Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo’s Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.
The focal point of Harajuku’s teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.
Just south of Takeshita Dori and over twice its length is Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue sometimes referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysees. Here you can find famous brand name shops, cafes and restaurants for a more adult clientele. The stylish Omotesando Hills complex was opened in 2006 and targets fashion conscious urbanites in their 30s and 40s, while Kiddy Land has hundreds of unique toys for kids of all ages.
Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s major shrines, is located just west of the railway tracks in a large green oasis shared with the spacious Yoyogi Park. Beautiful ukiyo-e paintings are exhibited in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art, and the Nezu Museum has an impressive collection of various Asian art as well as a traditional Japanese garden.
Famous Streets
Takeshita Dori
Shops along Takeshita Dori tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
The symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan’s fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400 meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo’s teenagers. Because of the street’s popularity, it becomes extremely busy and crowded on the weekends. Interesting shops and restaurants can also be found along some of the side streets.
Omotesando
Shops along Omotesando tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
Referred to as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysees, Omotesando is a one kilometer long, tree lined avenue, serving as the main approach to Meiji Shrine. Numerous stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, including several leading fashion brand shops, stand along the avenue. This area generally caters to an older and wealthier clientele than Takeshita Dori.
Shopping
Omotesando Hills
Shops: 11:00 to 21:00 (Sundays until 20:00)
Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:30 (Sundays until 22:00).
Opened in 2006, Omotesando Hills consists of six floors (three are underground) of about 100 upmarket shops, cafes and restaurants. The building was designed by the renowned architect Ando Tadao and has intriguing design elements. The shopping complex is Omotesando’s most prominent establishment, stretching along about one quarter of the avenue. Apartments are located above the shops.
LaForet Harajuku
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00
LaForet Harajuku is a trend setting shopping complex, consisting of seven floors of fashion boutiques and shops, mainly geared towards a young, female audience. The LaForet Museum on the top floor hosts various events and exhibitions.
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
Shops: 11:00 to 21:00
Restaurants: 8:30 to 23:00
Opened in April 2012, this is one of the newest additions to the district. The interestingly designed building houses multiple floors of fashion and lifestyle shops, as well as a pleasant green space on a terrace on the 6th floor.
Daiso Harajuku – 100 Yen Shop
Hours: 9:30 to 20:00
This is one of the largest 100 Yen Shops in central Tokyo, offering a wide array of goods, including clothing, kitchenware, food and stationery on multiple floors at 100 yen (plus consumption tax) per item. It is located only a few steps from Harajuku Station along Takeshita Dori.
Oriental Bazaar
Hours: 10:00 to 19:00
Closed: Thursdays
This is one of Tokyo’s largest souvenir shops, very popular among foreign travelers in search of typical Japanese souvenirs, such as kimono, tableware, lamps, dolls, furniture and samurai related goods. The shop spans three floors and has a red and green facade that mimics traditional Japanese architecture. Travelers who pass by the store front are sure to notice the building
Kiddy Land
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00 (from 10:30 on weekend and national holidays)
One of Tokyo’s most famous and popular toy stores, Kiddy Land has a fantastic selection of toys and other products to amuse kids, including a Snoopy Town and Hello Kitty Shop on a total of five floors. The Omotesando store was reopened in July 2012 after being reconstructed and redesigned.
Louis Vuitton
Hours: 11:00 to 20:00
The Louis Vuitton Omotesando store was opened in autumn 2002 as the company’s largest store then. It is one of many famous brand names that have opened a store along Omotesando. The public store makes up five of the building’s ten floors, which are designed as a stack of trunks rather than conventional floors.
Other Attractions
Meiji Shrine
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Emperor Meiji was a popular emperor who reigned from 1867 to 1912. The majority of the shrine grounds are composed of a beautiful, dense forest that can be explored on walking paths.
Togo Shrine
Closed: No closing days
Admission: FreeTogo Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Admiral Togo, who defeated the Russian fleet in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. The Togo Antique Market was held around the shrine on the first Sunday of each month, but it was discontinued in December of 2009.
Nezu Museum
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: Mon (or next day if Mon is a holiday), New Year, between exhibitions
Admission: 1100 yen (or 1300 yen for special exhibition)
The Nezu Museum has a collection of East Asian artwork that includes various objects from Japan, China and Korea. The museum building and exhibition rooms have a simple and elegant design and there is a large traditional Japanese garden outside the building that can be explored.
Ota Memorial Museum of Art
Hours: 10:30 to 17:30 (entry until 17:00)
Closed: Mon (or next day if Mon is a holiday), New Year, between exhibitions
Admission: Typically 700 or 1000 yen depending on exhibition
The small and elegant Ota Memorial Museum of Art exhibits selected ukiyo-e paintings and prints from the vast collection of the late Mr. Ota Seizo, which comprises of more than 10,000 pieces of art. Exhibits are changed every month.
Yoyogi Park
Hours: 5:00 to 20:00 (until 17:00 during the winter)
Facilities are typically open from 9:00 to 17:00.Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park) is one of Tokyo’s largest and most pleasant city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities.
National Yoyogi Stadium
Built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by renowned architect Tange Kenzo, the stadium hosted the olympic swimming competitions. It is now also being used for ice skating and volleyball competitions, concerts and various other events.
Getting There
Harajuku Station is a station on the JR Yamanote Line, two stations south of Shinjuku and one station north of Shibuya (140 yen from either station).
Only a short walk from Harajuku Station is the subway station Meijijingu-mae Station, which is served by the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Subway Lines. At the eastern end of Omotesando is Omotesando Station, which is served by the Chiyoda, Ginza and Hanzomon Subway Lines.
Orientation in Tokyo
