When people ask me about my favorite things to do in Tokyo, I almost always circle back to the Shibuya district. Not because it’s calm or easy, but because it shows you everything at once. The chaos. The beauty. The rhythm of daily life stacked on top of total sensory overload.

This itinerary is how I would spend one full day in Shibuya if I were taking you with me. Not too rushed, but just enough structure to keep us fed, caffeinated, and constantly surprised.

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How to Spend One Day in Shibuya

Morning 3-D Coffee at Cafe Reissue 

We begin in Harajuku, because there’s nowhere else you would start a day like this. Cafe Reissue is one of those places that sounds a little ridiculous until you are sitting there staring at your coffee, wondering how you got emotionally attached to foam.

This is the place for 2D and 3D latte art, and a place absolutely worth planning your entire morning around. I ordered a latte topped with a 3D bear (so cute I basically apologized before drinking it). For round two, I told them to surprise me with a 2D design, and they came back with a serene temple scene and Mount Fuji peeking in the background.

A few important notes before you go:

• It is cash only, so check your wallet for Yen (our bill was about ¥3200, $20 USD).
• You can bring a photo of the latte art you want, or choose from their examples. The girl next to us brought a photo of her dog and it turned out so cute!
• There’s usually a line, but if you arrive fifteen minutes before they open, you’ve got a real shot at walking straight in like we did.
• The food menu here is limited, so I would skip it and head straight to matcha crepes. 

Backup Options

If the line at Cafe Reissue is too long, I’ve got some solid backup coffee picks. Matilda Coffee & Vegan Bakes is tiny and charming, with no indoor seating but seriously good pastries. If they have it, grab the Apple Muscat and Earl Grey muffin, it’s fantastic. Another great option is Setsuko Juice & Breakfast, which is hidden away in the back of a clothing store. They serve incredible fresh juices and smoothies. I loved the Sweet Kiss juice with strawberry, ginger, and apple!

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Matcha Crepes at Kotobukiseian Harajuku

There are a lot of crepe stands on Takeshita Street, but Kotobukiseian Harajuku Matcha is the one I would absolutely wait for. It specializes entirely in matcha, and you can taste that focus in every bite. Japanese crepes are different from the French version you might be picturing. They are thinner, slightly crisp on the outside, and pleasantly chewy, with a balance that never tips into overly sweet. 

My favorites were the matcha tiramisu, filled with matcha mascarpone, lemon jam, and chocolate puff (yum!), and the matcha berry, layered with cassis cream, blueberries, pistachio, and almond nougat.

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Walk Takeshita Street in Harajuku

Walking Takeshita Street is narrow, loud, colorful, and unapologetically strange, and I love it for exactly that reason. This is Tokyo at its most playful. One minute you are passing cutting-edge streetwear shops, the next you are staring at a vintage boutique or a snack you cannot quite identify. I found myself stopping constantly, sometimes in admiration, sometimes in total confusion, which is honestly part of the fun.

You will see animal cafés everywhere, advertising time with cats, pigs, otters, and yes, even capybaras, where I spent some time feeding a couple of cuties. And the people watching alone is worth the walk. 

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Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine

Just when Takeshita Street feels like too much, then there’s Meiji Jingu. Marked by an enormous torii gate, the entrance leads you into a forest of approximately 100,000 trees, all donated from across Japan when the shrine was built. 

Meiji Jingu is dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. The shrine itself is about a ten-minute walk from Harajuku Station, yet it feels worlds away. You may see traditional Shinto weddings, visitors quietly washing their hands at the purification fountain, or people writing wishes on wooden ema plaques.

Nearby, the Meiji Jingu Museum, designed by Kengo Kuma, displays artifacts connected to the emperor and empress, including the carriage used during the proclamation of the Meiji Constitution in 1889. 

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Walk Through Yoyogi Park

Right beside Meiji Jingu sits Yoyogi Park, sprawling and unpretentious. It does not try to impress you with the ornateness of a Japanese garden. Instead, it charms through simplicity. And lots of trees.

Locals jog, walk dogs, practice music, or simply sit. When we visited in early December, the burnt orange leaves were hanging on, adding warmth to the gray winter sky. In spring, cherry blossoms take over. In autumn, the colors glow.

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Have Lunch at Ramen Kamo to Negi

Lunch here was not part of the original plan. We were headed somewhere else when we noticed a line of locals outside Ramen Kamo to Negi. In Tokyo, that is the only recommendation you need.

This restaurant specializes in duck ramen, and they do it very well. The broth is made from only duck, green onions, and water, simmered gently to extract flavor without heaviness. The result is a clear, elegant soup that tastes deeply savory but never greasy.

You order from a vending machine with very little English, but a staff member kindly helped us through it. The menu is simple. Duck and leek ramen is the star.

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Get the View at Shibuya Sky

Some people say observation decks are skippable. I am not one of them, at least not when it comes to Shibuya Sky. Located on the 47th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, this open-air observation deck sits 229 meters above the city. The elevator ride itself is immersive, with light and sound building anticipation.

From the top, Tokyo stretches endlessly in every direction. You can look straight down at Shibuya Crossing, watch the city pulse, and on clear days, see Mount Fuji faintly in the distance.

➞ Buy tickets online if you can, but we managed to get same-day tickets on site. 

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Do the Shibuya Crossing

You cannot come to Shibuya and not walk across this famous Shibuya Crossing that was featured in the movie Lost in Translation in 2003. 

When the lights change, hundreds of people surge forward from every direction. Somehow, no one collides, except me who was taking too many pictures! It is chaos and choreography all at once. During peak times, thousands of people cross every two minutes.

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Peek at the Hachiko Statue

Just outside Shibuya Station stands the statue of Hachiko, the loyal Akita dog who waited for his owner every day for nearly a decade after the man passed away. The statue itself is small, but the meaning is not. Hachiko has become a national symbol of loyalty, and the plaza around him is now Shibuya’s most popular meeting point. It is a crowded, but quick stop.

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Shop at the MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya

MEGA Don Quijote is a lot. Eight floors of snacks, cosmetics, souvenirs, electronics, and things you did not know existed. It is open 24 hours, wildly colorful, and somehow still efficient. It is overwhelming in a way that becomes oddly fun.

This is where you buy gifts, beauty products, and snacks you will regret not buying more of. Tax-free counters make it easy, and signs are in multiple languages. 

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Grab a Drink at Nonbei Yokocho

As night falls, head to Nonbei Yokocho, also known as Drunkard’s Alley. This narrow street is lined with tiny bars, many with space for only five or six people.

Dating back to the 1950s, the alley feels worn-in and intimate. Some places serve yakitori, others wine or sake. Don’t plan on spending too much time here, but definitely sneak inside one of the bars for a drink. 

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Okonomiyaki Dinner at Imari Shibuya

Dinner at Imari was one of my favorites in all of Tokyo. The space is dark and intimate, with only ten counter seats and a large grill at the center. We ordered the omakase for 3,800 yen, which delivered a multi-course meal chosen entirely by the chef. We sat front and center to watch them expertly cook our dinner on the grill right before us. The show alone was worth it, but the food was delicious too. 

Standout dishes included the agosuji with garlic shoots, rich and savory, the tonpeiyaki egg omelet with perfectly grilled pork, and the negiyaki, a green onion pancake served simply with dashi soy sauce that let the flavors shine.

Backup Dinner Options

If Imari is booked or you feel like switching things up, there are a couple of great backup dinner options worth knowing about. Comodo Wine Bar is cozy and welcoming, and they serve a complimentary potato salad that alone made me excited for a full dinner. CENSU TOKYO is more playful and energetic, with hip hop music and a lively vibe, offering both omakase and strong à la carte options. Don’t miss the boiled chicken dumpling with spinach and mozzarella in a pumpkin sauce!

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