Culture: Shopping – Harajuku, Shibuya, Takeshita Street & Cat Street in Tokyo
A trip to Tokyo is not complete without a shopping outing in 2 very trendy and youthful neighborhoods, Harajuku and Shibuya. Narrow streets snake behind the big roads and are filled with boutiques and shops brimming with the latest Tokyo fashions.
Whether you are a kid or not, one must browse through Kiddyland, a several storied shop filled with iconic cartoon characters and Japanese pop culture.
There is nothing subtle about Tokyo fashion! Bright colors with bold graphics were abound. Popular trends from other cultures were also seen– there were lots of clothes with references to Brooklyn, New York, cowboys, and British punk!
Once you’ve browsed the main boulevards and small back streets of Harajuku and Shibuya, there are a few pedestrian-only shopping streets that must not be missed, Takeshita Dori and Cat Street.
Takeshita Dori is in Shibuya and winds its way from Meiji Dori up to the Harajuku Station. We happened upon it just at dusk and it was packed full groups of teens ready to shop and eat. The street is filled with pop-style shops and sugary, sweet food stops to help fuel any young person’s shopping strength!
Illustrated Map of Cat Street in Tokyo, Japan by Wanderlust Designer
Cat Street is another great pedestrian road to explore. It bridges the two neighborhoods of Shibuya and Harajuku and is filled with international brand name stores as well as stylish boutiques.
Shopping with a teen daughter in Tokyo (like we were) definitely required some patience. The amount of tantalizing stores brimming with the latest looks is enough to make any fashion forward teen drool in delight! My husband and son decided a few breaks to grab food was a good option as we took in the scene. Even if you are not shopping with a teen and/or not even a big “shopper”, a trip to Shibuya and Harajuku is a must when in Tokyo. These neighborhoods exude youthful Japanese culture and the people watching alone is worth a trip to a cafe to watch the shoppers go by!