Trendsetter Street
Arguably one of the most well-known streets in the fashion capital of Japan, Harajuku's Takeshita Dori is a popular spot for teenagers, tourists, fashionistas, foodies, and just about anyone else. This small pedestrian street is lined with dazzling shops featuring the latest Harajuku street fashions and amazing dessert restaurants to satisfy your sweet tooth. While major chains and recognizable names like McDonald's, Wolfgang Puck, The Body Shop, 7-11 and others grace the street, Takeshita Dori is best known for small fashion boutiques and independent stores. Often considered the inspiration for many of Japan's young fashionistas, Harajuku's Takeshita Dori continues to inspire Japan's youth to push the borders of fashion each year. It's no surprise to see insane combinations and bright colors donned by the locals flaunting their extra kawaii sense of fashion.
Desserts, Sweets, & Kawaii Treats
The fashion may bring tourists to Harajuku, but it's the dessert shops and cafes along Takeshita Dori that makes them want to stay. As the originator of Japanese style crepes, Takeshita Dori has enough dessert shops to make your head spin. There's numerous options for crepe cafes, each with their own unique spin. If crepes aren't your speed, Takeshita Dori is home to colorful cotton candy, crunchy cream puffs, cookies, bakeries, chocolate pizza, and all-you-can-eat dessert shops. If there was ever a place where you could expect to see someone pulling off an intricate, colorful outfit meant to match with their dessert, it'd be in Takeshita Dori.
Recommended Desserts & Restaurants
As one of the top dessert areas in all Japan, Takeshita Dori is home to a few can't miss specialties and extra kawaii delicacies. To help you plan your vacation, here's a brief list of some of our favorite Snack shops and restaurants around Takeshita Dori, Omotesando, and Harajuku:
- Kawaii Monster Cafe - Extra Kawaii Goodness
- ZAKUZAKU - Crunchy Cream Puffs
- Cookie Time - Cookies Galore
- Sweet Box 2
- Comcrepe - Creme Brule Crepes
- Marion Crepes - the Original Japanese Crepe
- Sweets Paradise - All you can Eat Sweets
- Cafe Ron Ron - Conveyor Belt Desserts
- Chocolate Pizza Bar - Pizza meets Dessert
- Gomaya Kuki - Sesame Seed Sweets
- Dominique Ansel Bakery
- Totti Candy Factory - Magical Cotton Candy
- Harajuku Denki Shoukai - Light-bulb Drinks
- Cafe & Pancake Gram - Japanese-style Pancakes
- Long! Longer!! Longest!!! - the Longest Treats Around
- Calbee + - Popular Chip Retailer's Flagship Store
- CANDY A☆GO☆GO! - Snacks & Treats from around the world
- Garrett Popcorn Shops - Unique Popcorn & Japan-exclusive designed cans
Interested in Shopping for Clothes & Souvenirs in Harajuku? Check out our Omotesando Recommended Stores & Souvenir Shopping
page for a brief list of the best stores and shops frequented by locals around Takeshita Dori, Omotesando, & Harajuku.
Enjoy these options and more during your free time in Harajuku on any of Japan Deluxe Tours fully guided Cherry Blossom Travel Packages or Anime Japan Tours for your next holiday vacation. Don't forget to ask your travel agent about our affordable range of custom private tours for a personalized experience through Tokyo with your own private tour guide.