One of the best-known symbols of Tokyo is the busy pedestrian scramble outside Shibuya station. Virtually anyone who’s ever come to the capital has probably been drawn to it at some point. People refer to it variously as Hachiko Crossing, Shibuya Crossing or the Shibuya Scramble. Whatever you want to call it (for the sake of convenience, we’ll follow the example of local businesses here and call it the Scramble), it’s a true tourist magnet.
The chaotic free-for-all of foot traffic, with people zigzagging every which way to get across the street, almost seems tailor-made to form an establishing shot of the metropolis on film. In our Lost in Translation guide to Tokyo, we looked at one well-worn spot for watching the Scramble: namely, the second floor of the Starbucks in Shibuya’s Q-Front building. To encourage a high turnaround of customers, the ubiquitous coffee chain only serves “Tall” size drinks at this location.
Photo: Joshua MeyerThis is one of the busiest Starbucks franchises in the world, with a view that overlooks the second busiest train station in the world. With every over-caffeinated shutterbug and their grandmother vying for a window seat, however, the place is already crawling with camera buzzards and it isn’t always the most relaxing nor even the best spot for watching the intersection anymore.
A new, open-air observation deck is just one of the lesser-known alternatives that will allow you to get a bird’s-view of the Shibuya Scramble. Here are a some of the non-Starbucks places you can go.
1. Magnet by Shibuya 109
A familiar sight to Tokyoites and tourists is the landmark of Shibuya 109, the department store housed in a tall, cylindrical structure on the corner between Dogenzaka and Bunkamura Street. Until recently, the 109 Men’s branch sat in a separate building that was directly adjacent to the Scramble. That building has since undergone a renewal and re-branding as Magnet by Shibuya 109.
On the seventh floor, you can take the XXXL eating challenge at Japan’s first Fatburger. The popular L.A.-based chain will add you to its wall of fame if you can finish its U.S. Kingburger—two triple cheeseburgers stacked together for a grand total of six patties under one bun. Other restaurants on the same floor include Onigiri Bar, which serves Spam onigiri (Japanese rice balls). If you don’t have the appetite for such novelty food, you can always just skip straight to the rooftop of Mag’s Park.
Follow the signs to the door where an outside staircase leads up to the roof. There you will find Crossing View, the open-air observation deck overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. The rooftop and its hip, graffiti-tagged walls double as an event space so you’ll need to cut through tables and chairs to access the observation deck.
Photo: Joshua MeyerThis is where you can see the view in the main photo at the very top of this page. It’s currently one of the best places in Shibuya to get an aerial view of the Scramble.
2. Shibuya Sky
Shibuya station currently has a number of new skyscrapers popping up around it. The area is in the middle of a huge redevelopment project, so these days half-finished high rises and construction cranes are a common sight.
In 2018, a riverside complex called Shibuya Stream opened. Most recently in 2019, the new 230-meter skyscraper, Shibuya Scramble Square also opened its doors. This one directly connects to Shibuya station and is topped with Shibuya’s largest observation deck, Shibuya Sky. The 230-meter view encompasses other parts of Tokyo like Shinjuku too. On a clear day, you can even see as far away as Mt. Fuji.
Shibuya Sky features an open-air rooftop lookout where you can enjoy the cloud breeze as you overlook the city. Although there are a few other rooftop lounging areas around Tokyo, this new building is the highest and has the best 360-degree view in comparison to the rest.
3. Shunsai
One of the best-kept secrets for aspiring Scramble birds might be Shunsai, the Japanese restaurant high up on the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu’s 25th floor. If you get a window table on the far right corner at Shunsai, you should have a good view of the Scramble down below. The restaurant serves kaiseki meals, comprised of numerous small dishes served on one individual tray. Reservations are available for lunch and dinner; breakfast is first-come, first-serve.
Where Starbucks has this restaurant beat is in the affordability department. The two cheapest options at Shunsai are the Japanese breakfast (¥2,851) and the bento box lunch (¥2,900). Dinner is upwards of ¥6,500.
Photo: Joshua MeyerHaving said that, Shunsai allows you to get a better view of the Scramble’s layout as a whole and its atmosphere is generally much more serene and enjoyable than Starbucks. Other options in the hotel building are the Estacion Café down on the fifth floor (though not the best pictures from this vantage point, since the view is partially obstructed) and the French restaurant A Bientot, which is located across from Shunsai on the 25th floor.
Photo: Joshua MeyerThe elevator to the 25th floor is only for guests, but A Bientot serves a Western-style breakfast buffet in the morning and if you’re eating there, you can probably snag some Scramble photos from the window near the elevator. When all else fails, you could always splurge on a room at the hotel and request one with a view of the Scramble.
4. L’Occitane Café, Shibuya
A 2016 article on Savvy Tokyo called Shibuya’s L’Occitane Café an “organic treat for the senses.” Even if you’re not one to normally seek out organic options, you may be won over by the stunning presentation of food at this café.
Anecdotally, one of my most chill Shibuya summer memories is saddling up next to a window at L’Occitane Café to eat a delicious salad topped with roasted bacon and spring vegetables.
Photo: Joshua MeyerThough the view is partially obstructed by trees, L’Occitane Café Shibuya holds second- and third-floor window tables that do allow you to watch the flood of pedestrians on one side of the Scramble.
5. Shibuya Station
In Shibuya station, the concourse that leads to the Keio Inokashira line and Shibuya Mark City usually has some picture-takers gathering at its windows. These windows are lined with mesh, but if you’re using a smartphone camera, the lens should be small enough to aim between the mesh and fire off a few snapshots of Q-Front and the Scramble from afar.
Photo: Joshua MeyerWhen you’re finished, you can turn around and shoot some pictures of Taro Okamoto’s massive mural “The Myth of Tomorrow” on the opposite side of the concourse. Or you can re-enter the sea of commuters and catch a train to Kichijoji or Inokashira Park.
One thing’s for sure: the days of Starbucks holding a monopoly on views of the Scramble are swiftly passing out of memory.
Have you checked out the new 230-meter observation deck Shibuya Sky? Do you know any other good lookout points for watching the Scramble? Share your own tips with readers in the comments!
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