots, with staff all dressed up as cartoon
characters. Worth a visit for the sheer bizarre spectacle.
=> NHK Studio Park. Jinnan 2-2-1 (end of Koen-dori). Studio sightseeing
operation run by Japan's state broadcaster NHK, home to a gift shop selling the
widest collection of Domo-kun figures on the planet.
Music
Shibuya has copious music shopping opportunities, but expect some sticker
shock as Japanese CDs often clock in at ¥3000+; imports are usually cheaper! In
addition to the superstores below, also check out the miniature alternative ghetto
(Jinnan 11 and nearby, just past Tokyu Hands), full of tiny specialist record
shops.
=> Disk Union. Antenna 21, Udagawa 30-7 (Center-gai) Used and new record
dealer with floors each specializing in punk, rock, jazz and dance music.
* HMV. Udagawa 24-1 (off Inogashira-dori). Six floors of music from all around the
world.
=> RECOfan. BEAM 4F, Udagawa 31-2, (and other outlets incl. one on
Center-gai). Good shopping for second-hand music in this cavernous hall: all
records are categorized and alphabetized for quick browsing, and prices start at
¥100.
=> Tower Records. Jinnan 1-22-14 (Koen-dori). For a while the largest record
store in the world, now merely mind-bogglingly huge. Good selection of English
books and magazines on the top floor.
=> For musical equipment, there's a good cluster of shops just southwest of the
JR station. (Take the pedestrian overpass to cross the highway.)
Other
=> Book 1st. (Bunkamura-dori) One of Tokyo's largest bookstores. Carries a
good range of foreign language magazines, add to a huge array of venues to eat
and drink.
=> Tokyu Hands. (end of Center-gai). A department store specializing in all sorts
of home decorations and D.I.Y. gear (with a heavy emphasis on the all sorts, this
place is much more interesting than it sounds!).
Night Clubs & Entertainment
=> Womb in Dogenzaka is one of Tokyo's newest, hottest and largest clubs,
designed by the people behind New York's Twilo. Entrance is fairly steep at
¥3500 with 2 drinks. http://www.womb.co.jp/
=> Club Pure on Senta-Gai is a tiny little club usually offering ¥2500 nomihoudai
(all you can drink) on the weekends. Popular with foreigners and with "Gaijin
Hunters."
=> Club Harlem is large 2 floor all hip-hop club located in Shibuya. Few foreign
patrons. http://www.harlem.co.jp/harlem/en/harlem_info/index.html
=> Club Asia, situated in between dozens of love hotels is popular for trance
music all night long. This club isn't very popular with foreign patrons.
http://www.clubasia.co.jp/
=> Gas Panic, http://www.gaspanic.co.jp/
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