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Harajuku Station

Harajuku

Two major shopping streets and Meiji Shrine nearby

As indicated in its address, Jingu (the shrine), Harajuku is located at the entrance to Meiji Shrine, the largest Shinto shrine in Tokyo. However, except for Meiji Shrine, Harajuku is the centre of modern fashion in Japan.

Just watching people walking down Takeshita St. dressed in gothic Lolita look would change your notion of Japan. Or you can head to Omosando Avenue to shop international designer brands. If you are not into shopping, the architectures housing the boutiques are worth taking a look. Landmarks include Omotesando Hills by Tadao Ando and PRADA by Herzog and de Meuron.

One of the roots of popularity of Harajuku lies in Washington Heights. Washington Heights was the U.S. Army officers’ residence near Harajuku created after the World War II. Shops like Kiddy Land opened to cater to officers and their families.

In 1964, the Washington Heights was converted into Olympic Village for the Tokyo Olympics. The area continued to attract internationally minded locals, and gradually many apparel shops followed them to Harajuku, which supplied the hippest clothes of the time. Washington Heights is now National Institution for Youth Education and has a youth hostel on site.

A shopping centre La Foret opened in the 1970’s and the area became even more popular. In the 1990’s, international brands opened stores on Omotesando one after another, and the area was accepted by everyone to be one of the most fashionable in Japan. Today major brands without presence here are all looking for opportunities to open their stores.

View map of Harajuku Map of Harajuku