HOME Back

Use the

Planning a Trip to Japan?

Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp

Harajuku & Omotesando & Aoyama Area Harajuku & Omotesando & Aoyama Area

TOKYO Harajuku & Omotesando Adjacent suburbs and siblings of Tokyo's fashion world

Adjacent suburbs and siblings of Tokyo's fashion world

The districts of Harajuku and Omotesando might be next door to each other, but they're also worlds apart.

Both areas are hubs of Japanese and international fashion, packed with clothing stores, trendy cafes, design houses and fashionable locals strolling the maze of streets. However, their aesthetics couldn't be more different.

Don't Miss

  • Harajuku's extravagant streetside sweets, such as cheesecake-filled crepes and unique themed cafes
  • Espace Louis Vuitton, a gallery hidden on the top floor of the Louis Vuitton Building
  • An unparalleled luxury shopping experience in Omotesando Hills

How to Get There

Harajuku and Omotesando are both easily accessible by train.

Take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station for Harajuku's Takeshita Street or the Metro Chiyoda Line to Meiji Jingumae for Omotesando. Both areas are connected by a main boulevard, so the best way to travel around is by foot.

Quick Facts

Takeshita Street in Harajuku is the center of Tokyo's street fashion scene

Omotesando is the approach to the Meiji Shrine, opened in 1920

The bridge by Harajuku Station is a popular spot for cosplayers and rockabilly dancers

Opposites Attract

While Harajuku is often at the forefront of the next big local trend, Omotesando focuses on the international and timeless. While Omotesando is all about luxury brands, the streets of Harajuku are overflowing with thrift store jackets and novel accessories.

Though their attitudes can contrast at times, these two Tokyo hotspots share a unique sense of cultural harmony and mutual appreciation that you won't find anywhere else. If Harajuku is the cool teenager, then Omotesando is the more mature and sophisticated older sibling.

Tokyo's street fashion mecca

For cheap, fun trends, make your way to Takeshita Street in Harajuku . Here you'll find upcoming trendsetting boutiques sharing walls with more iconic long-term staples like the nearby Dog, known to be frequented by fashion icons like Lady Gaga. Keep an eye out for deals as you dig through the shelves, and don't forget Daiso and Thank You Mart, Takeshita's two big discount stores.

Weave your way through the back streets that shoot off Takeshita to uncover a variety of tiny shops and at the end cross the main road to find Harajuku's sneaker district (look for the small alleyway to the right of Murasaki Sports). For the ultimate in "kawaii" fashion, be sure to stop by 6% Dokidoki, located near Meiji Jingumae station behind the Kawaii Monster Cafe.

Designer labels and cat streets

Over the past few years, Omotesando has become Japan's home of modern high-end fashion, with many designer labels setting up stores along the lavish and spacious boulevards that line the area. The second biggest upscale shopping neighborhood after Ginza, Omotesando differs from Ginza by focusing on more contemporary names like Maison Margiela, H&M, and MVRDV over classics like Dior and Prada (although both have locations in the area). Head to the iconic Omotesando Hills mall for seven floors of high-end fashion.

Physically and aesthetically between Harajuku and Omotesando lies Cat Street. A little more upmarket than Takeshita Street's offerings and less expensive than Omotesando, this popular local shopping destination is filled with some of the best variety of stores and cafes in Tokyo.

Where the future and past collide

In addition to high-end upscale shopping and cutting-edge trends, the corners of these two neighborhoods are filled with a rich history. Harajuku is home to Meiji-jingu Shrine , one of the city's most famous and well-trodden spiritual sites, and one of the area's largest green spaces. Originally completed in 1920, the shrine was destroyed during the Second World War, but was rebuilt not long after.

Omotesando is the front approach leading to Meiji-jingu , with the Japanese "omote" meaning "front" and "sando" meaning "approach."

Galleries galore

If there's one thing that connects the Omotesando and Harajuku areas, it's a love of art. Both neighborhoods are filled with mainstream and independent galleries displaying works from both local and international artists.

Be sure to visit Design Festa Gallery in Harajuku and Espace Louis Vuitton in Omotesando to get a broad overview of what the area has to offer, or hit the backstreets for the cozy Nezu Museum .



* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

Recommended for You

Tokyo Station
Tokyo
Shibuya Area
Shibuya & Shimokitazawa

Did this information help you?

Near Harajuku & Omotesando

Harajuku & Omotesando & Aoyama Area Shopping
Tokyo Harajuku & Omotesando
Harajuku Shopping
Tokyo Harajuku Tokyo-to
bepocah
Tokyo Bepocah Brazilian
Azuma
Tokyo Azuma Teppanyaki (Iron Grill) Cuisine
IMIN NO UTA Shibuyaten
Tokyo Imin No Uta Shibuyaten Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
Masaya Harajukuten
Tokyo Masaya Harajukuten Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
Solomons Honten
Tokyo Solomons Honten Italian Cuisine
SUN HOUSE
Tokyo Sun House Shabu Shabu
Okonomiyaki Teppanyakitabehodai Harajukusakuratei
Tokyo Okonomiyaki Teppanyakitabehodai Harajukusakuratei Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
THE STANDARD
Tokyo The Standard Bar
Fonda de la Madrugada
Tokyo Fonda De La Madrugada Mexican
Wafu Dining&bar KAMADO
Tokyo Wafu Dining&Bar Kamado Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
Florilege
Tokyo Florilege French Cuisine
Yakitori Imai
Tokyo Yakitori Imai Yakitori (Grilled Chicken Skewers)
La coccola
Tokyo La Coccola Italian Cuisine
Ginsei
Tokyo Ginsei Soba Noodles
Ryu-no ko
Tokyo Ryu-No Ko Szechwan
Hoshifuruyoru-ni Koshitsu Italian Kuraimu Harajuku
Tokyo Hoshifuruyoru-Ni Koshitsu Italian Kuraimu Harajuku Italian Cuisine
Garari Sendagaya
Tokyo Garari Sendagaya Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
RISTORANTE HONDA
Tokyo Ristorante Honda Italian Cuisine
Tiroir
Tokyo Tiroir Bistro
MAiSEN Aoyamahonten
Tokyo Maisen Aoyamahonten Izakaya (Japanese Style Pub)
Bic Camera SELECT Harajuku Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Select Harajuku Store Electronics store
Harajuku & Omotesando & Aoyama Area Shopping
Tokyo Omotesando & Aoyama Tokyo-to
National Noh Theatre Culture
Tokyo National Noh Theatre Tokyo-to
Meiji-jingu Shrine History
Tokyo Meiji-Jingu Shrine Tokyo-to
Nezu Museum Art & Design
Tokyo Nezu Museum Tokyo-to
Yoyogi Park Nature
Tokyo Yoyogi Park Tokyo-to
BIC CAMERA Shibuya East Exit Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Shibuya East Exit Store Electronics store
SEIBU Shibuya Store
Tokyo Seibu Shibuya Store Department store
BIC CAMERA Shibuya Hachiko Exit Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Shibuya Hachiko Exit Store Electronics store
Bic Camera Shinjuku East Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Shinjuku East Store Electronics store
Keio Shinjuku Department  Store
Tokyo Keio Shinjuku Department Store Department store
Isetan Shinjuku Main Store
Tokyo Isetan Shinjuku Main Store Department store
Shinjuku Takano Main store Fruits gift and original food / Takano Fruit Parlour Shinjuku Main Store
Tokyo Shinjuku Takano Main Store Fruits Gift And Original Food / Takano Fruit Parlour Shinjuku Main Store Food store
BIC CAMERA Shinjuku Station East Exit Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Shinjuku Station East Exit Store Electronics store
BIC CAMERA Akasakamitsuke Station Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Akasakamitsuke Station Store Electronics store
BIC CAMERA Shinjuku West Exit Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Shinjuku West Exit Store Electronics store
Seibu Shinjuku PePe
Tokyo Seibu Shinjuku Pepe Shopping mall
BIG BOX TAKADANOBABA
Tokyo Big Box Takadanobaba Shopping mall
BIC CAMERA Yurakucho Store
Tokyo Bic Camera Yurakucho Store Electronics store
Ginza Mitsukoshi
Tokyo Ginza Mitsukoshi Department store
Favorite Stone  Jewelry GINZA 188
Tokyo Favorite Stone Jewelry Ginza 188 Accessory and jewelry store
Chuo City Tourist Information Center
Tokyo Chuo City Tourist Information Center Souvenir and local product shop
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
Tokyo Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Department store
KOTOBUKIYA AKIHABARA-KAN
Tokyo Kotobukiya Akihabara-Kan Character goods store
SEIBU IKEBUKURO Main Store
Tokyo Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store Department store

Please Choose Your Language

Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages