Shibuya-ku, Urban administrative ward in Tokyo, Japan
Description
Shibuya-ku is a central ward in Tokyo that spreads across a densely built area west of the Imperial Palace. The district connects residential quarters with shopping streets, parks, and railway stations that see hundreds of thousands of commuters pass through daily.
History
An 11th-century castle settlement formed here, which later became a postal relay point. With the opening of the Yamanote loop line in the late 19th century, the area developed into a transport hub and attracted shops and residential construction.
Culture
The name comes from an old word for a bitter valley where tea bushes once grew. Today fashion boutiques, music shops and youth cultures shape the streetscape, while nightlife unfolds in the winding alleys after dark.
Practical
The area is best explored on foot or by subway, as many destinations are just a few minutes' walk from each other. Weekend evenings bring large crowds, while weekdays are calmer and offer more room to explore.
Did you know?
A bronze dog statue stands at the station plaza, commemorating a loyal animal that waited for years for its deceased owner. The meeting point is now one of the most photographed spots in the city and serves as a landmark for locals and visitors.
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Meiji Shrine
1.4 km
Japan National Stadium
2.2 km
Shinjuku Gyoen
2.9 km
Shibuya scramble crossing
529 m
Yoyogi National Gymnasium
485 m
Shibuya Scramble Square
695 m
NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building
2.4 km
University of Tokyo Graduate School of Arts and Sciences · College of Liberal Arts
1.2 km
Shibuya Hikarie
714 m
109
474 m
NHK Hall
300 m
Keio Plaza Hotel
2.9 km
Yoyogi Park
925 m
Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower
3.1 km
Nezu Museum
1.7 km
Meiji Shrine Outer Garden
2.4 km
Myth of Tomorrow
591 m
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
2.1 km
JR Shinjuku Miraina Tower
2.8 km
New National Theatre Tokyo
2.4 km
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building
3.1 km
Tokyo Opera City Tower
2.4 km
Shibuya O-East
574 m
Tokyo Mosque
2 km
Shinjuku Suehirotei
3.1 km
Carrot Tower
3.4 km
Shinjuku Center Building
3.1 km
LIQUIDROOM
2 km
Sasazuka
Hatagaya
Honmachi
Uehara
Yoyogi-Uehara
Ōyamachō
Nishihara (Shibuya)
Hatsudai
Moto-Yoyogichō
Tomigaya
Yoyogi-Kamizonochō
Yoyogi
Sendagaya
Jingūmae
Kamiyamachō
Jinnan
Udagawachō
Shōtō
Shinsenchō
Maruyamachō
Dōgenzaka
Nanpeidaichō
Sakuragaokachō
Hachiyamachō
Uguisudanichō
Sarugakuchō
Daikanyamachō
Ebisu-Nishi
Ebisu-Minami
Shibuya
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