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Harajuku neighbourhood, Tokyo

Takeshita Street, Shibuya City, Tokyo

Description

Harajuku stretches between Harajuku Station (designed in mock Tudor style) to Omotesando but for tourist purposes it mostly centres around Takeshita St, Harajuku St, and Cat St that are lined with independent boutiques and cafes. The neighbourhood is known as a centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion, including cosplayers.

Access & Transport

The neighbourhood is adjacent to Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi park, in the northern part of Shibuya district. It is served by Harajuku / Meiji-jingumae station (Yamanote, C, F) located in its southwest corner.

Instructions & Recommendations

On Sundays, they are gatherings of dressed up teens around Harajuku Station.

Meta review

A regular suggestion of travel magazine and blogs, it gets a brief mention in some travel guides as well. Colourful is an adjective often used to describe Takeshia st, the shop, the crepes and puffs, and the people. As one reviewer stated, it has "everything you could ever want and a lot you would never want!" Cat street on the other hand is briefly sketched as commercial, with some fine shops, but nothing really special. And don't expect to see cats there.

Environmental & Social

Very commercially oriented with bright lights and no greenspaces.

Conclusion

On paper Harajuku sounds like a curiosity and, in our opinion, it is not much more than that. Worth a detour when in the ara but not a special trip from the other side of Tokyo. In our books, Akihabara is genuinely more interesting as relates to youth culture.

Key positive

Some interesting street scenes

Key negative

Busy and no real attraction or sight

Suitability

No restrictions but many shops will not be accessible to wheelchair users

About this Rating

TYPE

Onsite

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit

av. transport time:0h 25m

est. visit time:0h 50m

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningNo

MorningNo

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightNo

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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