Harajuku / Omotesando / Aoyama原宿・表参道・青山

Harajuku is a cultural haven for Tokyo's youth, and the streets in Aoyama and Omotesando have a distinct European feel to them.

Harajuku is a collective term for the area that stretches from the south of the Sendagaya area to Jingumae-machi. On the west side of JR Harajuku Station is Meiji-jingu Shrine, located in a forest, it is famous for its Japanese iris garden where irises bloom in profusion during the rainy season, and a treasury hall that stores articles that belonged to Emperor Meiji, the highly cherished emperor of the late 19th century. Near Meiji-jingu Shrine is NHK Broadcasting Center, where visitors can take a tour through the TV program studios and view various exhibits.

East of Harajuku Station lies Takeshita-dori Street, known throughout Japan as a popular hangout for 13- to 15-year-olds. Fashion designers began to set up their offices and studios along Omotesando Avenue and the adjacent Aoyama Street after the Tokyo Olympics, held in 1964. Since then, more and more fashion stores for adults, and fashionable coffee shops and restaurants have been built in this area.

Particularly in recent years, a number of new stores have opened, such as the fashion building Omotesando Hills and famous brand name stores from around the world. Those stores, as well as the zelkova trees along the Omotesando Avenue, give the area an atmosphere like that of European streets.