Japan Photo Guide

Shibuya is one of the larger shopping, entertainment and nightlife districs in Tokyo. Shibuya is close to Shinjuku and Harajuku on the Yamanote Train Line but each place has it’s own personality. Shibuya is kind of for younger crowds but really you will find all sorts in Shibuya. Everything from young school girls to yamambas (literally means girl from the mountains but these are the really really fake tan girls with elaborate make up) to old men to Yakuza to college kids to the average person and of course your fair share of gaijin (foreigners). Most of the shopping is for girls and women and for clothes but you can find almost anything in Shibuya, and I really mean almost anything. Below is one of the famous shopping buildings (tall 109 building) with 10 floors and over 100 shops, where about 99% of the stores are for girls.

No matter time you go, Shibuya is busy and it is a good palce to check out the trends of fashion in Japan, as Japan is typically a boom society, the trends come and go with the wind. The crossing in the photo below is one of the most famous and most photographed in Japan.

Below is the famous statue of a dog called Hachiko. I have heard many stories about this dog and I am not sure which parts are true, but the (bitter sweet) story I like to believe goes as following. Hachiko and the owner of the dog had a very special relationship. Everyday this dog met his owner at the Shibuya Station when he would come home from work; however, the man got old and one day he died while he was at work. The dog waited all night for his owner to come but of course he never did. Eventually Hachiko left Shibuya Station, but everyday, for the rest of the dog’s life, Hachiko would come back to Shibuya Station to wait for his owner. A statue was built to honor the dog and now it is a popular place to meet and wait for people; however, there are so many people waiting there it is not always easy to find your friends!

The nightlife scene is very happening in Shibuya with lot’s of clubs, restaurants, bars, adult entertainment and love hotels. Like I said earlier, whatever you are looking for can be found here.

Fore more more information check out the Japan-Guide.com.

Shibuya – article about the Shibuya area of Tokyo.

Shinjuku is one of Tokyo‘s 23 wards and is a huge entertainment, shopping, business and (some) government district. Basically Shinjuku is a city within itself but is really just a (big) fraction of Tokyo. Shinjuku is very famous and has been in many movies including most recently “Lost in Translation” and “Kill Bill.” Shinjuku always seems busy no matter what time of day you go there and Shinjuku Station, is one of, if not the busiest station in the world. Shinjuku has a lot of really cool and large buildings (Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, for one which offers great views of Tokyo) as well as a lot of people, shops and restaurants.

If you go late at night it is not uncommon to see drunk, passed out salary men sleeping on the streets or friends carrying another friend who is too drunk to walk. I recommend going, but do be careful if you wander into Kabukicho, the entertainment, drinking, adult and red light district, which has a lot of ties with the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia). In general, this area is fairly safe compared to the rest of the world, but compared to the rest of Japan it is a little unsafe. That being said, just don’t go picking fights with anyone and you should be fine.

For more information please see the Japan-Guide.com.