A Different Side of Shibuya: A Dogenzaka Walking Tour

(13 reviews)

Tokyo audio tour: A Different Side of Shibuya: A Dogenzaka Walking Tour

This is a 1.1mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Tokyo

Japan

$11.99

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About the Tour

Shibuya is famous for its bustling Scramble Crossing and shopping centers, but behind the gleaming facades lies a neighborhood with centuries of fascinating history.

On this walking tour, you’ll explore Dogenzaka, an area with a mix of traditional establishments, quirky love hotels, and artistic venues that reveal the neighborhood’s complex identity. THIS TOUR IS MEANT FOR ADULTS, mostly because of that edgy complexity. As in any massive city, be aware of your surroundings. Bicycle and shoplifting theft are on the rise, but crimes such as robbery are low.

The tour starts at the iconic Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station. You’ll cross the famous Scramble Crossing and wind your way through Dogenzaka’s narrow alleyways, where centuries-old pilgrimage routes have been transformed into entertainment districts.

Along the way, you’ll encounter the “Blade Runner Building” with its atmospheric interior, and Love Hotel Lane with its curious establishments. You’ll learn how these spaces reflect Japanese social customs and urban development. The tour ends at Nabeshima Shōtō Park, a tranquil green space that was once a samurai domain and later a tea plantation that gave the entire neighborhood its name.

On this 60-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

See the massive “Myth of Tomorrow” mural that disappeared for 30 years before being rediscovered in a Mexican warehouse
Step inside the atmospheric Daini Oban Building, a 1980s structure that feels like it came straight from the movie Blade Runner
Visit a small shrine tucked between modern establishments, showing how traditional Shinto practices remain woven into daily Tokyo life
Peek into Meikyoku Kissa Lion, the legendary music café where patrons silently listen to classical music through three-meter-high speakers
Discover the surprising history of Tokyo’s love hotels, which evolved from Edo-period “lovers’ teahouses” with secret tunnels
Spot the infamous Mario Kart garage that sparked legal battles with Nintendo
Explore the quieter residential areas that show a completely different side of Shibuya

Take this walk through Dogenzaka to discover the fascinating layers of Tokyo’s past and present before the area’s ongoing redevelopment changes it forever.

Tour Producer

Jason Garcia

4 tours

Hi, I'm Jason.

I've lived in Tokyo since 2017. As a professional photographer, one of my many goals is to use my digital and film cameras to capture, everyday scenes. In addition to having the good fortune to have my work displayed in numerous photography exhibitions here in Tokyo, my work has been featured in a large number of magazines in Japan, the United States, and Canada.

I love interacting with tourists, showing newcomers around Tokyo, and working with international creatives. My life revolves around my tours and photo walks, which invite people to take their time and intentionally explore Tokyo. Together, we venture beyond the popular tourist destinations to discover hidden gems and occasionally peaceful outskirts of specific neighborhoods — areas of Tokyo that some people never see. I'm excited to tell you these fascinating tales and give you an unforgettable time in Tokyo. Oh, and if you're looking for portraits, I'm your guy. Connect with me for a fun session.

Preview Location

Location 3

Myth of Tomorrow Mural

You should now be standing in front of a mural, called "Myth of Tomorrow" (明日の神話) by Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto, that's permanently installed here.

It was originally commissioned in 1967-1968 for a luxury hotel in Mexico City. However, the hotel's developer went bankrupt... You should now be standing in front of a mural, called "Myth of Tomorrow" (明日の神話) by Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto, that's permanently installed here.

It was originally commissioned in 1967-1968 for a luxury hotel in Mexico City. However, the hotel's developer went bankrupt, and the mural went missing for over 30 years. It was rediscovered in a suburban Mexico City warehouse in 2003, in a state of severe disrepair. It was discovered by Toshiko Okamoto, Tarō Okamoto's adopted daughter and long-time business partner and secretary. After Tarō's death in 1996, she took it upon herself to find the missing artwork, and her efforts led to its discovery in a warehouse in a suburb of Mexico City, where it had been stored in a state of disrepair for over three decades.

Its discovery was the crucial first step in the mural's journey back to Japan, where it underwent extensive restoration. It was finally unveiled at its current location in Shibuya in November 2008.

"Myth of Tomorrow" is a response to the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and more broadly, the threat of nuclear proliferation. It is often compared to Picasso's "Guernica" for its scale, subject matter, and powerful anti-war message.

You can see a fishing boat, the Daigo Fukuryū Maru, which was a real-life Japanese tuna boat contaminated by nuclear fallout during a US test at Bikini Atoll in 1954, an event that was a landmark moment for Japan's anti-nuclear movement.

On the far left, in stark contrast to the destruction, a group of figures in a pastoral setting that represents the "myth of tomorrow", which is a hope for peace and harmony.

One last thing:

Tarō Okamoto's philosophy was that art should be an "explosion," a powerful and unrestrained force. He believed that even in the face of the cruelest tragedies, humanity had the capacity to overcome and give birth to a new future. "Myth of Tomorrow" is a clear embodiment of this idea. It is not just a picture of victims, but a message of human resilience and the birth of a new myth from the ashes of destruction.

Now, let's return the way we came and go down the escalators to street level where we can set off to our next location. When you get to the street, play the next location manually. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Hachiko Statue
Hanna Lucatelli
Myth of Tomorrow
Sutajioindi Shibuyaten
Meikyoku Kissa Lion
Mikkeller Tokyo
Eurospace
LOFT9 Shibuya
Nabeshima Shōtō Park
鍋島松濤公園トイレ

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
2 Chome-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan
Total distance

2km
Final location
2-chōme-10-7 Shōtō, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0046, Japan
Distance back to start location

803.78m

Directions to Starting Point

Hachiko Square is located directly in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, Japan. It is the perfect starting point for a walking tour and is one of the city's most famous meeting spots.

To find it, the simplest way is to exit Shibuya Station through the Hachiko Exit. This is the primary exit for several train lines, including the JR Yamanote Line, and is well-marked with English signs.

For those using the Tokyo Metro subway lines, you can also access the square through specific alpha-numeric exits:

Exit A8: This exit leads directly to the Hachiko statue.

Exit A12: This exit will bring you out to the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, which is adjacent to Hachiko Square.

Once you are outside, the Hachiko statue and the square are immediately visible. The famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing is also just a few steps away, making the area easy to identify.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Often times, after walking Dogenzaka for a bit, I stop off at Mikkeller Tokyo. It's a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering beer from 20 taps with a curated selection from Mikkeller's own brews, Japanese breweries, and international craft beers. The atmosphere is described as effortlessly cool and dimly lit, with a casual and inviting vibe downstairs and a more minimalist and relaxed setting upstairs with tables for a more intimate experience.

Best time of day

This tour is good all year. Best times are post-rush hour (maybe around 10:30 onward), all throughout the day, and into the evening. I recommend just as the sun goes down for an optimal experience.

Precautions

As any massive city, be aware of your surroundings. Tokyo is safe. Dogenzaka is safe, but please make sure to keep your eyes and ears open.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”