Shibuya, Tokyo

Technically, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Meiji Jingu are all in Shibuya, so we were in Shibuya all day, but after visiting each of those places we went to the area around Shibuya station to check out Shibuya Crossing. This is that famous intersection in Tokyo that is featured in a lot of movies like Lost in Translation. This area is CRAZY on the weekends and we were there on a Sunday. It’s like Times Square x 100. When the lights turn, all car traffic stops and pedestrians take over the whole huge intersection. There are 3 huge TV screens and a million ads everywhere. The Starbucks there is the busiest in the world.

03_shibuya

04_shibuya

05_shibuya

06_shibuya_dallas

07_shibuya_uniqlo

01_shibuya

02_shibuya

08_shibuya

Outside the Hachiko exit at Shibuya Station is a statue of Hachiko, who is a dog. Hachiko used to wait at Shibuya train station for his master, a professor. Even after the professor died in 1925, the dog would go to the station and wait every afternoon. He did this for another 9 years until Hachiko finally died too. The people of Tokyo were so moved, that they built a statue of Hachiko at the station. Today it is a common meeting place.

shibuya_hachiko_rachelle
Hachiko and Rachelle

We were so tired from walking around all day, that we stumbled into the closest pub to have a seat. Nevermind that it was an Irish pub called Dubliners!

tokyo_zima

Dallas was psyched to see they still had Zima, a favorite college drink that has not been available in the United States for years! We met some people and sat and talked for an hour or two until it was time to meet for dinner.

chris_sake

sake_chris

We met Tandy, Chris, Kai and Kanoa for dinner in Akasaka. The place we planned to go was closed so we walked around a bit and found this kind of yakitori place on like the 3rd floor of a building. It turned out to be a very good choice. We ordered about a million small plates and shared. Chris ordered sake and there was only a bit left in the bottle, so they just gave him the bottle!! It was just a little bit big!

japan_waiter_tablet

Also, I took this photo of our waiter. I noticed a lot of service staff in bars and restaurants in Japan use tablets to take orders. Wonder when this will catch on in the US!