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How I became a member of Wander Compass Shibuya

My name is Kana. I am a member of Wander Compass Shibuya. I help tourists by giving them directions, suggesting where to see, what to eat or sometimes trying to find things they lost on the train or in Shibuya. I enjoy it so much. Actually there are three Kana at our information office. So I’m called by my nickname, Kanayan.

I went to Canada right after I graduated from high school. I lived in Victoria to study English for a year and half. I had always been interested in studying languages since I was in elementary school. I didn’t have any particular reasons why I wanted to study English. I just thought it would be so cool if I can speak English. So I started listening to English music and watching movies and tv dramas when I was in middle school. Another reason was that because I grew up in a kind of countryside, when I thought about what I want to do for a living, there wasn’t one job I wanted to do in my hometown or a person I wanted to be. There was no way for me to spend my life there. When I was in high school, my mother suggested I join a 10 days homestay program during spring break. That’s when I first went to Victoria. I really loved that city and wanted to come back after finishing high school.

Then after graduation, I went to English school in Victoria and met many friends around the world. It was such a great experience. Everything was different and there was no one I knew. Living in a different country, eating different food, taking classes in English and hanging out with friends from different countries, all these new experiences which I couldn’t have gained in Japan made me much more confident.

Since I came back to Japan and moved to Tokyo, I have been studying Spanish by myself little by little. Then last year, I decided to travel to either Spain or Mexico. Both are Spanish speaking countries and both I have friends there. I chose Spain. Even though my friend lives there, I wasn’t brave enough to travel Mexico alone with my poor Spanish. I visited 6 cities after visiting my friend in Asturias. It was my first time to visit a country in Europe. There was a lot of historical architecture including university, palace and cathedral. Those were something I had never seen before. Everything I saw in Spain was beautiful. I really liked the food too. But the best part was that I met new people who I wouldn’t have met at all if my plans had been a little different. I was impressed by the odds of the people who all have different backgrounds and reasons to visit Spain meeting at one small hostel.

During three weeks of my trip, I slept at several dormitory rooms at hostels. I met new people at each hostel and we went to eat out and talked about our own background. That reminded me of my days in Victoria. At the same time, it made me feel like I want to be back to this kind of life where I constantly meet new people from overseas and get to know each other. I am thinking that someday I want to go back to Spain to study Spanish even for a couple of months.

Before I joined Wander Compass Shibuya, I worked at a ryokan which is a famous but small hot spring district in a mountain in Nagano. I was curious about what it’s like to live on a mountain. There is no convenience store or supermarket within walking distance.

I worked there for three months and I had some guests from other countries. At the time, I was the only staff member who spoke English. Giving a tour inside ryokan, showing them a room, serving meals and explaining about each dish were my job. It was not easy, especially telling them about dishes was hard, which were not just regular food or vegetables that we can find at supermarkets in a city. But it was worth the challenge. The guests from foreign countries were very interested in many things. It was so fun introducing Japanese culture and food including what kaiseki ryori is or how the dish is cooked. I was not the one who was traveling but helping them traveling felt like I was. I was so glad to be a part of it. I thought it would be so fun if I work for tourists and get involved with the Tokyo Olympics in some way. All those experiences brought me where I am now. Thank you so much for reading about me. When you come to Tokyo, please come by so that we can give you some ideas in Tokyo. I am looking forward to meeting you in person at Wander Compass Shibuya.

Shibuya Itinerary

The city of Shibuya is one of the famous spots in Tokyo. Shibuya is not a large city, so around half a day is all you need. But there are many attractive spots if you visit Shibuya for the first time, So I suggest this itinerary.

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Shibuya shopping spot

Shibuya is one of the most popular shopping spots in Tokyo. The place is always busy with many people, and there are several shopping malls, department stores, and complex facilities. Shibuya is often called the youth town, but there are long-standing stores with fashionable areas people of all ages would enjoy. Shibuya is currently redeveloping, and new shops have been opening up one after another. If you go there, you can find the trending fashion, cosmetics, snacks, and souvenirs. I will introduce the best shopping spots.

LOFT

The LOFT is a large scale variety goods store specializing in stationery goods, cosmetics, and kitchenware. The store is spacious, so you can take a look around. Also, you can buy Japanese gifts like postcards, stickers, and magnets.B1 floor has an abundance of stationery. It has so much to see. Among those goods, Sumo wrestler character stickers are popular with foreigners and face masks made with rice. Great place to find souvenirs.

Location: 21-1 Udagawa-cho,Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

5 minutes from JR Shibuya Station

Open hours: 10 AM-9 PM (Due to coronavirus, operating hour is 11 AM-9 PM for the time being)

TOKYU HANDS

Tokyu Hands is a general shop, and the one in Shibuya is one of the biggest shops in Tokyo. The building has seven floors above ground and two below. They sell many goods from health and beauty, stationery, housewares, and much more. The shop is well-liked because they are full of made in Japan high-quality items, with stylish design items with excellent functionality. If you go there, you can find creative and useful goods, and always find something new. This shop is packed with many goods and products, so you can spend the entire day.

Location:12-18 Udagawa-cho,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo

7 minutes from JR Shibuya Station

Open Hour: 10 AM-9 PM (Due to coronavirus, operating hour is 10 AM-8 PM for the time being)

MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya Honten

This is a discount store where you can buy snacks, alcohol, souvenirs, cosmetics, and clothing at affordable prices. Don Quijote stores are located all over Japan, but this store is bigger than usual, and it stocks souvenirs specific to Shibuya. Also, they are open 24 hours, so you can visit whenever you want. Almost all items can be purchased tax- free.

Location: 28-6 Udagawa-cho Shibuya-ku Tokyo, JAPAN, 150-0042

5 minutes from JR Shibuya station

Business Hour : 24 hours

Toyoko Noren Gai

You probably have never heard of the word “Depachika”, but it's a common phrase in Japan. Depa means department store, and Chika means basement. Department stores in Japan usually have a food section in the basement floor, so this is why they are called Depachika.

It is not a supermarket, but the types of shops range from delis, pastry, bento, and bakery. And the cuisines they offer range from Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and more. Noren Gai is now one of Depachika, and it was a part of the Tokyu department store. The department store itself ended 85 years of its history in March 2020, but Noren Gai did not. Noren Gai first opened with 15 shops in 1951, and some of them are still a part of it. At that time, it was on the ground level at the East side of the Shibuya station. But as the Shibuya station was developed and redeveloped, the location of Noren Gai has been changed over time. After the Tokyu department store was closed in March 2020, Noren Gai was reopened on the basement floor of Hikarie. It is connected to the subway station, so a lot of people stop by and get something for the host you are visiting, your client, or yourself. There is a custom in Japan that we give them some gift when we show our gratitude or apologies. It is usually sweets such as cookies, chocolate, or rice crackers. And it is always neatly wrapped. During rush hour in the evening is a busy time. People buy bento or delis for dinner before going home. Everything smells great, looks great, and of course, tastes great.

Some deli shops sell salad or side dishes by weight. So make sure you tell them how many grams you want them, we don’t use ounces or pounds. There are also eating areas available at Noren Gai, but when the weather is good, it would be great to get some food at Noren Gai and have a picnic at Yoyogi park, which is a 15-minute walk from Shibuya.

One day, a couple visited us, and they told me that Depachika is a food paradise, and I couldn’t agree more. They really loved it. I think everyone has felt the excitement of entering a cake shop and looking through the display. Walking into Depachika is like that, except it is not just one pastry shop. If you are indecisive and don’t know what to get, you would keep walking back and forth, looking at the food showcases.

This is one of the Japanese sweet shops in Noren Gai. They sell many types of Japanese sweets. These are called Ohagi in Japanese. It’s usually a sticky rice ball coated with sweetened red beans or with soybean flour. This shop sells many types of Ohagi and other kinds of Japanese sweets.

This is an Onigiri shop, and Onigiri in Japanese means rice ball. It’s always an option for breakfast, lunch, snack, or when you just want to have a light meal. You can eat the best Onigiri here.

This is Senbikiya, which was started as a fruit shop in 1834. They now also sell pastries with specially selected fruits.

Our information office is also in the subway station, and Noren Gai is not just one Depachika in Shibuya. It’s really nice to have more than one Depachika near my workplace. If you want to get more information, please visit us.

Hikarie B2F, B3F Opening hours: 11:00am-8:00pm (B3F-5F) Opening hours are shortened because of COVID-19.

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, the Tokyo Olympic village in 1964, and used by the military as a parade ground. People usually have picnics, jog, or participate in other recreational activities at the weekend. Sometimes they hold events like the free market and international festivals. Also, Yoyogi park is known as a popular spot for cherry blossoms, and you can enjoy beautiful flowers each season. The “oasis in a busy city.” Around the park, there are many cafes and bakeries, so if it is a sunny day, you should order a take out for a picnic.

What things to do in Yoyogi Park?

See seasonal flowers

There are many cherry blossom trees, and in spring, we can see them bloom around the park. Japanese like to see cherry blossoms and have a picnic under the cherry trees, so this season is the most crowded. If you want to enjoy it this way, I recommend going out early in the morning. Before summer, you can see hydrangeas and roses. In front of the Shibuya gate, there is a rose garden, so you can smell the fragrances of roses when you go through the gate. During the fall, you can see beautiful autumn leaves. It is the best spot to have a little walk or take a break.

Cycling

You can enjoy cycling even if you don’t have your bicycle. There are cycling centers that rent out three types of bicycles which are; adult, children, and tandem. There are two cycling courses, the child course, and the general course (1.8km). It feels nice to feel the breeze of fresh air cycling in the greenery.

Location:2-1 Yoyogi kamizono-cho,Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Open hour :9am- 4:30pm(Lending until 4pm)

close :Monday (However, If it falls on a national holiday, the next day) December 29th to January 3rd

Price: ¥210/1hour

Events

They usually hold Thai festivals, summer festivals, and a Christmas event. It is the best place to learn about different cultures while enjoying cuisines. If you have a chance, check the event schedule, and join.

※Due to coronavirus, some events have been cancelled. Please check the website for the latest updates. https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index039.html#googtrans(en)

We are currently requesting the following for infection prevention measures at Yoyogi Park.

・Wearing a mask

・Thorough hand washing and disinfection

・Secure social distance

・Use while avoiding crowded places and times

Bakery

Around Yoyogi Park, there are many fancy cafes. Why don’t you take a walk in the park with a cup of coffee or have a picnic?

365days

This famous bakery is near Yoyogi Koen station. The name of this shop means it is open 365 days. The chef carefully selects the ingredients, especially what wheat they use. The most popular bread is chocolate croquet. Enjoy the taste and texture of the pastry.

Location:1-6-12, Tomigaya,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo 1 minute walk from Yoyogi koen Station

Open hour:7am-7pm

Price:¥〜1000

An animal cafe is a cafe where you can touch and play with animals while having a drink. There are many types of animal cafes in Japan, especially in Shibuya. At first, there was only a cat cafe, but then it gradually increased. Now there are many types of animal cafes like dogs, hedgehogs, rabbits, and even reptile cafes. If you like animals or you want to buy an animal but you can’t own one I recommend going to one to be relaxed and calmed.

Cat Cafe

Tokyo’s first cat cafe opened in 2005, and the number of cat cafes has exploded since then. Cat cafe is quieter than any other animal cafe because many of them are sleeping. Some cats play with toys. They are fickle but adorable.

Dog Cafe

When you visit a dog cafe, you can meet many types of dogs at the same time. They are friendly, so they come to play. Some dog cafes let us take the dog for a walk around Yoyogi park. There are friendly golden retrievers, energetic beagles, and affectionate poodles in this cafe. The staff often clean cafes, so you stay in a clean and comfortable room. The second floor is a dog cafe, and the third floor is an otter and meerkat. I never get tired of this pace.

Shop: DOG HEART from Aquamarine

Location:　Y’s park bilding2F 1-45-2,Tomigaya,Shibuya-ku,Tokyo

Open hours: 11:00am-7:00pm

Price: adult ¥1200/30min child ¥950

Owl cafe

Owls are active at night, so you will see them sleeping. There are small to large owls at the cafe. Some owl cafes allow you to rest the owl on your arm and shoulder. Owls are known to bring happiness in Japan, but we can’t usually see them. Why don’t you have a visit when you come to Japan. There are seven owls and different types of personalities in this cafe. The owls think that they are people, and they don’t seem to realize they are owls. So it is easy to become friends with them. Also, this cafe serves authentic drip coffee and beverages, so you can go there at any time to relax.

Shop:Cafe HOOT HOOT

Location: 10-16, Shinsen-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 10 minutes walk from JR Shibuya station

Open hours: weekday 3pm-11pm/ weekend 12pm-11pm

Price: ¥1500/30min include 1 drink

Reptile cafe

They're attractive because of their expressive face, slow movement, and the way they eat. But one drawback is that they usually eat insects, so it's a difficult choice. You can also feed them at cafes, so if you enjoy these activities, it's going to be a delightful experience.

Snake cafe

Tokyo Snake Center is the first snake cafe in Japan. The cafe is always a popular spot, and they have had many interviews. Snakes have an image of being poisonous, but this cafe is full of gentle snakes that rarely bite. The snake's eyes and skin patterns are beautiful, and there's a variety of different colored snakes. You can choose one snake in a transparent box for your company at the table. Those are smaller snakes and you can only watch and take pictures. If you want to touch snakes, you pick one and staff will let you hold it with extra ¥550. You could even have a snake wind around your neck. While you hold a snake and when they stick out their tiny tongue, it tickles your arm. It feels totally different from dogs or cats licking you. But it’s really cute. If you want to have your own, they give advice, and they sell many essential items. Also, there are pet hotels for just snakes.

Shop: Tokyo Snake Center

Location: Sampou Sougo bilding 8F 6-5-6, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 5 minutes from JR Harajuku station

Open hour:11:00am-8:00pm 　closed on Tuesday

Price: ¥1100 with one drink

Hachiko Statue

Hachiko statue is one of the most popular meeting spots in Tokyo, and many people still take pictures with Hachiko to this day. Hachiko Story is still very famous to this day. Hachiko, the dog, was born in 1923 and was later adopted by professor Hidesaburo Ueno at the University of Tokyo. Professor Ueno loved him, and he used to take him to Shibuya station on the way to work. Hachiko picked him up at the station after work, then went home together. This routine continued for years. But suddenly, professor Ueno had passed away from a brain hemorrhage. Hachiko expected him to come back, and he waited for him for over nine years. The reason why Hachiko is known as a symbol of loyalty comes from this story. Hachiko's story became a legend, and a small statue got erected in front of Shibuya Station in 1934. The Hachiko story got adapted into two movies. The first one, getting released in 1987, and the second one in 2009, an American remake with Richard Gere.

It is located right in front of the Hachiko Exit, which was named after him as well.

Hours: Open all-day

Hachiko is an Akita breed, which is from Akita prefecture, Japan. The dog is known for its fluffy fur, adorable looks, and loyal personality. Akita dog is also a designated natural monument of Japan. Before the Hachiko story, the Akita breed was famous as hunting dogs. The ”Hachiko Story” spread around in the newspaper. A movie about Hachi released in 2009 and garnered attention internationally. Recently, Russian figure skater Alina Zagitova got a gift Akita puppy and became a topic of conversation.

Hachiko is loved by Shibuya

Hachiko is still beloved as the symbol of Shibuya. There are many goods and spots, which are associated with Hachi around Shibuya Station.

When you go to the Shibuya station shopping street, called Shibu Chika Shopping Road, you will find cute Hachiko’s paw print. The paw print indicates the way to the Hachiko Statue exit.

location: Shibu Chika Shopping Road JR Shibuya Station A8 exit

You can see Hachiko goods at department stores and a variety of shops around Shibuya. Our tourist information center, Wander Compass Shibuya (WCS) have souvenirs as well. There are pin badges and key holders. These are popular for Japanese and tourists. If you are interested, go and have a look anytime.

Best spot to look at Shibuya crossing

Shibuya crossing is one of the symbols of Tokyo. It’s used as a stage for many movies and animation. It’s a must-see when you visit Tokyo. You will be amazed by the size of the crowd and how they manage not bumping into each other. It feels like looking into a kaleidoscope.

①Crossing View Located at the rooftop of a shopping building Magnet by Shibuya 109, you can look down the crossing. The building is 7 stories tall, which is just the right height to view the crossing. If you want to take a great picture of the crossing, Crossing View is the best spot. The admission is ¥600, but it’s worth it. If you pay an extra ¥1000, you can take Crossing Photo by the camera at the deck.

Opening hours: 12:00-16:30 (8/3 Mon.~) Admission fee: ¥600 This opening hours might be changed on short notice due to COVID-19. Please check the official website of MAGNET by 109 for more information.

②Shibuya SKY This is the newest open-air observatory in Shibuya. It’s 229m high and has a beautiful panoramic view both day and night. The admission is ¥2000. There are many observatories in Tokyo, such as Tokyo City View in Roppongi, Tokyo Tower, or Sky tree. I’ve been to all those places, but Shibuya SKY is the best one. Since the building is so tall, everything looks small, but the view is gorgeous, and you can see how the crossing blends in the city. If you want to see not only the crossing but as the whole Shibuya, you can get the best view in Tokyo from Shibuya SKY.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　画像提供元：渋谷スクランブルスクエア 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ©SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　画像提供元：渋谷スクランブルスクエア 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　©SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　画像提供元：渋谷スクランブルスクエア 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　©SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE

Opening hours: 9:00am-11:00pm (last entry 10:00pm)

Adult:¥2000 Junior high school/high school students:¥1600 Elementary school students:¥1000 Young children (3 and 5 years old):¥600 Infants (0 to 2 years old):Free

③Inokashira Line Hallway This hallway connects the 2nd floor of JR station to the 2nd floor of Keio Inokashira station. It's one of the most famous photo spots for the crossing. It's not as close as Crossing View, but there are always people standing by the window and taking pictures. The best thing about it is that it’s free.

Differences of Tokyo from other cities

Most tourists who visit Japan not only visit Tokyo but also other areas such as Osaka, Kyoto, or Kyushu. So we would like to introduce how Tokyo is different from other cities. First of all, Tokyo has several distinct areas and each known for its distinct atmosphere, feature, and culture. You should know that it takes days to experience and enjoy every detail of each area in Tokyo. One day or two days in Tokyo won't be enough. Compared to the Kansai or Kyushu area, Tokyo doesn't have much famous local food such as Okonomiyaki or Takoyaki for Kansai or Motsunabe (hotpot) in Kyushu. But that’s because Tokyo has everything. Every delicious food, famous cafes, restaurants, clothing brand, or any shops gather in Tokyo from all around Japan, and even from overseas. If you like animals, there are cat, owl or even hedgehog cafes. If you are obsessed with Instagram, there are tons of insta-worthy spots, food, and cafes. Trend changes so fast that sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the latest trends. But that’s one of the reasons you should visit Tokyo more than once. Tokyo probably doesn’t feel the same as once you visited before. As mentioned above, there are many different types of neighborhoods in Tokyo. So here is small advice. When you visit somewhere just because it's famous, you might not know what to do once you get there. So we advise you to do some research and make a plan in advance, or visit us.

What kind of city is Shibuya?

Shibuya is one of the busiest cities in the world. More than 50 million people visit there each day. It has always been a hot spot for tourists.Shibuya is an iconic center of Japanese youth culture, so when you come to Shibuya, you will be able to see the latest trend in fashion, food, music, and culture. The most famous spot is the Shibuya crossing, and it's the busiest intersection in the world. It is worth to visiting once.

Shibuya is now known as one of the most popular Halloween destinations, even though there are no Halloween events. People just started to coming to Shibuya during Halloween wearing costume and wandering around while enjoying seeing others costumes. The Shibuya crossing gets closed and it becomes a pedestrian zone on October 31 and police officers stand for crowd control. Shibuya Halloween is getting less crazier year by year. But it’s still a big event. Watching people’s costumes tells you a lot about the trend of the year, especially what characters in movies or manga was popular in the year. If you are interested in seeing Japanese cosplay or want to experience the craziest time of Shibuya, this would be your best opportunity.