The Good One Day Itinerary for Shibuya, Tokyo

When individuals ask me about my favourite issues to do in Tokyo, I nearly all the time circle again to the Shibuya district. Not as a result of it’s calm or straightforward, however as a result of it exhibits you every thing without delay. The chaos. The wonder. The rhythm of each day life stacked on high of complete sensory overload.

This itinerary is how I’d spend one full day in Shibuya if I had been taking you with me. Not too rushed, however simply sufficient construction to maintain us fed, caffeinated, and continually stunned.

Morning 3-D Espresso at Cafe Reissue 

We start in Harajuku, as a result of there’s nowhere else you’d begin a day like this. Cafe Reissue is a kind of locations that sounds a little bit ridiculous till you might be sitting there looking at your espresso, questioning how you bought emotionally connected to foam.

That is the place for 2D and 3D latte artwork, and a spot completely price planning your whole morning round. I ordered a latte topped with a 3D bear (so cute I principally apologized earlier than ingesting it). For spherical two, I instructed them to shock me with a 2D design, they usually got here again with a serene temple scene and Mount Fuji peeking within the background.

A number of necessary notes earlier than you go:

• It’s money solely, so verify your pockets for Yen (our invoice was about ¥3200, $20 USD).
• You’ll be able to convey a picture of the latte artwork you need, or select from their examples. The woman subsequent to us introduced a photograph of her canine and it turned out so cute!
• There’s often a line, however should you arrive fifteen minutes earlier than they open, you’ve obtained an actual shot at strolling straight in like we did.
• The meals menu right here is restricted, so I’d skip it and head straight to matcha crepes. 

Backup Choices

If the road at Cafe Reissue is simply too lengthy, I’ve obtained some strong backup espresso picks. Matilda Espresso & Vegan Bakes is tiny and charming, with no indoor seating however critically good pastries. If they’ve it, seize the Apple Muscat and Earl Gray muffin, it’s implausible. One other nice possibility is Setsuko Juice & Breakfast, which is hidden away behind a clothes retailer. They serve unbelievable recent juices and smoothies. I liked the Candy Kiss juice with strawberry, ginger, and apple!

Matcha Crepes at Kotobukiseian Harajuku

There are a variety of crepe stands on Takeshita Road, however Kotobukiseian Harajuku Matcha is the one I’d completely look ahead to. It specializes totally in matcha, and you’ll style that focus in each chew. Japanese crepes are completely different from the French model you may be picturing. They’re thinner, barely crisp on the skin, and pleasantly chewy, with a steadiness that by no means suggestions into overly candy. 

My favorites had been the matcha tiramisu, crammed with matcha mascarpone, lemon jam, and chocolate puff (yum!), and the matcha berry, layered with cassis cream, blueberries, pistachio, and almond nougat.

Stroll Takeshita Road in Harajuku

Strolling Takeshita Road is slender, loud, colourful, and unapologetically unusual, and I adore it for precisely that motive. That is Tokyo at its most playful. One minute you might be passing cutting-edge streetwear retailers, the subsequent you might be looking at a classic boutique or a snack you can not fairly establish. I discovered myself stopping continually, typically in admiration, typically in complete confusion, which is truthfully a part of the enjoyable.

You will notice animal cafés all over the place, promoting time with cats, pigs, otters, and sure, even capybaras, the place I spent a while feeding a few cuties. And the individuals watching alone is definitely worth the stroll. 

Go to Meiji Jingu Shrine

Simply when Takeshita Road appears like an excessive amount of, then there’s Meiji Jingu. Marked by an infinite torii gate, the doorway leads you right into a forest of roughly 100,000 timber, all donated from throughout Japan when the shrine was constructed. 

Meiji Jingu is devoted to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The shrine itself is a couple of ten-minute stroll from Harajuku Station, but it feels worlds away. You might even see conventional Shinto weddings, guests quietly washing their palms on the purification fountain, or individuals writing needs on wood ema plaques.

Close by, the Meiji Jingu Museum, designed by Kengo Kuma, shows artifacts linked to the emperor and empress, together with the carriage used throughout the proclamation of the Meiji Structure in 1889. 

Stroll By Yoyogi Park

Proper beside Meiji Jingu sits Yoyogi Park, sprawling and unpretentious. It doesn’t attempt to impress you with the ornateness of a Japanese backyard. As an alternative, it charms by way of simplicity. And plenty of timber.

Locals jog, stroll canines, observe music, or just sit. After we visited in early December, the burnt orange leaves had been hanging on, including heat to the grey winter sky. In spring, cherry blossoms take over. In autumn, the colours glow.

Have Lunch at Ramen Kamo to Negi

Lunch right here was not a part of the unique plan. We had been headed some place else once we observed a line of locals outdoors Ramen Kamo to Negi. In Tokyo, that’s the solely suggestion you want.

This restaurant makes a speciality of duck ramen, they usually do it very properly. The broth is made out of solely duck, inexperienced onions, and water, simmered gently to extract taste with out heaviness. The result’s a transparent, elegant soup that tastes deeply savory however by no means greasy.

You order from a merchandising machine with little or no English, however a workers member kindly helped us by way of it. The menu is straightforward. Duck and leek ramen is the star.

Get the View at Shibuya Sky

Some individuals say statement decks are skippable. I’m not one in all them, at the very least not in the case of Shibuya Sky. Positioned on the forty seventh flooring of Shibuya Scramble Sq., this open-air statement deck sits 229 meters above town. The elevator journey itself is immersive, with mild and sound constructing anticipation.

From the highest, Tokyo stretches endlessly in each route. You’ll be able to look straight down at Shibuya Crossing, watch town pulse, and on clear days, see Mount Fuji faintly within the distance.

➞ Purchase tickets on-line should you can, however we managed to get same-day tickets on website. 

Do the Shibuya Crossing

You can’t come to Shibuya and never stroll throughout this well-known Shibuya Crossing that was featured within the film Misplaced in Translation in 2003. 

When the lights change, a whole bunch of individuals surge ahead from each route. Someway, nobody collides, besides me who was taking too many photos! It’s chaos and choreography abruptly. Throughout peak occasions, 1000’s of individuals cross each two minutes.

Peek on the Hachiko Statue

Simply outdoors Shibuya Station stands the statue of Hachiko, the loyal Akita canine who waited for his proprietor day by day for practically a decade after the person handed away. The statue itself is small, however the which means is just not. Hachiko has turn out to be a nationwide image of loyalty, and the plaza round him is now Shibuya’s hottest assembly level. It’s a crowded, however fast cease.

Store on the MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya

MEGA Don Quijote is lots. Eight flooring of snacks, cosmetics, souvenirs, electronics, and stuff you didn’t know existed. It’s open 24 hours, wildly colourful, and someway nonetheless environment friendly. It’s overwhelming in a manner that turns into oddly enjoyable.

That is the place you purchase items, magnificence merchandise, and snacks you’ll remorse not shopping for extra of. Tax-free counters make it straightforward, and indicators are in a number of languages. 

Seize a Drink at Nonbei Yokocho

As night time falls, head to Nonbei Yokocho, often known as Drunkard’s Alley. This slender road is lined with tiny bars, many with area for less than 5 – 6 individuals.

Relationship again to the Nineteen Fifties, the alley feels worn-in and intimate. Some locations serve yakitori, others wine or sake. Don’t plan on spending an excessive amount of time right here, however positively sneak inside one of many bars for a drink. 

Okonomiyaki Dinner at Imari Shibuya

Dinner at Imari was one in all my favorites in all of Tokyo. The area is darkish and intimate, with solely ten counter seats and a big grill on the middle. We ordered the omakase for 3,800 yen, which delivered a multi-course meal chosen totally by the chef. We sat entrance and middle to observe them expertly cook dinner our dinner on the grill proper earlier than us. The present alone was price it, however the meals was scrumptious too. 

Standout dishes included the agosuji with garlic shoots, wealthy and savory, the tonpeiyaki egg omelet with completely grilled pork, and the negiyaki, a inexperienced onion pancake served merely with dashi soy sauce that allow the flavors shine.

Backup Dinner Choices

If Imari is booked otherwise you really feel like switching issues up, there are a few nice backup dinner choices price realizing about. Comodo Wine Bar is cozy and welcoming, they usually serve a complimentary potato salad that alone made me excited for a full dinner. CENSU TOKYO is extra playful and energetic, with hip hop music and a vigorous vibe, providing each omakase and robust à la carte choices. Don’t miss the boiled rooster dumpling with spinach and mozzarella in a pumpkin sauce!

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