Neighbourhood in Shibuya
Harajuku
原宿
Tokyo's youth fashion district between Harajuku Station and Omotesando, next to the forest of Meiji Jingu shrine and Yoyogi Park.
- places to see
- 6
- walk past the highlights
- 2.0 km
- Tokyo
- Shibuya
Photo: Tomi Mäkitalo (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Harajuku is known around the world as a centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion. The area runs from Harajuku Station to Omotesando: tiny boutiques and crepe stands on Takeshita Street, second-hand and street-wear shops on Cat Street, and luxury flagships along Omotesando itself.
Step the other way out of the station and you are in the forest of Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo's most visited shrines, with Yoyogi Park next door. Shibuya is a 15-minute walk south. More of the ward is in our Shibuya guide.
Don't miss in Harajuku
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Meiji Jingu
明治神宮Forest shrine to Emperor Meiji right behind Harajuku Station. Walk in through the giant wooden torii.
Photo: Tokuzo in Edomura (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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2. Takeshita Street
竹下通りThe crowded heart of youth fashion and crepes, opposite the station.
Photo: Syced (opens in a new tab), CC0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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3. Yoyogi Park
代々木公園Big open park for a picnic. Busy with musicians and dancers at weekends.
Photo: Syced (opens in a new tab), CC0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
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4. Togo Shrine
東郷神社Small shrine with a pond garden, a quiet escape just off Takeshita Street.
Photo: I, KENPEI (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)5. Ota Memorial Museum of Art
浮世絵 太田記念美術館Ukiyo-e prints in a small museum one block from Omotesando. Shoes off at the door.
Walk Harajuku in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 2.0 km in all.
Stop 1
Meiji Jingu
Start here
Stop 2
Yoyogi Park
8 min walk
Stop 3
Takeshita Street
11 min walk
Stop 4
Togo Shrine
2 min walk
Stop 5
Ota Memorial Museum of Art
5 min walk
More around Harajuku
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Kitaya Inari Shrine
北谷稲荷神社A Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
Harajuku on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
Are Harajuku and Omotesando the same place?
They run into each other. Harajuku usually means the area around the station and Takeshita Street, Omotesando the tree-lined avenue that leads south-east from it.
Is Meiji Jingu free?
Yes, entry to the shrine grounds is free. The inner garden charges a small fee.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Tokyo
- ShibuyaHome of the world's busiest pedestrian crossing and the Hachiko statue, with new towers, rooftop views and a park on top of a mall.
- EbisuRelaxed district one stop from Shibuya, built around an old beer brewery, with lots of restaurants, izakaya and bars.
- ShinjukuTokyo's busiest hub: neon-lit Kabukicho and Golden Gai to the east, skyscrapers and free city views to the west, and a huge garden to the south.
- RoppongiCentral Tokyo district known for nightlife, embassies and the art museums of Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and the National Art Center.
- ShimokitazawaTokyo's favourite neighbourhood for vintage clothes, records, small theatres and live music, a short train ride from Shibuya or Shinjuku.
- KagurazakaA sloping street from Iidabashi with stone-paved back lanes from its geisha days, old shrines and Tokyo's biggest cluster of French bakeries and bistros.
- GinzaTokyo's classic upmarket shopping district, with department stores, flagship boutiques, the Kabuki-za theatre and a main street that closes to cars at weekends.
- MarunouchiThe business district between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, with the red-brick station, palace gardens and a tree-lined street of shops.
