Shibuya

Where to Stay

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel

It is pretty expensive, but one year we got a good deal through Agoda and it was pretty nice. Really good location, and a good hotel. Price is the only reason I haven't been back to it!

So far, this is the only place we have stayed in Shibuya, but I would say it is a good option as an area in general as it is so central and well serviced by trains.

What to do

Loft

Honestly my favourite place for stationery. They have so much nifty stuff! There is more too, but I am 90% here for the stationery. As you would expect, there are Loft stores around the place, but I think the Shiubuya one is probably the biggest and best (of the few I went into).

Tokyu Hands

Yeah, I still like it. Big department store for I guess homewares in general would be the description? Like, camping gear, kitchen stuff, chisels and saws, stationery, it covers a lot of territory!

Mega Don Quijote

Yeah, for sure get sucked in by that music and have a browse through all the stuff here. You might find something a little fun, certainly you can find a few snacks to try! Ignore the haters that are like "ooh you can get cheaper at a supermarket or chemist for food or beauty products" etc. So what, it is all here over like 7 floors, I'm going to have a look!

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Is this a thing to make something of? Not really tbh. At the end of the day it's a busy intersection, does that sound like lots of fun to you? Me either. You will see it, because you won't be able to avoid it. Should you run out and try to get a photo in the middle before it's full of people? You do you, boo, but I haven't and won't.

Yoyogi Park

I think this one might be a real time of year dependent experience. We went in the Summer, and it was quite hot, with large areas without shade but with manky grass. Grass is a bit of a rarity in Japan. There were definitely nice parts to it, so in more kind conditions I think it would be a good option.

Food

Zauo Fishing Restaurant

There are a few of these places, we went to one in Shibuya (and another in Osaka). Essentially, they have pond size fish tasks that you can fish in to catch your own dinner. The fish are of different sizes and a few different species.

Once you catch a fish, they ask you how you want it prepared, and you can just order other stuff as well.

It's a fun novelty experience, my kids really enjoy the fishing aspect of it. I enjoy the sitting at the table letting other people take care of it for me aspect.

Flipper's

I think these had the best toppings, but the weakest pancake! It was very egg white, just a lot of fluff without much going on with it. So it goes from looking really good, to tasting of not much and falling apart as you try to eat. Still yummy, but not as compelling to finish your dish.

We have since been to the one at Shinjuku and that was amongst the best fluffy pancakes we've had. So either they are very location dependent, or have improved over the last few years.