Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing is the pulse of modern Tokyo and the most famous pedestrian scramble in the world, where at each change of the lights a surge of hundreds, even thousands, of people flood across the intersection from every direction at once. Beneath a blaze of giant video screens and neon, framed by the department stores and the loyal dog statue Hachiko, it is the iconic image of the electric, restless city.

What you actually see

• The scramble crossing - the surge of crowds flooding across at once.
• The neon and screens - the blaze of giant video screens above.
• Hachiko statue - the famous loyal-dog statue and meeting point.
• The views from above - the overlooks from surrounding cafes and buildings.

When to go

Year-round; it is busiest and most dramatic after dark, when the neon and screens blaze, and at rush hour and weekends when the crowds peak. A cafe or viewing deck overlooking the crossing gives the best vantage.

Honest expectations

It is a free spectacle rather than a sight to spend long at, best watched from an overlooking cafe or deck for the full effect. It is genuinely crowded, which is the point. The surrounding Shibuya is a hub of shopping, dining and nightlife to fill more time.

Nearby

The Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and the shops of Shibuya and Shinjuku are nearby.