Harajuku-原宿 and Omotesando-表参道
Harajuku (原宿) refers to the area around Tokyo's Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. It is the center of Japan's most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles, but also offers shopping for adults and some historic sights.
The focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.
Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo's major shrines, is located just west of the railway tracks in a large green oasis shared with the spacious Yoyogi Park. Beautiful ukiyo-e paintings are exhibited in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art, and the Nezu Museum has an impressive collection of various Asian art as well as a traditional Japanese garden.
Omotesando(表参道), Just south of Takeshita Dori and over twice its length is Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue sometimes referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees. Here you can find famous brand name shops, cafes and restaurants for a more adult clientele. The stylish Omotesando Hills complex was opened in 2006 and targets fashion conscious urbanites in their 30s and 40s, while Kiddy Land has hundreds of unique toys for kids of all ages.
Famous Streets
Takeshita Dori
竹下通り
Shops along Takeshita Dori tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
The symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan's fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400 meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo's teenagers. Because of the street's popularity, it becomes extremely busy and crowded on the weekends. Interesting shops and restaurants can also be found along some of the side streets.
Omotesando
表参道
Shops along Omotesando tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 20:00.
Referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, Omotesando is a one kilometer long, tree lined avenue, serving as the main approach to Meiji Shrine. Numerous stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, including several leading fashion brand shops, stand along the avenue. This area generally caters to an older and wealthier clientele than Takeshita Dori.
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Cat street
キャットストリート
Shops along Cat street tend to be open daily from 11:00 to 19:00.
A long, narrow road that stretches north to south crossing the middle of Omote-sando Avenue. It is considered as an ultramodern street even within Harajuku and features many street fashion shops. Especially in Ura-Harajuku, the area stretching north of Omote-sando, you can find a concentration of small-sized popular shops.
Shopping
Harajuku - High fashion vs youth trends and counter culture
Harajuku has a split personality with two parallel shopping streets that cater to very different shoppers. Omotesando, known as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, is a tree lined avenue with upscale boutiques, cafes and several leading designer brand shops. Takeshita Dori, on the other hand, is a center of youth fashion and counter culture found along a narrow street crammed with shops and cafes targeting the younger, teenage crowd.
Omotesando Hills
表参道ヒルズ
Shops: 11:00 to 21:00 (Sundays until 20:00)
Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:30 (Sundays until 22:30).
Opened in 2006, Omotesando Hills consists of six floors (three are underground) of about 100 upmarket shops, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons. The building was designed by the renowned architect Ando Tadao and has intriguing design elements. The shopping complex is Omotesando's most prominent establishment, stretching along about one quarter of the avenue. Apartments are located above the shops.
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LaForet Harajuku
ラフォーレ
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00
LaForet Harajuku is a trend setting shopping complex, consisting of seven floors of fashion boutiques and shops, mainly geared towards a young, female audience. The LaForet Museum on the top floor hosts various events and exhibitions.
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Tokyu Plaza
東急プラザ
Shops: 11:00 to 21:00
Restaurants: 8:30 to 23:00
Opened in April 2012, this is one of the newest additions to the district. The interestingly designed building houses multiple floors of fashion and lifestyle shops, as well as a pleasant green space on a terrace on the 6th floor.
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Oriental Bazaar
オリエンタルバザー
Hours: 10:00 to 19:00
Closed: Thursdays
This is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir shops, very popular among foreign travelers in search of typical Japanese souvenirs, such as kimono, tableware, lamps, dolls, furniture and samurai related goods. The shop spans three floors and has a red and green facade that mimics traditional Japanese architecture. Travelers who pass by the store front are sure to notice the building.
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Kiddy Land
キディランド
Hours: 11:00 to 21:00 (from 10:30 on weekend and national holidays)
One of Tokyo's most famous and popular toy stores, Kiddy Land has a fantastic selection of toys and other products to amuse kids, including a Snoopy Town and Hello Kitty Shop on a total of five floors. The Omotesando store was reopened in July 2012 after being reconstructed and redesigned.
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Meiji Shrine - 明治神宮
Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Located just beside the JR Yamanote Line's busy Harajuku Station, Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park make up a large forested area within the densely built-up city. The spacious shrine grounds offer walking paths that are great for a relaxing stroll.
The shrine was completed and dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken in 1920, eight years after the passing of the emperor and six years after the passing of the empress. The shrine was destroyed during the Second World War but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.
Emperor Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan. He was born in 1852 and ascended to the throne in 1867 at the peak of the Meiji Restoration when Japan's feudal era came to an end and the emperor was restored to power. During the Meiji Period, Japan modernized and westernized herself to join the world's major powers by the time Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912.
The main complex of shrine buildings is located a ten minute walk from both the southern entrance near Harajuku Station and the northern entrance near Yoyogi Station. Entry into the shrine grounds is marked by a massive torii gate, after which the sights and sounds of the busy city are replaced by a tranquil forest. The approximately 100,000 trees that make up Meiji Jingu's forest were planted during the shrine's construction and were donated from regions across the entire country.
At the middle of the forest, Meiji Jingu's buildings also have an air of tranquility distinct from the surrounding city. Visitors to the shrine can take part in typical Shinto activities, such as making offerings at the main hall, buying charms and amulets or writing out one's wish on an ema.
Meiji Jingu is one of the Japan's most popular shrines. In the first days of the New Year, the shrine regularly welcomes more than three million visitors for the year's first prayers (hatsumode), more than any other shrine or temple in the country. During the rest of the year, traditional Shinto weddings can often be seen taking place there.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free
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Meiji Jingu Treasure House
宝物殿
Hours: 9:00 to 16:00
Open: Only for Sat. and Sun. and Public holiday
Admission: 500JPY
At the northern end of the shrine grounds visitors will come across the Meiji Jingu Treasure House, which was constructed one year after the shrine was opened. The Treasure House displays many interesting personal belongings of the Emperor and Empress, including the carriage which the emperor rode to the formal declaration of the Meiji Constitution in 1889. There is also a Museum Annex Building just to the east of the main shrine buildings that displays temporary exhibitions.
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Japanese iris of Imperial Garden
御苑の菖蒲田
Hours: 9:00 to 16:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 500JPY
A large area of the southern section of the shrine grounds is taken up by the Inner Garden, which requires an entrance fee to enter. The garden becomes particularly popular during the middle of June when the irises are in bloom. A small well located within the garden, Kiyomasa's Well, is named after a military commander who dug it around 400 years ago. The well was visited by the Emperor and Empress while they were alive and has become a popular spiritual "power spot".
Meiji Shrine - Official Map
Harajuku and Omotesando - Map
The information on this page is updated in April 2014.
The possibility want that information has been changed, please check the official website of each facility.