Shibuya, A Must-Experience Crazy Town
Tokyo is a captivating mix of curious and enchanting experiences, with treasures in every corner of this vast cosmopolitan city. If you find yourself passing through Tokyo with a night or two to spare, there’s no place better to explore than Shibuya.
As night falls Shibuya comes alive with a vibrant display of neon lights. The youth culture is huge here with an energy and culture that permeates the area.
It’s a paradise for shoppers, you can wander the streets and find department stores, boutiques, vintage shops and electronics stores. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in Shibuya, chances are it doesn’t exist.
One of the highlights of Shibuya is its world-famous crossing. When the traffic lights halt, a surge of humanity fills the intersection, creating an organised chaos that has become an iconic symbol of the area. It’s an experience that is fun to witness in your lifetime, even just once.
A popular meeting point or somewhere to regroup if you get lost! The bronze Hachiko statue of a faithful dog who waited at the station for his owner to return every day even after the owner’s death.
All the cuisines are here. From cake and coffees at Starbucks to savoring locally brewed ales at Ottoto Brewery, a food tour of Shibuya or enjoying traditional and even Mexican cuisine, there’s something to satisfy every craving.
Shibuya’s EN hotel is very central to the action and an interesting twist on a modern hotel. Each hotel floor has a different theme representing Japan’s kaleidoscope of culture, from the famous Hokusai Edo period woodblock print to a wooded forest, traditional red tori corridor or vibrant manga cartoons. Their rooms are clean and tidy and quiet from the crazy street noise below. During my stay I arrived late from my international flight hungry and tired. I appreciated ducking down easily to the cool, basement restaurant rather than trawl the streets looking for dinner. Their restaurant was filled with young people, chatting happily and dining on sashimi, gyoza and other traditional fare.
The EN hotels are dotted throughout Japan, locations include Kyoto, Hiroshima , Hamamatsu with many more. They are thoughtfully designed and respectful of sustainability and staff are knowledgeable and very friendly.
Keep an eye out here for a special detailed review of the EN hotel in Grandeco Snow Resort during April 2024 with a wrap up on Grandeco’s snow resort and conditions in Chillfactor magazine, available May 2024.
Photography credits: Brendan Reeves
