Shibuya

Shibuya was historically the site of a castle in which the Shibuya family resided from the 11th century through the Edo period. Following the opening of the Yamanote Line in 1885, Shibuya began to emerge as a railway terminal for southwestern Tokyo and eventually as a major commercial and entertainment center.

The village of Shibuya was incorporated in 1889 by the merger of the villages of Kami-Shibuya, Naka-Shibuya and Shimo-Shibuya within Minami-Toshima County (Toyotama County from 1896). The village covered the territory of modern-day Shibuya Station area as well as the Hiroo, Daikanyama, Aoyama, and Ebisu areas. Shibuya became a town in 1909. The town of Shibuya merged with the neighboring towns of Sendagaya (which included the modern Sendagaya, Harajuku and Jingumae areas) and Yoyohata (which included the modern Yoyogi and Hatagaya areas) to form Shibuya-ku suburban ward upon being absorbed into Tokyo City in 1932. Shibuya became an urban special ward under the Local Autonomy Act in 1947.

The Tokyu Toyoko Line opened in 1932, making Shibuya a key terminal between Tokyo and Yokohama, and was joined by the forerunner of the Keio Inokashira Line in 1933 and the forerunner of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line in 1938. One of the best-known stories concerning Shibuya is the story of Hachikō, a dog who waited on his late master at Shibuya Station every day from 1923 to 1935, eventually becoming a national celebrity for his loyalty. A statue of Hachikō was built adjacent to the station, and the surrounding Hachikō Square is now the most popular meeting point in the area.

Shibuya in 1959

During the occupation of Japan, Yoyogi Park was used as a housing compound for U.S. personnel known as "Washington Heights." The U.S. military left in 1964, and much of the park was repurposed as venues for the 1964 Summer Olympics. The ward itself served as part of the athletics 50 km walk and marathon course during the 1964 games.[2]

Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people since the late 70s. There are several famous fashion department stores in Shibuya. Shibuya 109 is a major shopping center near Shibuya Station, particularly famous as the origin of the kogal subculture. Called "Ichi-Maru-kyū," which translates as 1–0–9 in Japanese, the name is actually a pun on that of the corporation that owns it — Tōkyū (which sounds like 10–9 in Japanese; this is numerical substitution, a form of goroawase wordplay). The contemporary fashion scene in Shibuya extends northward from Shibuya Station to Harajuku, where youth culture reigns; Omotesandō, the zelkova tree- and fashion brand-lined street; and Sendagaya, Tokyo's apparel design district.

In 1985, Teamer created a new culture in Shibuya. During the mid 90s, Shibuya also became known as the center of the IT industry in Japan. It was often called "Bit Valley" in English, a pun on both "Bitter Valley", the literal translation of "Shibuya", as well as bit, the computer term for binary digits.

Shibuya Stream, a skyscraper and retail complex, was completed in 2018.

The East Wing of a mixed-used skyscraper Shibuya Scramble Square was completed in August 2019. Shibuya's new gateway Shibuya Fukuras was completed in October 2019.

During the early morning of January 1, 2019, a 21-year-old man named Kazuhiro Kusakabe drove his minicar into a crowd of pedestrians celebrating New Year's Day on Takeshita Street. The man claimed his actions were a terrorist attack, and later stated that his intention was to retaliate against the usage of the death penalty for Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult members. The man attempted to flee but was soon apprehended by authorities in a nearby park.[3][4]

Miyashita Park has reopened in July 2020 as a shopping complex with a rooftop park.

• Hatagaya Area:
  • Sasazuka, Hatagaya, Honmachi
• Yoyogi Area:
  • Uehara, Ōyamachō, Nishihara, Hatsudai, Motoyoyogichō, Tomigaya, Yoyogikamizonochō
• Sendagaya Area:
  • Sendagaya, Jingūmae
• Ebisu-Ōmukai Area:
  • Kamiyamachō, Jinnan, Udagawachō, Shōtō, Shinsenchō, Maruyamachō, Dōgenzaka, Nanpeidaichō, Sakuragaokachō, Hachiyamachō, Uguisudanichō, Sarugakuchō, Daikan'yamachō, Ebisunishi, Ebisuminami
• Hikawa-Shimbashi Area:
  • Shibuya, Higashi, Ebisu, Hiroo

• 2003 Shibuya mayoral election

In 2015, as the council passed "Ordinance for Promoting Respect of Gender Equality and Diversity in the Ward",[5] Shibuya Ward became the first Japanese municipality that issues same-sex partnership certificates.[6] According to this ordinance, same-sex couples who live in Shibuya are allowed "to rent apartments together, and have gained hospital visitation rights as family members".[6] The ordinance was intended to bring three benefits to same-sex couples: "(1) rental housing within the ward (co-signing of tenancy agreements for municipal/public housing), (2) medical institutions within the ward (hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights as family members), and (3) employment conditions within the ward (e.g. family benefits, congratulations and condolence leave)".[5] In order to apply for the certificate, couples must be 20-years-old or older residents of Shibuya Ward and have to state that "their relationship is based on love and mutual trust" in a notarized document.[7] Koyuki Higashi (a former member of the Takarazuka Revue) and Hiroko Masuhara (an entrepreneur), a lesbian couple, were the first to receive this certification.[7] Since the Shibuya Ward passed the ordinance, seven other municipalities in Japan have begun offering similar certificates.[8]

The BBC notes that the ordinance has little binding legal force, saying it "amounts to a moral obligation on Shibuya businesses, which will not be penalised if they do not recognise the certificate", though their names will be posted on the ward's website if they violate the ordinance.[9] Shimizu says the system "is not equivalent to marriage, as it does not accord same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to inheritance, joint filing of taxes, or social welfare".[5] As it requires at least a hundred thousand yen to apply for the certificate, it can be restrictive to some couples.[10] Shimizu argues that Shibuya Ward has been criticized for pinkwashing as "while passing this ordinance, the administration also moved to expel the homeless in Miyashita Park and other parks in the ward".[5] Pointing out that the mayor of Shibuya Ward in an interview stated that this is not a matter of human rights, but of diversity, Yuri Horie claimed that the term of diversity seems to be used to divide citizens into the good and the bad; it raises only the ones who contribute to the consumeristic society as representer of "diversity of sexuality" while excluding the useless ones.[11] Yuki Tsuchiya, a lesbian activist, also argues that LGBT individuals are used to promote the ward.[12]

Meiji Shrine

Yoyogi Park

• Meiji Shrine, Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, surrounded by a 700,000-square-meter forest.
• Shinjuku Gyo-en (Sendagaya), former Imperial gardens now open to the public as a park.
• 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.

Yoyogi National Gymnasium

Omotesandō

Love hotels concentrated in Dōgenzaka

Shibuya Scramble Square

• Shibuya 109, a popular and trendy place for mostly Japanese young women to shop.
• United Nations University
• Bunkamura, theatre and concert hall complex
• Cerulean Tower, the tallest building in the Shibuya Station area
• Yebisu Garden Place (Ebisu), site of the former Sapporo Brewery, now featuring restaurants and shopping, along with the Westin Hotel
• National Noh Theatre (Sendagaya)
• New National Theatre (Hatsudai), site of opera, ballet, and other performances
• NHK Broadcasting Center, headquarters of the NHK radio, television, and satellite broadcasting system
• NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building, the fourth-tallest building in Tokyo, patterned after the Empire State Building
• Omotesandō Hills, a shopping mall completed in 2006
• Shibuya Fukuras
• Shibuya Hikarie
• Shibuya Scramble Square
• Shinjuku Southern Terrace (Sendagaya)
• Takashimaya Times Square (Sendagaya), one of the largest department stores in Japan
• Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Sendagaya), a major indoor arena complex
• Tokyo Baptist Church
• Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan
• Yoyogi National Gymnasium, designed for the 1964 Olympics by Kenzo Tange.

• Aoyama Dōri, a major east–west thoroughfare
• Center Gai
• Dōgen-zaka, a road in central Shibuya famous for its surrounding nightclubs and love hotels
• Komazawa Dōri – running past Daikanyama, down the hill to Ebisu, crossing Meiji Dōri and up the hill through Higashi and Hiroo. The road stops at the Shuto Expressway in Minami Aoyama. Famed for its beautiful trees that turn bright yellow in autumn, cafes, restaurants, and a large replica of Michelangelo's David outside of the Papas building. Prince Hitachi and Princess Hitachi have their official residence in a palace in large gardens off Komazawadori in Higashi.[17]
• Kōen Street, in central Shibuya between Shibuya Station and Yoyogi Park.
• Meiji Dōri, a major north–south thoroughfare parallel to the Yamanote Line.
• Miyamasu-zaka
• Nonbei-Yokocho, a small street near the rail tracks famous for its small bars and old Tokyo feel.
• Omotesandō, an avenue leading up to the Meiji Shrine with a number of famous-brand boutiques
• Spain-zaka
• Takeshita Street, a shopping street through Harajuku
• Yamanote Street
• Shibuya
• Ebisu
• Harajuku
• Hiroo
• Sendagaya
• Yoyogi

The main station in Shibuya is Shibuya Station. The southern half of Shinjuku Station, including the New South Entrance, is located in Shibuya.

• JR East
  • Yamanote Line: Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ebisu stations
  • Chūō Line (Rapid), Chūō-Sōbu Line: Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Sendagaya stations
  • Saikyō Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu
• Tokyo Metro
  • Ginza Line: Shibuya Station
  • Marunouchi Line: Shinjuku
  • Hibiya Line: Ebisu Station
  • Chiyoda Line: Meiji Jingūmae, Yoyogi Kōen, Yoyogi Uehara stations
  • Hanzōmon Line: Shibuya Station
  • Fukutoshin Line: Shibuya, Meiji Jingūmae, Kitasandō stations
  • Toei Shinjuku Line: Akebonobashi, Shinjuku-sanchōme, Shinjuku
• Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
  • Toei Shinjuku Line: Shinjuku
  • Toei Ōedo Line: Shinjuku, Yoyogi, Kokuritsu Kyogi-jo stations
• Tokyu Corporation
  • Tōyōko Line: Shibuya, Daikanyama stations
  • Den-en-toshi Line: Shibuya, Ikejiri Ohashi stations
• Keio Corporation
  • Inokashira Line:Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinsen
  • Keiō Line: Shinjuku, Sasazuka Station
  • Keiō New Line: Shinjuku, Hatsudai, Hatagaya, Sasazuka stations
• Odakyu Electric Railway Odawara Line: Shinjuku, Minami Shinjuku, Sangubashi, Yoyogi Hachiman, Yoyogi Uehara stations
• The Imperial Platform, 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.

• 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

At one time Smilesoft had its headquarters in the CT Sasazuka Building in Shibuya.[27] In May 1985 the headquarters of Bandai Visual moved to Shibuya. In March 1990 the headquarters moved to Shinjuku.[28]

A.D. Vision - Tokyo, Y.K., the Japanese subsidiary of A.D. Vision, was in Shibuya.[29] Acclaim Entertainment once had its Tokyo office in the Nomora Building.[30] The Japanese subsidiary of Titus Interactive, Titus Japan K.K., had its head office on the eighth floor of the Kotubuki Dogenzaka Building in Dōgenzaka.[31] The former animation studio; Group TAC was also located here.

Square Enix had its headquarters in Yoyogi before moving to Shinjuku ward in 2012.[32]

• Amway Japan: Japan headquarters, a multi-level marketing company[33]
• Coca-Cola Japan[34]
• Campbells Soup's Japan division is headquartered in Shibuya, on the 10th floor of the Tokyo Tatemono Hiroo Building.[35]
• CyberAgent: Internet advertising agency[36]
• East Japan Railway Company (JR East)[37]
• Gap Japan[38]
• Ito En: bottler of tea, coffee, vegetable drinks, and other beverages[39]
• NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) (NHK Broadcasting Center)[40]
• Papas: clothing, cafe, and bakery company[41]
• Sapporo Breweries Limited[42]
• Trend Micro Japan: security software company[43]

• Aoyama Gakuin University
• Bunka Gakuen University (Yoyogi)
• Jissen Women's University
• Kokugakuin University (Higashi)
• Shibuya University Network
• Tokai University
• United Nations University
• University of the Sacred Heart (Hiroo)

The Shibuya City Board of Education operates public elementary and junior high schools, while Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates public senior high schools.

• Aoyama Gakuin Elementary, Junior and Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Shibuya, affiliated with Aoyama Gakuin University
• Aoyama High School—public co-ed school, in Jingūmae
• The British School in Tokyo Shibuya Campus
• First Commercial High School—public co-ed school, in Daikanyama
• Fujimigaoka Junior and Senior High School—private girls' school, in Sasazuka
• Hiroo Gakuen Junior and Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Hiroo
• Hiroo High School—public co-ed school, in Higashi
• International School of Sacred Heart, in Hiroo
• Jingūmae International Exchange School (JIES), within the Shibuya Ward Jingūmae Elementary School in Omotesando
• Jissen Joshi-Gakuen Elementary, Junior and Senior High School—private girls' school, in Higashi, affiliated with Jissen Women's University
• Kantō Kokusai Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Honchō
• Kokugakuin Senior High School—private co-ed school, in Jingūmae

Shibuya operates several public libraries, including the Central Library, the Nishihara Library, the Shibuya Library, the Tomigaya Library, the Sasazuka Library, the Honmachi Library, and the Rinsen Library. In addition, the Yoyogi Youth Hall houses the Yoyogi Library Room.[44]