Chapter 3: 14 Seconds over Shibuya

Shibuya. Are you familiar with it? No? Well that’s OK, I’ll explain it to you. Shibuya is a section of Tokyo. It’s a busy commercial district. Lots of shops, lots of bars and clubs. Shibuya is most famous for it’s main intersection. You’d know it if you saw it. Google it. It’s the busiest intersection in the world. There is even a popular Radiohead poster of the band standing out in it. Some 1500 people cross it every minute.



I had to work in Shinjuku, which is a ward just to the north of Shibuya. So I decided to have a look around Shibuya before hand. Somehow I managed to grab a spot right at the edge of the intersection, waiting to cross. I was there for about 30 seconds, when there is a loud DING. And everyone floods into the intersection. If ever there was truly a sea of people, this was it. Thousands of people walking straight at me. I managed through it just fine though. I decided to walk through it a second time, but this time I had my camera out and set to video mode. I made a 14 second video, which I’ll try to post soon. It’s insane.

But yes, I hurried up to Shinjuku (maybe a 30 second train ride on the Yamanote?) work was boring that day, mostly just filling out paperwork and that kind of nonsense. But I was done at about 5pm. I met a few other teachers in the area, we went to this Irish bar in the lobby for a bit, then decided we would go to the Mori Tower in Roppongi to get a good view of the city. The Mori Tower has a kickass observation deck on the 52nd floor, and cost about $10 to get up. Probably worth it for the view. However, as we were walking about, one of my friends called me, and I invited her along. She asked if we were all dressed nice, which we were, and suggested that we go to the Hyatt Hotel bar. If you have seen Lost in Translation, then you know this bar. It’s also on the 52nd floor, and doesn’t cost anything to get in. Drinks are wicked expensive, but totally worth it. We made our way up, grabbed a seat next to the window...and wow. I really can’t explain it. The view is just...that night will go down as one of the best of my life. Mostly I just sat and quietly chatted with some friends. But...that view...if anyone comes to visit me, we HAVE to hit this place up. So bring nice clothes, because they do have a dress code.

It was strange, because this was the first time I had seen Tokyo Tower. I had been really near it, but I could never see it. Why? Urban Sprawl. There actually isn’t a lot of really tall buildings in Tokyo. Just a few. But what they have, is buildings that are 10-15 stories tall, that are just everywhere. I noticed this while walking around in Shibuya. It’s quite easy to get turned around because you can never see a landmark. In Seattle you just can look our for the Space Needle or the Columbia Tower, but structures like those are impossible to see in Tokyo because you are surrounded by other buildings. You really get the feel of an “urban jungle.” All you can see is buildings and concrete. The view at the Hyatt Hotel further gives you the impression of an urban jungle. It’s nothing but urban sprawl for as far as the eyes can see. Seriously, thats all I could see. According to that view, the city goes on forever.