Shibuya!
We made it to Japan! The flight was rough, but boy was it all worth it. On our first night in Tokyo, we dropped of our bags at Yoyogi Olympic Center, which is where we are staying, and then headed out to the nearest town called Shibuya. Walking into Shibuya, there was only one word that I had running through my mind and that was: Wow. The lights, advertisements, people, cars, and sounds were almost overwhelming. Stacked businesses utilizing every inch of space available was so new to me, even as a born and raised New Yorker. I have never seen a city like this, with so much information being spewed out to the pedestrian. The different businesses were restaurants (both classy and fast-food), arcades, massage parlors, DVD shops, and many other types. Standing there with my group of friends, it must have looked as though we were an aimless group of lost and stunned Americans in a sea of Japanese locals, unsure of where to even look. Every block we turned on seemed to be like another block filled with lights and advertisements, as if every block was Times Square.
Shibuya is also known for it’s huge crosswalk, which is the biggest in the world. Seeing the walking signal turn green and all of the crowds of people rushing to different directions was amazing to experience. I was so overwhelmed, I felt as though I wasn’t sure whether to look at the lights, cars, my friends, or the crowds. There’s also lots of great department stores in Shibuya such as Uniqlo and H&M. I’m really excited for the rest of my stay here in Japan. More to follow!
One of the many well-lit streets of Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan.
