Konnichiwa / こんにちは / Hello!
Harajuku (原宿) is a popular shopping neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan that is known as being the hub for Japanese pop culture. It is centered around Harajuku Station and extends down to Omotesando, a more upscale shopping area. In Harajuku, you’ll find plenty of fashion boutiques, thrift stores, themed cafes and more. It’s a great area to explore, but be aware that it can get pretty crowded on the weekends!
Besides stretches of boutiques and cafes, the largest park in Tokyo is also conveniently located right next to Harajuku Station. Harajuku is a highly-recommended unique neighborhood in central Tokyo offers plenty of things to do and see. Here is our list of the top 20 things to do in Harajuku with a map included at the end, so keep scrolling!
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Things to Do in Harajuku
Table of Contents
1. Explore Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is Tokyo’s largest public park and a popular spot for people to escape the city. In the springtime it’s a great place for hanami, flower viewing, offering an abundance of cherry blossom trees. The weekends are the busiest but also when street performers come out and strut their stuff. Try to go on a Sunday to see the famous Tokyo Rockabilly Club, dancers who perform to 1950s rock and roll.
YOYOGI PARK
Address: 2-1 Yoyogi Kamizonocho, Shibuya 151-0052, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open 24 Hours
2. Make a wish at Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the souls of the late Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. The shrine is surrounded by a lush forest composed of trees donated from different regions of Japan. At the shrine you can purchase an ema, a small wooden plaque, to write down your wishes or prayers which are then hung under a tree to be offered to the Shinto gods. Visiting the shrine is free, but an ema costs 500 yen (~$5 USD). The shrine is currently being restored in time for the upcoming 2020 Olympics, so you may see some construction going on. Learn more about this tranquil spot in Tokyo.
MEIJI SHRINE
Address: 1-1 Yoyogi Kamizonocho, Shibuya 151-0052, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 5AM – 6PM
3. Take a stroll down Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street is a busy pedestrian shopping street located right next to Harajuku Station and kawaii central. It’s a bit narrow and extremely busy at times, but worth checking out at least once during your trip. The street is lined with fashion boutiques and cafes offering plenty of things to see, shop, and eat.
TAKESHITA STREET
Address: 1 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open 24 Hours (shops vary)
4. Shop at the largest Daiso in Tokyo
Daiso is one of Japan’s 100 yen shop chains, and the largest Tokyo location is right on Takeshita Street. This location is 3 stories high in addition to a basement level, offering a total of 4 full stories of 100 yen goodies. 100 yen shops are great for purchasing unique Japanese knick-knacks and souvenirs, plus they are extremely budget friendly!
DAISO
Address: 1-19-24 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 9PM
5. Experience purikura photo booths
If you haven’t experienced taking purikura pictures while in Japan, Harajuku is the perfect place to start! Stop by Purikura Land NOA located on Takeshita Street for Tokyo’s largest selection of purikura photo booths. Once you select a photo booth, get ready to hop in, pose, then edit your photos! The more the merrier!
PURIKURA LAND NOA
Address: 1-17-5 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 9AM – 11PM
6. Visit a Cat Cafe
You may notice that animal cafes are quite popular in Japan. Most people don’t have the space for a pet, so some opt to visit animal cafes to get their cuddly fix. While we discourage exotic animal cafes such as owl or meerkat cafes, we do recommend domesticated animal cafes such as cat cafes and dog cafes. You can find MoCHA, a popular cat cafe chain in Tokyo, right next to Harajuku Station.
CAT CAFE MOCHA
Address: 1-14-25 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan (4F)
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 8PM
7. Eat a delicious crepe
Harajuku is known for crepes and there is a section on Takeshita Street dedicated to this street snack. Here you’ll find multiple crepe boutiques offering all sorts of sweet and savory crepe variations. Luckily the Japanese often have plastic displays of their food, making it visually easy for you to pick from the countless options. Go for whichever one catches your eye and you shouldn’t be disappointed!
MARION CREPES
Address: 1-6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 8PM
8. Shop for artsy stickers
B-Side Label can be found in the backstreets of Harajuku. This shop works with artists near and far to offer unique stickers, t-shirts, and accessories. It’s the perfect place to shop for souvenirs as the products can’t be found anywhere else.
B-SIDE LABEL
Address: 4-25-6 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 12PM – 8PM
9. Try hot and fresh poterico
Poterico is a popular packaged potato stick snack in Japan produced by Calbee. There is a Calbee+ store on Takeshita Street that makes this snack fresh. This was probably one of the best snacks we had in Japan! We highly recommending trying fresh poterico or the fresh chips with chocolate drizzle! If you aren’t able to make it to the Calbee+ store, the packaged version is available in almost every Japanese convenience store or grocery store.
CALBEE+
Address: 1-16-8 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 8PM
10. Explore the side streets of Harajuku
Once you step away from Takeshita Street, Harajuku is a lot less hectic. The side streets offer more boutique and cafe options but without the crowds, so be sure to do some exploring!
11. Go on a food tour of Harajuku
if you want to discover hidden gems and wander through the backstreets of Harajuku with a local, check out Arigato Japan’s “Crazy, Cute, Kawaii Food Tour” of Omotesando and Harajuku! We’ve been to Harajuku countless times but it wasn’t until we went on this food tour that we discovered a side we’d never seen before. We highly recommended this tour, find out why in our full review: here!
ARIGATO JAPAN FOOD TOURS
Discount: Use thosewhowandr10 for 10% off any tour!*
*Excludes the ULTIMATE Ramen Tour
12. Check out trendy clothes at WEGO
WEGO is one of the most popular chains in Japan that focuses on affordable, trendy, fashion goods. Since Harajuku is the center for Japanese youth culture, there are multiple locations located in Harajuku along Takeshita Street. Check them out if you want to see what’s current.
WEGO
Address: 1-19-19 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 10AM – 8:30PM (9:00PM on weekends)
13. Go hunting for art murals
Once you step away from the bustling Takeshita Street, you’ll find quieter streets of Harajuku that often have murals and street art displayed for all to enjoy. Sorry we don’t have specific locations, that would take all the fun out of discovering them!
14. Buy character goods from Kiddy Land and LINE
If you’re a fan of any Japanese character, chances are you can find it at Kiddy Land, unless you’re a LINE app fan then the LINE Friends Store is your best bet. You can find all sorts of character goods such as plushes, figurines, clothing, stationary, etc. Even if you aren’t interested in buying anything, these stores are great for window shopping and checking out interesting merchandise.
KIDDY LAND
Address: 6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM (10:30AM on weekends)
LINE FRIENDS STORE
Address: 4-31-12 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM
15. Witness the best festival in Harajuku
If you find yourself in Tokyo this summer, try your best to attend the Harajuku Omotesando Super Yosakoi scheduled on August 24-25, 2019. This two-day dance festival brings in teams from all around Japan to compete for the top spot in the traditional yosakoi dance. The festival is bold, beautiful, and not to be missed!
HARAJUKU OMOTESANDO SUPER YOSAKOI
Address: Yoyogi Park (both days), Omotesando Avenue (Sunday)
Date: Saturday-Sunday, August 24-25, 2019
16. Check out the Laforet Department Store
Laforet is an iconic department store located in Harajuku, often seen as a landmark and referred to as the “heart of Harajuku”. The numerous boutiques located inside are targeted to young women, offering cute and stylish fashion goods and accessories. Stop by if you’re in the mood to shop for yourself or others!
LAFORET
Address: 1-11-6 Jingu-mae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM
17. See the stunning Tokyu Plaza
Tokyu Plaza is a shopping complex at the intersection of Omotesando and Harajuku. The entrance is beautifully architected, making this location one of the “most instagrammable” spots in all of Tokyo.
TOKYU PLAZA OMOTESANDO HARAJUKU
Address: 4-30-3 Jingu-mae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open 24 Hours (outside entrance)
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM (indoor shops)
18. Find peace on Tokyu Plaza’s rooftop
Most people stop by Tokyu Plaza for their picture and then leave, without ever venturing inside. Don’t miss out on the free tranquil rooftop the plaza offers during opening hours! Simply take the elevators or steps up to the 6th floor where Starbucks is located, and the rooftop will be right in front of you.
TOKYU PLAZA OMOTESANDO HARAJUKU
Address: 4-30-3 Jingu-mae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 11AM – 9PM
19. Grab some gyoza at Harajuku Gyozalo
If you need somewhere to replenish after all that walking and shopping, look no further! Harajuku Gyozalo is a cheap and delicious option offering steamed and fried gyoza and plenty of other sides. Most dishes are only 290 yen (~$2.50 USD) including the gyoza, which is an absolutely steal! Try to avoid the lunch and dinner rush, because this is a popular spot and it gets PACKED.
HARAJUKU GYOZALO
Address: 6-2-4 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: Open Daily 11:30AM – 4:30AM (11PM on Sunday)
20. Discover a hidden temple along Omotesando
Just off of Omotesando Avenue is Zenkoji Temple, nestled in-between offices and residential apartments. This Buddhist Temple offers a peaceful getaway from the busy streets of Harajuku, a place to collect your thoughts (and figure out how much you just spent, right?). If you’re shopping along Omotesando or have time to kill while in Harajuku, check out this temple!
ZENKOJI TEMPLE
Address: 3-5-17 Kitaaoyama, Minato City 107-0061, Tokyo, Japan
Things to Do in Harajuku Map
Which of these things would you do in Harajuku?
Comment below!
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You have amazing photos – and yes, I could see how chocolate on potato snack would taste wonderful!
Thank you so much!
Love your photos and I am itching to go to Japan!! Saving your post! x
We always travel as a family and I think the kids would love Japan. What an interesting place – fun shops and crazy things at the yen shops. What an eye opener.!!
I had no idea that Harajuku was known for crepes! I knew that it was the center for Japanese pop culture, thanks to Gwen Stefani, but there’s so much more to it! Of course, gyoza would be high on my priorities list!
The crepes in Harajuku are amazing! I’m counting down the days until I can return and get another one.
Love Harajuku! I have not been there for many years. Its the same only much busier. I would like to visit the Meiji Temple again. Of course eating Gyoza and shopping are also a must do!
Japan is quite high up on my Must Visit list and this helps tremendously as it’s one of the most detailed posts I’ve seen on Harajuku. There’s something about Japan that really fascinates me whether it is the pop culture, the food, the people, the Manga, or the perfect mix of traditional with the modern. Great post that i’ll bookmark for the future.
Thank you so much, glad you found this post useful! I hope you are able to visit Japan sometime soon!
Oh wow, this area looks seriously cool! Totally love the store where you can buy all the goodies. I think I would have spent some serious cash there! Great post with loads of info thanks! 🙂
The ema’s are beautiful, I think I would have taken them home – hihi. Takeshita Street seems so busy, I imagine all kinds of sounds and advertising mixed at high volume. Daiso is on my list now, fun!
I was tempted to do that! I think I might start collecting them on my next trip, they would make great souvenirs. Some are beautifully decorated.
I like the look of the Marian Crepe restaurant only Takeshita street. My daughter would love Kiddy Land, did they have Pokemon in there as well as Line characters? That’s a very Instagrammable shot you took of Tokyu Plaza.
Yes, they have Pokemon characters at Kiddy Land but not LINE characters. You’d have to go to the LINE Friends store for LINE characters! And thank you!
Great post, and love your pictures. I’m pinning to make sure I have it when I finally visit Japan. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!
Ohhh i would love to take a stroll down takeshita street. Daiso looks like a delicious place to visit too. What an amazing trip! Your photos are gorgeous as well, thanks for the virtual tour!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the tour! 🙂
We went to Harajuku a few days ago and actually visited all these places! I feel reassured that you also blogged about the same things. Seems we didn’t miss anything!
Glad you didn’t miss anything! Hope you had a great Japan trip.
I could spend my days here just walking around exploring. You definitely got me intrigued about Harajuku and the fact that there are plenty to see or do. I would love to try those crepes, they look amazing! Plus, that Meiji Shrine is on my list too because I believe that is a UNESCO site.
Unfortunately Meiji Shrine isn’t a UNESCO site, but it certainly deserves to be!
I’ll hold my hands up – I always think of the Harajuka song by Gwen Stefani whenever I hear this word! This area looks unreal, almost like something straight out of a comic book! I love the Daisu, I’d probably buy so many things just because they’re so cheap! Also, the gyoza place looks wonderful; I’d happily munch my way through a few of those.
Walking through this area is certainly surreal. I ending up bringing home a duffle bag full of snacks and souvenirs from the 100 yen shops because it was so cheap! Those places are dangerous for your wallet!
Daiso. Crepes. Crazy amount of people around. I’m in! Love Harajuku and love your photos of the area. It shows that there is so much more to Harajuku then teenagers getting dressed up.
Ah, I’ve never been to Japan but it looks so vibrant! How many days do you recommend to spend in this city/town? I plan to visit Japan at the end of next year, never too early to start planing your travels 🙂 haha – Mariella
Tokyo is massive! I would recommend a week if you really want to experience it all, but at least 4 days to get a good taste of the city.
We are really thinking of a trip to Japan…sooner than later! I most definitely want to visit at the time the cherry blossoms bloom. I think that would add such magic to the trip. Great tips. I’m bookmarking this for planning.
Going when the cherry blossoms bloom is perfect! But it’s also the busy season so everything will probably be more expensive and crowded. So something to keep in mind!
Wow so many things to do in Harajuku. The Tokyo Rockabilly Club sounds great. I would certainly check them out to liven up my Sundays. I also love the 100 yen shop as I love a bargain. I would also check out some of the different food options. Who can say no to a crepe!?!
There is so much to do in Harajuku, it’s hard to get out of there to see the rest of Tokyo. This was probably our favourite neighbourhood and where we spent the most amount of time. Yoyogi park is a great place to relax when your feet get tired.
Definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods too!
I was actually born in Japan and lived in Okinawa on a military base as a kid. I need to make a visit back to the really see the country!
http://www.wonderlandsam.com
I would love to visit Okinawa one day!
Yes to all of these things. So much Hello Kitty stuff and green tea Kit Kat! I know I’m going to love it there someday.
It was so nice to get to know Harajuku through your story. Very interesting and beautiful pictures. I also manage a travel site on IG and will post one of these beautiful pics and tag you. 🙂
Aw, thank you so much!
Harajuku has so many side attractions to offer. I might visit soon, but the thought of exploring all these 11 attractions sends down chills to my bones,
Looks like lots of high calorie eats. Colorful place! Looks crowded too.
Thank you for adding to our Japan wishlist. We’ve been seriously considering this destination and although wouldn’t prefer to spend too much time in Tokyo, your post is compelling me to rethink 🙂 Pinned and tweeted too!
Tokyo is massive! There’s so much to do, I recommend at least 4 days in Tokyo if you’re visiting for the first time.
What a fun list and SO many tasty looking food options. And love the GIF 🙂 Definitely saving for that dream trip I hope to take some day.
Love your photos! I would absolutely love to go to Japan and it looks beautiful here! I love gyoza, and I bet it tastes even better there!
It certainly does 😉
Makes me want to return to Tokyo and really hit the streets. Harajuku looks wonderful.
These are great tips for families traveling to Japan as well! Thanks for the list.
This was such an interesting and insightful blog post! Loved all the tips. I definitely want to go there sometime soon, bookmarked your blog post. Thanks for sharing 🙂
xx Elena
http://www.elenazahir.com
You’re welcome! Hope you’re able to find your way to Japan soon.
Nicely compiled post. I would visit Takeshita Street, enjoy some savoury crepes and try out Poterico!
I am not a big shopper but LOVE food and could easily see myself staying occupied all day trying the delicious foods you posted about! I’ve also seen a bunch of pics from Yoyogi park and it looks like the perfect place for a jog or to sit down with a book. One of these days I’ll finally make it to Japan 🙂
Your site is great and I plan on exploring it even more in the future. It is well written, comprehensive in it’s suggestions,It was a great article, thanks for sharing! Harajuku sounds great and this is definitely on my places to visit soon!
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This post is as beautiful as you have tried to comment on it as well and I think if you ever see a good post, make it a comment, it increases the spirits of the front. And it gets better in his life.