Shibuya Crossing Viewpoints and Picture Spots
Shibuya Crossing is an iconic location in Tokyo, Japan, that has captured the creativeness of photographers world wide. With its bustling streets, colourful lighting fixtures, and mass of pedestrians, this intersection has transform an emblem of contemporary city existence and a visible banquet for photographers.
A staggering 2.4million folks use this crossing day by day and should you’re in the hunt for for the most productive perspective to {photograph} Shibuya Crossing, this information is for you. I’ll be sharing the place you’ll be able to {photograph} the crossing from up excessive and at the floor to make sure you benefit from your time in Shibuya. Masking all 4 corners of the crossing, the spots indexed vary in
Shibuya Crossing represents the power and dynamism of Tokyo. As some of the international’s busiest pedestrian crossings, Shibuya Crossing is a hive of process, with just about 2,500 folks crossing the road each time the site visitors lighting fixtures trade. This consistent movement creates a mesmerising visible show, with streams of folks flowing in all instructions.
Scroll all the way down to discover a Google Map checklist the entire vantage issues famous on this article.
I’ve for my part photographed this crossing in summer season, iciness and autumn, when it’s busy, no longer so busy and when it’s completely heaving with folks. Even nonetheless, I would like a couple of crosses ahead of beginning to {photograph}, the revel in of strolling with everyone seems to be one thing you’ll be able to’t pass over, so get started out by means of taking the stroll, taking a look round and absorbing the improbable environment this intersection creates.
The encircling cityscape provides to the attraction of photographing Shibuya Crossing. The tall constructions and neon lighting fixtures that envelop the world create a hanging backdrop, particularly all over the night when the lighting fixtures mirror off the streets and create a surreal environment.
So, let’s get to the place you’ll be able to {photograph} Shibuya Crossing from, and learn how to seize this epicentre of recent Tokyo. I’ve stored the most productive (for my part) for closing!
1. Hachiko Sq.
Within the center of the motion, Hachiko Sq. is on the front to Shibuya Station (backside left nook within the symbol above). That is floor degree the place you’ll be able to stroll among the pedestrians and absorb the revel in of in fact crossing the street…way more exciting than should you’re simply crossing the street at house!
I’d counsel strolling throughout a couple of instances to get a really feel for the kind of footage you need to seize. The lighting fixtures on each nook display how lengthy is left because the little inexperienced dots rely down till just one stays. If you wish to permit your self time within the heart, run out (if secure to take action) the instant the lighting fixtures flip inexperienced so you’ve a couple of further seconds to spare! From Hachiko Sq., place your self for an ideal shot by means of status beside the lawn beds to defend your self from the gang whilst they stroll by means of and onto the crossing. This manner you’ll be able to seize a sequence of footage as folks go, with out getting bumped as they stroll by means of you.
It’s known as Hachiko Sq. because of the tale of the dependable canine Hachiko who waited for his proprietor each day, unaware that his proprietor had handed and wasn’t coming house. There’s a statue devoted to this canine within the sq. and it’s you’ll in finding a lot of people lining as much as have their picture taken beside it. Each pictures under are taken from the brink of the sq. at the aspect of the street.
2. Shibuya Station Bridge to Mark Town
This indoor perspective is positioned at the reverse aspect of the crossing to Starbucks. Whilst it supplies a raised view to {photograph} towards the intense lighting fixtures of Shibuya, there’s recently numerous building simply in entrance, and there could be a couple of stumbling blocks to shoot above this. There’s additionally a bus turning station under the bridge, this will paintings smartly at evening, however all over the day, it deters from the magic, visual from different viewpoints. It’s loose even though, so why no longer prevent by means of right here and take a couple of pictures whilst strolling to every other vantage level!
3. Shibuya Sky
If you need sky-high perspectives over Shibuya Crossing, that is where to head. A up to date addition to the Tokyo skyline, this revel in must be deliberate upfront to make sure you’re arriving at the most productive time and protected a price ticket. Tickets promote out upfront, particularly for the preferred instances, and in the event that they’ve bought out on-line, there received’t be any to be had in individual.
You’ll ebook tickets on-line right here to protected a time you need, I’d counsel nearer to sundown so you’ll be able to revel in the golden glow over Tokyo, and the glowing lighting fixtures!
You’ll discover a extra in depth information about photographing from Shibuya Sky right here. There aren’t any baggage allowed at the commentary deck, so make sure you take a flexible zoom lens up with you to seize Shibuya Crossing under. It’s additionally no longer simply the crossing visual from the highest, you’ll be handled to 360 level perspectives around the town, even Mount Fuji is visual on a transparent day.
4. Starbucks Shibuya Tsutaya
Snatch your self a Matcha Latte and try to protected some of the window seats at Starbucks Shibuya, positioned with an ideal view without delay over Shibuya Crossing.
To get right of entry to the world with perspectives over the crossing, you’ll want to order, gather your drink after which take the steps as much as the following degree. Now, a tiny caution, this position is crowded. I’m in fact no longer keen on photographing from this place as a result of no longer handiest are you hustled for a seat (should you controlled to protected one), you’ll most probably have folks seeking to {photograph} over you, there’s noise, and should you’re like me and don’t revel in numerous folks round, it’s simply no longer creatively inspiring. The vantage level could also be just a little limited, with a subway front positioned in entrance, quite blocking off a part of the crossing.
5. L’Occitane Café
Positioned at the nook reverse Magazine’s Park, this café provides perspectives over the crossing, however they’re quite obstructed by means of a tree. In the event you’re keen on the pretty perfumes and lotions to be had on the retailer, project on via and revel in a tea whilst gazing the crossing under.
Very similar to Starbucks, it’s no longer a in particular excessive vantage level, so should you’re in the hunt for the ones downward aerial kind angles of the crossing, this isn’t the spot for you.
6. Magazine’s Park at Magnet by means of Shibuya 109
Emerging 8 flooring above Shibuya Crossing, this rooftop perspective is in fact my favorite. You’re excessive sufficient to seize nice aerials above the crossing, however no longer too excessive that it’s unattainable to get inventive. It’s additionally conceivable to attend round and seize sundown then the flashing lighting fixtures and twinkling site visitors because the night takes over.
From this degree you’ll be able to spend time shooting lengthy exposures, experimenting with composition and feature an unobstructed view throughout all the scene. All 4 corners of the crossing are inside of sight, permitting you to seize a complete selection of pictures together with wide-angle pictures and tighter pictures that come with the road patterns, mild reflections and motion.
You’ll in finding get right of entry to to the commentary deck throughout the Magnet by means of Shibuya 109 development. Maximum flooring come with style, gaming and items, but when you are taking the raise instantly as much as degree 8 (roof), it’ll disclose the rooftop viewing house. Now, don’t be stunned whilst you go out the raise to discover a makeshift tent house promoting beverages. Recently, you want to shop for a drink to achieve get right of entry to to the viewing house with pricing starting from 600-900YEN relying in your selection of beverage. It’s no longer an legitimate price ticket workplace, extra of an outside venue that provides their viewing deck and the danger to hydrate!
It in fact feels such as you’re playing the view from anyone’s balcony, and so they’ve put in some nice protecting glass, have beverages to be had and a few chairs to take a seat on when converting lenses. It’s an informal environment with a long way much less restrictions than Shibuya Sky.
7. In any case, photographing the crossing itself whilst crossing!
Get among the motion, lighting fixtures and chaos and take your digital camera on an journey as you transform a pedestrian at Shibuya Crossing. A couple of tricks to notice, I’d inspire the usage of an extended publicity so you’ll be able to blur the motion and faces, that is handiest as a result of should you’re hoping to make use of the pictures commercially, any visual faces would possibly purpose a subject.
On the other hand, shooting the motion is all a part of the joys! Alter your digital camera settings to fit your place and the to be had mild, then wait till the lighting fixtures flip inexperienced and snap away. It might probably lend a hand to put your self on the base of some of the site visitors lighting fixtures so as to be first out at the crossing, in a different way you’ll get stuck up within the crowd as a result of there in reality are, masses of folks crossing each time the lighting fixtures trade.
Attempt to paintings with the encircling constructions and cityscape too, zooming towards the facades and commercials as folks transfer throughout the body. Get low to the bottom (however with discretion) if there are puddles/rain to seize reflections, shoot with a wide-angle lens to {photograph} the motion round you, then transfer again to a flexible zoom lens.
Shibuya Crossing has been photographed tens of millions, if no longer billions of instances. You handiest want to prevent and watch what number of people are photographing or filming each and every crossing to get impressed to check out one thing other. It’s a possibility to get inventive, experiment and simply have a laugh with the revel in of taking pictures this iconic scene.
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Hi! I’m the founder and photographer at the back of The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs revel in as a qualified shuttle and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered in this web site is from my non-public revel in at the highway. I am hoping it’s helpful on your personal travels and would like to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and reports world wide.