Shibuya Crossing is one of Tokyo's most recognizable sights, pictured in countless films, magazines and blogs. During its busiest times, an estimated 1,000 to 2,500 people forge their way across this intersection every two minutes, enough to quickly fill up a football stadium.
The phenomenon gave rise to its nickname "scramble," as pedestrians cross from all directions. Shibuya Crossing walks the line between manic chaos and perfect synchronization. Your explorations of Tokyo will eventually bring you here to make your crossing and take advantage of Shibuya's wealth of shopping, dining and entertainment options.
- Shibuya Station began operating in 1885
- Nearly 3 million passengers travel through the station each day
- Shibuya Crossing has been the backdrop to countless films over the years
Shibuya Station opened back in 1885, but its famous crossing only took its modern-day form in 1932 when the Tokyu Toyoko Line opened and made Shibuya a key stop between the neighboring port city of Yokohama and Tokyo's central business hub.
As more lines were added to the station and more people moved to live and work in Tokyo , the area expanded rapidly. Shibuya now services nine major lines, a vast network of bus lines, and is home to countless shopping and business centers.
Sitting outside Shibuya Station is a symbol of the area, Hachiko. Immortalized as a bronze statue, this humble Akita dog has come to represent loyalty and perseverance, two essential qualities in Japanese folklore. The story behind Hachiko is as heartbreaking as it is sweet.
Hachiko came to Tokyo with his owner, Eizaburo Ueno, a professor at Tokyo University. Hachiko would walk to the station with Ueno every morning and would return to the station every afternoon to meet his master from the train. One afternoon in 1925, however, Ueno didn't show up, having died unexpectedly from a hemorrhage.
Hachiko was adopted by another family, yet every morning and afternoon for nearly 10 years he would walk to and from the station, waiting in vain for his owner to return. The statue now serves as a popular meeting spot for lovers, friends and family, standing next to the dog and watching the station's exit together.
To fully appreciate the magnitude of Shibuya Crossing, and to witness its rhythmic dance in real time, view the crossing from on high. There are a number of places to do this, including the shopping centers and cafes towering over the station entrance, such as the Starbucks in the QFRONT building.
A less-trafficked vantage point is in the station itself, between the JR lines and the Keio Inokashira Line entrance.