50 things to do in Harajuku

Over 100 boutiques jostle for attention in the multi-storey Laforet mall, which has been the ground zero of Harajuku fashion – and a bastion of Lolita-style cutesiness – for over 30 years. Laforet

This Harajuku ice cream stand is disguised as a pink ice cream vending machine, but you actually order from the staff hiding inside. You can choose your preferred ice cream animal including elephants, koalas, panda bears and more. Dobutsuen The Zoo Ice Cream Shop

Hidden away in Harajuku’s popular vintage and consignment area, the shop is indeed funky, offering a mix of accessories, toys and clothing. The focus here is on fashion from the ’90s to the early 2000s, with the odd older piece thrown into the mix. Funktique

Snoopy and Hello Kitty are just two of the 80-odd children's characters you'll find on sale at Harajuku's most venerable toy shop, a five-floor emporium that first opened way back in 1950. Kiddy Land

From household products to cheap souvenirs, it's amazing what you can stumble across at this three-floor ¥100 shop, a low-cost landmark on bustling Takeshita-dori. Daiso Harajuku

Visit A+S, otherwise known as Architecture and Sneakers, for a dose of Tokyo’s ever-evolving streetwear and sneaker culture. Just as the shop name suggests, what you’ll find here is a well-edit selection of sneakers inside an immaculately designed space run by the folks behind Japanese streetwear label Soph. A+S

If you're looking for an alternative to the latest eyewear trends, you can find something more distinctive at Solakzade, a boutique offering vintage glasses from as far back as the 1800s. Solakzade

When gaudily dressed dance groups known as takenoko-zoku flocked to Harajuku in the mid-'70s and early-'80s, they bought their clothes at Boutique Takenoko. It's still there today, but stocks mainly Lolita and punk fashion now. Boutique Takenoko

There are just two styles of gyoza dumplings available at this no-frills eatery – fried or steamed – and they're as tasty as they are affordable (just ¥290 for six). Harajuku Gyoza Lou

Even among the shopping chaos that is Laforet, this store dealing in 'cutting-edge' fashion stands out from the rest. The neon lighting inside lends a quirky glow to styles from up-and-coming and edgy designers as well as a range of items from popular designer collabs. GR8

Dig into a well-deserved sweet treat with a tasty waffle shot – simply a shot of espresso served in a chocolate-coated waffle cone at this dessert shop. Bonus, all their desserts are perfect for your Instagram feed. Anywhere Door

They might not be the cuddliest, but hedgehogs sure are adorable creatures that we don't mind spending time with. Harry's Harajuku location is home to nine different types of hedgehogs you can pick up and admire along with your coffee. Hedgehog Café Harry Harajuku

If you're looking for an unusual gift or just some fancy knickknacks for your apartment, you can always find something tempting at this Tokyo outpost of NYC's Museum of Modern Art. MoMA Design Store

Want to keep abreast of the latest cultural currents in Tokyo? Start at Vacant, a popular spot that serves as concert venue, art gallery, theatre, cinema and just about everything else. Vacant

Koffee Mameya is a coffee bean dealer with enough shebang to turn you into a proper barista at home. They sell between 15 and 20 varieties of beans sourced from five specific roasteries, so you'll also be able to distinguish your favourite in the long run. Koffee Mameya

Basement boutique Dog has wooed some unusual customers with its blend of outlandish vintage and reworked clothing – not least Lady Gaga, who's visited incognito in the past. Dog

As the name gives away, this café right by Laforet is packed with elements drawn from all things kawaii. It's a fantastic merry-go-round of super-cute elements, and offers four types of appropriately OTT seating in areas labelled Mushroom Disco, Milk Stand, Bar Experiment and Mel-Tea Room. Kawaii Monster Cafe

Inside this 'modern recycle shop' you’ll find a range of secondhand items, including antiques, furniture, clothing and art – many of which have been previously owned by celebrities. Pass the Baton

Trusted among musos for its good taste, this independent record store collects vinyl and cassette tapes of indie bands from the US, the UK and Europe. Soak in the atmosphere at the bar space where you can enjoy Shiga Kogen beer, one of the best Japanese craft beers. Big Love

A secondhand shop for brand-name clothing, Ragtag offers three floors' worth of used designer goods and furniture – perfect if you're hoping to stumble across a rare item. Ragtag Harajuku

Harajuku style icon Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a fan of this vintage clothing shop, where the selection is organised according to style, from kitsch to classic. G2?

Aiming to let guests experience the best of the surrounding area during their stay, this hotel's lounge hosts parties every Friday night. The art-filled rooms are stocked with made-in-Japan, environmentally friendly bathroom amenities, which can also be bought at the shop on the ground floor. Trunk Hotel

The first-ever flagship for Tokyo-based brand Ambush stretches across 140 square metres and its design remains true to the gender-neutral vibes of the brand’s collections. The store houses the brand’s conceptual jewellery alongside a growing number of its original apparel range. Ambush Workshop

This thrift shop in Harajuku is well worth visiting for bargain hunting, offering T-shirts from ¥735 and shirts from ¥945. There are plenty of quality items to be found if you dig around a bit, and it also stocks a range of accessories, including shoes, bags and sunglasses. Kinji

Found on a back street not far from Jingu Stadium, Bonobo occupies an old two-storey house with a rooftop terrace. The ground-floor bar is complemented by a DJ booth and a lounge upstairs, which is where the frequent gigs and other music events take place. Bar Bonobo

The florist has called this obscure Harajuku spot home for the last seven years and continues to turn out gorgeous bouquets and made-to-order arrangements. This secluded shop also has a sister store on Cat Street, where you can purchase both fresh and dry flowers. The Little Shop of Flowers Atelier

This beautiful shop specialises in traditional Japanese furoshiki wrapping cloths, which are used to wrap everything from bento lunch boxes to wine bottles and gifts. Musubi

It may be just around the corner from Takeshita-dori, but the teen fashion crowd feels a long way away at this intimate craft beer bar run by Numazu's Baird Brewing. Harajuku Taproom

Located down the backstreets of Takashita-dori, this shop houses over 400 different mugs and cups made by craftsmen and artisans from around Japan. On each shelf you’ll find a short description of where the mug is from and the artisan who made it – so you know you’re getting a work of art instead of a generic mug. Mug Pop

Snack food maker Calbee serves the freshest crisps you'll ever taste at this Harajuku outpost, complete with toppings including cheese, sour cream and chocolate. Go on: indulge yourself. Calbee Plus

Sing and dance to your heart's content at this staple karaoke joint in the heart of Harajuku. Continuing to bring in the crowds till the wee hours, complete your karaoke experience with food and drinks and you're set for the ultimate evening of fun. Just don't be a mic hog. Karaoke Kan

This lifestyle shop-meets-café in Sendagaya seeks to 'straddle the boundary between work and life' – we hope that means a better work-life balance, but you can never be sure in this city; it might just mean 'turning your office into your apartment'. Think of Things

From a slew of cut-off denim shorts to vintage items sewn and remade into inventive pieces, this two-storey shop is filled with unique vintage finds as well as a selection of accessories to complete your look. Panama Boy

Japan's longest-running crêpe shop started life as a food truck in 1976 before moving to its current home on Takeshita-dori. It's the quintessential Harajuku street food, whether you're having it sweet or with a savoury filling like tuna and curry sauce. Marion Crêpes

The late Seizo Ota, chairman of Toho Mutual Life Insurance, began collecting ukiyo-e prints after he saw that Japan was losing its traditional art to Western museums and collectors. Temporary exhibitions drawn from his 12,000-strong collection often include works by popular masters like Hiroshige and Hokusai. Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art

If you’re looking for a pretty and vivid kimono with traditional prints, this is the place to be, while their small patches of kimono fabrics are quite popular too. Oedo Kazuko

Dine on a fine selection of quality soba and traditional Japanese snacks at this serene spot located right above the hustle and bustle of Harajuku. Kamakura Matsubara-an Keyaki

Toga presents sophisticated yet avant-garde garments and accessories for men and women and has even shown throughout Paris and London fashion weeks. Toga Harajuku

Spread over three floors, this urban climbing gym overlooks Meiji-dori and is divided into beginner-intermediate, advanced and children's areas, making it the perfect place for family bouldering. Bouldering Studio Peki Peki

Hidden behind the busy streets of Harajuku is this peaceful shrine dedicated to Admiral Togo, who served as commander of the Imperial fleet during the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Togo Shrine

This gallery was first established in Harajuku back in 1996, with a view to giving exposure to up-and-coming artists. Rocket's mission has changed little since then, and it continues to run exhibitions and events in the Harajuku area. Rocket

This uber-hip roastery and café on Cat Street is one of the city's flashiest specialist coffee haunts. Choose from two kinds of single-origin beans for your americano, latte or espresso. The coffee soft serves and suspiciously Cronut-like NY Rings are sure to satisfy sugar addicts. The Roastery

Bépocah has set out to make a bold statement about Peruvian cuisine, creating very traditional Peruvian dishes but presenting them with contemporary flair. Bépocah

Hit up this cool shop on Cat Street for streetwear and a curated selection of vintage finds that will be the envy of everything else in your closet. From wacky patterned shirts to flowing dresses, their vintage selection is some of the best, while the hip hop-influenced T-shirts and sweatshirts make for the perfect mix. Unfollow

Your taste buds are guaranteed a good workout at this long-running Chinese restaurant, which specialises in fiery Szechuan cuisine. The lunch sets, including a sizzling mapo dofu, are particularly good value. Ryu No Ko

Be a bit adventurous with your next shoe purchase and browse through the flamboyant selection at this fun shop. Tokyo Bopper specialise in unique footwear styles and are best known for their ultra thick-soles which come in styles from boots to ballerina flats. Tokyo Bopper

The perfect stop to wind down your day shopping through Harajuku and Omotesando, Negibouzu offers a range of classic izakaya dishes and drinks that will keep your taste buds happy and your stomach satisfied. Negibouzu

Dealing mainly in domestic brands like Mina Perhonen and Sina Suien, this boutique caters to 'girly but feminine' fashionistas and hosts regular exhibitions at the in-store gallery. Lamp Harajuku 

The latest import from South Korea, this big pink building is filled with miracle-working Korean skincare and makeup products along with a selection of reasonably priced wearables for the trend-conscious. Style Nanda

Exceedingly popular, this shrine opened in 1920 and continues to draw annual crowds of a million-plus. It also hosts numerous festivals, weddings and other events within its lush surrounds. Meiji Shrine & Inner Garden

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