Harajuku and Omotesando are known for their funky and high end cafes, but they are also known for their animal cafes. The Tokyo craze for animal cafes started out with cat cafes but has slowly expanded to include many other domestic animals such as owls, hedgehogs, pigs and rabbits. while ethical concerns may be an issue, an easy search can tell you which cafes are popular and treat their animals humanly. A guide to all the animal cafes in Harajuku and Omtesando can be found here.

Photo Credit: Timeout Tokyo

Address: Around the Takeshita Street in Harajuku.

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How to get there: N/A

 

A spot for gourmet food located inside the Tokyu Toyoko Department Store, which is directly linked to Shibuya Station. It proclaims itself a ‘Theatre of Food’, and houses stalls from all over the world selling sweets, deli goods, bakery, food to eat in and wine. Among the concessions are Le Boulanger Dominique Saibron from Paris, Origines Cacao by chef Yukihiko Kawaguchi, a pioneer chocolatier in Japan, and Seijo Ishii, a high-end supermarket featuring domestic delicacies as well as imported items.

Summary Credits: Timeout Tokyo

Photo Credit: Where in Tokyo

Address: 2-24-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku Tokyo

Hours: 11am - 8pm

Website: https://kart.st/shibuya

How to get there: Located in the Shibuya Station, in the Tokyu Department Store.

 

Nakamise is the most famous shopping street in Asakusa. The street runs for 250 meters on the main approach to Sensoji Temple and is lined on both sides with shops selling traditional souvenirs, snacks, and sweets.

This street is actually on temple property and so it starts and ends with a temple gate: at the southern end is the outer gate of Kaminarimon, and at the northern end is the inner gate of Hozomon. Between these two gates are 89 shops, with 54 shops on the east side, and 35 shops on the west. “Nakamise” is a traditional name given to shopping streets on the grounds of temples or shrines, so this is not the only “Nakamise” in Japan, but it is one of the oldest and most famous.

Summary Credits: Asakusa Station Information

Photo Credit: JW Magazine

Address: 1 Chome-36-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

Hours: 10am - 5pm

Website: http://asakusa-nakamise.jp/e-index.html

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line

 

A small area near Kabukicho, Shinjuku Golden Gai is known for its spirited night life and unique architecture. While the surrounding areas of modern Tokyo are filled with skyscrapers and neon lights, Golden Gai cuts out a small corner of Tokyo to retain it’s post war charm. It’s a bit similar to Omoide Yokocho, except less yakitori and more bars and drinking.

Golden Gai consists of six alley ways made up with small individual bars. Each building can have a couple bars within them itself. Wandering around the area is an experience in itself and choosing a bar shouldn’t be too hard..there’s over 200 bars! Most of the bars in the area open up at 8 or 9 pm so make sure you don’t head over too early or there’ll be nothing opened. Some bars only welcome regulars as some tourists only have one drink, loiter and leave, taking spaces from regular customers. So, choose welcoming bars (some will have signs).

Photo Credit: Timeout Tokyo

Address: 1 Chome-1-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021

Hours: Typically open from 8pm until early morning.

Website: N/A

How to get there: It’s about an 8 minute walk from Shinjuku Station and right next to the Kabukicho district.

 

Kabukicho is a famous Red Light district of Tokyo. Especially at night, it’s a scene for the adult night life. This entertainment district is a hub for bright lights, bars, clubs, karaoke, pachinko and well..you guessed it, adult touting and hustling if you know what I mean. You do need to be extra aware in these areas. Never take an offer of anyone inviting you to a store (unless you know what you are looking for) and make sure you know what stores you are entering! Aside from the adult night scene, it’s a fun place to enjoy a night out for drinks, karaoke and good food!

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Location: Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: An 11 minute walk from Shinjuku Station Exit B15 on the JR Line.

 

Omoide Yokocho literally means Memory Lane. This unique area is famous for it’s old fashioned back alleys packed with very tiny noodle joints, yakitori restaurants known as izakayas where you can enjoy yakitori and Japanese alcohol and other diners. Within this tiny area you’ll find tourists, businessmen and women crowding the bars, restaurants and izakayas before they head home for the night.

Omoide Yokocho has been around since the reconstruction period in post war Japan and has maintained it’s position since. So, quite fittingly, Omoide Yokocho or Memory Lane is a good way to remember the old nostalgic past. Now, you might be wondering where Piss Alley came from. This place was notorious for having no restrooms because of how small the restaurants. Lots drinking going on with no restroom? A perfect recipe for “Piss Alley”. No worries now as they have bathrooms installed in the place to make sure no one is peeing next to the eateries…although it loses its authenticity!

Photo Credit: Shinjuku Guide

Address: 1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023

Hours: Most places are open for lunch and dinner

Website: N/A

How to get there: From the East Exit of Shinjuku Station on the JR Lines, it’s about a 2 minute walk. Take a left out the exit and continue to the passage that goes under the railroad to your left.

 

For cat lovers, sorry to disappoint but you won’t find cats here as the name suggests. Cat Street is a youth hip fashion center a long with Takeshita Street. It’s not as jam packed and busy like it is on Takeshita Street or even Omotesando. It’s got a more laid back, hip vibe to the area. It’s known for its shopping and food. The street is lined up with funky, hipster boutiques, shops and cafes. Some tend to be hole in the wall and low-key spots, but others are high end, well known brands.

Photo Credit: Japan Visitor

Location: 5 Chome-10-10 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Hours: Most stores are open anywhere from 10am - 8pm

Website: N/A

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Harajuku Station, East Exit on the JR Line.

 

Omotesando Avenue is a sloping tree-lined boulevard in Tokyo's fashionable Aoyama district that goes through parts of both Shibuya and Minato wards. The Harajuku area, which Omotesando is often considered a part of, has its own distinctive brand of youth fashion. On the other hand, Omotesando itself caters to the haute couture end of the spectrum, with plenty of places to sit back and relax over good food and drink, and take in the cutting edge architecture that typifies many of the establishments here.

Omotesando means "Shrine Entranceway Road," reflecting its history as the approach to the Meiji Shrine - and its former grounds, that have now become Yoyogi Park - at the top, north-western, end of the street.

Omotesando features many cutting edge buildings designed by prominent architects, both Japanese and from overseas. The architectural charms of Omotesando are maybe best enjoyed at night when the lighting accentuates the inspired lines and curves.

Summary Credits: Japan Visitor

Photo Credit: JW Magazine

Location: Tokyo, Minato City, Minamiaoyama, 5 Chome

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: The main road is located just outside the Omotesando Station which can be accessed on the Chiyoda Line, Ginza Line or Hanzomon Line.

If you are coming through the JR Line, you can get off at Harajuku Station and take a short, pleasing walk down the tree lined boulevard to the main road.

 

When visiting Harajuku, visiting Takeshita Street is a must. It makes up the main part of Harajuku and is a youth fashion symbol of the area. It’s a 400 meter street lined up with boutiques, shops, fashion and street wear, restaurants, many sweets shops (crepes are the most famous), cafes and much more. It’s popularity attracts massive crowds to the area, but it’s worth all the fun, eating and shopping in the area!

Location: 1 Chome-17 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Hours: Most stores are open from around 11am - 8pm.

Website: https://www.takeshita-street.com/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Harajuku Station, Takeshita Exit on the JR Line.

 

Kiddy Land is a paradise store for toy and souvenir lovers. It’s packed with the latest and most popular toys and items. It has 5 stories of goods both from Japan and abroad which range from Pokemon, Rilakkuma, Legos, Snoopy, Star Wars, Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli and much more! It first opened up in 1950 to cater to the large amounts of American soldiers and families stationed nearby during the occupation of Japan after the end of World War II.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Address: 6 Chome-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Hours: 11am - 9pm (10:30am start on Saturday/Sunday)

Website: https://www.kiddyland.co.jp/harajuku/

How to get there: A 7 minute walk from Harajuku Station, East Exit on the JR Line.