Center-gai Shopping Street, Tokyo

Center Gai, or as it’s now officially called, Basketball Street—because rebranding is everything, right?—is all about game arcades, cheap cafes, and the latest streetwear trends.

Stretching 350 meters from Shibuya Station to the Tokyu Department Store, this street is where fashion trends are born, Tokyo’s youth come out to play, and tourists wander in wide-eyed wonder (or confusion). It's a neon-lit runway of trendsetters, gamers, bargain hunters, and night owls looking for their next adventure—or just a decent snack.

Once upon a time, the street had a bit of a reputation. Nicknames like "Scary Street" and "Dirty Street" weren’t exactly great for tourism brochures. So, in a move of pure PR brilliance, they slapped a new name on it and called it Basketball Street—despite having no actual basketball courts, hoops, or, well… anything remotely basketball-related. But what it does have is the headquarters of Japan’s BJ League, hidden inside the nearby Yoyogi National Gymnasium, so let’s just roll with it.

If you want to experience Tokyo’s electric nightlife, do a bit of trend-spotting, and maybe get lost in a sea of blinking signs and loud music, this is the place. So get your sneakers (or platform boots, no judgment) handy and dive headfirst into Shibuya’s living, breathing, ever-trending street scene. Just don’t expect to find a basketball game happening anytime soon. And, if anyone asks, just nod and say, “Yeah, Basketball Street… totally makes sense.”

Tip:
Brace yourself for crowds—it’s part of the experience! And don’t just walk through—cross it from different angles, take some ridiculously cool photos, and then spend all your money at Loft or the ever-amazing Tokyu Hands. If shopping fatigue hits, the 9th-floor café at Tokyu Hands awaits, ready to recharge you for round two.