Shibuya

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Photo by flickr user Matt Watts

As one of the busiest and most colorful areas of Tokyo, the area right outside of Shibuya offers some great shopping and entertainment. Many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends were born in this area of the city.

Two competing corporations, Toyku and Seibu own most of the department stores and fashion shops here. Toyku has two department stores, each with over 10 floors, Shibuya 109, which is filled to the brim with trend setting fashion and Shibuya Mark City which is a complex that has office space, a hotel, and a wide range of shops and restaurants, and finally Toyku Hands which is a do-it-yourself arts and craft store. Here you can find odd collectibles like electrically-warmed sheep pillow, or a teapot and teacup set shaped like a smiley-faced mushroom.

Shopping affiliated with Seibu are the Seibu department store, over nine floors of fabulous shopping, boutiques and restaurants, Loft, which is comparable to Toyku Hands, and Parco which is a highly fashionable complex consisting of many buildings.

Many of the main roads in Shibuya- Center Gai, Koen Dori, and Spain Slope, also offer a wide range of chic, privately owned boutiques. Restaurants and nightlife are also abundant in these areas, and there are some racy clubs behind the department stores.

Shop for: Clothing, home projects

Cafe Stop: Toriyoshi

Get here: JR Yamanote Line, JR Saikyo Line, JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, Hanzomon Subway Line, Ginza Subway Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line, Tokyu Den-Entoshi Line and Keio Inokashira Line.

Written by  Mary Kate Alfieri.

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