During rush hour, the hypnotic pace of traffic lights seemed to signal the mesmerizing but claustrophobic waltz to the masses.
For many, the chaotic control of Shibuya's "scramble" exemplifies the efficient madness of this cutting-edge city. Here, 10 lanes and 5 major crosswalks converge in a modern canyon of neon-colored buildings in the heart of Tokyo.
Shibuya Crossing is the center stage for times-square-style Chinese New Year's Eve countdown and the focal point of wild Halloween celebrations that have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing: At its peak, thousands of pedestrians scramble on what is considered the busiest crosswalk in the world.
Its popularity is easy to explain.
Shibuya Station in the area, along with Shinjuku Station, is one of the busiest train stations in the world.
Connecting popular areas such as Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Roppongi, it's almost impossible to bypass Shibuya and travel across Tokyo or even across the city. And, you still don't want to.
Movie fans will appreciate the fact that Fast & Furious famously traveled through bright colors in the third film series, Tokyo Drift.
Fans of Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray may remember scenes from the "Lost in Translation" film, with lots of transparent umbrellas that transcend the crossroads. In the classic Japanese battle royale, traversing a futuristic urban landscape that serves as a flick of the bullet.
Models and those models, as they did on a personal fashion show, crossed the intersection. It's not uncommon to see mascots sparkling, and it always seems that there are marico racers pulling. It is both a place to see and to be seen.
Even during major events such as Halloween, the street works properly, with officials using retractable ropeways to squeeze people onto the sidewalk. No matter how busy it is, traffic at this large intersection is rarely congested. Emergency vehicles can even easily travel through rush hour.
For many, the chaotic control of Shibuya's "scramble" exemplifies the efficient madness of this cutting-edge city.
Ahead of the 2020 Olympics, the region has grown considerably and the skyline is constantly expanding. The intersection itself has to be upgraded almost daily, with updated and impressive video boards constantly competing for the attention of passers-by.
At least five main screens, video and audio can be impressively synchronized to each intersection, displaying information such as the weather forecast during a red "no walk" signal, while cartoons are usually displayed when the green "walk" signal is lit.
Shibuya is a famous meeting place represented by the legendary loyal dog.
Even though the crosswalk can be a dazzling place, everyone knows a landmark: a famous meeting place represented by the legendary loyal dog.
The dog, Hachitaka, is an Akita dog who meets his owner, Shuzaburō Ueno, at Shibuya Station every day after work. When Ueno died unexpectedly, hachino continued to visit the station every day for nearly a decade.
His loyalty is widely respected in Japan and is known as chukenhachikō or "faithful dog hachikō", and the breed is particularly popular in the region.
Today, a near-constant number of tourists wait outside the station exit, taking pictures with octagonal bronze statues, sometimes wearing wreaths of flowers in the summer and hand-woven scarves during the colder months.
(Octagon is still alive and attended the first unveiling of the statue in 1932, but the model was recycled for war purposes, and the current statue is a refurbished work from 1984.) ）
Even the area's buses and vending machines are decorated with his smiling puppy face, and there is an official hachikō mascot that patronizes the area.
The 47-storey Shibuya Sky is the tallest tower in the city and the observation deck – with sweeping views.
One of the most closely associated images with Japan is a bird's-eye view of the crazy crossing. It's a highly sought after image, but getting it can be challenging.
By far the most popular photo location is the magnet shopping mall on the 7th floor viewing platform of Shibuya 109. Standing upright above the intersection, it provides the most direct angle.
Open daily from 11am to 11pm, admission fees have varied with the season since opening in 2018, but have been free recently.
The platform is equipped with a camera that, for a small fee, can be synchronized with the visitor's smartphone to take a selfie from above. Strollers or wheelchairs cannot access the platform.
Shibuya Excel Tokyu Hotel proudly boasts the crossing point itself, with panoramic views from every corner.
Although the intersection cannot be seen directly from the train platform, Shibuya stands on a bridge over the street that provides a unique side view and is the easiest to access. That area of the station doesn't even need to buy a ticket.
The diagonal design on the windows makes it more difficult to capture the perfect photo, but it's a place to easily place the spot due to the spaciousness and smoothness of commuters.
The shibuya hikarie complex, with its offices, shops, and theater, is one of the best places to get a more comprehensive picture of the full-scale action in the area.
Just a few blocks from the main intersection, the higher view from the 11th floor offers a panoramic view of the railway station's intersection. The flow of trains adds another layer of complexity to the endless rush hour below. Although it is not an official viewing platform, it is still accessible and open to the public.
Shibuya Excel Tokyu Hotel proudly boasts the crossing point itself, with panoramic views from every corner. Officially, it is only open to hotel guests. But given its popularity, it has been allowed to host patrons of the hotel's 25th-story restaurant.
The models and those models, as they did at a personal fashion show, crossed the street. Everything is here.
Shibuya Scramble Square – a new 47-story skyscraper that is the tallest tower in the area and has the highest observation deck – casts all of this in the shadows. The glass-walled roof deck features a 360-degree deck with stunning views across the megacity.
In addition to the dazzling highs overlooking Shibuya Ward, there are also attractions such as Tokyo Tower and Mt. Fuji. Fuji, with its spacious roof, has green space on the turf turf helipad, stair seats to enjoy the sunset, and hammocks to watch the clouds (although there are indications that there is no sunbathing).