(Time 22:50) Staff whose job it is to bring customers into one of the many hidden away restaurants and bars in Shibuya share a laugh and a joke during a quiet moment.

(Time 23:02) A typical night sight in Shibuya. One of many groups deciding where to go. There is an almost overwhelming selection of bars and restaurants in Shibuya so it can take a while to make a choice.

(Time 23:02) It’s Friday so people are relaxed and ready to enjoy the night.

(Time 23:14) The first casualty of the night. Too many, too early.

(Time 23:19) A peek into one of the small restaurants and bars that pepper the centre of Shibuya. The counter style helps to pack people into the small space.

(Time 23:25) The combination of alcohol and Japanese salarymen sometimes brings about strange results. Here they discover a spring loaded traffic pole. To their amusement the end of it is about the same height as their ‘nuts’. Fun to be had. Pull it back, let it go and…

(Time 23:25) …impact!

(Time 23:36) A business meeting. Shibuya gets so crowded that sometimes you use space wherever you find it.

(Time 23:40) One of the many sub-cultures that Shibuya is famous for. Like everyone else looking for the right place to go.

(Time 23:41) Casualty of the night no. 2

(Time 23:45) The Japanese have a real love affair with the camera. To the extent that after a few drinks they will encourage a random stranger like myself to take their picture and then just disappear into the night. Random stranger portrait no. 1.

(Time 23:46) Girls on a mission.

(Time 23:50) A summary of the sign “I will draw your portrait in the style of a dog.” Obviously this is more popular at night after people have had a few drinks than in the daytime. I wonder why….

(Time 23:51) The hard sell. A worker at a Japanese restaurant (izakaya) tries to convince a group of office workers to go there. Needless to say he wasn’t successful. On a typical weekend night you’ll find about 100 people scattered through the heart of Shibuya doing this.

(Time 23:57) Casualty of the night no. 3. The noodles on the floor next to him were in his belly up until a few moments ago.

(Time 23:58) Do I stay or do I go? Unlike many capital cities the transport system in Tokyo stops completely somewhere between midnight and 1am, depending on the line. If you miss your last train you either stay out or take a very expensive taxi ride home.

(Time 00:08) The alcohol kicks in..literally!

(Time 00:18) It’s over there. Almost last train time. Find the station entrance.

(Time 00:26) Gotta make that last train!

(Time 00:30) Evidence of the night’s drinking on a bin in Hachiko sqaure.

(Time 00:37) Casualty of the night no. 4. Same guy from 23:02? Could well be, but now maybe a little too relaxed!

(Time 00:40) Street beers. Warm nights, 24hr convenience stores, and friends…who needs expensive bars!

(Time 00:45) Creative way to get home after the last train.

(Time 00:59) Time for construction. Because Shibuya is so crowded in the daytime, it’s more effective to do big construction work in the middle of the night. We’ll come back to these guys a little later.

(Time 03:42 – I said there was a big gap!) A man sits in a doorway quietly reading a book. After about 1am Shibuya takes on a much quieter feel as people are either already in bars, izakayas or nightclubs or have gone home.

(Time 03:48) Waiting for a fare. A taxi driver drives around looking for prospective customers.

(Time 03:54) Casualty of the night no.5. I dare say we missed a few. We’ll come back later and check on this guy.

(Time 03:58) Still looking for customers. Even at almost 4am when the streets are quiet there are still people trying to get customers into bars and restaurants.

(Time 04:01) Construction continues part 1

(Time 04:02) Construction continues part 2

(Time 04:04) Slow flow in centergai. The main walking street in Shibuya is almost deserted.

(Time 04:07) But then again…there is always some life in Shibuya.

(Time 04:09) A girl dressed as maid tries to attract customers into a maid cafe. Her expression reflects how she feels and the hopelessness of her task.

(Time 04:14) Restaurant staff start putting out rubbish ready for morning collections.

(Time 04:14) Why are these chopsticks so heavy? A man who would rather be asleep at home tries to stay awake and upright long enough to eat something.

(Time 04:18) When the cat’s away. There are literally thousands of rats in Shibuya and at night they are everywhere if you look hard enough.

(Time 04:28) The waiting game. I just want to tell him ‘Give up now!’

(Time 04:30) This is what happens when you mix a business meeting and a hostess bar.

(Time 04:35) A homeless man sleeps in a doorway. Based on some of the other images from tonight the differences between those who have and those who don’t may not be so big.

(Time 04:38) random stranger portrait no. 2

(Time 04:40) Casualty of the night no. 5 – the sequel – just getting comfortable.

(Time 04:42) ‘It’s cold’. Morning begins to approach and soon so will the first trains. The movement out of the bars, izakayas and nightclubs towards the train stations begins.

(Time 04:54) Casualty of the night no. 6. I suppose it’s as good a place as any!

(Time 05:09) Getting playful. After a night’s drinking people are happy, relaxed, playful, amorous, and more as the exodus to the station begins to build steam.

(Time 05:22). Daylight arrives and so do the problems.

(Time 05:27) Randomness. An impromptu fashion show arrives in Hachiko square.

(Time 05:32) The random fashion show continues. Shibuya is a popular place for photographing/filming events and at this time of the morning there aren’t many people getting in the way.

(Time 05:34) More randomness. A man dressed up in cotton wool.