Takeshita Street in Harajuku is one of the most visited tourist sites in Tokyo. Famous as the birthplace of ‘kawaii’(cute) youth culture in Japan, it’s a narrow shopping street running downhill from Harajuku Station. Its short length is filled with shops and cafes selling ‘cute’ fashion and accessories, idol merchandise and novelty foods.
While spotting an authentic ‘Harajuku girl’ there these days is almost as rare as sighting a Geisha in Kyoto, Takeshita Street still teems with tourists and Japanese teens alike. It’s particularly packed on weekends, when the walk from end to end can be a particularly slow process. Despite this, it’s one of the ‘must-do’s’ for a first-time visitor to Tokyo.
So, take a photo at the entrance gate, have a poke through the shops and buy some souvenirs, all the while avoiding the African touts. Be sure too to snack on some unique fairy floss, a rainbow cheese toastie or a cute cream-filled crepe before you leave.
Address: 1 Chome-17 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Getting there: Across the road from Harajuku Station Takeshita Exit (JR Yamanote Line)
Website (Japanese only)
Nearby: Cat Street, Eggs’n Things, Kiddyland, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park
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