Tokyo is the biggest city in the world, and if you haven’t gotten lost here at least once, you’re not trying hard enough. Even if you manage to keep a track of where you are, arranging to meet someone in the city centre can pose another challenge. The large number of exits to major stations, combined with the crowds of people passing in and out, can make “machiawase” (待ち合わせ, meeting up) a difficult task.
Fortunately, Tokyo has a number of useful landmarks, including famous buildings and statues, that make for popular meeting spots. Check out our picks of some of the most well-known below.
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Shibuya
Hachikō Statue
Perhaps the most famous meeting spot in all of Tokyo, the Hachikō Statue is dedicated to a dog “Hachikō” (ハチ公) who would visit the station every day to meet its owner, and continued to do so long after he had died. It is very easy to find, as the nearby exit is named after the dog, though as a very popular spot it is typically crowded, especially in the early evening.
Moyai Statue
Next to Hachikō, the Moyai Statue (モヤイ像, modeled on the Moai of Easter Island) is one of the best-known meeting spots in Shibuya. You can reach it from JR Shibuya station by taking the south ticket gate and leaving by the west exit. Go right as you leave the station and you will find the statue a little further on.
Shinjuku (East Side)
Shinjuku Higasiguchi Kōban
After passing through the JR ticket gates, follow the signs for the East Exit (Higashi-guchi / 東口). Head towards the East Gate (Higashi-kaisatsu) and go through the turnstiles.
Once through the gate, turn right and walk straight for about 20 to 30 metres. On your left, you will see a staircase with a sign for “Kabukicho” overhead. Take this staircase up to street level.
Once outside, turn right. The police box (koban) will be immediately on your right, located at the base of the Lumine Est building. You will see a large “KOBAN” sign.
Once through the gate, turn right and walk straight for about 20 to 30 metres. On your left, you will see a staircase with a sign for “Kabukicho” overhead. Take this staircase up to street level.
Once outside, turn right. The police box (koban) will be immediately on your right, located at the base of the Lumine Est building. You will see a large “KOBAN” sign.
Shinjuku (West Side)
Eye of Shinjuku
Shinjuku station’s west side has exits for the JR lines, Keio Lines, Odakyu Lines and Metro. If you want to meet somewhere a little more secluded than the main exits, you might head for “Shinjuku no me” (新宿の目, the eye of Shinjuku), located in the underpass one floor below street level. The eye is found at the base of the Shinjuku Subaru building and can be reached by exiting the JR West side ticket gate, and following the signs for the “High rise buildings and hotels” and “Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office”.
Ikebukuro
Ikefukuro Statue
“Ikefukuro” (いけふくろう) is a play on the words “fukuro” (owl) and “Ikebukuro”, where this statue is a popular meeting point inside the station building. To find it, leave the JR ticket gates by the north side and follow the sign for “Ikefukuro”. Coming from this side the statue may be hidden from view by a large pillar, so keep a close eye out.
Ginza
Lion Statue
On the corner just outside exits A7 and A8 of the Ginza Metro station, you will find a distinctive bronze lion statue that has become one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks. Standing proudly at the entrance to the famous Mitsukoshi department store, the lion has long been a beloved meeting point for locals and visitors alike.
The surrounding street is wide and relatively spacious compared to much of central Tokyo, making it a comfortable and easy place to wait without feeling crowded. Whether you are meeting friends for a shopping trip, heading out for lunch, or simply using it as a convenient landmark to orient yourself in Ginza, the lion statue is a reliable and easy-to-find spot that most people will immediately recognise.
The surrounding street is wide and relatively spacious compared to much of central Tokyo, making it a comfortable and easy place to wait without feeling crowded. Whether you are meeting friends for a shopping trip, heading out for lunch, or simply using it as a convenient landmark to orient yourself in Ginza, the lion statue is a reliable and easy-to-find spot that most people will immediately recognise.
Shinbashi
SL Hiroba
Shinbashi’s Steam Locomotive Plaza (SL広場, SL Hiroba) is a large open space on the west side of the station, meaning it rarely gets too crowded, making it a comfortable and easy place to meet. The plaza takes its name from the historic C11 steam locomotive on permanent display there, a nod to Shinbashi’s significance as the site of Japan’s very first railway, which opened in 1872 connecting Shinbashi and Yokohama. To reach the plaza, take the Hibiya exit and you will see it right in front of you.
Roppongi
Giant Spider Sculpture “Maman”
Among Roppongi’s many meeting places, the 66 Plaza on the second floor of the Roppongi Hills complex is particularly convenient, as it is close to Mori Art Museum, Toho Cinemas and the rest of the Roppongi Hills shopping complex. The instantly recognisable sculpture “Maman”, depicting a mother spider, is an easy place to arrange a meet-up. The plaza can be reached from Roppongi station’s exit 1c.
