3 min read

Trace Labs Challenge #3

Trace Labs Challenge #3

Hey everyone — 404 Yeti here, back to conquer another avalanche of a challenge from Trace Labs! ❄️
This time we’re heading into one of the busiest intersections in the world, deep in the heart of Tokyo. Let’s dive in, investigator style.

Tools used:

  • Google Reverse Image Search
  • Google Earth

Image:

This one’s tricky — a dense, bustling cityscape filled with lights, people, and billboards.
At first glance, it screams urban chaos — but we’re not intimidated by that.
We’re Yeti. We thrive in the chaos.

Upload the image into google images and see if anything comes back

Immediately, we spot a pattern: multiple references to “Shibuya Crossing.”
It’s one of the world’s most iconic intersections — and a strong first lead.

💡 Yeti Tip: When analyzing crowded city photos, focus on unique elements like building signage, traffic flow, and pedestrian patterns. These stand out across different search results and lead to faster confirmation.

Step 2: Use Google Earth to search for Shibuya Crossing

Type “Shibuya Crossing” into Google Earth and switch to 3D mode.

You’ll notice the distinctive scramble intersection, surrounded by glowing signs, diagonal crosswalks, and the Shibuya 109 building in the distance.

Using Earth’s 3D tilt and rotation, align your camera until the perspective matches the photo — this is where Google Earth truly shines.
Unlike Street View, you can adjust elevation and camera tilt to simulate drone or rooftop shots.

Even lighting conditions also match what’s seen in our challenge image — further confirming the location.

Step 3: Recreate the photo

No Pegman needed this time — just angle, zoom, and rotate until you match the composition.

Once aligned, you’ll notice:
- The same five major buildings surrounding the crosswalk.
- The same billboard pattern and road layout.
-The exact pedestrian crossing grid beneath the camera’s vantage point.

All signs (literally) point to Shibuya Crossing — mission accomplished!

⚠️ There is two names in line of sight, Shibuya Crossing and Shibuya Scramble Crossing, for this demonstration we chose Shibuya Crossing

Final Answer: Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan.

Why this matters:

Geolocation challenges like this aren’t just about pattern recognition — they train precision thinking.
A real OSINT analyst learns to:

  • Verify perspective, not just landmarks.
  • Account for light, shadows, and camera height.
  • Match every detail — because in court or incident reports, “close enough” isn’t good enough.
“Angles, lighting, and lines don’t lie — they tell the truth if you listen carefully.” — 404 Yeti 🧊

Final Thoughts

his challenge shows how Google Earth and Reverse Image Search can work hand-in-hand for pinpoint accuracy.
The key isn’t just finding the location — it’s proving it beyond doubt.

That’s one more frozen mystery solved for the OSINT record books.
Stay sharp, stay frosty, and remember:
Every pixel tells a story.

Yeti out. 🐾