In a way, the Shibuya crossing is representative of how visitors would expect Tokyo to be – vivacious, busy, crowded, yet disciplined. Night after night, hundreds of people from all corners cross the district’s main intersection. An invisible but ever reliable conductor commands the traffic lights, and upon his cue, the crowd moves in simultaneously; creating a symphony of spellbinding chaos. With such sheer numbers, somebody is bound to miss a beat – pushing, shoving, and stepping on feet are inevitable consequences. Yet, like a well-polished orchestra, everybody seems to know where they’re going. And what is seemingly a confusing scene, is by essence, an organized one.

And when the lights of Shibuya command vehicles to drive through, the crowd that had converged in the middle, will dissipate even before you can fully comprehend the chaos. But stay in the area longer, and you can re-live the fleeting scene again and again; as new sets of faces will gather, wait, and move upon the conductor’s cue.

“Where are these people going?” and “Why are there so many of them?” I have ideas, but I’m never been really sure. But what I’m sure about is the delight I felt walking with the crowd to cross from Shibuya Station to the ‘other side’. I thoroughly enjoyed the moment of being one within the sea of bodies, basking in the distinct and overflowing energy only a metropolis like Tokyo can offer.

The people, the energy, the neon lights, they’re all very intoxicating. I crossed the Shibuya intersection a couple of times. Both my companion and I could not get enough of it, so we went to up to the 2^nd floor of the Starbucks café in the front portion of the QFront Building. This particular Starbucks is probably one of the best positioned in the world. The café’s second floor is designed with wide full-glass windows, offering a very satisfying bird’s eye view of the crossing. We had to purchase a fairly expensive coffee and brownie to be entitled to a spot, but the café was full (as should be expected) with no seats left.

So if you want a good seat overlooking Shibuya, you have a much better chance by going early before sunset. Otherwise, you need a whole lot of patience waiting for someone to get up. Standing could also be your only option. I would dare say that the patience, effort and overpriced coffee are worth the view, but it will all boil down to personal preference.

The Shibuya Crossing may be the highlight, but it’s certainly not the only thing to look forward to while visiting Shibuya. The district is in fact, a huge nightlife and shopping spot, attracting both tourists and locals. Bright screens and neon lights rule Shibuya, beckoning the masses not only to shop but also to dine, drink and de-stress. My favorite thing about Shibuya’s nightlife is its collection of small, nicely-themed and well-designed pubs. Some of them remind me of quaint English pubs, while others are sleek and modern. They are constructed to be pleasing to the human eyes.