Froject
Shibuya

Shibuya

If you want to go to the place in the image above, it's here https://maps.app.goo.gl/P1xFyEGKXrAi3Mgi7
Fun looking but definitely a tourist trap. It's also below Miyashita Park (see below).

Shibuya is one of the most densely packed areas for interesting stuff in the city. There are 3 main areas:

  • Big Parks - Meiji-Jingu templ/ gardens, and Yoyogi Park.
  • Shibuya City itself, the more built up area with department shops and restaurants
  • Harajuku, lower-rise, "trendier" shopping and cafes, right next to Shibuya City

I'd recommend making your way around one by one. They're all close, but it'll make the day very long if you move back and forth between them a lot. All doable in a day but it'll be very tiring.

Big Parks

⭐ Meiji-Jingu Temple & Park

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QV9xVcqY3npHPAeF9
Very popular spot but well worth the visit. If you enter from the above gate, you can do a circular walk through the forest and gardens with the temple itself in the centre.

Yoyogi Park

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ld4FGHPrqiVCbV4fA
There's not actually much here but it's a decent park to walk around and look at things. Sometimes there are events or markets in the Shibuya-side approach here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JMGVw2eXFCum1zqS9

Shibuya City Attractions

Shibuya City Places to Visit

Shibuya is 90% shopping and eating so the best attraction is just walking around and absorbing the atmosphere.

Shibuya Crossing

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JwUowKw3EdBw4DvcA
WORLD FAMOUS CROSSING, the busiest in the world. If you come via Shibuya station, Exit 8 (Hachiko) will spit you out right into the crossing. Exit A5 will give you a view of the crossing from inside the station. Alternatively you can find the Starbucks nearby and watch it from the upper floor.

Hachiko Statue

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4X667fW6dqZXUcHr8
As above, Exit 8 from Shibuya station will get you here fastest.

Shibuya Sky

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UAz2soBCP8sK5cLj7
Rooftop views of the whole city right form the heart of Shibuya.

Central Street

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4DpfCaDDuXfECCTa6
Just walk down here and take everything in.

Miyashita Park - Urban Rooftop Park

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vMvvhLeYoux6frX9A
Cool building in the city on the way to Harajuku; shopping centre with a park on the upper floor.

Taito Arcade Games

Big chain of arcades.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KmYrSgqSMHJEDM966

Shibuya City Shops

Shibuya City Restaurants

⭐ "Dry Ramen" (Oil Based Sauce) Nihon Aburato Shibuya Sohonbu

https://maps.app.goo.gl/S5NkRg25Zpd9QgSW8
My #1 recommendation for food in Shibuya. I don't know how to make dry noodles sound appealing but you'll just have to trust me. Use a machine to order, give them your tickets and wait, it's incredible.

White Glass Coffee

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rDfDNKhrBaN7YSeR7
Coffee shop a bit out of the way but top tier coffee.

⛓️ FRIED CHICKEN BOAT - Chibachan

https://maps.app.goo.gl/frJ6LYTZif3bWPLP7
It's a popular student spot because it's so cheap, but you can get 1kg (or maybe it's 2kg) of fried chicken for £5. Not a typo. Difficult to find, you have to go down a corridor (red carpet, claw machines inside) and get the lift to floor 4.

Ramen Spot 1 - ramen

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ekzW8qLvwu4UhrkM8
All I can say is I've tried it and I like it.

Ramen Spot 2 - udon

https://maps.app.goo.gl/waCzArsgLA25PAJR7
Udon specialty.

Ramen Spot 3 - salt/ citrus broths

https://maps.app.goo.gl/MbNYEPzEWt2hsJeK9
Whatever you get, experiment with the stuff they give you on the table, excellent sauces.

Izakaya 1 - Upmarket Izakaya (£££)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/na25hyTPDeSkMh8w7
Pricier izakaya but top quality food and a very fun atmosphere.

Izakaya 2

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TbXh5ubxtYphHAdt8
It's an izakaya. Go downstairs, try to get a seat, the food is great. Smoking is allowed inside though, could be a bit rough.

Chinese Restaurant

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oGEiYMjQ6cNBeJFw9
I know you're in Japan. I know I'm recommending Chinese food. It's so legit.

⛓️ Torikizoku (Grilled Chicken & Meat)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7yGJSHpTEU4kKupq7
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XPfHL3KbrZuv1XJq6
I think Shibuya has about 4 or 5 so look around, search "torikizoku".

Common chain of barbecued meats, possibly the closest thing to a Wetherspoons. Tablet order. This is one of the absolute best value for money places you can go - fixed price for everything (around 450 yen last time I checked, drinks included). On busy nights you might wait about 40 minutes, less if you are a small group.

Shibuya Drinking Spots

Besides Izakaya, Shibuya is one of few places with a lot of beer halls. Many are foreign owned and/ or source non Japanese beers.

ØL by Oslo Brewing Co

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jvfJBtGXXtrsg7rN6

Tap & Crowler

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nXfrkUcRmtnrpswcA

Ottotto

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YHWWL9z1gA6JjQmK7

The Hub - British Pub Themed Chain

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7TGxyt1w5MRG14gt7
Yeah it's stupid to go but it'll be fun, give it a try.

Mikkeller

https://maps.app.goo.gl/11Vk6u4vPAhrMeff6

Harajuku Attractions

Harajuku JR station will spit you right out between Harajuku and the Parks. There's not much to see, but lots to eat, drink, and buy.

Harajuku Places to Visit

Takeshita Street

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wmRryxTUps6yWqfp8
Look at the link and you might recognise it - a shadow of its former self tourist attraction street.

Cat Street

https://maps.app.goo.gl/wDxDhBowvpHqqUBC9
It's just a cool street with a lot of cool shops, I'll list some shops later but you'll probably end up here.

Harajuku Shops

I'll do my best to list these from North to South so it will bring you towards Shibuya side. The main streets (search on maps) are Harajuku Street and Cat Street which run parallel to each other, North to South.

From here you will see a lot of other thrift shops. There isn't much off the main street so you should be able to go straight and see all of the interesting stuff, but I'll call out my favourite places.

Harajuku Cafes and Restaurants

Coffee Shop The Roastery

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HEoWK4VAqvxwNMJF8
Go get some coffee.

LATTEST Coffee Shop

https://maps.app.goo.gl/UVk88twRxaVRACgY7
An alternative.

I'm donut? Doughnut shop(s)

Near Harajuku station: https://maps.app.goo.gl/31h5RottLUohKtQA8
Near Shibuya: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xW1hqYrSYNEj5FMN6
Exceptionalyl good doughnuts, the queues move pretty quickly.

Iyoshi Cola - craft cola

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pKXxdQBx52vUHTpc8
Get some cola built like a cocktail in a bag. It's weird but really good.

Misaki Sushi

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pKXxdQBx52vUHTpc8
Cheap and very decent sushi. Less busy than...

⛓️ Kura Sushi

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gquZQ515gwFmJnUH8
Very very busy, if you go here I highly recommend booking in advance on their website (it's quite easy with translate options). You can go in and check in on the tablet, someone will call your number.