Video screens on each corner vie noisily for your attention along with bright blinking neon billboards and vibrant advertisements that seem to cover every available building facade and roof top.

A haven for the younger generation, the Starbucks that overlooks Shibuya crossing is one the busiest in the world and a sign of the popularity of anything American.  The area is home to everything that young people love, trendy and funky Japanese fashions, a great selection of shopping and dining options and an area know as love hotel hill where a few hours can be whiled away with a close personal friend.

Resting quietly at the base of all this hubbub is the Hachiko statue, a common meeting place just outside of Shibuya station that represents a much different time in Japan’s history.  A time in the 1920′s when Shibuya was not as busy as it is today and when an Akita dog named Hachiko would see his owner off to work and meet him at the end of long day.  After his owner died, Hachiko would return to the station each evening to await the arrival of the train that his master rode. While some people at the station initially thought that Hachiko was just roaming around, they soon came to realize that he was waiting for his dead owner and they nicknamed the dog chuken (faithful dog).  Hachiko’s statue stands in the station plaza as a tribute to that faithfulness and loyalty.

If you are planning to visit the area, and you should, these walking maps of Shibuya will help you find your way around.  Consider taking one of the Shibuya Community Bus routes that service the area and give your feet a break!

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Urawaza, Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan from Japan Discovered! And, if you are planning a trip to Japan and have questions be sure to take part in the first ever Japan Travel Tweetchat on Friday June 5th from Noon – 1PM on Twitter.

A Japanese version of little red riding hood was out and about with her polka dot hair bow and heart shaped purse. At the Hachiko Statue, located just outside of Shibuya station, a young woman attired in leather and lace with red and black striped tights was checking her keitei (mobile phone) messages while toting a piano-themed messenger bag.

Red seemed to be the color of the day as a young woman wearing a bright read sweatshirt emblazoned with “NAVY” completed her patriotic look with one leg boasting stars and the other stripes!

So you be the judge…what do you think of these Shibuya street fashions.  Fashion forward or fashion faux pas?

First the girls…

How about the guys?

And how about this young woman?  A bright fuchsia stripe in her hair and a katakana tattoo on her cheek.  I sure hope that tattoo is temporary!

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

Unlike her similarity dressed companion who avoided having her picture taken, this pretty young woman was more than happy to play to the cameras that surrounded her on a busy street corner.

Check back tomorrow to see some decidedly non-traditional Japanese fashions also spotted in Shibya.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.