Harajuku
The Basics
Harajuku’s top sights include Yoyogi Park and Omotesando and Takeshita-dori shopping streets. These areas, where the colorfully presented youth typically hang out, are the best for people-watching and street photography. Also in Harajuku is the Meiji Shrine (Meiji-jingu), Tokyo’s grandest Shinto shrine, which was constructed in 1920. The atmospheric shrine is surrounded by forest and serene gardens and houses a memorial hall dedicated to Emperor Meiji, the man many credit with the modernization of Japan.
Sightseeing tours of Tokyo typically include a stop in Harajuku. If you want something more specialized, your options include walking tours of the area that focus on street fashion, architecture, and even kawaii food, or food with kawaii (cute) presentation—perfect for social media.
Recent reviews from experiences in Tokyo
Things to Know Before You Go
Harajuku is a must-visit for a taste of Japanese youth culture.
The area is home to a rainbow of shopping opportunities, as well as many bars and restaurants.
Cat Street offers a more sophisticated shopping alternative to Takeshita-dori, and its Tadao Ando–designed Armani Casa building is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts.
The sprawling Laforet department store is a good option for getting all of your shopping done under one roof.
How to Get There
Harajuku is in the southwest of Tokyo, in Shibuya ward. It is served by Meiji-Jingumae metro station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines, as well as Harajuku station on the JR Yamanote line. Takeshita-dori is in the northern part of Harajuku, and Omotesando is in southern Harajuku.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Harajuku hums with energy seven days a week, but for the best people-watching get there on a Sunday afternoon, when youngsters gather in and around Yoyogi Park to pose in their outlandish outfits. Yoyogi Park is particularly attractive in spring when the cherry trees are in bloom.
Street Photography
Outlandishly dressed youngsters flock to Harajuku to be seen. Typically, they will happily pose for photos without expecting payment, but it is always polite to ask first if it is OK to take their photo by saying “Shashin totte mo ii desu ka?”
- Things to do in Kanto
- Things to do in Musashino
- Things to do in Kawasaki
- Things to do in Kawagoe
- Things to do in Chiba
- Things to do in Kamakura
- Things to do in Narita
- Things to do in Kyoto
- Things to do in Osaka
- Things to do in Sapporo
- Things to do in Busan
- Things to do in Tokyo Prefecture
- Things to do in Saitama Prefecture
- Things to do in Nagano
- Things to do in Chiba Prefecture
- Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi Koen)
- Omotesando
- Meiji Jingu Stadium
- Shibuya
- Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu)
- Japanese Sword Museum (Token Hakubutsukan)
- Nezu Museum (Nezu Bijutsukan)
- Shinjuku Park (Shinjuku Gyoen)
- Shinjuku
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (TMG)
- National Art Center Tokyo (NACT)
- Sky Circus Sunshine60 Observatory
- Jindai Botanical Gardens
- Oedo Onsen Monogatari
- Thunder Gate (Kaminarimon)