The first time I went to Shibuya was with @petervoogd! Everyone had told us that you have to go there to see the "busiest crosswalk in the world" with your own eyes. My first thought literally was "i don't know what can be so special about a busy crosswalk", especially after we had just visited the beautiful Imperial Palace Garden. But we went anyway.. and the conclusion...

TOTALLY WORTH IT! 

It's a crazy spectacle that perfectly portraits the busy city, TOKYO is and one of my personal highlights of this trip. I was trying to figure out how in the world, every single time the lights turned red, there were people filling up from all sides, like ants and then when the lights turn green and the crowd finally moves, no-one is bumping into each other like a perfectly studied and practiced act. 

Imagine those people actually being actors and actresses, changing outfits and crossing the same crosswalk over and over again ^^ But then again, it's actually quite realistic, when you take into consideration the larger number of population in Tokyo (13.5 Mil as of today). I was amazed by how casually the locals were crossing the crosswalk, while tourists with cameras were running back and forth, waiting at the stop light to cross again and get amazing pictures (yes we were one of them)... 

Shibuya Crossing - The World's Busiest Pedestrian Crossing

How does it work?

The traffic lights at the crossing have a 2 minute cycle. Cars from various directions eat up more than half of the time. When the lights turn red at this busy junction, they all turn red at the same time in every direction. Traffic stops completely and pedestrians surge into the intersection from all sides. Thousands of pedestrians all cross at the same time from five directions. When the crowds meet in the middle chaos ensues. It's a spectacle that's repeated every two minutes all day and most of the night until the crowds finally thin out after midnight when Shibuya stations closes. 

Photography -  Views

The Best Starbucks In The World?

There's a particularly awesome view over the crossing from the Starbucks in the Tsutaya building on the crossing's north side (though it’s hard to get a seat), where you can observe this moment of organized chaos.

This might just be the best Starbucks in the world in terms of view AND the MATCHA FRAPPÉ! 

I discovered my favorite drink here that quickly became my new obsession (but more about that in another post). Make sure to get it though when you happen to be visiting Tokyo and the Shibuya Crossing.

A big THANK YOU goes to MIKA from TEAMZ who showed me around and brought me to the Shibuya Starbucks!

Magic happens when you stop starring at lines and start crossing them....

... That’s when you begin to explore the beauty of life, live in your own world, unleash your true potential and feel free!

Much love,

- Mrs.Steemit