Shibuya, for youthful fashion shopping

The most popular shopping district in Tokyo is Shibuya. Shibuya is known as a trendy and youthful shopping area and it is easily one of the most recognizable and vibrant places in Tokyo as it’s filled with tall buildings, big screens and neon lights. Strolling around in the evening in Shibuya makes you feel like you ended up in a steampunk movie set in Japan.

For the best shopping experience its best to go north from station Shibuya. Here you will find the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest intersection in the world, with the famous Aikita statue. From here you can enter the Center Gai street, where big brands, restaurants, arcades and nightlife all come together. This is often considered the birthplace of the radical fashion trends in Japan, so there are an abundance of alternative fashion to be found here. And if you prefer to stay indoors you can check out the eye catching department stores such as the 183 meters tall Shibuya Hikarie and the 109 department store.

If you walk further north or take the metro to Harajuku station then you will find the Harajuku district on your east side. As you arrive the first thing you will see to the south east is Omotesandō street, which is often called the Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées. This name is a reference to the famous street in France, as you will find several architectural highlights in here which house big brand luxury fashion stores, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada. But for regular shoppers there are also more accessible retailers such as Zara and H&M.

For teenage fashion and youth culture you will want to check out Takeshita Street, which lies parallel north of Omotesandō street, where you will find fashion for different Japanese subcultures, from kawaii candy colored dresses to tight black jackets. This area is considered the teen Mecca of Tokyo, which also reflects in the food offering in the area, as you can get some delicious sweet and often fruit and whipped cream filled crêpes here in between your shopping sessions as well.

Within Shibuya you will also find Yoyogi Park and the matching Meiji Shrine, which you can also visit if you want to combine your shopping trip with a moment of relaxation.