If it’s the very latest thing, it’s almost passe in Shibuya. Here is the pilotlight of modern culture in Japan.
Besides several very large department stores, hundreds of boutiques and the busiest pedestrian intersection
anywhere, Shibuya is home to the fully-automatic NHK broadcasting center, the 1964 Olympic gymnasia and
the most famous love hotel and fuzoka district. And these three marvelous video screens, blasting out very
slick CMs for phones, new CDs, whiskey and the like. Everyone is too cool to be seen gawking.
The Tokyu store is huge, connects directly to the station and is owned by the Toyku Rail Line. Just up the dori
is a towering cylindrical store created by Tokyu: Shibuya 109 (that’s 10-9, because 10=to and 9=kyu). Another
famous big store is Parco, also home to a great radio station, and visible when you cross this intersection.
A nice surprise were the many cute girls handing out packages of facial tissues, sponsored by the local merchants.
You arrive here through the Hachiko exit of Shibuya Station, known for the 1930s legend of the dog who waited
everyday at the station, years after his master had died. When Hachiko expired, a bronze likeness was erected,
and that’s where everyone meets before they move on to the shops.