How to Get Guaranteed Access to Shibuya Sky at Sunset Hour/Sunset Time
Did you know there’s a rooftop observation deck at the top of Shibuya’s tallest high-rise building, Shibuya Scramble Square?
It is Shibuya Sky (SHIBUYA SKY), which is directly connected to Shibuya Station, about 230 meters above ground.
With the “SKY STAGE” skyscraper rooftop observation deck and the “SKY GALLERY” indoor observation corridor on the 46th floor, Shibuya Sky offers an overwhelming sense of openness and a great view from the Shibuya skyline. While Shibuya Sky during the day is great in its own sense, sunset time (sunset hour) at dusk and the beauty of the night view are even more popular!
We recommend that you purchase an online ticket in advance because this Shibuya Sky is a popular spot and it will be crowded. If you can’t secure a sunset ticket, we’ll teach you a loophole below.
※Estimated sunset times at SHIBUYA SKY
Unfortunately, admission tickets for later evenings sell out quickly, and reservations often fill up a month in advance. Shibuya Sky tickets are often sold out months in advance.
This is the booking calendar on the official website as of September 19, 2024.
As you can see, there’s almost no availability after 15:00 until October 17, 2024.
※ Although there is a designated time for entering Shibuya Sky, you can leave at any time as long as it is during business hours.
The problem is, I’ve come all the way to Shibuya, and I really wanted to see the night view from SHIBUYA SKY. There’s actually a way to fix this problem!
How to secure SHIBUYA SKY tickets at sunset times.
All you have to do is…
Purchase a ticket for the open-top bus “SHIBUYA STREET RIDE” that includes an admission voucher, also known as the “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket”! The “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket” gives you guaranteed access to SHIBUYA SKY at any time in the day.
By purchasing this ticket set, you will be able to get into Shibuya Sky even during sold-out times!
First, what is a SHIBUYA SKY set ticket?
The greatest advantage of this set of tickets is that it guarantees admission to Shibuya Sky at any time.
When purchasing a regular ticket, you must specify the time of admission. This makes it almost impossible to purchase a ticket during sold-out times. You can use the “SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket” any time after you get off at SHIBUYA STREET RIDE as long as its the same day. This is perfect if you are trying to secure a sunset ticket. Getting this set ticket means that you can get in during the peak hours, even if it’s sold out!
However, please note that this pass will only be available until the final entrance time of Shibuya Sky on the day of your trip. Re-entry is also not permitted.
During the daytime, you can take the open-top bus, and in the evening, you can enjoy the city of Shibuya on the Shibuya Sky.
The places you tour by bus are small and spread out around your feet, making for an interesting and memorable experience.
Details of SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY set ticket
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE has two routes:
・Shibuya Excursion Route
・Shibuya⇔Shinjuku Route（※September 2024～January 2025）
These are two popular routes.
Both routes are designed to take in the sights.
The bus is an open-top bus specification with no roof on the second floor, allowing visitors to enjoy sightseeing from a perspective they would not normally be able to see.
Seats are equipped with multilingual audio guides and in-train monitors that provide information on each area during the trip. Of course, Japanese is also available.
It also comes with a digital version of a city walking guide to enjoy the streets of Shibuya even after getting off the bus.
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE Ride Experience
I immediately booked a SHIBUYA STREET and RIDE SHIBUYA SKY online set ticket.
This time, I rode on the round-trip route of SHIBUYA on the Shibuya Excursion route.
At the south exit of Shibuya Station is Shibuya Fuclas. There is a bus terminal there on the first floor.
The departure time was 11:25 but I arrived a before 11:00.
I was able to relax in the stylish area waiting area right in front of the bus stop.
Before I knew it, a stylish open-top bus entered the boarding area shortly after 11:15.
Next, all you have to do is show the screen of your cell phone to the crew and board the train!
At this time, I received a voucher for admission to Shibuya Sky on the same day.
Now you can enjoy the evening and night views from Shibuya Sky ^^.
This time, the route took me from the Scramble Crossing to Harajuku, Omotesando, and other areas around Shibuya.
The colorful seating inside the car will surely be Instagram-worthy if you take pictures!
On the second floor, you can feel the breeze and enjoy the view from a different perspective than usual.
The thrill of passing under an overpass is especially unique to this bus.
The bus first departs from Shibuya Fuklas and head towards Harajuku on Meiji Street.
Along the way, you can see Meiji Shrine and Takeshita-dori Avenue from a slightly elevated vantage point. After that we headed towards Sendagaya and Gaienmae.
As we reach Omotesando, we can see the National Stadium, which was the main venue for the Olympics. There were no power lines so you could see the view of the sky really clearly and it felt great!
In Omotesando, you can feel the street trees up close while overlooking the rows of high-end fashion stores.
Finally, I returned to Shibuya for the last time to view the scramble crossing. It is a luxurious feeling to be able to see the scene of many people coming and going from above, up close and personal.
I returned to the bus terminal on the ground floor of the Shibuya Fuklas– the area I departed from around 12:30 p.m.
After a leisurely lunch, I went for a stroll in Shibuya, using the digital version of the city walking guide that was in the pocket of the car!
Don’t forget to check the passcode in the car!
Since the audio is also recorded, wearing earphones is recommended.
It’s evening, and SHIBUYA SKY is located in Shibuya Scramble Square.
With this same-day admission voucher, I went to SHIBUYA SKY, and on the 14th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square I was able to register and enjoy the evening and night views.
“Crossing Lights,” a light show held every 30 minutes after 7:00 p.m. every day, is a unique nighttime experience. The performance is said to change with the seasons.
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket Details
SHIBUYA STREET RIDE × SHIBUYA SKY Set Ticket Details
Estimated Sunset Times at SHIBUYA SKY
“Twilight Time” in Shibuya takes place 15 minutes after sunset.
This is the most beautiful time to see Shibuya Sky as day transitions into night. “Twilight Time” can be seen only in this 15 minute time frame.
Sunset times may vary by month. Please use this as a reference.
| Sunset Times (Towards the beginning of the month) | Sunset Times (Towards the beginning of the month) | |
| January | 4:40PM~ | 5:10PM~ |
| February | 5:10PM~ | 5:35PM~ |
| March | 5:35PM~ | 6:00PM~ |
| April | 6:00PM~ | 6:25PM~ |
| May | 6:25PM~ | 6:50PM~ |
| June | 6:50PM~ | 7:00PM~ |
| July | 7:00PM~ | 6:45PM~ |
| Sunset Times (Towards the beginning of the month) | Sunset Times (Towards the beginning of the month) | |
| August | 6:35PM~ | 6:10PM~ |
| September | 6:10PM~ | 5:25PM~ |
| October | 5:25PM~ | 4:45PM~ |
| November | 4:45PM~ | 4:30PM~ |
| December | 4:30PM~ | 4:40PM~ |
Even if tickets are sold out, as long as you have the Shibuya Sky Set Ticket, you can enjoy the beautiful views of SHIBUYA SKY at any time.
