Harajuku Travel Guide: Fashion, Coffee, Things To Do
Harajuku is known worldwide as the fashion mecca of Japan. The area itself is a shopping paradise with many brands from the mid high end, street style brands, until cool local brands. There are also many dessert cafes and coffee shops in the area, making it a perfect spot for hangouts for the youth and alike. To go here you can take a train and make a stop at Maiji-Jingumae Harajuku station (Chiyoda Line/Fukutoshin Line) or Harajuku station (JR Yamanote line). I will share several of my favourite stores within the area below.Harajuku Main Street Jingumae
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
Snap a photo or two in this iconic building. On the first floor find Shelter, a local brand store where the cool girls in Tokyo shop at. The pieces are trendy and quite one of a kind, make sure to check it out. On the upper floors you can find beauty stores like Isetan Mirror, Jill Stuart Beauty, and Cosme Carat.
Laforet Harajuku
Cool girls don’t gate keep. One of my favourite malls in the area is Laforet Harajuku. Two of my favourite brands, Vivienne Westwood Red label and Human Made can be found here. Inside the malls you can find various Japanese local brands as well as multi-brand stores. As a Sailormoon fan, I am glad to find the Sailormoon store here and it is such a childhood dream come true. Snacks shop like Nonara Pearl bubble tea and Ovgo Baker also have their store here.
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The center of Harajuku fashion, Takeshita Dori has a longstanding history in Japanese urban fashion. There are many local brands in this area selling trendy fashion items you can find skyrocketing in social media as well as a more unique style like punk or lolita style dresses.
Ura Harajuku
Located opposite the Takeshita Dori area, the Ura Harajuku, or known as Ura-Hara is a district with small lanes located perpendicular to Omotesando. The mid high end, street style, as well as local brands stores are concentrated in this area. I have walked in this area more than three times and yet again still able to find cool stores that i missed on my previous visit. There is no lack of brand varieties in this area for both men and women. Here are some of my favourites
Beams Harajuku Flagship Store
This Japanese brand is making waves in the fashion scene. You can find the Flagship store in Tokyo in the Harajuku area. The cozy minimalist store allows you to browse for their latest fashion and lifestyle collection and limited edition items.
This Is Never That
For a minimalist but trendy style, head to this South Korean brand, This is Never That. The store in Harajuku is located in a smaller alley which is easy to overlook if you don't pay close attention. The collection is quite extensive and they have a Tokyo special collection as well.
Car lovers must know this brand very well. They are actually a car customization shop which not only amazing at what they do but also have various cool merchandise as well. You can find their limited edition collab and drop like the Bape x Liberty Walk clothing items as well as the collector item Mini GT series, Inno model, Aoshima model kit and many more.
FR & FR2UME
This Japanese local brand sets the tone for the local fashion scene withs its street style pieces that are mostly loose fit. FR are the menswear brand meanwhile FR2UME is the womenswear.
Brandy Melville
This American brand sets its foot in Japan through its quaint two storeyed store in Harajuku. I personally love its exterior and interior as it brings the essence of the brands to live through its wooden rustic theme. Expect to find feminine and slight Y2K style in this store. Their sizes are great for Asian fit.
Jingumae 2-Chome
Definitely a quieter side of Harajuku, slightly underground, but famous with the locals. Harajuku Jingumae 2-Chome is a lane filled with bars, club, records shop, and more cozy restaurants. You can reach here by following the lane further up north through the Ura Harajuku area. It is so underrated among tourists but I feel you should check it out.
Bonobo
An epitome of Tokyo underground bar and club, Bonobo is the quirky multi storeyed club in Harajuku. Expect to find hype music with Tokyo's favourite artist like DJ @tomyam_kaoru_kun. They have cool lighting and tatami room upstairs for seat as well.
Jinny Street Gallery
Jinny Street Gallery is a unique outdoot art gallery in Harajuku. Its installations are placed on the roadside along Jingumae 2-Chome in a rectangular box and acts like a street lamp. They have rotating exhibition periodically, so make sure to check them out.
Big Love Records
Vinyl record collector rejoice! Big Love Records is a go-to record shop selling vinyl, cds, and tapes with various genres especially indie music. Their selection is quite extensive, so you can take your time to go through it. The space also has a beer and coffee bar combined with a retail space selling their merchandise.
Also Read: Omotesando and Aoyama Travel Guide
Cat Street Harajuku
Cat Street Harajuku is a very long lane extending from the Ura Harajuku to the opposite area. I have mentioned some of my favourite stores on Cat Street in Ura-Hara above, so I will be mentioning the brands on the other side.
ON Flagship Harajuku
This brand is rising in popularity and the store here shows by the queue outside of the store.
The flagship store contains a wide collection of their footwear series like the Cloudswift or Cloudsurfer series.
Ragtag Harajuku
For vintage items hunters, Ragtag is a well known store that sells various mid end and high end items for men and women. From sleek Commes des Garcons sweatshirts, Moncler down jackets. to vintage Prada Bag, you will be spoiled with choices.
Dessert and snacks to try
There are many snack shops and dessert cafes along Takeshita dori. Two of the most famous ones are the Santa Monica Crepes and Momi & Toy’s which have many flavours. Along the street you can also find animal cafes. For souvenirs and quick bite, Number Sugar is a famous artisanal caramel candy with different flavour varieties and it has lovely gift packaging as well.
Streamer Coffee Company
One of many Streamer Coffee branches, the Harajuku shop has a rugged feel dominated by its black interior and cemented floor. It is perfect for quick pick me up or for a relaxing coffee time on its second floor.
Muun Seoul
This Korean cafe is tucked in the Ura-Harajuku area near the main street. This quaint little cafe will make you feel as if you are transported to Seoul with its Korean style dessert as well as its interior. Minimalist light wooden interior and furniture combined with pebbles on the floor gives the serene and zen feeling.
Neel
This modern coffee shop is adorned with its artsy pear logo. They serve espresso based coffee, cold brew, and pour over coffee, tea, as well as food menu like open sandwich and crepes. With indoor and outdoor seating, it is a sweet spot for taking a break after a whole day of shopping.
Koffee Mameya
Located slightly further away on the Omotesando side, Koffee Mameya is a highly rated specialty coffee shop in Tokyo. They serve a collection of various coffee beans from different coffee roasters around the world. Read my complete review here.
Human Made by Blue Bottle Coffee
Slick minimalist coffee shop by Blue Bottle, Human made is a coffee and retail shop under one roof. You can find espresso based drinks with their future or past blend, hand drip, and non coffee menu as well. It is a great spot after browsing the retail scene.
Excellent tips.. love all this. Would love to go to Japan one day.
ReplyDeleteI think Harajuku would be such a fun place to spend a day shopping and sipping on delicious coffee. There are so many fabulous stores to choose from, I might need to spend a whole week here!
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to meet this place :)
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I have been there last year :-) It's a paradise for new technology fan :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a helpful guide to Harajuku! Thank you for sharing it
ReplyDeleteJulia x
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