Shibuya Crossing is the scramble crossing outside Shibuya Station, where traffic stops in every direction at once and crowds of people pour across the intersection from all sides. It has become a symbol of Tokyo in films, adverts and travel photos, and standing in the middle of it as the lights change is a small thrill. It costs nothing to cross, and you can come back as many times as you like.
What Shibuya Crossing is and why go
A scramble crossing lets pedestrians cross in all directions, including diagonally, during one shared green phase. Shibuya has several, but this one in front of the station is the famous one, ringed by giant video screens, department stores and shopping buildings. At busy times, hundreds of people can cross in a single light cycle, and the way the crowd flows without collisions is fascinating to watch.
The crossing is not a place you spend hours. It is more of a moment, best enjoyed twice: once at street level, walking across with everyone else, and once from above, watching the patterns the crowd makes.
Getting to Shibuya Crossing by metro
Shibuya Station is one of the biggest rail hubs in Tokyo. It is served by the JR Yamanote Line, the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon and Fukutoshin lines, and private railways including the Tokyu and Keio Inokashira lines. The crossing is right outside the station on the northwest side.
- Follow signs for the Hachiko exit, which opens onto the small plaza beside the crossing.
- Shibuya Station has been under redevelopment for years, and passages and signage change. Allow extra time and follow the overhead signs rather than relying on an old map.
- If you arrive on the metro lines deep underground, it can take several minutes to reach street level.
Is Shibuya Crossing free?
Yes. It is a public road crossing, open at all hours, and there is nothing to pay. Only the elevated viewpoints charge, and most of those are cafés or observation decks with their own prices and hours.
The most famous paid view is Shibuya Sky, the open-air observation deck on top of Shibuya Scramble Square, directly above the station. It looks down on the crossing from far above and across the whole city. Tickets are timed and sunset slots sell out early, so book ahead through the official Shibuya Sky website.
Best time to visit Shibuya Crossing
The crossing is busiest in the evening, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, when the screens are lit and the crowds are at their peak. Weekday rush hours are also busy, with commuters rather than sightseers. Early morning is nearly empty and a little flat. For the classic scene, come between dusk and late evening.
Halloween and New Year's Eve have in the past drawn enormous crowds, and the local authorities have restricted drinking and gatherings in the area at those times in recent years. If you are in Tokyo then, check the current rules before going.
Allow 30 minutes for the crossing and a viewpoint, or a few hours if you want to explore the shopping streets around it.
Shibuya Crossing highlights and viewpoints
Walking across
Wait at the edge for the lights to change, then walk straight across or diagonally. Avoid stopping in the middle for photos or video, as the green phase is short and drivers wait for the crossing to clear.
Views from above
Several buildings around the crossing have upper-floor cafés and terraces with windows facing the intersection, and the station itself has passages with views over the crossing. They are popular, so expect to wait for a window seat.
The Hachiko statue
The bronze statue of Hachiko, the dog famous for waiting at the station for his late owner, stands in the plaza by the Hachiko exit. It is Tokyo's classic meeting point.
Center Gai
The pedestrian street leading off the crossing is packed with fast food, game centres and shops aimed at a young crowd.
Nearby on the same stop
- Miyashita Park: a long rooftop park with shops and restaurants below, a short walk north.
- Shibuya 109: the cylindrical fashion building at the fork of two streets, an icon of youth fashion.
- Dogenzaka and Spain-zaka: sloping streets of restaurants, bars and small shops.
- Meiji Jingu and Harajuku: one stop north on the Yamanote Line, or a walk of around 20 minutes.
See more of what is around this stop on the Shibuya Crossing page, or browse the full Tokyo metro map.