<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FxkMd_0vyGMpbp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FxkMd_0vyGMpbp00" width="910" height="568" ><figcaption>Shibuya Scramble Square (Photos by Shoji Kudaka)</figcaption></figure>Before the end of my trip to Tokyo, I decided to visit Shibuya for the first time in five years. When I got off the train at Shibuya Station, I felt like Urashima Taro, a character from a Japanese fairytale who suddenly turned into an old man when he opened a box of souvenirs from a trip to an underwater castle. The view of the city was different from what I remembered. The biggest surprise was Shibuya Scramble Square. This building, with a height of 230 meters, debuted in 2019 as one of the tallest in the area. I was looking forward to the cityscape views from the building’s 46th floor, but the tickets were sold out, leaving me on the ground floor looking up. Disappointed, I settled on its next-door neighbor, the 182.5-meter-tall Shibuya Hikarie. From a lobby on the 11th floor, I enjoyed a view of Shibuya through a glass wall, imagining my visit to the Scramble Square for next time. After the view from 11 stories above, I made my way to Miyashita Park, a mall that opened in 2020. This building, unlike the tall ones, is a 4-story complex that runs wide from north to south. It is home to several luxury brand stores like Gucci and Prada, but the southern ground floor also has a pseudo- Yokocho dining street with many izakaya pubs. It was around 10 a.m. when I visited—a bit too early for a drink. So, I continued onto Miyashita’s rooftop with a 1,000-square meter lawn, skateboard park and a bouldering wall. There was also a statue of Doraemon, a robot cat from an animation of the same title. Many kids played around the popular character while their families took photos of them.  Downstairs on the third floor, I stopped for a snack at the food court. There were several stands to choose from, including American favorites like Panda Express, McDonald’s and Taco Bell, as well as a variety of other foods like fresh seafood from Maguro Market, ramen at Kuroobi and more. I was in the mood for something sweet, and fortunately, Valume, a dessert and snacks booth was serving up something called “Miyashita Churros.” There were three flavors - sugar, caramel, cinnamon - to choose from, plus 17 kinds of toppings, including strawberry sauce, organic maple syrup, mascarpone cheese and more. I went with caramel churros and mascarpone cheese as a topping. I made it a set (680 yen, approx. $4.22) with a Coke. I liked the churros’ crispy surface and its soft texture on the inside. Washing down the delicious churros with a Coke made me feel younger as I tried to fit in the ever-evolving town for youth culture.Shibuya Sky (observation deck) <ul><li>GPS Coordinates: 35.658444, 139.702153</li><li>Hours: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. (last admission at 9:20 p.m.)</li><li>Admission: 2,500 yen for adults and 2,000 yen for junior high and high school students at the ticket counter. (2,200 yen and 1,700 yen respectively for online purchase)</li></ul>Miyashita Park <ul><li>GPS Coordinates: 35.661439, 139.701715</li></ul>Shibuya Hikarie <ul><li>GPS Coordinates: 35.658980, 139.703295</li><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2iePM7_0vyGMpbp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2iePM7_0vyGMpbp00" width="910" height="568" ><figcaption>(Shoji Kudaka)</figcaption></figure></ul></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Shifting Shibuya: Okinawan writer’s first visit to bustling district in 5 years a shock to the senses

Before the end of my trip to Tokyo, I decided to visit Shibuya for the first time in five years. When I got off the train at Shibuya Station, I felt like Urashima Taro, a character from a Japanese fairytale who suddenly turned into an old man when he opened a box of souvenirs from a trip to an underwater castle.