Shibuya, Tokyo
Encyclopedia
is one of the 23 special wards
of Tokyo
, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population
of 208,371 and a population density
of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km².
The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the shopping district which surrounds Shibuya Station
, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. This area is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.
in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center. It was incorporated as a village
in Minami-Toshima County
(Toyotama County from 1896) in 1889, as a town
in 1909, as a ward
of Tokyo City
in 1932, and as a ward of Tokyo Metropolis in 1943. The present-day special ward was established on March 15, 1947.
One of the most well-known stories concerning Shibuya is the story of Hachikō
, a dog who waited on his late master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935, eventually becoming a national celebrity for his loyalty. A statue of Hachikō was built adjacent to the station, and the surrounding Hachikō Square is now the most popular meeting point in the area.
Yoyogi Park
in Shibuya was one of the main venues for the 1964 Summer Olympics
. The ward itself served as part of the athletics
50 km walk and marathon course during those games.
In 1965, 18-year-old Misao Katagiri
, who had already shot and killed a policeman, went on a shooting rampage, and injured 16 more people. He was sentenced to death and was executed by hanging in 1972.
Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last 30 years. There are several famous fashion
department stores in Shibuya. Shibuya 109 is a major shopping center near Shibuya Station, particularly famous as the origin of the kogal
subculture. Called "Ichi-Maru-kyū," which translates as 1–0–9 in Japanese
, the name is actually a pun on that of the corporation that owns it — Tokyu (which sounds like 10–9 in Japanese). The contemporary fashion scene in Shibuya extends northward from Shibuya Station to Harajuku
, where youth culture reigns; Omotesandō, the zelkova
tree- and fashion brand-lined street; and Sendagaya
, Tokyo's apparel design district.
During the late 1990s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT
industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on both "Bitter Valley," the literal translation of "Shibuya", as well as Bit
, the computer term for binary digits.
, Hiroo, Higashi, Omotesandō, Sendagaya
, and Yoyogi
.
Yoyogi
Sendagaya
Ebisu-Ōmukai
Hikawa-Shimbashi
backed by the Liberal Democratic Party
and Komeito
.
.
Calpis
, Casio
, Niwango
, and Tokyu Corporation have their headquarters in Shibuya. East Japan Railway Company
, Square Enix
, and Taito Corporation
have their headquarters in Yoyogi
, Shibuya. 81 Produce
has its headquarters in Tomigaya, Shibuya.
Japan division is headquartered in Shibuya. The ABB Group's Japan headquarters are located in Shibuya. Virgin Atlantic Airways
's Japan office is on the sixth floor of the POLA Ebisu Building in Shibuya. MTV
Japan Ltd., which controls Nickelodeon Japan
, has its headquarters in Shibuya.
had its headquarters in Shibuya. In May 1985 the headquarters of Bandai Visual
moved to Shibuya. In March 1990 the headquarters moved to Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
.
A.D. Vision - Tokyo, Y.K., the Japanese subsidiary of A.D. Vision
, was in Shibuya. Acclaim Entertainment
once had its Tokyo office in the Nomora Building.
operates public high schools.
Special wards of Tokyo
The are 23 municipalities that together make up the core and the most populous part of Tokyo, Japan. Together, they occupy the land that was the city of Tokyo before it was abolished in 1943. The special wards' structure was established under the Japanese Local Autonomy Law and is unique to...
of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 208,371 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km².
The name "Shibuya" is also used to refer to the shopping district which surrounds Shibuya Station
Shibuya Station
is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
, one of Tokyo's busiest railway stations. This area is known as one of the fashion centers of Japan, particularly for young people, and as a major nightlife area.
History
Following the opening of the Yamanote LineYamanote Line
The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center. It was incorporated as a village
Villages of Japan
A is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
in Minami-Toshima County
Minami-Toshima County, Tokyo
Southern Toshima County was a county in the Japanese prefecture of Tokyo between 1878 and 1896....
(Toyotama County from 1896) in 1889, as a town
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
in 1909, as a ward
Wards of Japan
A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...
of Tokyo City
Tokyo City
was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo-Fu which existed from May 1, 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on July 1, 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by independent special wards...
in 1932, and as a ward of Tokyo Metropolis in 1943. The present-day special ward was established on March 15, 1947.
One of the most well-known stories concerning Shibuya is the story of Hachikō
Hachiko
, known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō , was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death.-Life:In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno,...
, a dog who waited on his late master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935, eventually becoming a national celebrity for his loyalty. A statue of Hachikō was built adjacent to the station, and the surrounding Hachikō Square is now the most popular meeting point in the area.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park
is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.What is now Yoyogi Park was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became an army parade ground...
in Shibuya was one of the main venues for the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
. The ward itself served as part of the athletics
Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics
At the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the athletics competition included 36 events, 24 for men and 12 for women. The women's 400 metres and women's pentathlon events were newly introduced at these Games. There were a total number of 1016 participating athletes from 82 countries.-Men's...
50 km walk and marathon course during those games.
In 1965, 18-year-old Misao Katagiri
Misao Katagiri
The Zama and Shibuya shootings were the double spree shootings in Japan on July 29, 1965 by , which left one police officer dead and 17 people injured, but he was finally captured by police officers. Katagiri was later executed by Japan....
, who had already shot and killed a policeman, went on a shooting rampage, and injured 16 more people. He was sentenced to death and was executed by hanging in 1972.
Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last 30 years. There are several famous fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
department stores in Shibuya. Shibuya 109 is a major shopping center near Shibuya Station, particularly famous as the origin of the kogal
Kogal
The kogal fashion involves wearing an outfit based on a Japanese school uniform, but with a shortened skirt, loose socks, and often dyed hair and a scarf as well. The phenomenon was prominent in the 1990s, but has since declined. The word "kogal" is anglicized from kogyaru, a contraction of kôkôsei...
subculture. Called "Ichi-Maru-kyū," which translates as 1–0–9 in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, the name is actually a pun on that of the corporation that owns it — Tokyu (which sounds like 10–9 in Japanese). The contemporary fashion scene in Shibuya extends northward from Shibuya Station to Harajuku
Harajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
, where youth culture reigns; Omotesandō, the zelkova
Zelkova
Zelkova is a genus of six species of deciduous trees in the elm family Ulmaceae, native to southern Europe, and southwest and eastern Asia. They vary in size from shrubs to large trees up to 35 m tall . The leaves are alternate, with serrated margins, and a symmetrical base to the leaf blade...
tree- and fashion brand-lined street; and Sendagaya
Sendagaya
Sendagaya is an area within Shibuya ward 渋谷区), one of Tokyo , Japan's special 23 wards.-Introduction:...
, Tokyo's apparel design district.
During the late 1990s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on both "Bitter Valley," the literal translation of "Shibuya", as well as Bit
Bit
A bit is the basic unit of information in computing and telecommunications; it is the amount of information stored by a digital device or other physical system that exists in one of two possible distinct states...
, the computer term for binary digits.
Geography
Shibuya includes many well-known commercial and residential districts such as Daikanyama, Ebisu, HarajukuHarajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
, Hiroo, Higashi, Omotesandō, Sendagaya
Sendagaya
Sendagaya is an area within Shibuya ward 渋谷区), one of Tokyo , Japan's special 23 wards.-Introduction:...
, and Yoyogi
Yoyogi
is a neighborhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:* Only the five Yoyogi ....
.
Districts
Hatagaya- Sasazuka, HatagayaHatagaya, Shibuyais an area within Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.It is served by Hatagaya Station on the Keio New Line.Olympus and Terumo have offices there. Olympus' Hatagaya office is currently being rebuilt....
, Honmachi
Yoyogi
Yoyogi
is a neighborhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:* Only the five Yoyogi ....
- Uehara, Ōyamachō, Nishihara, Hatsudai, Motoyoyogichō, Tomigaya, Yoyogi-kamizonochō
Sendagaya
Sendagaya
Sendagaya is an area within Shibuya ward 渋谷区), one of Tokyo , Japan's special 23 wards.-Introduction:...
- Sendagaya, Jingūmae
Ebisu-Ōmukai
- Kamiyamachō, Jinnan, Udagawachō, Shōtō, Shinsenchō, Maruyamachō, Dōgenzaka, Nanpeidaichō, Sakuragaokachō, Hachiyamachō, Uguisudanichō, Sarugakuchō, Daikan'yamachō, Ebisunishi, Ebisuminami
Hikawa-Shimbashi
- Shibuya, Higashi, Ebisu, Hiroo
Politics and government
Shibuya is run by a city assembly of 34 elected members. The current mayor is Toshitake Kuwahara, an independentIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
backed by the Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
and Komeito
New Komeito Party
The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent...
.
Sightseeing and historic sites
Green areas
- Meiji ShrineMeiji Shrine', located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.-History:...
, Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor MeijiEmperor MeijiThe or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
and Empress Shōken, surrounded by a 700,000-square-meter forest. - Shinjuku GyoenShinjuku Gyoenis a large park with an eminent garden in Shinjuku and Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family in the Edo period. Afterwards, it became a garden under the management of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan...
(Sendagaya), former Imperial gardens now open to the public as a park. - Yoyogi ParkYoyogi Parkis one of the largest parks in Tokyo, Japan located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.What is now Yoyogi Park was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, after which it became an army parade ground...
, once a training base for the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese Army-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, later the Washington Heights housing area for the Occupation of Japan, then the lodgings for contestants in the Tokyo Olympics1964 Summer OlympicsThe 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
.
Buildings
- Shibuya 109109 (department store)is a department store in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan The store is operated by the Tokyu Malls Development , a company under the Tokyu Group.-History and description:...
, a popular and trendy place for mostly Japanese young women to shop. - United Nations UniversityUnited Nations UniversityThe United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
- BunkamuraBunkamuraThe Bunkamura is a concert hall, theater and museum located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tokyu Group.- Venues :The four main venues are:*Orchard Hall: 2,150 seats*Theatre Cocoon: 747 seats*The Museum - Changing art exhibits...
, theatre and concert hall complex - Cerulean TowerCerulean TowerThe is a skyscraper in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, and the tallest near the Shibuya station. It was completed in 2001, and was built using empty lots formerly occupied by the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation. It is 184 metres tall and has 41 floors as well as 6 underground floors...
, the tallest building in the Shibuya Station area - Yebisu Garden Place (Ebisu), site of the former Sapporo Brewery, now featuring restaurants and shopping, along with the Westin HotelWestin HotelsWestin Hotels & Resorts are an upscale hotel chain owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. As of 2011, Westin operated over 160 hotels in 37 countries.-History:...
- National Noh TheatreNational Noh TheatreThe opened in Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan in September 1983. The auditorium seats 591 for performances of Noh and Kyōgen, and there is also a rehearsal stage, exhibition area, lecture room, and reference library.-External links:...
(Sendagaya) - New National Theatre (Hatsudai), site of opera, ballet, and other performances
- NHK Broadcasting CenterNHK Broadcasting CenterThe , headquarters of NHK, is located in Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It includes studios and offices, as well as shops and the popular Studio Park, which is a popular attraction for schoolchildren and tourists....
, headquarters of the NHKNHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
radio, television, and satellite broadcasting system - NTT Docomo Yoyogi BuildingNTT DoCoMo Yoyogi BuildingThe is a skyscraper located in the Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan. At tall, it is the third tallest building in Tokyo. After the installation of a clock in 2002, the building became the tallest clock tower in the world.-Function:...
, the third-tallest building in Tokyo, patterned after the Empire State BuildingEmpire State BuildingThe Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived... - Omotesandō HillsOmotesando HillsOmotesando Hills was built in 2005, in a series of Tokyo urban developments by Mori Building. It occupies a two hundred and fifty meter stretch of Omotesandō, a famous shopping and residential road in Aoyama sometimes termed Tokyo's Champs-Élysées...
, a shopping mall completed in 2006 - Southern Terrace (Sendagaya)
- Takashimaya Times Square (Sendagaya), one of the largest department stores in Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan GymnasiumTokyo Metropolitan Gymnasiumis a world-class sporting complex in Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1954 for the World Wrestling Championship, it was also used as the venue for gymnastics events at the 1964 Summer Olympics...
(Sendagaya), a major indoor arena complex - Tokyo Baptist ChurchTokyo Baptist ChurchTokyo Baptist Church is an English speaking international Baptist Church located in Shibuya, situated in downtown Tokyo, Japan...
- Yoyogi National GymnasiumYoyogi National Gymnasiumis an arena in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan which is famous for its suspension roof design.It was designed by Kenzo Tange and built between 1961 and 1964 to house swimming and diving events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. A separate annex was used for the basketball competition at those same games...
, designed for the 1964 Olympics by Kenzo TangeKenzo Tangewas a Japanese architect, and winner of the 1987 Pritzker Prize for architecture. He was one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, combining traditional Japanese styles with modernism, and designed major buildings on five continents. Tange was also an influential protagonist of...
.
Streets and places
- Aoyama Dōri, a major east-west thoroughfare
- Center GaiCenter GaiCenter Gai is a narrow street in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Center Gai is well-known for its clothing stores, music stores, and video game arcades. This is a good place to go if you want to see what Shibuya is like. This road starts from Starbucks Coffee and ends at the HMV advertsement above gein...
- Dōgen-zaka, a road in central Shibuya famous for its surrounding nightclubs and love hotelLove hotelA love hotel is a type of short-stay hotel found around the world operated primarily for the purpose of allowing couples privacy for sexual activities...
s - Komazawa Dōri – running past DaikanyamaDaikanyama, or simply , is a place in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.The Japanese Postal Code of Daikanyama is 150-0034.-Geography:Daikanyama contains luxury boutiques and upscale pastry shops. In many respects, Aoyama, Omotesando, and Daikanyama all share things in common—they are in central Tokyo and have small...
, down the hill to Ebisu, crossing Meiji Dōri and up the hill through Higashi, TokyoHigashi, Tokyois a residential district of the Shibuya ward in Tokyo surrounded by the prime residential areas of Hiroo, Ebisu, Daikanyama Aoyama and Minami Aoyama.-Notable buildings:...
and Hiroo. The road stops at the Shuto expressway in Minami Aoyama. Famed for its beautiful trees that turn bright yellow in autumn, cafes, restaurants and large replica of MichelangeloMichelangeloMichelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni , commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art...
's DavidDavidDavid was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
outside of the Papas building. Prince HitachiPrince Hitachiis a member of the Imperial House of Japan and the younger brother of current Emperor Akihito. He is the second son and sixth born child of HIM Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun and is fourth in line to the Chrysanthemum throne...
and Princess HitachiPrincess Hitachi, née was born on 19 July 1940. She is the fourth daughter of Count Yoshitaka Tsugaru, a descendant of the Tsugaru daimyō of Tsugaru Domain , née was born on 19 July 1940. She is the fourth daughter of Count Yoshitaka Tsugaru, a descendant of the Tsugaru daimyō of Tsugaru Domain , née was born...
have their official residence in a palace in large gardens off Komazawadori in Higashi - Kōen Street, in central Shibuya between Shibuya Station and Yoyogi Park
- Meiji Dōri, a major north-south thoroughfare parallel to the Yamanote Line
- Miyamasu-zaka
- Omotesandō, an avenue leading up to the Meiji Shrine with a number of famous-brand boutiques
- Spain-zaka
- Takeshita StreetTakeshita Streetis a pedestrian-only street lined with fashion boutiques, cafes and restaurants in Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan. Stores on Takeshita Street include major chains such as The Body Shop, McDonald's and 7-Eleven, but most of the businesses are small independent shops that carry an array of styles...
, a shopping street through Harajuku - Yamanote Street
- Shibuya
- EbisuEbisu, Tokyois a neighborhood in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Conveniently near Roppongi and central Shibuya, Ebisu is easily accessed by the JR Yamanote and Hibiya lines via Ebisu Station...
- HarajukuHarajukuHarajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
- Hiroo
- SendagayaSendagayaSendagaya is an area within Shibuya ward 渋谷区), one of Tokyo , Japan's special 23 wards.-Introduction:...
- YoyogiYoyogiis a neighborhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:* Only the five Yoyogi ....
Other
- Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossingPedestrian scrambleA pedestrian scramble, also known as a 'X' Crossing , diagonal crossing , scramble intersection , and more poetically Barnes Dance, is a pedestrian crossing system that stops all vehicular traffic and allows pedestrians to cross an intersection in every direction, including diagonally, at the same...
. It is located in front of the Shibuya StationShibuya Stationis a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
Hachikō exit and stops vehicles in all directions to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection. Three large TV screens mounted on nearby buildings overlook the crossing. The StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
store overlooking the crossing is also one of the busiest in the world. The Shibuya Scramble is featured in the movie, Lost in TranslationLost in Translation (film)Lost in Translation is a 2003 American film written and directed by Sofia Coppola; her second feature film after The Virgin Suicides and it stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson...
and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology...
. - On the northwest side of Shibuya station, there is a popular meeting place with a statue of HachikōHachiko, known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō , was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death.-Life:In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno,...
, while on the southwest side of Shibuya station there is another popular meeting place with a statue called "Moyai". The statue resembles a MoaiMoaiMoai , or mo‘ai, are monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Chilean Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the...
statue, and it was given to Shibuya by the people of Niijima Island in 1980.
Rail
The main station in Shibuya is Shibuya StationShibuya Station
is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
.
- JR EastEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- Yamanote LineYamanote LineThe is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
: Yoyogi, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ebisu stations - Chūō LineChuo-Sobu LineThe is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
: Yoyogi, Sendagaya stations - Saikyō LineSaikyo LineThe is a railway line between Ōsaki Station in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Ōmiya Station in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is a part of the East Japan Railway Company network...
, Shōnan-Shinjuku LineShonan-Shinjuku LineThe is a passenger railway service in Japan which commenced in December 2001. The line has no dedicated track as services run through shared sections along the Ryōmō Line, Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line, Yamanote Freight Line, Yokosuka Line, and Tōkaidō Main Line...
: Shinjuku (the part south of Kōshū Kaidō, including the New South Entrance, is in Shibuya), Shibuya, Ebisu
- Yamanote Line
- Tokyo MetroTokyo Metrois one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Toei. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.-Organization:...
- Ginza LineTokyo Metro Ginza LineThe is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
: Shibuya Station - Hibiya LineTokyo Metro Hibiya LineThe is a metro line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro located in Tokyo, Japan. The line was named after the district of Hibiya, under which it passes.-Overview:The Hibiya Line runs between in Meguro and in Adachi...
: Ebisu Station - Chiyoda Line: Meiji Jingūmae, Yoyogi Kōen, Yoyogi Uehara stations
- Hanzōmon LineTokyo Metro Hanzomon LineThe is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro located in Tokyo, Japan.-Overview:The 16.8 km line serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chiyoda, Chūō, Kōtō and Sumida. Hanzōmon Line trains run through onto the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line from Shibuya Station and the Tōbu Isesaki Line from...
: Shibuya Station - Fukutoshin Line: Shibuya, Meiji Jingūmae, Kitasandō stations
- Ginza Line
- Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of TransportationTokyo Metropolitan Bureau of TransportationThe is Tokyo's public transportation authority. Its subway lines are commonly described as 都営 Toei, meaning "operated by the metropolitan government ." It is one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Tokyo Metro.-Toei Subway:The lines were originally...
Toei Ōedo LineToei Oedo LineThe is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12...
: Shinjuku (in Yoyogi), Yoyogi, Kokuritsu Kyogi-jo stations - Tokyu Corporation (Tōkyū)
- Tōyōko Line: Shibuya, Daikanyama stations
- Den-en-toshi Line: Shibuya, Ikejiri Ohashi stations
- Keiō
- Inokashira Line: Shibuya, Shinsen
- Keiō Line: Sasazuka Station
- Keiō New LineKeio New LineThe is a 3.6 km link which connects Keio Corporation's Keiō Line from Sasazuka Station in Shibuya to Shinjuku Station with through service on to the Shinjuku Line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation.-Synopsis:...
: Hatsudai, Hatagaya, Sasazuka stations
- OdakyūOdakyu Electric Railway, or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone....
Odawara Line: Minami Shinjuku, Sangubashi, Yoyogi Hachiman, Yoyogi Uehara stations - The Royal Platform (kyūtei hōmu), used by the Japanese Imperial Family on rare occasions, is located along the Yamanote Line, a few minutes walk from Harajuku Station in Sendagaya 3-chome.
Highway
- Shuto ExpresswayShuto Expresswayis a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
- No.3 Shibuya Route (Tanimachi JCT – Yoga)
- No.4 Shinjuku Route (Miyakezaka JCT – Takaido)
- National highwaysNational highways of JapanJapan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
- Route 20, the Kōshū Kaidō
- Route 246, with the local names Aoyama-dōri and Tamagawa-dōri
Economy
Several companies are headquartered in Shibuya.Calpis
Calpis
is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by , headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt or Yakult...
, Casio
Casio
is a multinational electronic devices manufacturing company founded in 1946, with its headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Casio is best known for its electronic products, such as calculators, audio equipment, PDAs, cameras, musical instruments, and watches...
, Niwango
Niwango
is a Japanese company that manages Nico Nico Douga. Its headquarters are in the in Shibuya, Tokyo. It is a subsidiary of Dwango....
, and Tokyu Corporation have their headquarters in Shibuya. East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
, Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
, and Taito Corporation
Taito Corporation
The is a Japanese publisher of video game software and arcade hardware wholly owned by publisher Square Enix. Taito has their headquarters in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the facility with its parent company....
have their headquarters in Yoyogi
Yoyogi
is a neighborhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.-Geography:The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways:* Only the five Yoyogi ....
, Shibuya. 81 Produce
81 Produce
is a voice talent management firm in Japan. The company's Director of Business Development, Rihoko Yoshida, is a former voice actress herself . A hybrid CD-ROM featuring voice talent data for members of 81 Produce was released on 19 October, 1997. The company is located Shibuya, Tokyo....
has its headquarters in Tomigaya, Shibuya.
Foreign operations
Campbells Soup'sCampbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
Japan division is headquartered in Shibuya. The ABB Group's Japan headquarters are located in Shibuya. Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited is a British airline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines...
's Japan office is on the sixth floor of the POLA Ebisu Building in Shibuya. MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Japan Ltd., which controls Nickelodeon Japan
Nickelodeon (Japan)
Nickelodeon is a Japanese website for children, teens and adults. Started on November 1998 as a cable and satellite TV channel, Viacom attempted to bring their Nickelodeon brand to the Japanese market. Due to declining viewership, the television network shut down on September 30, 2009...
, has its headquarters in Shibuya.
Former operations
At one time SmilesoftSmilesoft
was a Japanese company that developed video games. Its headquarters were in the in Shibuya, Tokyo.Most of the games Smilesoft produced were monster-collecting console RPGs. It shut down in 2003 after the president of the company, , was arrested on April 10 for charges of child prostitution at a...
had its headquarters in Shibuya. In May 1985 the headquarters of Bandai Visual
Bandai Visual
, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
moved to Shibuya. In March 1990 the headquarters moved to Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
.
A.D. Vision - Tokyo, Y.K., the Japanese subsidiary of A.D. Vision
A.D. Vision
A.D. Vision was an American international multimedia entertainment company headquartered in Houston, Texas, prior to its collapse and distress sale to four other Houston-based companies in 2009...
, was in Shibuya. Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
once had its Tokyo office in the Nomora Building.
Companies
- Amway Japan: Japan headquarters for AmwayAmwayAmway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
a multi-level marketing company - Coca-Cola JapanThe Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
- Cyber Agent Ltd.: Internet advertising agency
- Dreamusic IncorporatedDreamusic Incorporatedis a Japanese record label also working as a subsidiary of TY Limited Incorporated.Its chairman is Tom Yoda, ex-chairman of Avex Group.-Domestic:* Funky Monkey Babys* Yōichi Aoyama* Yūzō Kayama* Hiroko Nakamura* Ayaka Hirahara* Ryoko Moriyama...
: record label - East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) (Yoyogi) - Gap JapanGap (clothing retailer)The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
- GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
- Ito En Ltd.: Bottler of tea, coffee, vegetable drinks and other beverages
- Kentucky Fried ChickenKFCKFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
Japan Ltd. - MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Japan - NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai)NHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
(NHK Broadcasting CenterNHK Broadcasting CenterThe , headquarters of NHK, is located in Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It includes studios and offices, as well as shops and the popular Studio Park, which is a popular attraction for schoolchildren and tourists....
) - Nippon Crown Records Co., Ltd.Nippon Crownis a Japanese record label originally established as Crown Records on 6 September 1963. It is a spin-off of Nippon Columbia and is currently owned by karaoke maker Daiichikosho.-Artists:Artists signed to Nippon Crown Music include:* Hanaboy* Kimeru* Metis...
: a Japanese record label company - PPG: Manufacturer of industrial coatings
- Papas: a clothing, cafe and bakery company, headquartered on Komazawadori in the neighbourhood of Higashi
- Sapporo Breweries Limited
- Square EnixSquare Enixis a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
: video game, manga producer - Teichiku RecordsTeichiku RecordsTeichiku Records is a Japanese record label, run by the Teichiku Entertainment company, that specialises in enka, kayōkyoku, and similar music. Teichiku is an abbreviation for , the former name of the company...
: record label - Trend MicroTrend MicroTrend Micro Inc. is a computer security company. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and markets Trend Micro Internet Security, Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security, OfficeScan, and other related security products and services...
Japan: security software company - JupiterJupiter (company)Jupiter Corporation is a Japanese video game and hardware development studio that focuses on handheld consoles. It is based in Kyoto, though they have a secondary branch in Tokyo...
: video game industry
Colleges and universities
- United Nations UniversityUnited Nations UniversityThe United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
- Aoyama Gakuin UniversityAoyama Gakuin University, abbreviated AGU, is a Japanese Christian university in Shibuya near Omotesandō, Tokyo, Japan. Aoyama Gakuin University is part of a comprehensive educational institute called Aoyama Gakuin, which includes a kindergarten, an elementary school, junior and senior high schools, and a women's junior...
- Bunka Gakuen University (Yoyogi)
- Jissen Women's UniversityJissen Women's Universityis a private women's college in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded by poet and educator Utako Shimoda in 1899. It was chartered as a university in 1949.-External links:*...
- Kokugakuin UniversityKokugakuin UniversityKokugakuin University is a private university, whose main office is located in Tokyo's Shibuya district...
(Higashi, TokyoHigashi, Tokyois a residential district of the Shibuya ward in Tokyo surrounded by the prime residential areas of Hiroo, Ebisu, Daikanyama Aoyama and Minami Aoyama.-Notable buildings:...
) - University of the Sacred HeartUniversity of the Sacred Heart (Japan)The is a Japanese private women's university located in Hiroo, Shibuya, Tokyo.It was established in 1916 as a special school by the Society of the Sacred Heart...
(Hiroo) - Tokai UniversityTokai Universityis a private university in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1943 by Shigeyoshi Matsumae, who had formerly been the engineering president of the Ministry of Communications...
Primary and secondary schools
Shibuya operates public elementary and middle schools, while Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of EducationTokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education is the board of education in Tokyo, Japan. The board manages the individual school systems within the metropolis. The board also directly manages all of the public high schools in Tokyo...
operates public high schools.
- Aoyama High School
- First Commercial High School
- Hiroo High School
Public libraries
Shibuya operates several public libraries, including the Central Library, the Nishihara Library, the Shibuya Library, the Tomigaya Library, the Sasazuka Library, the Honmachi Library, and the Rinsen Library. In addition, the Yoyogi Youth Hall houses the Yoyogi Library Room.External links
- Shibuya official website in English
- Wikitravel Tokyo/Shibuya
- Shibuya Nightclub Guide in English