Full of fun, food, and fashion, Harajuku is the place to go to get some style inspo from the uber-creative Japanese youth!
Did someone say konnichi-WOW? ‘Cause Japan’s resuming international travel at full force! Now, we’re sure you’re gearing up to fly and plan a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun (and impeccable fashion sense), so let Klook take you through Tokyo, one neighborhood at a time! For this guide, we talked to resident Klookers from Japan to give their inside tips and fave spots in *drum roll* the young and hip hot spot of Harajuku!
From the iconic Takeshita Dori to the luxe street of Omotesando, it’s a place that takes self-expression to the next level! Needless to say, come in your best and most creative OOTD – don’t be shy to ask locals for a pic either! No outfit is too outlandish for this mecca of colorful street style. So if you’re a fashionista, budding style guru, or creative kid at heart, keep reading for an inside guide on what to see, what to do, what to eat, and (of course) where to shop in Harajuku!
What to do in Harajuku
Considered the center of Japan’s teenage culture and style, Harajuku attracts the young and young at heart. With so much to do and tons of hidden gems to get lost in, we talked to the Klook Japan team about the best spots to take in the colors of Harajuku!
1. Immerse yourself in Tokyo’s youth culture at Takeshita-Dori
Photo Credit: @kittiphan on Adobe Stock
Welcome to the birthplace of many iconic Japanese styles and the place you absolutely must go to get a taste of Harajuku fashion! Takeshita-Dori or Takeshita Street is a fashion paradise, full of people and trendy boutiques, thrift shops, quirky accessory stalls, and colorful cosmetic shops. It’s where Japanese teens come to hang out and get lost in the vibrant color of the city!
It’s a quick walk from Harajuku Station and you really can’t miss it! Just look for the colorful, sometimes balloon-decorated, sign at the very entrance of the street. Don’t be afraid to get lost and duck into the little side alleys where you can find something for your own unique style.
Klook Tip: Takeshita Dori is often packed and crowded but even more so on weekends! There are loads of cafes, fast food outlets, and small restaurants along its side streets for you to take a break or have a snack!
Don’t forget to kick off your pilgrimage to Harajuku with an equally vibrant snack! Down the road, with a vibrant neon pink sign you can’t miss, is the stall of Santa Monica Crepes. You’ll notice the extensive food display out front – they’ve got about a hundred Japanese crepes both savory and sweet on their menu! These IG-worthy crepe cones filled with creams, custards, candies, cakes, and more are a must-try!
Off the side to Takeshita Dori is GachaGacha no Mori (roughly translated as “the forest of gacha”), for those who’d like to try their luck at winning a gacha-gacha or capsule toy. All you need to do is insert a coin, spin the gacha wheel, and hope for the best! It’s a cute place to grab souvenirs, and you can get anything from washi tape to coin pouches to tiny Pokemon toys!
Klook Tip: Going with your family or friend group? Take a piece of your Harajuku journey with you by taking a quick photo shoot at a purikura (photo booth). It’s a machine photo booth stall where you can take kawaii photos and decorate them with stickers!
2. Head to Togo Shrine to celebrate (and wish for) new wins!
Photo Credit: @ninine92 on Adobe Stock
Our Klooker from Japan’s Business Development team, Yoshifumi, recommends heading to Togo Shrine, which is a historic shrine named after Admiral Togo who won against the Russians in the Battle of Tsushima in 1905. Because of Admiral Togo’s daring victory that defied all odds, the Japanese celebrate him as a Shinto god. Togo Jinja or Togo Shrine then became known as a winning shrine and is a popular spot in Harajuku where people come to wish for luck. Athletes come to pray for strength and victory in their next game, students come to wish for good grades in their exams, and some even come to win in love too!
You can purchase a goshuincho or stamp booklet to commemorate your visits to Shinto shrines in Japan. And because Togo Jinja is in Harajuku, the red stamp you get is made ultra-cute and even more memorable as it comes in a Hello Kitty design! You can also get a good luck charm from the shrine, which also comes with Hello Kitty on it!
3. Meet and greet and eat with the cutest micropigs!
No doubt Harajuku is the cultural capital of all things kawaii. And what could be cuter than a mini pig?! This cafe’s uber-adorable little ones are a handful, literally. The babies fit in your arms and are so friendly, energetic, and cuddly! Some even respond to verbal commands! You can sit down on the floor and hug them tight or even nap with them. You can also ask the staff if you can give them some treats.
Did we mention the cafe has mini pig-shaped donuts and themed coffee too?
Klook Tip: It’s said that micropigs are color-blind but can recognize the color blue! So now you know what color to wear so they notice you more!
4. Unwind in front of beautiful ukiyo-e paintings at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Photo Credit: Ned Snowman on Adobe Stock
Amid the young, modern, and ever-changing nature of Harajuku is a small but spectacular space to remember or rediscover the age-old beauty of Japan through art! Get lost in your next fave artwork or bring someone along for a cute and quaint museum date and discover Japan’s maestros of the arts from Hokusai to Hiroshige.
The catch? The exhibits at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art change every month!
With over 15,000 pieces of art from the collection of the late Ota Seizo, this museum keeps its art pieces on constant rotation! You never know what you’ll see, which makes it a great place to visit every time you’re in Japan. You won’t see the same combination of artworks twice, which in some ways beautifully captures the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – that change is constant.
What and where to eat in Harajuku
Foodies, take notes! There are loads of hidden spots to eat in to satisfy your sweet tooth or savory cravings but here’s some food in Harajuku that Emily from Klook’s Content Marketing team loves to eat after hours!
1. Sushi
Photo Credit: Giovanna Gomes on Unsplash
It’s not a trip to Japan without eating sushi. And what better way to do it than experiencing kaiten sushi firsthand, that is, eating sushi off a conveyor belt! Sushi is a signature Japanese dish and culinary experience you really can’t miss. Seafood or produce (often raw!) is cut to perfection and placed on a shaped palmful of slightly salty, sugary, vinegary rice, and dipped in a mild soy sauce to bring out the freshness of the fish or veggie.
And if you’re in Harajuku, hop aboard the sushi train and get a seat at Kura Sushi, Japan’s popular conveyor belt sushi restaurant, is a tasty respite from a whole day of shopping! Don’t worry and don’t rush, there’s plenty of sushi for everyone!
2. Udon
Photo Credit: Jinomono Media on Unsplash
A thick and filling noodle made of wheat flour, udon is a comfort dish for many Japanese people. It’s best served in soup or with a dipping sauce and, to temper the chewiness of the noodle, together with a hefty serving of crunchy deep-fried tempura. So if udon’t mind the walk from Omotesando, we highly recommend dropping by Menchirashi because their handmade noodles and fried-to-order crispiest tempura are to die for!
3. Afternoon tea – perhaps in ice cream form?
Photo Credit: @miko.810 on Instagram
If the crazy-huge crepes of Harajuku still haven’t satisfied your sweet tooth, we’ve got you! There’s scones, cute pastries, and milk tea of so many varieties at CHAVATY. We’re here for the too-good-to-eat, melt-in-your-mouth, pastel-toned softserve ice cream in classic and unique tea flavors like matcha, hojicha, and ceylon!
4. Dango
Photo Credit: Caroline Roose on Unsplash
Dango is a traditional Japanese dumpling made from rice flour mixed, uruchi rice flour, and glutinous rice flour. Usually round, three to five dango are often served on a skewer and they come in cute pastel colors like white, green, and pink! Dine on chewy, sweet dango at Urasando Garden. This unique complex looks like a house on the outside but it’s home to little cafes, bars, and restaurants with communal seating!
Where to shop in Harajuku
Revamp your style by bagging new ‘fits and accessories at the ultimate counter-culture shopping district of Tokyo!
There’s a shop in the Takeshita-Dori area for every kind of fashionista, from underground streetwear shops with beautifully modern designed interiors, to a kaleidoscope of cute and colorful clothes with just about every childhood anime character you can think of, to grungy or gothic boots and embellishments! Since it’s a hotspot for teens, you can bet you’ll find statement pieces at a great price!
1. Let your inner child loose in Kiddy Land
Photo Credit: Caroline Roose on Unsplash
You don’t have to be a kid to stop by Tokyo’s most popular toy store, Kiddy Land! Awaken your inner child and explore this maze of mascots and childhood characters like Snoopy and Hello Kitty! For fans of Hayao Miyazaki, there’s even a shop that sells toys and merch from Studio Ghibli. Geeks and avid collectors are sure to spot action figures of their fave comic book characters. Honestly, you could leave us behind here for a whole day and we’d thank you for it!
2. Discover classic and rising designers at Omotesando Hills
Photo Credit: note thanun on Unsplash
Fancy some luxury finds by both world-renowned and up-and-coming Japanese designers? Head to Omotesando and its most prominent shopping landmark, Omotesando Hills. Tetsu from Klook’s Office Experience team loves to walk in this area, even calling it similar to New York’s 6th Avenue! Get ready to shop ‘til you drop, ‘cause this shopping complex has six floors with three underground.
This mall is huge, with its glass-windowed façade spanning almost a quarter of the street of Omotesando itself. The cafes lining the street outside offer refreshing drinks and a good spot to simply go people-watching!
Ready to take on Harajuku? Start practicing your OOTD photo poses and gear up for your next massive shopping haul! Before you fly, don’t forget to stay up to date on Japan’s latest travel requirements. Itte rasshai!
🍣 Japan Essentials🍣
🚅Trains & Airport Transfers
📌Mobile Data & Metro Passes
