5 Shopping Spots to Visit in Tokyo for Japanese Pop Culture Lovers

The place with a huge gathering of Japan’s KAWAII, Harajuku’s “Takeshita Dori”. The current fashionable state of this street is said to have begun around 1974. It’s appeal lies not only in fashion but also the great number of unique-to-Japan shops like celebrity shops, 100 yen stores and drug stores all gathered together in one place. Yet another of its prominent characteristics are the many media outlets who see it as a launchpad for Japanese fashion trends, attracting many teens who wish to be fashionable. In recent years, the many restaurants and apparel shops opening around Takeshita Dori have become a hot topic both locally and globally. Increasingly, it has become a spot where many people flock to regardless of age, sex or nationality. The bustling Takeshita Dori is a place that is bursting with energy.

Located right in front of you from Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing is “109”, the Holy Land of girls’ fashion. The apparel tenants here target girls from their late teens to early 20’s and every day, shoppers from not just Tokyo but all over the region visit. There’s also an event space located before the front entrance and a portion of the cylinder-shaped tower displays the latest, attention-grabbing advertisements. 109 is also famous for being a typical meet up spot. It’s the best spot for watching people come and go on the streets of Shibuya.

Akihabara is famous for being the world’s leading electric district. After WWII, the area flourished as a black market and when Japan entered their period of rapid economic growth, it became a place with many shops that dealt with electronic machinery, tools, software etc. Nowadays, games, anime, personal computers and the like have become the main focus. Maid cafes, where customers are served by women dressed like maids looking like they came straight out of the virtual world, are also popular. Although Akihabara’s electric district has a reputation for being the Holy Land for otakus who prefer anime and games, there has been a recent surge of building complexes that have apparel stores, drug stores, restaurants and so on. Although it has become a district frequented by persons from all walks of life, the original shops that cater to the electronics enthusiasts are still going strong.