Omotesando Avenue is a sloping tree-lined boulevard in Tokyo's fashionable Aoyama district that goes through parts of both Shibuya and Minato wards. The Harajuku area, which Omotesando is often considered a part of, has its own distinctive brand of youth fashion. On the other hand, Omotesando itself caters to the haute couture end of the spectrum, with plenty of places to sit back and relax over good food and drink, and take in the cutting edge architecture that typifies many of the establishments here.

Omotesando means "Shrine Entranceway Road," reflecting its history as the approach to the Meiji Shrine - and its former grounds, that have now become Yoyogi Park - at the top, north-western, end of the street.

Omotesando features many cutting edge buildings designed by prominent architects, both Japanese and from overseas. The architectural charms of Omotesando are maybe best enjoyed at night when the lighting accentuates the inspired lines and curves.

Summary Credits: Japan Visitor

Photo Credit: JW Magazine

Location: Tokyo, Minato City, Minamiaoyama, 5 Chome

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: The main road is located just outside the Omotesando Station which can be accessed on the Chiyoda Line, Ginza Line or Hanzomon Line.

If you are coming through the JR Line, you can get off at Harajuku Station and take a short, pleasing walk down the tree lined boulevard to the main road.

 

When visiting Harajuku, visiting Takeshita Street is a must. It makes up the main part of Harajuku and is a youth fashion symbol of the area. It’s a 400 meter street lined up with boutiques, shops, fashion and street wear, restaurants, many sweets shops (crepes are the most famous), cafes and much more. It’s popularity attracts massive crowds to the area, but it’s worth all the fun, eating and shopping in the area!

Location: 1 Chome-17 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Hours: Most stores are open from around 11am - 8pm.

Website: https://www.takeshita-street.com/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Harajuku Station, Takeshita Exit on the JR Line.

 

Kiddy Land is a paradise store for toy and souvenir lovers. It’s packed with the latest and most popular toys and items. It has 5 stories of goods both from Japan and abroad which range from Pokemon, Rilakkuma, Legos, Snoopy, Star Wars, Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli and much more! It first opened up in 1950 to cater to the large amounts of American soldiers and families stationed nearby during the occupation of Japan after the end of World War II.

Photo Credit: TripAdvisor

Address: 6 Chome-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Hours: 11am - 9pm (10:30am start on Saturday/Sunday)

Website: https://www.kiddyland.co.jp/harajuku/

How to get there: A 7 minute walk from Harajuku Station, East Exit on the JR Line.

 

Walk across the Shibuya Crossing and head into the small, narrow streets of Shibuya Center Gai. It’s a youth cultural center and nightlife hotspot. Within these streets, you can find youth fashion shops and boutiques, record shops, restaurants/bars, karaokes and clubs tucked away underground. At night, late night parties and bar hoppers roam the streets. During big events such as the World Cups, Olympics or any major events, the places are packed with people looking to watch games and enjoy each others company.

Photo Credit: Go Tokyo

Location: 12-3 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0042

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: A 2 minute walk from Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit on the JR Line. The entrance can be found next to the famous Starbucks overlooking the Shibuya Crossing.

 

Located right outside the Shibuya Station a long with the Shibuya Crossing, this statue memorializes the touching story of Hachiko, an Akita breed dog and his owner Professor Ueno. Together, they would walk to the station every morning where Hachiko would send his owner off to work. In the afternoon, Hachiko would return to the station and wait for Professor Ueno to return. One beautiful morning in 1925, Hachiko sent Professor Ueno off to work in the morning, like usual. And then, Hachiko returned in the afternoon to wait for his owner to come back. Professor Ueno never came back. He died from a sudden brain hemorrhage at work and that morning was the last time they say goodbye to each other. Hachiko was adopted by another family, but even with the new family Hachiko would return to the station everyday in hopes to welcome Professor Ueno back home. Hachiko died in 1935 at the age of 11. He was found alone in the streets of Shibuya waiting for Professor Ueno. 

Hachiko Statue now is a famous meeting place for people coming to Shibuya.

Photo Credit: Go Tokyo

Location: Right outside the exit of Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: A 30 second walk from Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit on the JR Line.

 

Rising 230 meters above the ground with 47 floors, the Shibuya Scramble Square is the newest and tallest landmark in the Shibuya area. The 47 stories are filled with shops and restaurants, offices and industrial complexes. At the very top of the building you can get a stunning view of Tokyo from the viewing deck. The viewing deck operates until 11:00pm.

Photo Credit: Matcha JP

Address: 2 Chome-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002

Hours: 11am - 9pm

Website: https://www.shibuya-scramble-square.com/en/

How to get there: A 2 minute walk from the Shibuya Station, East Exit on the JR Line.

 

If you’re in Shinjuku and looking for things to do in Tokyo, Japan, stop by the Godzilla Head for a chance to encounter the head of a giant beast. Godzilla first came out in 1959 under Toho Co., Ltd. depicting a giant, destructive sea monster that was awakened by nuclear radiation from nuclear testing. It went on to make 32 more films under the same franchise and even holds the world record for the longest continuously running franchise film.

A giant 80 ton Godzilla head is placed on top of the Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku as a tribute to the movie. Get up close and personal with it by accessing it through the lobby level of Hotel Gracery.

Tokyo Guide: Witness Japans most destructive creature up close.

Address: 1 Chome-18-8 Kabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0021

Hours: Open 24 hours (lobby of hotel)

How to get there: An 8 minute walk from Exit b12 of the JR Shinjuku Station.

 

Tokyo Guide: Godzilla Head on top of the Toho CInemas in Kabukicho.

Shibuya 109 has been the youth fashion center since 1979. When it first opened up, it was a different kind of department store at the time. Instead of having similar shops under one roof, it was designed to be a fashion community for the area. It’s a community of retail shops with different youth subcultures and different stores.

Shibuya 109 is an iconic symbol of Shibuya. Inside the department store you can find over 120 shops throughout its 10 stories. You can buy anything from souvenirs, shoes, clothes, beauty products, accessories and costumes all within their niche subcultures.

Photo Credit: Timeout Tokyo

Address: 2 Chome-29-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043

Hours: 10am - 9pm

Website: https://www.shibuya109.jp/

How to get there: A 4 minute walk from the Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit on the JR Line.

 

Every big city has a major landmark that can be associated with that area. New York has the Statue of Liberty, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and the London has the Big Ben. While Tokyo does have landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower and Skytree, the Shibuya Crossing is an iconic landmark that must not be missed.

This scramble intersection right outside Shibuya Station symbolizes modern Tokyo in itself - neon lights, crowds and hundreds of restaurants and shops. This intersection is unique in that you can cross in any direction you want. At peak hours there can be anywhere from up to 3000 people in the intersection at once! Being in the middle of a busy area, this makes for a perfect recipe of organized chaos! You’ll see waves of people going in every direction while everyone tries to dodge and avoid each other.

This intersection has been made popular in movies such as Lost in Translation and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. It also makes appearances in many TV shows, manga’s, anime’s and newscasts.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Location: Right outside Shibuya Station

Hours: N/A

Website: N/A

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from the Shibuya Station, Hachiko Exit on the JR Line.

 

Hiroyasu Kayama's charming bar resembles an apothecary thanks to numerous herbal infusions and unusual potions that line the shelves. Clad in a white jacket, the bartender can often be found grinding roots, herbs and spices grown on his family's own plot of land, which add complexity to aromatic cocktails based on gin, whisky, absinthe and amaro. They are also used in homemade liqueurs – the bar is well-known for making its own version of Campari.

Summary Credit: Worlds Best 50 Bars

Photo Credit: Best 50 Bars in the World

Address: 〒160-0023 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Nishishinjuku, 1 Chome−13−7 大和家ビル 9F

Hours: Closed Sundays, 6pm - 1am

Website: N/A

How to get there: A 6 minute minute walk from Shinjuku Station, Central West Exit on the JR Line.