Shibuya and Harajuku give you a full youth-culture afternoon. Start with a walk through a large forest shrine, then move to the fashion streets of Harajuku. In the late afternoon, walk to Shibuya for shops, character goods and street food. The route is best on a weekday, when the crowds are smaller and the shops are easier to browse.
Start in the forest
Meiji Shrine sits inside a large park of tall trees. The main paths are wide, gravel and quiet, so it is a good way to begin the day before the streets fill. Walk through the gate, follow the path to the main hall, and take a few minutes to rest in the trees. Visitors are asked to be quiet and to follow the signs at each building.
Plan this part early. The shrine grounds are open for most of the day, but some buildings and offices have set hours. Check the shrine's own website before you go.
Takeshita Street: crowds and small shops
Takeshita Street runs from the station toward the main road, and it is narrow and busy. It has small shops for clothes, accessories and sweets, with bright fronts and many visitors. Go early in the day if you want space to walk, and keep your bag closed in the crowd.
This is the most energetic part of the afternoon. Walk slowly, look at the shop fronts, and choose one or two shops to enter. Keep an eye on your group, because it is easy to get separated in a busy street.
Quieter streets: Cat Street and Omotesando
Cat Street runs between Shibuya and Harajuku, and it has smaller shops, cafes and boutiques. It is calmer than Takeshita Street, and it suits a slow browse with friends. Omotesando is a wide avenue with trees and modern buildings by well-known architects. It has larger shops and is a good place for a short walk.
Use these streets to rest between the busy parts of the afternoon. Sit in a cafe for a while, and then walk on toward Shibuya.
Second-hand and vintage clothes
Vintage and second-hand clothing shops are common in the streets near Harajuku. Many are small, and some close one day a week. Check the opening days on the shop's page or on Tabelog before you walk there.
Sizes in Japan run smaller than in many countries. Look at the size chart, and ask the staff whether a garment fits your measurements. Check the return policy before you pay, because some shops do not accept returns.
Anime and character goods in Shibuya
Shibuya has many shops for character goods, figures and collectables, and some of them are large. The shops are often on upper floors of buildings, so look at the building directory near the entrance. For a deeper dive into anime shops, the anime district of Akihabara is a separate day, and it has its own range of shops.
Set a budget before you go in, and ask the staff about the rules for buying and carrying items. Some rare goods are sold only in limited numbers, so buy what you like when you see it.
Eat with Tabelog
Use Tabelog to find lunch and an early dinner. Choose a place with recent reviews, and check the opening days and last order time on the listing. Many shops in these streets are small, and some queue at lunch. Arrive before the rush or after it, and you wait less.
Street food is common in Harajuku and Shibuya, especially sweets and snacks. Eat it while you walk, but keep the wrappers in your bag until you find a bin.
Walk back through the crossing
End the afternoon at the crossing in Shibuya. It is easier to see from the side, and the walk back to the station is short. Agree on a meeting point before you split up for shopping, so nobody waits in the crowd.
Who this suits
This plan suits friends who like shopping, street style and anime. It is less suited to someone who wants a quiet day, because the streets are busy at most times of the afternoon.
Check first: Check the opening days and hours of each shop on its website or social page before you go, and check the opening hours of the shrine on its official site. Some shops close on a weekday, and some change their hours with the season.
What to do next
Read the Shibuya and Harajuku guide for the district and its streets, and the Tokyo guide for the rest of the city. Use the planner to add this afternoon to your trip, and check the guides for more ideas.
