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Looking for unique activities to fill up your Tokyo itinerary? This guide to fun things to do in Shibuya will help you make the most of this lively Tokyo ward!
Whether you are only spending 2 days in Tokyo or have a more leisurely 5-day Tokyo itinerary planned, Shibuya ward is a place you have to visit while exploring the Japanese capital.
However, Shibuya ward extends far and wide, and is packed with incredible and unique things to do in Tokyo, making it hard to know where to begin.
Being at the heart of the city, Shibuya is home to some of Tokyo’s most iconic sights, including the famous Shibuya Crossing, the beautiful Yoyogi Park, the trendy Harajuku district, and much more.
There is just so much to do and see in this exciting pocket of the city!
So, after spending six incredibly fun months exploring every corner of Tokyo, especially this lively area of the city, I’ve compiled this list of fun things to do in Shibuya.
Featuring the best things to see in Shibuya, some of the best Tokyo coffee shops located in the area, an unmissable ramen spot, cool shops to visit, and more, this guide will help you explore Shibuya beyond Shibuya Crossing.
🗼 Exploring Tokyo and beyond? Check out these travel guides:
15 Fun Things To Do In Shibuya: Unique Shops, Food, and Views
1) Say hi to the famous Hachiko statue
Just as you exit Shibuya Station—if you can, it’s a maze in there—you will be greeted by a cute dog statue, Hachiko.
If you don’t know who Hachiko is, there’s a whole movie made about his story, but be warned, you will need tissues.
Long story short, Hachiko was a dog that used to come to meet his owner every day at Shibuya Station when he came back from work, and he continued to do so for 9 years after his owner had sadly passed away at work.
I told you, you will need tissues. The statue is a reference meeting point for locals and has become a national symbol of enduring loyalty.
2) Join the crowds at Shibuya Crossing
A quintessential thing to do when visiting Tokyo is to join the crowds at Shibuya Crossing, the biggest pedestrian crossing in the world!
With people crossing from left to right, diagonally, and across, if you are in the area, especially during a weekend evening, it really does look like a small sea of people moving together.
Don’t worry, this is still Japan, even with hundreds of people crossing at the same time, I wouldn’t call this chaotic, everyone is still very organized and peacefully walking to their destination.
3) Catch an epic view of Tokyo’s busiest crosswalk
Besides joining the crowds, another fun way of experiencing the busy Shibuya Crossing is to get a bird’s-eye view of the whole thing.
🏙️ Some of my favorite Shibuya Crossing viewpoints include:
- Starbucks Coffee Shibuya: You can get a cool close-up view of the Shibuya Crossing from the Starbucks 2nd floor.
- Shibuya Sky: One of the best observation decks to get an incredible view over Tokyo; however, I think it’s a bit far to appreciate the Shibuya Crossing.
- Shibuya Scramble Square: A shopping center from where you can catch views of the Shibuya Crossing from the 11th floor—for free!
4) Browse, snack, and explore at Shibuya Scramble Square
Besides offering great views from its higher floors, Shibuya Scramble Square is also worth exploring in its own right.
This luxurious-looking shopping center, located a few steps from Shibuya Station, offers everything from delicious—and almost too pretty to eat—treats on its first floor to unique local brands, a flower shop, numerous restaurants, and so many levels filled with fun things to browse through.
So make sure to take some time to wander through its many floors and get yourself a little souvenir.
🛍️ Check out some of my favorite shops inside Shibuya Scramble Square:
- Aesop: Australian luxury skin care brand—love their hand creams! (2 F)
- New Balance: Love browsing New Balance in Japan as they have unique color combinations you won’t find anywhere else. (4 F)
- Converse Tokyo: Converse in Japan also has many items unique to the Japanese market. (2 F)
- Maison Margiela: Love their fragrances, and they had a Matcha scented one I haven’t been able to find since Japan. (3 F)
- Public Tokyo: A high-end casual brand committed to high-quality, made in Japan clothing. Got a beautiful sweater from here as a souvenir. (7 F)
- Tokyo Hands: A small section of the “everything store”. (10 F)
- Tsutaya Bookstore: Beautiful bookstore and cafe area. (11 F)
5) Refuel with a solo ramen session at Ichiran
One of the best places to eat in Tokyo, and an unmissable stop during any trip to Japan, is the iconic Ichiran Ramen, which conveniently has two locations in Shibuya.
Ichiran Ramen is a locally loved staple, a Tonkotsu Ramen chain offering affordable and tasty bowls of pork-based ramen, in a unique service style ideal for solo dinners.
Don’t worry if you are traveling with friends, you can still visit together, but the fun part here is to sit in an individual booth like locals do, to enjoy your meal in silence.
6) Grab a drink in a tiny bar in Shibuya’s Nonbei Yokocho
If looking for fun things to do in Shibuya, then wandering the narrow alleys of Shibuya’s Nonbei Yokocho should be on your list.
In this tucked-away corner of Shibuya, you will find quirky bars and local izakayas packed… with about four to five people at a time, since that’s all there’s space for.
It’s so cute!
We visited the popular Piano Bar and got lucky enough to find the upstairs completely empty, which again, only fits about six people.
While on the pricier side of things, visiting this eccentric bar in Shibuya’s Nonbei Yokocho was such a fun experience that I would recommend for a fun evening out.
But there are plenty of other cool bars to visit here, so wander around the lantern-lit alley and take your pick.
7) Wander through the lively Shibuya Yokocho
Another fun thing to do in Shibuya, especially in the evening, is to explore the lively atmosphere of Shibuya Yokocho, the food market alley of this central ward.
Lined with vibrant and casual eateries, this place gets busy in the evenings, with locals sipping beers and sake, accompanied by some small bites.
After having tried a restaurant here—even after my hardcore research—I wouldn’t necessarily recommend eating here; there is much better food close by.
But just exploring the area is a fun activity in itself and worth the stop.
8) Stop by Blue Bottle for your daily dose of caffeine
While there are plenty of incredible coffee shops to explore in Tokyo, one I keep coming back to again and again is Blue Bottle Coffee.
After having tried Blue Bottle in its native California, I have to say that Japanese baristas just do it better. Their consistency and care in coffee preparation are unmatched.
Trust me, it will ruin you for other coffee shops.
So while exploring the buzzing Shibuya, make sure to stop at the Blue Bottle Coffee location for a delicious caffeine fix.
9) Relive your childhood at the Pokémon and Nintendo Center
One of the most fun things to do in Shibuya for any millennial is visiting the Pokémon and Nintendo Center, which are conveniently located inside the same building, Shibuya Parco.
Even as someone who is currently not very into Pokémon or Nintendo, the stores offer so much cute merch that it is hard to resist the hype, and reminisce on the good old 90s.
From fun figurines to themed t-shirts and notebooks, to even cute Nintendo homeware items, there truly is something for everyone.
10) Go coffee shop hopping in Tomigaya: My favorite hidden gem in Tokyo
One of my favorite things to do in Shibuya has to be exploring new coffee shops, and there is one section in particular that is perfect for this activity: Tomigaya.
Tomigaya is a quiet city pocket next to the lush Yoyogi Park that, for some reason, has a good handful of incredible coffee shops all within a very short walking distance from each other.
Perfect for an afternoon of coffee shop hopping.
☕️✨ Some of my favorite coffee shops here are:
- CAMELBACK sandwich & espresso: Tiny industrial style coffee shop, known for its tasty sandwiches, particularly its egg sandwich.
- Coffee Supreme Tokyo: Tiny and sleek coffee shop serving strong lattes with a side of fun merch. Their instant coffee is the perfect hotel coffee.
- Fuglen Tokyo: Cozy wood-paneled coffee shop offering more seating space than the last two.
11) Take a peaceful stroll through Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine
You can find absolutely anything and everything in Shibuya, even a massive oasis in the heart of it all, the lush Yoyogi Park.
Yoyogi Park is one of the biggest parks in Tokyo, and its central location makes it the perfect escape from the buzz of Shibuya.
With its open grassy areas, perfect for picnicking, and its Sakura promenade, Yoyogi Park is also one of the best places in Tokyo to see cherry blossoms when spring comes around.
If you need a change of pace from the sometimes overstimulating Shibuya, head to Yoyogi Park for a peaceful stroll, and make sure to visit the nearby Meiji Shrine tucked away in the woods.
12) Get a taste of Tokyo youth culture on Takeshita Street
One of the Tokyo stereotypes that any first-time visitor needs to experience is the bold and vibrant fashion scene in Harajuku, particularly along Takeshita Street.
While many people still think that Tokyo is a fashion-forward city with a unique style, I didn’t find this to be the case.
Tokyo as a whole is quite conservative when it comes to fashion, but Harajuku is where the adventurous and fun outfits dominate the streets.
So take some time to wander along Takeshita Street and admire the young fashion sense, browse the eclectic vintage shops, and try some of the popular neighborhood snacks, like the ¥10 coin-shaped cheesy dough or the neighborhood staple, crepes.
13) Take a walk down laid-back Cat Street
One of my favorite things to do in Shibuya, and how I would always start my day wandering around the area, is by leisurely strolling through the cute Cat Street.
While being in the heart of all the action, Cat Street always seems like a quieter little shopping haven, just a few steps away from the Shibuya madness.
Lined with many popular shops, cute cafes, and small eateries, Cat Street is the perfect area to kill some time when exploring Shibuya.
🛍️ Some of my favorite spots in Cat Street:
- RAGTAG: Second-hand shop with great designer finds
- Patagonia Surf Tokyo Outlet: A great outlet with many Japan-only designs.
- Levi’s Harajuku Store: Browse their unique made-in-Japan denim items.
- The Roastery by Nozy Coffee: One of the best coffee shops in Tokyo.
- Luke’s Lobster: Tasty lobster rolls, perfect for a quick lunch.
- The Matcha Tokyo: The cafe that turned me into a matcha lover.
14) Explore Miyashita Park’s cool mix of shops and cafés
One of the best things to do in Shibuya is to wander around its many unique shopping centers, like the modern Miyashita Park, a new shopping space a few steps away from Shibuya Station.
You can find anything at Miyashita Park, from designer stores, to quirky stationary shops, to small independent sellers, high-end cafes, a food court, and even a rooftop park featuring a skating park, a sand court, and a bouldering wall(!)
Like, what?!
There’s so much to do and explore in this modern shopping center, so make sure to take some time to wander through it.
🛍️ Some of my favorite spots in Miyashita Park:
- Miyashita Cafe: Best soft-serve ice cream. You have to try it!
- Matcha Tokyo: Another location of my favorite matcha cafe in Tokyo.
- Café Kitsuné: Parisian-born concept that blends a coffee shop with a fashion brand.
- Hightide Store: Cute stationery and miscellaneous goods shop.
- The rooftop: It’s so cool to see this modern use of a rooftop space. I love it!
15) Pop into Shibuya Loft for the coolest Japanese goods
One of the most fun things to do in Shibuya has to be getting lost inside Shibuya Loft, a seven-story-tall lifestyle-oriented department store.
I could spend days in here.
At Shibuya Loft, you can find anything from adorable stationery, uniquely Japanese home electronics—such as the cutest single egg cooker—bento boxes, ceramics, skin care, cute portable battery packs, and so much more.
This is the perfect place to find presents and souvenirs, from matcha sets to wooden chopsticks, the tiniest coffee thermos, and more… and yes, I bought all of these items.
Final thoughts on fun things to do in Shibuya
From sipping sake in tiny bars to browsing massive department stores, visiting cute cafes, and peacefully strolling through a green oasis in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, there are so many unique and fun things to do in Shibuya.
So, after six months exploring this city from corner to corner, and spending many days wandering around Shibuya, I’m sure this guide will provide you with more than enough ideas of fun things to do in Shibuya to fill up your itinerary.
What is the top thing you are looking forward to going to or visiting in Shibuya? Let us know in the comments.