Shibuya, Tokyo

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Image:Hachiko1233.jpg Image:Shibuya tokyo.jpg Template:Nihongo is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2005, it has an estimated population of 195,877 and a density of 12960 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km².

1 Introduction
2 Sightseeing and historic sites
3 History
4 Transportation
- 4.1 Rail
- 4.2 Highway
5 Education
- 5.1 Colleges and universities
6 People
7 Companies
8 Shibuya in popular culture
9 External links

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Introduction

Largely a commercial and entertainment district, Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last thirty years. There are several famous fashion department stores in Shibuya, and many are near Shibuya Station, of which, one of the most famous is Shibuya 109. Very popular among young people, especially teens, it is famous as the origin of the kogal subculture. (Takashimaya Times Square, near the southern exit of Shinjuku Station, but located in Shibuya ward is one of the largest department stores in Japan.) The fashion scene in Shibuya extends northward from Shibuya station to Harajuku, where youth culture reigns; Omotesando, the zelkova tree and fashion brand lined street; and Sendagaya, Tokyo's apparel design district. (See list of apparel design shops in Sendagaya. Shibuya is a fashion trendsetter for Asia and beyond.

The plaza in front of JR Shibuya Station is known as Hachikō Square, after a loyal dog who waited here for its master for years on end and is now commemorated with a statue.

Shibuya is also famous for its intersection crossing, reportedly the world's busiest, which is located in front of Shibuya Station and uses a four-way stop to allow pedestrians to inundate the entire intersection. Three large TV screens mounted on nearby buildings overlook the crossing. The Starbucks store overlooking the crossing is reportedly the busiest in the world. The 2003 United States movie Lost in Translation featured a scene at the crossing.

During the late 1990s, Shibuya was known as the center of the IT industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on "Bitter Valley", the literal translation of "Shibuya".

Eighteen embassies are located in Shibuya.

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Sightseeing and historic sites

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Green Areas

Meiji Shrine
Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku Imperial Gardens, which sit in Shinjuku and Shibuya.
Yoyogi Park, once a training base for the Imperial Japanese Army, later the Washington Heights housing area for the Occupation of Japan, then the lodgings for contestants in the Tokyo Olympics.

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Buildings

Image:Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.jpg

Bunkamura, theatre and concert hall complex
Cerulean Tower, Shibuya Cross Tower
Ebisu Garden Place, site of the former Sapporo Beer brewery, now featuring restaurants and shopping and eating, along with the Westin Hotel
National Noh Theatre (Sendagaya)
New National Theatre (opera, ballet and other performances, in Hatsudai)
NHK Broadcasting Center, headquarters of the nationwide (and international) radio, television and satellite broadcasting system
Southern Terrace (southern exit of Shinjuku Station, but in Yoyogi
Takashimaya Times Square (Sendagaya)
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, (Sendagaya)
Yoyogi National Gymnasium, designed for the Olympics by Tange Kenzo

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Streets

Aoyama Street
Koen Street
Miyamasu-zaka
Omotesando, important street with a number of famous brand boutiques leading up to the Meiji Shrine
Spain-zaka
Takeshita Street

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Areas within Shibuya

Daikanyama
Dōgen-zaka, an entertainment district with many nightclubs and love hotels.
Ebisu
Harajuku
Sendagaya

Image:Moyai Statue.jpg

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Other

Statue of Hachiko, the faithful dog
Statue of a Moyai, a gift from the people of Niijima, one of Tokyo's islands

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History

1885: Yamanote Line opened.
1889: The village of Shibuya was established.
1909: Shibuya became a town.
1925: Hachiko's master died.
1932: Shibuya became an ordinary ward of Tokyo City.
1943: Tokyo City was abolished; Shibuya became part of Tokyo Prefecture.
March 15, 1947: The special ward was established.
1964: Summer Olympic Games were held in Shibuya and other locations

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Transportation

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Rail

The main station in Shibuya is Shibuya Station.

JR East
- Yamanote Line: Yoyogi, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ebisu Stations
- Chuo-Sobu Line: Yoyogi, Sendagaya Stations
- Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku (the part south of Koshu Kaido, including the New South Entrance, is in Shibuya), Shibuya, Ebisu
Tokyo Metro
- Ginza Line: Shibuya Station
- Hibiya Line: Ebisu Station
- Chiyoda Line: Meiji Jingu-mae, Yoyogi Koen, Yoyogi Uehara Stations
- Hanzomon Line: Shibuya Station
- Tokyo Metro Line 13 (not yet open in Shibuya): Shin Sendagaya, Meiji Jingu-mae, Shibuya Stations
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation Toei Oedo Line: Shinjuku (in Yoyogi), Yoyogi, Kokuritsu Kyogi-jo Stations
Tokyo Kyuko Electric Railway (Tokyu)
- Toyoko Line: Shibuya, Daikanyama Stations
- Den-en-toshi Line: Shibuya, Ikejiri Ohashi Stations
Keio
- Inokashira Line: Shibuya, Shinsen
- Keio Line: Sasazuka Station
- Keio New Line: Hatsudai, Hatagaya, Sasazuka Stations
Odakyu Odawara Line: Minami Shinjuku, Sangubashi, Yoyogi Hachiman, Yoyogi Uehara Stations
The Royal Platform (kyuutei ho-mu), used by the Japanese Imperial Family on rare occasions, is located along the Yamanote Line, a few minutes walk from Harajuku Station in Sendagaya 3-chome.

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Highway

Shuto Expressway
- No.3 Shibuya Route (Tanimachi JCT - Yoga)
- No.4 Shinjuku Route (Miyakezaka JCT - Takaido)
National highways
- Route 20, the Kōshū Kaidō
- Route 246, with the local names Aoyama-dōri and Tamagawa-dōri

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