Shibuya Center-gai — Main Arch
About the Shibuya Center-gai — Main Arch Camera
This camera stands at the main arch of Shibuya Center-gai, the entrance you reach immediately after crossing the Scramble Crossing from the Hachiko exit. It is the point where the crossing's crowd funnels from an open square into a narrow street.
Center-gai is a few hundred metres of tightly packed shops, restaurants and karaoke, and it has long been the part of Shibuya most associated with young Tokyo. The street was officially renamed Basketball Street in 2011, though almost nobody uses that name in conversation.
The arch itself is a useful reference point. Crowd density here is a good indicator of how busy the whole area is, and the contrast between mid-afternoon and a Friday night is stark. It is also where television crews set up when Shibuya makes the news.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: crowd density under the arch, the flow from the Scramble Crossing, evening and weekend surges
- •Nearby: Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Hachiko statue, Shibuya Station, Dogenzaka
- •Note: busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings; unusually crowded at New Year and Halloween
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Shibuya Center-gai camera live?
Yes. The main arch of Shibuya Center-gai streams live 24 hours a day.
What can I see on this camera?
The crowd flowing under the main arch from the Scramble Crossing, the shopfronts along the street, and how density changes through the day.
Where exactly is the main arch?
At the Shibuya Station end of Center-gai, directly across the Scramble Crossing from the Hachiko exit.
Is Center-gai its official name?
The street was officially renamed Basketball Street in 2011, but Center-gai remains the name almost everyone uses.
