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Crepes, cosplay, and colorful fashion make Takeshita Street in Harajuku Tokyo’s ultimate youth culture experience. It’s a great place for snacks, shopping, and people-watching.

A bustling Takeshita Street Harajuku scene in Tokyo, Japan, filled with colorful shops, signs, and a decorative entrance arch with balloons. Crowds of people stroll beneath the arch on a sunny day.

What Is Takeshita Street?

Takeshita Street (Takeshita Dori) is a short pedestrian street in Harajuku that packs a big personality. At just over 350 meters long, this lively road is lined with sweet shops, fashion boutiques, and souvenir stalls. It’s a trendsetting hub where many of Japan’s youth subcultures first gained popularity.

Located right across from JR Harajuku Station, Takeshita Street is easy to find and super fun to browse. It’s a place where energy and creativity are on full display.

Harajuku Station: Your Gateway to Takeshita Street

A clothing store on Takeshita Street Harajuku with a Broadway Hip Hop & Sports Wear sign, mannequins in colorful outfits outside, a staircase to the right, and fancy dresses displayed in an upstairs window.

JR Harajuku Station’s Takeshita Exit puts you just steps away from the start of Takeshita Street. The station was renovated in 2020 with a new modern design that’s easier to navigate for travelers. Inside, you’ll find clean restrooms and coin lockers for storing bags.

Sweets and Snacks: Harajuku’s Candy-Colored Wonderland

A masked worker prepares food behind a glass counter inside a brightly lit shop on Takeshita Street Harajuku, with reflections of people and street activity visible on the glass.

If your idea of fun includes rainbow snacks and over-the-top desserts, this is the place.

Here are some sweet stops you might want to check out:

Rainbow Sweets Harajuku

This pastel cotton candy is spun taller than your head. It’s as photogenic as it is sugary.

Unicorn Cotton Candy

Light-up, unicorn-shaped cotton candy that’s straight out of a fairy tale. It was a hit with the kids (and secretly with me too).

Calbee Plus Harajuku

Freshly fried potato chips topped with soft-serve, chocolate, or cheese. Don’t miss the rare Jagarico flavors.

Long Longer Longest

A worker in a gray uniform at Takeshita Street Harajuku dispenses a tall, spiral swirl of soft-serve ice cream into a cone from a machine, wearing a headset and gloves and focusing intently on making the ice cream.

This quirky shop offers churros, fries, and ice cream in three sizes: long, longer, and longest. We shared one for the photo—and yes, it was actually delicious.

Fashion and Fun: Shopping on Takeshita Dori

A brightly lit Japanese beauty store on Takeshita Street Harajuku, with shelves stocked with cosmetics, skincare, and beauty products. Two people browse inside. Pink and white decor create a cheerful atmosphere alongside promotional posters and display stands.

Takeshita Street is also a showcase for bold fashion, Japanese pop culture, and quirky accessories.

Here are a few popular shops:

  • WEGO Harajuku – Trendy, budget-friendly streetwear
  • ACDC Rag – Neon, punk, and playful fashion
  • Cosme Stores – Great deals on Japanese beauty products
  • Vintage & Secondhand Shops – Look for retro jackets and rare finds
  • Kawaii & Novelty Goods – Perfect for fun, lightweight souvenirs

How to Get to Takeshita Street

Train

  • Take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station and exit via the Takeshita Exit. Takeshita Street begins just across the street.
  • From Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station, take Exit 2 and it’s a short 5-minute walk to the entrance of Takeshita Street.
  • Total travel time: 10–25 minutes from major Tokyo hubs.

Pro Tip: Arrive early on weekdays to beat the crowds and enjoy a less chaotic photo experience.

Is Takeshita Street Worth Visiting?

A crepe shop called Santa Monica Crepes on Takeshita Street Harajuku displays colorful crepes in plastic models. A worker stands behind the counter, ready to take orders. The shop has a bright, pink-themed interior.

When friends visit Tokyo for the first time, we always bring them to Takeshita Street. The shopping street captures the playful, youth-driven side of Tokyo. With colorful sweets, bold fashion, and nonstop energy, it’s one of the most unique places we’ve explored.

More to Explore Nearby

Once you’ve had your fill of crepes and character fashion, you’re still just minutes away from more Harajuku highlights:

  • Omotesando – A stylish avenue with flagship shops and bold architecture
  • Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku – Don’t miss the mirrored entrance and rooftop terrace
  • Laforet Harajuku – A department store packed with edgy youth fashion
  • Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingu) – A peaceful forest walk and historic Shinto shrine