Harajuku has one of the largest youth shopping area in Tokyo. It practically caters for youth fashion and has many small stores along the streets selling outfits like goth, rock, hip hop and many more.
After Omotesandō Hills is built in 2006, it has seen a rise in branches of expensive fashion stores such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada. If you ever visit Harajuku, Omotesandō Hills is a MUST visit.
There are enough shops in Harajuku to make you go crazy but try to focus on popular ones to maximise your shopping experience.
Read on and i hope this will assist you to find your favourate place. If you need to know where the heck i'm refering to, I've created a map of Harajuku (from google map) with labels that shows different area of interest.
Harajuku Map - Click Here
1) Snoopy Town
Located just outside the Harajuku Station and the Omotesandō exit, the big red Snoopy Town is just too big to give a miss. The Snoopy themed store has just about everything decorated closely to the peanuts cartoon.
You can find peanuts stationary, peanuts plush, peanuts travel accessories and peanuts home decors. You couldn't help but to grab a few big bags of peanuts merchandise! If you are a peanuts fan, this would be your defination of 'heaven on earth'!
Opens: 11am - 8pm
Website: http://town.snoopy.co.jp/shoplist/shop03.html
2) Oshman's
Oshman's is one of the biggest sneakers chain in Tokyo and carries all brands from around the world. It is also featured in the ever popular Tokyo Walker magazine where there are reviews on Oshman's shoes every week. Otherr than sneakers, Oshman's also carries sports apparel, haversacks, surf boards and even gym wears.
There also also some occassional offers in you are lucky. With all those range of sports wear and accessories, leaves you no excuse not to grab some and start hitting the gym!
Opens: 10:30am - 9:30pm
Website: http://www.oshmans.co.jp/
3) FANCL
If you are looking for beauty products only available in Japan, then the FANCL House is your BEST choice. Products include FANCL facial, pills, supplements and cosmetics. Remember to approach the friendly FANCL staff for their advice on the facial or supplements most suitable for you.
Website: http://www.fancl.co.jp/index.html
International Website:
http://www.fancl.com/catalog/index.php?language=Eng
Opens: 10:30am - 8:00pm
4) 竹下通 (Harajuku Streets)
The 竹下通 is a MUST! The streets are filled with underground shops that shows their unique characteristics. There you can find fashions like goth, lolita, hip hop, rock and many more. The 竹下通 is somewhat a shopping heaven for youngsters not only because it has all the trendy items, it is also inexpensive and affordable. The street will be filled with students in the late afternoon until night so remember to visit 竹下通 in the early afternoon to avoid being squeezed. However, 竹下通 in the evening would be a good photography scene!
Opens: Depending on shops. Till 9pm.
5) Cafe Crepe
This French styled Crepe store is one of the many branches in Tokyo. The crepes sold there are absolutely marvelous and lets you crave for more! The crepes are big in portion and inexpensive so most of the young Japanese schools girls would eat this either as a quick lunch or dinner. Don't be surprise if you find long queue outside Cafe Crepe..it is that popular!
Opens: 10am - 10pm
6) Pet Paradise
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One of the special shops you will find in the 下通 is Pet Paradise. This store specializes in pet clothings. So if you wish to give your pet a complete makeover and turn it into a cinderella, a prince or even a bumble bee, this is a store you cannot miss! Remember to take it easy in dressing up your pets...they have feelings too...
Opens: 10am - 8pm
Website: http://www.creativeyoko.co.jp/
7) とんかっ福よし
After you've walked over to the 下通 exit, just head across the road and walk straight for about 5 mins, you'll find the とんかっ福よし. Hidden behind one of the small lane street in Harajuku, This shy restaurant serves up one of the best fried pork cutlet The cutlet is crisp on the outside but tender on the inside with little or no grease. Their secret ingrediant sauce is their highlight and definitely a match made in heaven with the pork cutlet! This is the MUST try if you are in Harajuku.
Seats are limited so remember to be there early!
Opens: 11am - 12pm; 5:30pm - 8:30pm (rest on Sat and Sun afternoon)
8) Head Porter
This place is the darling of Japanese fashion. Fans from all over Japan will queue long hours and grab stocks once it hits the store! Head Porter has a collection of uniquely designed accessories, street wears, bags, pouches and even umbrellas. Head Porter Plus, which is another sub division cater for young women, features street wears with loud colors that brings out an attitude! But don't be fool by their simplicity design, they are consider pricy for most.
Opens: 12pm - 7pm (Rest on Wednesdays)
9, 10, 11, 12, 13) Beams, Beams Boy, Ray Beams, Beams F & Beams +
If you are a Beams fan, these will definately make you go ga-ga and definately broke. Though Beams has branches scattered around Tokyo, Harajuku has by far, the most collective branches in a single district. Now you can follow the Beams stretch and shop all you want in a single day! Beams is established in 1976 and is famous for mens wear.
Since then, Beams have catered both street and high end mens wear. For casual mens wear, Beams+ has a wide range to choose from. If you want causal woman fashion, Ray Beams would be a better choice and if you are only looking for high end wear, Beams F would fit you perfectly. No matter what kind of profile you fit in, Beams has it all!
Opens: 11am - 8pm
Website: http://www.beams.co.jp/
14) United Arrows Mens
United Arrows is another MUST visit. This 3 storey building features high-end mens shoes, suits, briefcase and it is one of Harajuku's 3 seperate branches. In the United Arrow Men's, they even have a small cafe for those tired legs. If you are looking for casual wear, the is a United Arrow Blue Label is just around the corner.
Opens: 12pm - 8pm
Website: http://www.united-arrows.jp/
15) Laforet
There is a saying in Tokyo: "If you haven't visit Laforet, you haven't been in Harajuku." This majestically tall building is the magnet for fashion. It has drawn many trend setters and it is a definately a MUST visit. Ladies, if you are craving for designer wears not found anywear but Japan, The Laforet is your ideal stop in Harajuku. The 6 storey building is cleverly design with mid sections in between each storey. There you can find cute, fashionable and even sexy wears. The Laforet also has a Laforet Museum, cafe, beauty parlor etc. Designer labels in Laforet includes Page Boy, X-Girl, Ray Cassin, Tout a Coup, Mysty Woman, Lowrys Farm and Pas de Calais.
Opens: 11am - 8pm
Website: http://www.laforet.ne.jp/
16) YM Square
The YM Square is features both the Kinji and Hanjiro fashion 2nd hand shops. Over 2000 pieces of worn jeans, leather wear, jackets are sold and most are them are fair priced with a pair of worn jeans going from ¥500 (US$4.65). There are also women's retro fashion for those who wanted that 70's look! Look around and you will find some darlings at a steal!
Opens: 11am - 8pm
17) T's Harajuku
Just next to YM Square, there is another shopping mall that has the biggest GAP & Plaza branch in all of Tokyo. The T's Harajuku has all the latest collection of children, womens, mens wear. The mall is spacious so you can have a long relaxing shopping experience.
Opens: 10am - 9pm
18) Yellow 96
Yellow 96 is caterly mainly for young women. It has a decent collection of pink & floral dresses, high heels, boots and even native amercian belts. If you love lady-like dresses, Yellow 96 will be the best choice!
Opens: 11am - 8pm
Website: http://www.yellow96.com/
19) X-Girl / X-Large
The X-Girl and X-Large in Harajuku is just behind the streets of the Omotesandō Hills. There you can find huge collection of the ever popular Bape men's wear and the MilkFeed is located just level 2 of X-Girl. These hugh collection will give you enough reason to spurge out and shop till you drop! You'll never be disappointed on that X-Girl and X-Large has to offer!
Opens: 11am - 8pm
Website: http://www.xlarge.com/
http://www.x-girl.jp/
20) ShazboT
If you are a hat freak, you wouldn't want to miss this store, Shazbot has a store filled with all kinds of hats and caps. If you are a guy or a gal, you'll sure to find one out of the thousands that suits your style!
Opens: 11:30am - 8:30pm
Website: http://www.shazbot.jp/
21) realmad HECTIC
If you ever see a long long line outside label-less store, then you've come to entrance of realmad HECTIC. If you are a collector of jeans, then you'll be crazy to miss this! There you can find the ever popular W-Taps as well as other underground brands like HECTIC, MASTER PIECE, NYJP, KAWS, ROC-STAR etc. Want to keep ahead of the trend? This store will provide you the style you ever need!
Opens: 12pm - 8pm