Think of Things, From a slew of cut-off denim shorts to vintage items sewn and remade into inventive pieces, this two-storey shop is filled with unique vintage finds as well as a selection of accessories to complete your look. While other areas rival it in terms of hip, Harajuku still reigns when it comes to streetwise and cutting edge. Make your way to the famous art gallery Design Festa, and head down the tiny alley to the left of the main entrance. Big Love, A secondhand shop for brand-name clothing, Ragtag offers three floors' worth of used designer goods and furniture – perfect if you're hoping to stumble across a rare item. Your taste buds are guaranteed a good workout at this long-running Chinese restaurant, which specialises in fiery Szechuan cuisine. We don't endorse any of the companies we link to but we are selective in terms of the companies that we choose. Here's our guide to the best cafés, restaurants, bars and things to do, From cult art to decadent ramen, this is our guide to Tokyo’s sprawling entertainment centre. Snoopy and Hello Kitty are just two of the 80-odd children's characters you'll find on sale at Harajuku's most venerable toy shop, a five-floor emporium that first opened way back in 1950. Completed on September 19, 2017. This intricate mural is located in the alley running alongside the Design Festa West Gallery, bordering with Sakura-Tei. It may be just around the corner from Takeshita-dori, but the teen fashion crowd feels a long way away at this intimate craft beer bar run by Numazu's Baird Brewing. The tuna auction is officially reopening to the public this winter. Bonus—the majority of profits go to charity! For the 12th edition of Otakuthon, the theme will be A Surprise! Harajuku’s iconic main street, Takeshita Street, is a must-see on a trip to Harajuku. And us cheapos, too. Check. Sing and dance to your heart's content at this staple karaoke joint in the heart of Harajuku. About the artist: Stephen Powers was a somewhat controversial graffiti artist in New York City, one who took the liberty to paint over run-down grates and businesses before resigning from this art spree to become a full-time studio artist. It has rows of affordably-priced shops selling trendy clothing, accessories, makeup, and merchandise of all types. With over 750,000 readers each month, Tokyo Cheapo is the site of choice for value hunters who want their yen to go further in Tokyo. To the east is the known Takeshita street where most independent fashion designers set up their very own fashion boutiques. Meiji Shrine, with its impressive torii gate, is another great place to escape the noisy crowds. Panama Boy, Japan's longest-running crêpe shop started life as a food truck in 1976 before moving to its current home on Takeshita-dori. Styles to be featured include Lolita, Ouji, Fairy Kei, Gyaru, Visual Kei, Shironuri and kimonos. Click on the heart button in the article to add a page from this site to My Favorites. Even if subculture fashion and kawaii culture isn't for you, the area is worth a visit for high-end shopping! Located between Shibuya and Harajuku, Cat Street is home to a variety of shops ranging from small upscale boutiques to big international brand stores. From Harajuku Station, cross the road leading to Omotesando so that you are on the right side while walking towards Omotesando Station. Harajuku fashion is not precisely a way of dressing, but rather an attitude toward clothing and life. The coffee soft serves and suspiciously Cronut-like NY Rings are sure to satisfy sugar addicts. Pokemon backpack? Kamakura Matsubara-an Keyaki, Toga presents sophisticated yet avant-garde garments and accessories for men and women and has even shown throughout Paris and London fashion weeks. Vacant, Koffee Mameya is a coffee bean dealer with enough shebang to turn you into a proper barista at home. Japanese Bathing Culture Uncovered—A Guide to Sento, Embrace ‘kawaii’ culture in fashion paradise Harajuku. Located just steps from Harajuku Station, this pedestrian paradise is generally packed most days of the year. It sits at the end of a small alley near Omotesando Avenue, meaning you're steps from the Shibuya and Harajuku/Jingumae action, yet in a quiet, chaos-free corner -- the perfect retreat after a long day of exploring. Kiddy Land is your one-stop shop for merchandise for all sorts of characters. Admire priceless works from ukiyo-e masters, 41. Back by popular demand! Give yourself a Harajuku makeover by decking yourself out from top to bottom. It also hosts numerous festivals, weddings and other events within its lush surrounds. All rights reserved. The lunch sets, including a sizzling mapo dofu, are particularly good value. Only with the best of the best! Since Harajuku is the land of free-spirited fashion, you may even run into cosplayers! Others claim the tiny street's name refers to the Japanese idiom "a cat's forehead," used to describe something small. Many of the works listed in this article are either at or nearby Design Festa Gallery, a place definitely worth checking out on its own when you visit Harajuku. And if these 50 things to do in Harajuku aren't enough for you, make sure to check out our guide to Tokyo's very best shops. The art-filled rooms are stocked with made-in-Japan, environmentally friendly bathroom amenities, which can also be bought at the shop on the ground floor. Hedgehog Café Harry Harajuku, If you're looking for an unusual gift or just some fancy knickknacks for your apartment, you can always find something tempting at this Tokyo outpost of NYC's Museum of Modern Art. We’re working hard to be accurate – but these are unusual times, so please always check before heading out. Got too many shopping bags to carry, or have you simply bought too many cute and fashionable bags? our first Tokyo Street Art report in 2017. Details of each mural are below, complete with artist information (when available) and directions for finding the artwork in person. Takeshita Street, or Takeshita-dori, is the best-known shopping street in Harajuku.