Over 100 boutiques jostle for attention in the multi-storey Laforet mall, which has been the centre of Harajuku fashion – and a bastion of Lolita-style cutesiness – for over 30 years. Laforet
If you're looking for the heart of Tokyo's distinctive kawaii fashion culture, Harajuku is the place to go. Harajuku is the district that gave us Lolita girls, decora, the pancake boom and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. This Shibuya neighbourhood has been the captial of Tokyo teen fashion (and vintage stores) for decades, and it's still nurturing unorthodox, garish styles even as big-name international retailers like H&M and Zara rush into the area.
Join us on a trip around Harajuku's best restaurants, cafés, gift shops and fashion boutiques – lots of fashion boutiques. And if these 50 things to do in Harajuku aren't enough for you, make sure to check out our guide to Tokyo's best souvenir shops and specialist stores.
Note: these restaurants/cafés/shops might close early depending on the current Covid-19 measures imposed by the authorities. Please check with the individual outlets for the latest business hours.
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