50 things to do in Harajuku: best restaurants, cafés, art, shops and more

Nanzuka Underground finally has a bigger and better space – a dedicated flagship gallery in its very own building. A big move from its former basement location, the gallery is now situated down the trendy backstreets of Urahara, adjacent to the Harajuku United Arrows building. The gallery comprises four floors, two of which are used for exhibitions, while the upper floors are dedicated to offices and expansive terraces that look out onto the streets of Harajuku. Nanzuka Underground

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

This light and airy café space situated behind the bustling streets of Omotesando and Harajuku is a mashup of two Tokyo institutions: Coffee Wrights and Higuma Doughnuts. Serving, well, coffee and doughnuts, we can’t think of a better combination to lift our spirits. Higuma Doughnuts + Coffee Wrights

Known for its crêpes and other desserts such as crazy cotton candy creations, this Harajuku spot is where you can stock up on many of your street snacks in one go. If your inner child has their heart set on the larger-than-life cotton candy, you'll be glad to know that there's usually a much shorter queue at this shop than at the Totti Candy Factory across the street. Momi & Toys

This natural wine shop and restaurant is housed in a sleek space in Harajuku. No 501 is serious about sourcing its wines, looking to varieties that use strict farming methods and organic cultivation to produce exquisite flavours. At the tasting table, the menu is made to appeal to all five senses and is carefully curated to pair well with the selected vino. No 501

Located in a quiet backstreet of Harajuku, Tamawarai is a one-Michelin-starred soba restaurant that looks like a discreet modern Japanese home from the outside. Low-lit, with just 14 seats, Tamawarai draws a crowd for its chewy, fragrant noodles. The owner-chef has a field in Tochigi prefecture where he grows and cultivates the soba himself. Tamawarai

Don’t be fooled by the name – this conveyor belt sushi restaurant isn’t in Ginza, it’s in Omotesando. It’s run by The Onodera Group, which operates the famous Sushi Ginza Onodera chain around the world, including the Michelin-starred Sushi Ginza Onodera branch in New York. While an omakase lunch there can easily run upwards of USD$100, Kaitensushi Ginza Onodera serves up a selection of high-quality seafood at decidedly more affordable prices. Kaitensushi Ginza Onodera

Cibone has recently found a new home in Omotesando’s Gyre building, moving from the previous shop space in Aoyama. The store carries a well-curated range of lifestyle goods from fashion, furniture and art to jewellery, watches and beauty products. The new space is still classic Cibone, with a number of renowned local and international brands on offer. Cibone

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

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

Offering a mix of stylish fashion for both men and women, Grapevine by K3 is a must-visit for those looking to get their hands on Japanese designers such as GVGV, John Lawrence Sullivan and Facetasm. The store also stocks a range of high-end international labels including Anderssen Bell, Ashley Williams and Sunnei. Grapevine by K3

This ever-popular clothing label presents sophisticated yet avant-garde garments and accessories for men and women and has even shown its designs at the Paris and London fashion weeks. Toga Harajuku

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. Karaoke Kan

Following the example of Champs-Elysées Maison in Paris, Louis Vuitton has transformed the seventh floor of its Jun Aoki-designed Omotesando store into an art gallery. Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo has held solo exhibitions by Jesus Rafael Soto and Christian Boltanski as well as group shows featuring work by artists from Finland, India and Japan. Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo

A unique addition to the Gonpachi family, this Harajuku outpost focuses on temaki, or hand rolls, which are all made to order. The menu consists of some firm favourites such as salmon avocado and tuna, but also branches out into yam and coe roe, okra and natto, and stewed beef. Gonpachi Nori-Temaki Harajuku

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

You’ve never tasted Vietnamese done this way. While dishes on An Di’s menu may sound familiar, head chef Chihiro Naito has reimagined classic Vietnamese fare – think rice paper rolls, pho and bánh xèo – with local Japanese ingredients, resulting in a medley of fresh, vibrant flavours. An Di

A frenzy of mirrors that looks like the inside of a kaleidoscope, this trippy mall entrance in the heart of Harajuku has become quite the popular photo op, tripping snappers out with its unique puzzle of reflections. Head on up to the sixth floor as the building is also home to a serene rooftop garden next to a Starbucks. Grab a coffee and enjoy the views. Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku

The Shiseido Parlour inside the new With Harajuku building features breathtaking views of Yoyogi Park and a luxurious dining salon where you can dine on Shiseido’s signature sweets and yoshoku (Japanese-style western) cuisine. Ingredients are sourced from all around Japan and wine pairings selected by Shiseido Parlour’s sommeliers can be added to multicourse meals. Shiseido Parlour Harajuku

Sneaker shop Atmos now has a dedicated ladies-only flagship store in Harajuku, with relatively discrete pink touches around the shop. You'll find anything from international bestsellers such as Nike, Adidas and Reebok and domestic sneaker brands to original clothing and accessories, all perfect for daily wear. Atmos Pink

Line is undoubtedly the most popular messaging app in Japan – and for good reason. After all, who can resist the original characters and cutesy themes you can use to personalise every chat? The store stocks three floors of merchandise featuring exclusive characters you might recognise from Line's apps, stickers and emoji, as well as the entire lineup of BT21 characters. Line Friends Harajuku

Perennially 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

This lifestyle shop-cum-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 apartment into an office. Think of Things