9 Experiences You Cannot Miss in Harajuku
Once the residence of the revered Iga clanduring the Edo period, the historically significant Harajuku district is now a major shopping and entertainment district in Shibuya, Tokyo. Nestled between the ever-popular neighbourhoods, Shinjuku and Shibuya, the streets of Harajuku are the birthplace of Japan's most iconic teenage fashion trends.
Dotted with numerous independent streetwear boutiques, quirky cafes, and themed restaurants, Harajuku is the unofficial capital of Tokyo's world-renowned "kawaii" culture and style. Reverberating with the collective thrumming of the capital city's youth consciousness, this place is where the unorthodox and the offbeat are nurtured.
Follow Pelago by Singapore Airlines's handpicked list of the best things to do in and around Harajuku.
9 Things to Do in Harajuku: Best Tours, Cafes, Restaurants, and More
Half-day "Kawaii" Tour
You can easily get lost in Harajuku for hours, but a well-curated half-day tour will ensure you hit the right spots known for being the most "Kawaii". The word means "cute" in Japanese, but it is a cultural phenomenon by its merit.
Start at Takeshita Dori, the beating heart of the shopping district. The 400m strip is Tokyo's busiestand most vibrant home to all things trendy, quirky, and fun.
There are many chain stores to explore as well as smaller local stores. Shop at Boutique Takenoko, SoLaDo, Panama Boy, Cute Cube, W.C., or PINK-latte for a fix of Harajuku fashion.
Stop at the three-leveled Daiso - Tokyo's favorite ¥100 store- and shop souvenirs, mini-gifts, skincare, make-up, accessories, and traditional trinkets to your heart's content.
Visit Totti Candy Factory next to satiate your sweet tooth. Get yourself a gigantic cotton candy in a burst of pastel colors and you can even watch them spin the sugar from scratch at the live counter. Their rainbow cotton candy is world-famousand an Instagram sensation.
Next, refresh yourself with a sip of coffee and some quick bites at Cafe Reissue. This eatery, which was made famous online because of its award-winning foamy 3D latte art, serves Instagram-worthy coffee in caramel, mocha, honey, and other flavours.
You can get the barista to make coffee with "kawaii" animals and animated figures from Studio Ghibli movies.
Shop more "kawaii" stuff at B-Side Label, Sootang Hobby Omotesando, 6% Doki Doki, and Tokyu Plaza. If you wish, take a relaxed stroll in Omotesando before settling down at Owl Cafe & Bar in Harajuku.
At SGD 27-28 ( JPY 3,000), you can spend an hour here with a group of friendly owls and even pet them. You will be served with drinks, confectionaries, and a pair of souvenirs as well at the Owl Village cafe in Harajuku.
Harajuku Style Lolita Experience
Japan's uber-cute, doll-like, Victorian-style look took over the world in the 1990sas a glamorous street-style trend, but it is less of a trend and more of an entire lifestyle in the country. Known as 'Lolita', this subculture is one of the most sought-after experiences in Harajuku.
Branched from the uber-popular "Hello Kitty" trend, Japan's Lolita fashion is characterised by bright pink-and-white, lacy frills and ruffles, and theatrical accessories.
Step inside Maison de Juliette at Laforet Harajuku to undergo a complete makeover in Alice in Wonderland-style Lolita fashion. Spearheaded by government-authorised "Kawaii" ambassadorMisako Aoki, this is a 1.5-hour experience.
Start with picking out the dress you'd like to wear, followed by getting your hair and makeup done by an artist. You can pick a false wig or eyelash extensions for a few extra bucks. Finally, pose for the professional photoshoot against charming backgrounds themed on the Lewis Carroll novel - a magical tea room or deck of cards, or just snippets of the book as your background.
Packages start from SGD 207 (JPY 23,550 approx.), which will include the dress, makeup, and access to three photos. You may need to pay around SGD 18 (JPY 2,000) more for additional photos.
Address: Laforet Harajuku B1, 5F, 1-chome-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, 150-0001 (Map)
"Kawaii" Food Tour
Wondering what to eat in Harajuku? Explore the best and the cutest Harajuku food on a "Kawaii" food tour, discovering all the local snacks, creative pastries, and delightful candies.
Running between Harajuku and Aoyama, Omotesando is an amalgamation of many wonders but is specifically loved for its many cafes, desert parlours, and candy stores. If you have a sweet tooth, try out the world-famous crepes and pancakes of Omotesando at Angel's Heart, BREIZH Cafe Creperie, Marion Crepes, or Santa Monica crepes.
Pay a visit to the MOCHA Cafe overlooking Harajuku station and pet and play with cuddly cats at only SGD 2 (JPY 200)for ten minutes. You can buy cat treats separately to feed the feline friends.
Walk around the two floors of DAISO Harajuku Store before heading over to Takeshita Street and cherishing a dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express, a Tokyo branch of a Michelin Star-winning restaurant. Pick your dish from a range of delectable pizzas, pasta bowls, and burgers.
Private Harajuku "Kawaii" Tour
Wondering how to explore Harajuku on a solo trip? Enjoy a private "Kawaii" tour with a professional tour guide for an exclusive experience that is more than just visiting the attractions.
Learn about Tokyo's "Kawaii" culture, visit the carefully selected spots for fashion, food, and entertainment, and shop till you drop (or your credit card company calls you for a security check!)
Visit Kiddy Land Harajuku, the biggest toy store in the district where you can buy all sorts of fancy items. If Christmas or Halloween is near, you will get to experience a fascinating ambience inside the store, complete with charming theatrical decorations.
Laforet Harajuku, your next stop, not only hosts Maison de Juliette but is a haven for Harajuku streetwear enthusiasts looking for Lolita fashion. Black Peace Now, Alice and the Pirates, and Stigmata are some of the punk-gothic stores, while Angelic Pretty, Jane Marple, and Emily Temple Cute are for the sweeter styles.
End the day with a laid-back stroll along Takeshita Street, taking in the best of Harajuku shopping scenes. Spend if you want to, but window shopping is also a great way to enjoy the afternoon as your tour guides explain the cultural significance of different trends.
Visit to Hedgehog Cafe
Treat yourself to a unique experience at Harry, a hedgehog-themed Harajuku cafe where you can pet, play with, and feed the spiky little creatures.
With cozy setting and hedgehog-y decor dominating the interiors, the cafe is also a great place to grab some delicious bites with freshly brewed beverages.
The walls are adorned with illustrationsdirecting how to hold and handle the hedgehogs, what their behaviours indicate, and how they like to be petted. The friendly staff will help you as well, so you don't accidentally prick yourself or hurt the animals.
Find a seat at Harajuku's favourite hedgehog cafe at only SGD 40 for a full hour's experience. Snacks for hedgehogs and a cup of self-service tea or coffee for yourself are included in Pelago's package. are
Address: 1 Chome−13−21 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo, 150-0001 (Map)
"Kawaii" Family Food Tour
Kids aren't easy to travel with. But a well-curated family food tour will take you to the best spots in Harajuku, Tokyo, that both you and your little ones can enjoy.
Explore the many tempting stores in Omotesando and Takeshita Street, pass by the teenage hotspot on Harajuku Bridge, and spend around half an hour at Meiji Shrine. Dedicated to the revered spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken, this scenic Shinto location is ideal for a break from the cacophony of Harajuku Street.
Your kids won't be bored on this tour either. Treat the whole family to colourful rainbow cotton candies, crepes, and pancakes from the streetside shops.
Visit Kiddy Land Harajuku and let them wander around along the dozens of aisles to pick the soft toys of cartoon characters or merchandise of their favourite anime. You may find some exclusive items at this store as well.
Savour a hearty meal at the Owl Cafe in Tokyo, Harajuku, where you can pet and interact with actual owls. Before returning to your hotel for the day, pay a visit to the Ota Memorial Museum of Art. Nestled amid a Zen Garden, the museum specialises in ukiyo-e, a Japanese woodblock art style focusing on nature, landscapes, feminine beauty, and such.
Harajuku Walking Tour
Take the slightly offbeat road through the neighbourhood of Harajuku to explore the district like the locals. Visit Meiji Shrine, learn about Japanese history and Tokyo's place in it, and the nitty-gritty of the country's culture.
After this, enjoy Harajuku's iconic street food at Takeshita Street. Choose from rainbow-infused corn dogs, a stick of potato chips, and oversized cotton candies.
Serene tranquillity awaits you at the next stop, Togo Shrine. It is a Shinto memorial dedicated to Japan's celebrated naval war hero, Heihachiro Togo, who led his fleet to victory against Russia in the Battle of Tsushima. Take a stroll along the koi ponds through the pristine Japanese garden and pay your respects at the memorial hall.
At the end of the day, enjoy a beverage of your choice at Anakuma Cafe - but there's a twist - it will be served by a friendly bear paw!
At this self-service cafe, all you have to do is choose your drinks of choice, place the order, and then wait for a bear paw to serve you through a hole in the wall. You can read up on all the "bears" working at the cafe on the official website.
Omotesando Architecture Walking Tour
Those interested in architecture should take a walking tour around Omotesando to marvel at the engineering wonders that line the streets in Harajuku.
Start the itinerary at Meiji Shrine and pass by the towering edifices of Yoyogi Gymnasium, Prada Building, Dior Building, Sunny Hills, Omotesando Hills, Ao Building, Audi Forum, Nezu Museum, Tokyu Plaza, and more.
Food Adventure with TV Host Shizuka Anderson
Join Japanese-Canadian actress Shizuka Anderson on a holistic food adventure along the streets and taste the best the district has to offer.
Walk along the Harajuku shopping street and discover all the "Kawaii" treats and candies, such as the famous rainbow grilled cheese or rainbow potato corn dogs.
Halt at a "Purikura" photo booth to take cute, filtered polaroids, just like the local teens do. When you get tired of walking, settle down at an Izakaya bar to enjoy "Nomihodai", a unique "All you can drink"gastronomic culture. It is a buffet system concept, but for alcoholic drinks, where you can order as many glasses of cocktails or mugs of beer as you want at a fixed price within a fixed time limit.
Book your food adventure with Shizuka Anderson before it sells out!
Enjoy the Unique Harajuku Things to Do Before You Leave
Pick the tours best suited to your time and interests to tick off some of the most out-of-the-ordinary experiences on your trip to Japan. When in Harajuku, what to dois not a question you'll need to ask yourself with our thrilling list of itineraries.
Frequently asked questions:
Why is Harajuku famous?
Harajuku is the "Kawaii" capital of Tokyo, Japan, and is famous for vibrant and outlandish fashion trends, cute-looking street foods, and its overall youthful ambience.
What does Harajuku mean in Japanese?
The word "Harajuku" literally means a meadow inn or lodging, which may have been its historical status at one point. In the current day, anything "Harajuku" refers to the "Kawaii" style associated with the area.
What is the famous street in Harajuku?
Takeshita Dori or Takeshita Street is the much-sought-after 400m-long strip of shopping centres, street food stalls, and so much more.
What should I wear in Harajuku?
You are free to wear anything in Harajuku, as long as it complies with basic public decency. To keep up with Harajuku's fashion, shop from the local stores and ask for help to style your looks.
Is Harajuku a shopping district?
Yes, Harajuku is mainly a shopping district for fashionable clothes and accessories. It is one of the best in Tokyo, Japan.