Takeshita Street

Overview

Takeshita Street is a lively shopping lane about 400 meters long in the Jingūmae district of Shibuya, Tokyo, beginning right in front of Harajuku Station. Packed with youth-oriented fashion boutiques, accessory shops, crepe stands and cafés, it stands at the heart of Harajuku, one of Tokyo's best-known centers of Japanese youth culture and fashion, drawing both domestic and international visitors.

Highlights

• ●Walking the roughly 400-meter, pedestrian-focused lane end to end
• ●Browsing Harajuku's distinctive fashion and accessory shops
• ●Sampling colorful crepes and cotton candy as street food
• ●Standing right in front of Harajuku Station's Takeshita exit

History

The Harajuku area grew up around Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, and Takeshita Street developed as a narrow shopping lane running from the station toward Meiji-dōri. Over the years its small, independent boutiques have constantly turned over, helping to launch one street-fashion trend after another. For a deeper account of its origins, it is worth checking official and local sources.

Map

35.6713, 139.7048 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Start at the lane's entrance opposite the Takeshita exit of Harajuku Station
2. 2Wander past the fashion boutiques and accessory shops
3. 3Grab a signature crepe to eat as you stroll
4. 4Exit toward Meiji-dōri and continue on to Meiji Shrine or Omotesando

Did you know?

💡 Hundreds of shops are squeezed into a lane of only about 400 meters, so the flow of visitors chasing the latest Harajuku trends rarely lets up during the day. Colorful cotton candy and inventive crepes are the signature street snacks here.

Nearby spots