Omotesando, lined with stylish brand-name shops, cafes, and restaurants, is Tokyo’s answer to the Champs-Elysee in Paris. Besides the shopping, it’s particularly noteworthy for its numerous buildings designed by superstar Japanese architects.

Omotesando - image © Florentyna Leow
Meaning ‘frontal approach,’ Omotesando was originally created in the 1920s as the road leading to the entrance of Meiji-jingu Shrine. Today, it occupies a more commercial - but no less important - role in modern-day Tokyo. The broad, zelkova tree-lined avenue stretching from the shrine entrance all the way to Aoyama Street sees millions thronging its pavements daily to shop till they drop.

Omotesando - image © Florentyna Leow
Beginning with the mall-like Omotesando Hills, Omotesando is lined with a multitude of fashion stores - mostly international brand names, but also including up-and-coming or lesser-known designers. Besides clothes shopping, families should not miss a trip to Kiddyland, a veritable toy bonanza to keep young children occupied for days. But even if you’re not in Tokyo to shop, just walking along Omotesando is a treat, particularly for architecture enthusiasts, as many of the buildings and shops were designed by superstar architects such as Tadao Ando (Omotesando Hills) and Toyo Ito (Tod’s).

Omotesando - image © Florentyna Leow
The narrower, winding streets of Ura-Harajuku on either side of Omotesando should not be ignored either. In these streets, you’ll find dozens of charming establishments such as secondhand clothing stores, a stationery-themed cafe, and some of the best tonkatsu restaurants in town.
English name:
Omotesando
Japanese name:
表参道
English address:
Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001
Kita-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0061
Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062
Japanese address:
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前
〒107-0061 東京都港区北青山
〒107-0062 東京都港区南青山
Opening hours:
Varies by shop
Price:
Nearest Transport:
Subway: Omote-sando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Hanzomon and Chiyoda lines.
Telephone:
+81-3-3406-4303 (Harajuku Omotesando Keyaki Organization)
Website:
Official website (English)
Near To Here:
Omotesando is located in Tokyo's Harajuku And Aoyama district. See our complete list of things to do in Harajuku And Aoyama, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
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