The Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan 03 Jun 2016
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The Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan is one of the busiest crosswalks in the world. The vibrant entertainment and shopping district of Shibuya and neighbouring Ebisu is one of the most exciting in Tokyo, the centre from which fashion trends ripple out to the rest of Japan.
Several train and subway lines converge on Shibuya Station. From wherever you arrive, make your way through the Tokyu Toyoko department store towards the western side, which houses the terminus for the Keio-Inokashira line (you can hop on this later to visit the Japan Folk Crafts Museum). On the way you will pass a giant 14-panel painting, Myth of Tomorrow 1 (Asu no Shinwa) by Okamoto Taro (1911–96), a powerful Guernica-like mural of the atomic-bomb explosion. Originally created in the late 1960s for a luxury hotel in Mexico, the monumental work
was rediscovered in 2003 and took five years to be restored and find its new home in the station.
A walk through the teen-trend Mecca of Shibuya and neighbouring district of Ebisu has something for everyone, including shopaholics, kids and lovers of quirky museums and contemporary art.
Want to go to Japan?
With our Completely Japan trip, your adventure begins in glittering Tokyo where you can explore the city's most iconic districts. Experience traditional teahouses and pretty Japanese gardens, visit revered temples and impressive museums, then hop on a train for a daytrip to Kamakura, a charming seaside town full of charm; or journey on to Nikko's stunning national park. From here it's on to Hakone for rope walks, mountains, and a chance to see majestic Mount Fuji before you continue on to Kyoto, the former imperial capital that's bursting with Unesco world heritage treasures.
Our Japan Cultural Discovery trip offers up a different side of Tokyo. From the captivating capital to Matsumoto's mountains to the wooded valleys of Tsumago with its traditional houses, this Japanese getaway allows you to see the sights as the locals do. For a shot of culture, visit Kyoto where Shogun pavilions, sacred temples and Unesco world heritage castles await.
Read more: Take a copy of Insight Guides: Explore Tokyo on your travels. Divided by district, this guide will give you the lowdown of what to see where.
Get lost in a guidebook: Insight Guides: Japan is a comprehensive guide to the country with inspiring photography. It's available as an e-book or as a printed guide with a free app included.
