The Secret Viewpoint Above Shibuya Crossing

If you're visiting Tokyo, there's a good chance you will be heading to the famous Shibuya scramble crossing! Its a crazy, intense experience to navigate your way through the MASSIVE crowds. You can get some awesome photos from street level of all the interesting characters ranging from busy salary-men & women to dancing cosplay fanatics using the crossing as a stage!

But to get some really awesome photos of Shibuya crossing, you will want to get above street level.. Most people will head to the nearby Starbucks cafe to get a slightly elevated view and enjoy a coffee, but this a such a popular spot that getting a seat near the window is near impossible!

Time for some stealth action!

To get views of Shibuya crossing from above like the ones in this article you will need to act like a secret spy and pretend you are staying in the fancy hotel that overlooks the crossing, this way you can get right to the 25th floor and enjoy some amazing sights of the city and the crossing!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it:

• Look for the building pictured and head towards it, you will find an entrance with 2 elevators.
• Head to the 5th floor (do not go directly to the 25th floor, you will be caught).
• Once you step out on the 5th floor, act like you know what your doing and walk directly ahead past the 'hotel guests only' sign, and to the other elevators.
• Now you can hit the 25th floor button!

This will place you in a area just out of view from the staff facing the regular lifts, and will give you ample time to snap some birds-eye view photos!

I even managed to get away with setting up a tripod on the window and recording a time-lapse, but after about 15 minutes I was finally caught! But don't worry, just be nice and say sorry and you will be shown the elevator.

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Thanks for reading!

Taran here, owner of Nomad'er How Far. I'm fond of psychedelic rock, photography & videography, anything to do with space and I'm also partial to the odd gaming session. Oh and I love to travel :P Get to know me here!

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