[Japan] Hachiko and Shibuya Sky

One of the most popular places to visit in Tokyo is Shibuya so I made sure to take my family here. Hachiko statue and Shibuya Crossing were already in our itinerary. But as I continued to plan for our trip, I asked a friend of mine who had just been to Tokyo whether a visit to the Tokyo Skytree was worth it. He suggested that it would be better to go to the top of Tokyo City Hall or Shibuya Sky. Since a trip to Shibuya was already in our itinerary, I thought it made sense for us to go to The Roof of Shibuya Sky.

The Roof of Shibuya Sky

While the plan was to just go to Shibuya one time and do everything there on the same day, we actually ended up going there twice. Our first visit was on our 10th day in Japan. We got there in the morning and we immediately made a beeline for the Hachiko statue. Hachiko was an Akita dog who has become a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness in Japan (and even the entire world). Part of what made him globally popular was the Hollywood movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale that was based on his life. Born in 1923, Hachiko would go to the Shibuya station everyday to meet his owner, Prof. Hidesaburo Ueno, upon his return home. Unfortunately, in 1925, Ueno passed away at work. Despite this, Hachiko continued to go to the Shibuya station everyday for the next 9 years to wait for Ueno until his own death in 1935. This bronze statue stands just outside Shibuya station to honor and commemorate Hachiko.

Hachiko statue

When we arrived, there was a line of people waiting for their turn to have their photo taken with the statue. Thankfully, the line was relatively short. Everyone in my family got a chance to have our photos taken with Hachiko.

Photo op with the Hachiko statue

Japan is actually celebrating his 100th birthday this year so that made our visit a little more special.

Happy 100th birthday, Hachiko!

Right next to the Hachiko statue is Shibuya Crossing. This intersection is famous for being the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world.

Shibuya Crossing

We then made our way to Shibuya Sky. My plan was to go up to The Roof in the late afternoon because I read that the recommended time to visit is right before sunset; that way, you could see enjoy the views during the day and in the evening. However, when we got there, we were greeted with signs that said all tickets that day were sold out! I asked the ticket counter if tickets were still available two days later, which was our last day in Japan. The only available slots were in the late morning to right after lunch so I got tickets for the latest available time (1:40PM). This meant that my family returned to Shibuya two days later.

Incredible view of Tokyo from The Roof of Shibuya Sky

I was quite thankful for a couple of things when we finally made it to The Roof. First, it wasn't crowded when we were there. This allowed me to take several shots of my family without a lot of other people in the frame. Second, it didn't rain. I could actually see a small patch dark clouds some distance away while we were at the top of Shibuya Sky but thankfully, we didn't experience any precipitation.

Dark clouds looming in the distance

It was also pretty cool seeing Shibuya Crossing from the top of Shibuya Sky.

View of Shibuya Crossing from The Roof

We stayed there for maybe 30-45 minutes, enjoying the views and taking a lot of photos, before heading back down. There are several souvenirs both at the rooftop entrance (which I think is on the 46th floor) as well as at the floor where you can purchase tickets (which I think is on the 14th floor). My mom and I preferred the souvenirs on the ticket counter floor so we bought several magnets and Hachiko-themed items there.

Hachiko Stuffed Toys sold at souvenir shops at Shibuya Sky

If you plan to visit The Roof Shibuya Sky, it is recommended to purchase tickets online many days before you actually go. Buying tickets online gives you a discount which you don't get when buying directly from Shibuya Sky. Also, confirming your slot as early as possible gives you a better chance of getting a late afternoon slot that will allow you to stay until the early evening. You can also book a roof seat and enjoy some drinks.

The Roof Shibuya Sky

Next: teamLab Planets and an Afternoon in Odaiba