Harajuku has always been known as the hub of Japan’s pop culture, what with it being the birthplace of Lolita dressing, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and more.

Harajuku’s Takeshita Street, however, is the most populated street and is home to a number of independent boutiques, sweets and crepes stores. The shopping street gets extremely packed with teens, students, tourists and more—especially when the sun sets.

It is bustling and full of life and is definitely a shopping experience in Tokyo you cannot miss. If you do not know where to start, here are the 9 Things You Need To Eat & Do When In Takeshita Dori, Harajuku.

Photo Credit: Travelience

#1 TAKE TONS OF PURIKURA

The 90’s girls would probably remember squeezing into what was known as a Neoprint Booth in your neighbourhood Timezone Arcade during schooling days. But getting one done right in the heart of Harajuku is a different experience all on its own.

Purikura is essentially a photo booth that allows you to customise and decorate your pictures together with friends before getting it printed on the spot. There are even entire stores dedicated to housing an astounding number of these purikura machines.

Each machine also carries its own theme, so you can get your pictures taken in a more “lolita-style” booth, a Korean beauty-style booth, or even a Barbie Design booth.

#2 TUCK INTO A CUSTARD CREAM CHOU

There are many popular sweet stalls all around Takeshita Street, but Croquant Chou Zakuzaku definitely stands out for its amazing range of snacks. You can see snaking lines and customers gathering outside the stall, biting into their cream-filled chous.

Croquant Chou Zakuzaku is known for their churro-shaped cream chous, which oozes decadent custard cream. They also sell milky soft serves in cups and cones.

Croquant Chou Zakuzaku
1 Chome-1-7-1 CUTECUBE
151-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 03-6804-6340
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#3 SNACK ON GIGANTIC RAINBOW CANDY FLOSS

Totti Candy Factory is cotton candy heaven! Known for its magnificent rainbow treats, the cotton candy is probably two times the size of your head and comes in dazzling pastel hues.

The store experiences queues every single day and you can watch as the staff members spin the floss and bring your cotton candy dreams to life.

Totti Candy Factory is also known for their other handmade sweets such as marshmallows, hard candy, cake pops and more.

Totti Candy Factory
2F, 1-16-5, Jingumae
150-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 03-3403-7007
Feb to Oct: 10am – 8pm
Nov to Jan: 10.30am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#4 VISIT THE PSYCHEDLIC KAWAII MONSTER CAFE

Kawaii Monster Cafe is basically all of Harajuku’s culture, sights and sounds rolled up and presented as a cafe. Prepare to dive into a world of colourful food, themed seating areas within the cafe, and roaming cosplayers!

Kawaii Monster Café
YM square building 4F
4-31-10, Jingumae, Shibuya,Tokyo
Tel: +81 03-5413-6142
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 4.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#5 GO ON A ¥100 SHOPPING SPREE

A multi-storey Daiso sits along Takeshita Dori and offers a stunning selection of literally anything under the sun—be it kitchenware, clothing, stationery, and even candy and snacks.

If shopping for fashionable clothing along the streets is not your thing, then go for a ¥100 shopping spree at Daiso!

Daiso Harajuku
1 Chome-19-24, Jingumae
150-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5775-9641
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

Photo Credit: Earth To Iris

#6 HUNT FOR VINTAGE JEWELS AT G2?

G2? is one of style icon Krary Pamyu Pamyu’s go-to store for vintage clothing hence iti s no wonder that it is usually packed with fashionistas looking for the best second-hand deals.

Styles from the 50s to the 80s can be found at G2?, ranging from kitschy to classic.

G2?
3 Chome-22-7, Jingumae
150-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 3-5786-4188
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 8pm
Closed on Sat & Sun
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#7 JIGGLY, FLUFFY PANCAKES

Gram became famous for serving jiggly, fluffy pancakes. These Japanese-style soufflé pancakes are stacked high and dribbled in syrup. Despite looking like a mountain of sugar, these pancakes are actually pretty light in taste.

Be warned that the queues will be long and the pancakes are only available during selected timings of the day.

Gram Pancakes
1-9-30 Jingumae
150-0001, Japan
Tel: +81 3-6804-3399
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#8 TRY SOME FRESHLY-FRIED CHIPS

Pop by the Calbee PLUS store and get some freshly-fried chips. Have it drizzled in chocolate sauce or cheese.

There is also a wide range of Calbee merchandise that you can bring home as souvenirs.

Calbee PLUS

1 Chome-16-8 Jingumae
150-0001, Japan
Daily: 9.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Harajuku

#9 THE QUINTESSENTIAL HARAJUKU CREPES

When you do a simple image search of Harajuku, you will come face to face with an onslaught of pretty crepe snapshots. Takeshita Dori is where a number of Japanese-style crepe stores call home, each offering their own array of sweet cream-filled crepes topped with bananas, strawberries, wafers, and so much more.

Just take a walk down Takeshita Street and pick the crepe store that appeals to you the most.

You’d probably have seen photos and boomerang videos of these fluffy pancakes on Instagram. They jiggle when you shake the plate, they really do.

All hail Cafe Gram’s Japanese-style Soufflé Pancakes, the one thing you must eat when in Japan!

Cafe Gram became famous for these and we have every reason for you to add this to your must-eat list. Heck, you should even fly to Japan for it!

The soufflé pancakes come in a stack of three thick pieces. The cream-coloured goodie is cooked to order and served warm, and freshness is guaranteed. This means you should tuck into it right after taking your photos and boomerang videos.

Looking all cloud-like, they sure entice both young and old. Just look around you; every table in the cafe would have a portion of these pancakes.

And yes, they do live up to the hype. It is not just a marketing gimmick as you might see it as. Well, we admit we were sceptical too but hell, were we proven wrong!

Despite looking like a mountain of sugar, Cafe Gram’s soufflé pancakes are actually pretty light in taste. Bite into it and you would be rewarded with an airy texture with a slight crisp, something like meringue, but less sweet. It also boasts a subtle eggy and creamy taste, but nothing too cloyingly sweet.

Be warned that the queues will be long and the pancakes are only available during specific hours of the day. The three timings for the pancakes are 11am, 3pm & 6pm.

And do you know why queues are formed despite the specific timings? Becuase there are only 20 portions per timing. Our suggestion is to go 15 minutes before the “golden hours” for a better chance to secure a slot.

Gram
Jiyugaoka, 2 Chome??????
Tel: +81 3 5726 8384
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Jiyugaoka