Takeshita-dori Street in Harajuku is where Japanese teenagers gather. Here, you can shop, eat, and experience a loud, colourful side of Japanese youth culture in Tokyo.
Takeshita-dori Street - image © Florentyna Leow
Long hailed as one of the symbols of fashion hub Harajuku, Takeshita-dori is a 400-metre long street lined with fast food outlets, crepe stands, and fashion boutiques peddling everything from socks to stockings to corsets. In the 90s, it was known as the place to get counterfeit American and Japanese clothes; and it was instrumental in facilitating the rise of Harajuku-style street fashion.
Takeshita-dori Street - image © Florentyna Leow
However, the influx of major chain outlets, tourist-oriented shops, and pink crepe stands in recent years have edged out some of the individualist styles and shops once seen here. These days, Takeshita-dori and the surrounding Harajuku area are considerably tamer places than they were during their heyday in the 90s.
Nevertheless, it continues to be a major hub for fashion culture, and it’s still a popular gathering spot for Tokyo teenagers. There’s enough in the way of visual and auditory stimulus to keep everyone occupied during a visit. This is also the place to pick up inexpensive, colorful socks and funky T-shirts.
That being said, if you dislike crowds, you should avoid walking along this street - especially during weekends.
If nothing else, seek out an underground purikura booth here to take some commemorative photo stickers. It’s a uniquely fun Japanese experience and makes for some great memories.
English name:
Takeshitadori Street
Japanese name:
竹下通り
English address:
1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0001
Japanese address:
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前1
Opening hours:
Varies by shop
Price:
Nearest Transport:
Train: In fron of Takeshita exit of Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote line.
Subway: 3-minute walk from exit 3 of Meiji-jingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines.
Telephone:
+81-3-3403-2525 (Harajuku Takeshitadori Shops Organization)
Website:
Official website (Japanese)
Near To Here:
Takeshita-dori Street 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.
Where Is This Place Located?
See this place on the Truly Tokyo Google map:- Open the Tokyo map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
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