On either side of the metal arches is written “Shibuya Sentagai”, which essentially means Center Town of Shibuya. Based on the number of people who pass through here each day you can appreciate the fitting name. While coming here is one way to blow off steam, making it routine will tire you out. The best thing about walking down Sentagai is that if you continue in a straight path eventually you will land in the Oku-Shibuya neighborhood where things are more quiet.
Sentagai stands at the mouth of Shibuya crossing. It is almost impossible to imagine, but at one time a river ran through this area. It came to be known in the current form around 1960s when bars and clubs came to dominate the street, attracting the youth of the city.
For a first time visitor to Sentagai, on a Friday and Saturday night the street seems to be teetering on the edge of sheer alcoholic delirium. But on Halloween or New Years the street is a whole other level of crazy. From where you are standing, imagine a sea of people lining as far down the street as you can see. It is hard to decide what is more amazing, the throngs of people or the innumerable police officers. For those nights the police definitely earn their overtime pay.
On this street every year is also a festival where locals carry a “Mikoshi” or portable shrines through the streets. This is a tradition that is maintained in almost every neighborhood, even in mainly commercial districts like Sentagai. It is also symbol of the maintenance of traditions against the backdrop of economic development.
Name： Sentagai
Address：Tokyo, Shibuya-Ku, Udagawa-Cho