50 things to do in Harajuku

26. Stuff your face with takoyaki

If you need some sustenance during a hard day of shopping, head to this popular shop on Cat Street for one of the staples of Japanese street food: takoyaki octopus balls.
Daihachi Takohanamaru. 5-11-3 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

27. Go all-out girly

Other shops may have a bigger selection, but few can trump Girly Rose in terms of quality: all of the oh-so-feminine clothes on display here have been imported by the owner herself.
Girly Rose. #102, 3-15-8 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

28. Munch on fresh veggies… and pastries

Don't be fooled by the utilitarian exterior: this is one of Harajuku's best cafés, with freshly baked pastries, farm-to-table vegetables, ample seating and an outdoor patio where you can bring your pet pooch.
Eco Farm Cafe 632. 6-32-10 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

29. Give yourself a Goth-Loli makeover

One of the prime purveyors of Gothic and Punk Lolita fashions, Putumayo even opened a shop in Shanghai recently – though its main branch in Laforet Harajuku is still the place to head.
Putumayo. B1.5F Laforet Harajuku, 1-11-6 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

30. Sink a few microbrews

It may be just around the corner from Takeshita-dori, but the teen fashion crowd feels a long way away at this intimate craft beer bar run by Numazu's Baird Brewing.
Harajuku Taproom. 2F, 1-20-3 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

31. Crunch on some freshly cooked crisps

Snack food maker Calbee serves the freshest crisps you'll ever taste at this Harajuku outpost, complete with toppings including cheese, sour cream and chocolate. Go on: indulge yourself. Calbee Plus. 1-16-8 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

32. Savour the scent

The hustle and bustle of Harajuku quickly subsides on entering this temple of natural aromas, where you can get your own soap made to order, sip herbal teas or even have a quick ayurvedic treatment session.
Tree of Life. 6-3-8 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

33. Try on some next-generation fashion

It may look like an ordinary apartment from the outside, but this boutique is as cutting-edge as they come, stocking all kinds of high-concept clothing by up-and-coming Japanese designers, as well as select secondhand items from overseas.
Mikiri Hassin. 2F, 5-24-2 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

34. Snap up some eccentric duds

Intrepid fashion hounds in search of unusual designs won't be disappointed at this second-hand clothing shop, carefully curated by the people behind local fashion brand Toga.
Toga XTC Harajuku. 6-31-10 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

35. Feast on some fruity puddings

One of Tokyo's most venerable fruit shops, Kiyobashi Sembikiya offers a good perch for indulging on fruit buffets, desserts and juices while gazing out over the Omotesando drag.
Kiyobashi Sembikiya. #201, 1-11-11 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

36. Show your fingernails some love

Give your nails the celebrity treatment at this 'beauty boutique' (Beautik, geddit?) run by well-known makeup artist Kaori K, boasting a full range of nail polishes by luxury brand Uslu Airlines, plus retouching and basic repairs for ¥500.
Beautik. 1.5F Laforet Harajuku, 1-11-6 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

37. Sip latte in a coffee castle

The lattes look almost too good to drink at this Seattle-style coffee shop. If you can snag a seat on the two (tiny) upstairs floors, you'll feel like the king of your own coffee castle.
Streamer Coffee Company. 3-28-19 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

38. Have a late-night highball

Just a short walk from Harajuku Station, this old-school izakaya is a popular drinking spot. And not without good reason: head there any day except Fridays or holidays, and you can get draft beer and highballs for a piddling ¥180.
Yukari. 1-21-12 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

39. Enjoy peace, love and ice cream

It was a long time coming, but Tokyo's first Ben & Jerry's finally opened in April 2012, selling old faves like Cherry Garcia and Phish Food alongside a few Japan originals.
Ben & Jerry's. 1F Omotesando Hills, 4-12-10 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

40. Glimpse some of Tokyo's freshest styles

No matter how well you dress, you'll have trouble competing with the immaculately attired staff at one of Harajuku's edgiest boutiques, where select items from Japan and overseas are complemented by art by French graffiti artist Fafi.
Faline Tokyo. 1-7-5 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

41. Stock up on trendy clothes – and books

Fashion behemoth Baroque Japan Limited's global flagship store showcases brands including Moussy and Sly, while even boasting its own bookshop – perfect for gyaru with an intellectual bent.
The Shel’tter Tokyo. Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku, 4-30-3 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

42. Invest in some vintage threads

The sister shop to Shibuya's Toro does a nice line in quality vintage clothing at affordable prices, while also stocking remade items and accessories created by young designers.
Otoe. 2F, 2-31-9 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

43. Have a tongue-tingling time

Your taste buds are guaranteed a good workout at this long-running Chinese restaurant, which specialises in fiery Szechuan cuisine. The lunch sets, including a sizzling mapo tofu, are particularly good value.
Ryu No Ko. B1F, 1-8-5 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

44. Follow the buzz

Currently one of the hottest destinations for young female shoppers, Nadia Flores en el Corazon hawks import and vintage clothing in vivid colours and eye-catching shapes.
Nadia Flores en el Corazon. 4-28-29 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

45. Chomp down some old-school curry

When local curry shop Ghee closed in 2005, one of its former employees – A Bathing Ape's Nigo, no less – decided to resurrect it. Curry Up is the result, and it's comfort food heaven.
Curry Up. 2-35-9 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

46. Dive into a manga menagerie

Design-savvy gift shop Tokyo's Tokyo looks to the world of anime and manga for inspiration, complete with display units designed to resemble pages of a comic book.
Tokyo’s Tokyo. 5F Tokyu Plaza, 4-30-3 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

47. Slurp some noodles

Fast food doesn't get much heartier than at Kyushu Jangara. If you're looking for a real gut-buster, opt for the zenbu-iri: ramen with every available topping.
Kyushu Jangara Ramen. 1-13-21 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

48. Finish your shopathon with a song

If all the shopping has put you in the mood for a singalong, you should be able to get a room at this popular karaoke chain, which has three branches in the middle of Harajuku.
Karaoke Kan. B1F, 6-5-6 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

49. Find that rare figurine

Run by popular clothing brand Beams, this third-floor shop caters to Tokyo's most fashion-conscious otaku, offering an assortment of ultra-collectible figurines, art, gadgets, books and more besides.
Tokyo Cultuart by Beams. 3F, 3-24-7 Jingumae. Map and opening hours

50. Power up, samurai style

Named after a distinguished samurai, Meiji Shrine's Kiyomasa Well has become a popular 'power spot' in the past few years, believed to bring good fortune in one's work.
Kiyomasa Well. Meiji Shrine, 1-1 Yoyogi-Kamizonocho. Map and opening hours