Takeshita Street, Harajuku
竹下通り
A pedestrian street about 350 meters long, directly across from Harajuku Station, filled with crêpe shops, rainbow cotton candy and trendy boutiques. It is the birthplace of Japan’s kawaii culture.
Takeshita Street runs from the Takeshita Exit of JR Harajuku Station to Meiji-dori, about 350 meters in total. It is the epitome of youth fashion and kawaii culture in Tokyo. Both sides are packed with affordable clothing, accessories and idol merchandise shops, along with long-established crêpe shops such as Marion Crêpes, rainbow cotton candy and trendy sweets. At the end of the street, you can turn onto the tree-lined Omotesando Avenue or Cat Street to browse vintage and streetwear shops. The street is free to visit, and most shops are open from 10:00 to 20:00. Transportation: it is right across from the Takeshita Exit of JR Harajuku Station. It is separated from Meiji Shrine by only one road, so the two can easily be visited in the same half-day. Note: weekends and holidays are extremely crowded, so keep an eye on your belongings. Eating while walking is frowned upon, so finish your food in front of the shop before moving on.
Opening hours
All day (shops about 10:00–20:00)
Nearby sights
- Meiji Jingu
- Shibuya Crossing & Shibuya Sky
- Shinjuku Gyoen
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory
- Omoide Yokocho
- Kabukicho, Shinjuku
- Roppongi Hills & Tokyo City View
- Nakameguro & Meguro River