Top 10 Craziest Things Seen In Shibuya
February 29, 2008
Shibuya is Tokyo’s hipster/poser/club district for hipsters, posers, and gaijin that don’t have a lot of cash. If you’ve got money, Roppongi is the place to be, so long as you understand the girl eyeing you expects you to have no problem paying $20 per drink.
So, check out Shibuya, where you can find some great $20 all-you-can-drink-all-night specials. On the way there, just outside Shibuya Station, you may run into these things.
1. Hachiko. This is the name of the dog they immortalized in bronze at the Station. He symbolizes loyalty because legend has it that his master died at work, but Hachiko showed up at the train station every day anyway. The statue is also a hotbed for anti-American sentiment, right-wingers on top of vans shouting into bullhorns and handing out petitions to everybody that doesn’t look like you.
2. Rainbow dog. Yes, another dog. Well, dogs. The Japanese like to make stupid little yippy dogs stupider by dying their hair all kinds of colors. Don’t be surprised when you nearly trip over a dog with pink, blue, and yellow hair.
3. Weird orange-leisure-suit band wearing sunglasses at night. They play right outside the station and can gather a crowd—not because they’re any good, but because they’re weird.
4. Clusterf**k at the intersection. There’s a big, four-road intersection right outside the train station. On a Friday night, say 7ish, it looks like a concert just let out. Just squeeze yourself in and go with the flow in the general direction you want to go.
5. Fake drugs. Once you’re across the sea of people in the intersection, you’ll likely run into an out-door hipster market with likely Yakuza merchants selling “legal drugs” they compare to ecstasy, mushrooms, whatever. Try if you like, but it’s probably Sudafed.
6. Pimps. Lots of ‘em, looking for men, most definitely Yakuza. Proceed with caution, and according to your own morals and/or budget. Tip: The prostitution laws in Japan are very politician-friendly. Prostitutes and pimps get arrested, Johns typically don’t. But it may not be worth the risk, right? Best to ignore them and continue on your way.
7. Clubs. Just walk around and you’ll see them. Often small like everything in Japan with some kind of drink special. The super hot wearing-very-little Japanese women are there with somebody, guaranteed. The Korean girls are in large, beautiful groups and not interested in talking to anybody. So it’s just like going to a club back home. If you don’t know them already, you may not have any luck.
8. Japanese teens dressed in Hip Hop gear. Lots of ‘em. They’ll make you laugh. Enjoy.
9. Schoolgirls out too late and with men much too old for them. This is a “special” relationship. The old man is paying for her school uniform and school-associated necessities. She offers him “company.” This is kind of legal, like escort services.
10. Trains not running after midnight. If you didn’t come to party all night, you’d better make sure you’re back at the station, timing the last train just right so you’re sure it can make it back to where you’re going before the entire Japanese rail system shuts down for the night. Otherwise, unless you want to pay way, way, way too much for a cab, you’re stuck in Shibuya until dawn. Better there than somewhere in between after they kick you off the train.
