6 Best Places to Shop in Harajuku, Tokyo

Harajuku features a cluster of no fewer than 10 Beams stores that provide Japan's younger folk with extremely hip threads. With branches ranging from street wear to high-end import brands, as well as a record store, uniform gallery, funky "from Tokyo" souvenir shop that sells anime figurines, and one that sells manga alongside designer T-shirts inspired by comic books, shopping here ensures that you or your kids will be properly stocked with the coolest wares from the city.

The Omotesando landmark commonly regarded as Tokyo's best toy store carries the cutest and most kitschy of everyday goods. This is the leader in making or breaking the popularity of the myriad character goods that Japan spits out seasonally. Like caterpillars with businesspeople faces, some of the items may be odd or surprising, but they're never boring.

If there's one shop that is the epitome of crazy, kawaii (cute) Harajuku fashion, it's this pastel dollhouselike shop on the second floor of a nondescript building. The acid-color tutus and glittery accessories are part of a style called "kawaii anarchy" and may be the most unique shopping experience in Tokyo. The colorful shopgirls alone are an attraction, and if asked nicely, they will happily pose for photos.

Cool and quirky T-shirts are the main focus of this store, but you can find other items in the frequently-changing lineup of designs that run from cartoon characters and odd quotes to abstract graphic images.

The 140 or so stores at this Harajuku mall are where teen trends are born. Although shop genres vary from Gothic Lolita to bohemian chic, they all target fashion-conscious teenagers. Rumor has it that many of the West's top fashion designers still come here to look for inspiration for their next collections.

Right at the intersection of Omotesando (don't miss the lanterns leading you to Meiji Shrine) and Meiji-dori is a hard-to-miss shopping center seemingly cascading with greenery and designed by award-winning Hiroshi Nakamura's NAP architectural firm. The building houses numerous shops and eateries, but the biggest draw might be the shady roof garden.