I think that these date night opens are also good to combine with Aoyama , Roppongi or Shibuya date night suggestions as these areas are very close to one another.
In order to include as many options as possible, I recommend starting your date night in this area as early as 5-5:30PM.
I would also somehow design a walk down Takeshita St in Harajuku in the evening.
TAKESHITA STREET OPTION 1
You could take Print Clubs(Photo Booth Stickers) at Noa Cafe. The print club “arcade” is in the basement floor just near the entrance to Takeshita Street. It’s called NOA Print Club.
Print clubs are, what I like to think of as the original snapchat filters (that were around waaaay before that as I remember taking these when I first came to Japan to visit with my high school in 1995! ) The photos are taken in a booth – a series of pictures- that are instantly printed out in small sticker form. They are so much fun (and funny).. They usually cost approximately 300-400 yen.
渋谷区神宮前1-17-5 B1F
BASEMENT FLOOR, 1-17-5 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN EVERYDAY 8AM- 11:30PM
TAKESHITA STREET OPTION 2
Also it is technically one street along, there is the Harry Hedgehog cafe.
HARRY THE HEDGEHOG CAFE, HARAJUKU
渋谷区神宮前 1-13-21 シャンゼール原宿2号館4F
LAST ENTRY IS 6:30PM
WEBSITE
TAKESHITA STREET OPTION 3
The Totti Candy Factory is open until 7pm on weekdays and November & December, and at 8pm the rest of the time.
The cotton candy / fairy floss opens are gigantic.
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY, HARAJUKU
2ND FLOOR, RYU APARTMENT, 1-16-5 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 9:30AM-8PM WEEKENDS, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS & DURING SCHOOL VACATION PERIODS
OPEN 10:30AM-8PM
OPEN 10:30AM-7PM WEEKDAYS IN NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
WEBSITE
If you’re keen on sushi (but also don’t want to spend bazillions) I really love the new Gonpachi restaurant called Nori-Temaki.
It’s just so sparkling new and modern inside – and if you’ve got a mini-obsession with beautiful copper and wooden interiors, like I do – you’ll also be just looking around and grinning (even at the bathroom basins!)
‘Nori-Temaki’ means, well I’m pretty sure that most people know what Nori is …but the Temaki part refers to hand-rolled sushi.
I actually haven’t had sushi served to me in this way. Sushi served to me at a counter usually means that I’m getting ready to pay a hefty bill at the end and this place is completely reasonably priced but it also doesn’t feel even the slightest bit intimidating. You can also substitute white sushi rice for cauliflower rice here. I wrote a whole blog post on the Nori Temaki dining experience here if you’d like to learn more.
I highly recommend a drink in the Trunk Hotel Bar (which is technically Shibuya but also 13 minutes walk from Harajuku) for a big-city vibe and cocktails.
The outdoor bar area is also stunning.
It’s such a cool spot. You’ll love it.
渋谷区神宮前５-31-7
BAR OPEN 5PM-11PM
WEBSITE
And if you want to have nibbles after a few drinks?
Trunk also has a Trunk Kushi (skewered meat & veg) restaurant that serves meat and vegetables on skewers. Each skewer is under 200 yen.
TRUNK HOTEL (KITCHEN)
渋谷区神宮前５-31-7
5-31-7 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST: 7:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.
TRUNK KITCHEN WEBSITE
If it’s ramen you’re keen on… try Afuri (just walk to the Harajuku Station top of Takeshita Street and walk up the hill. Afuri is on the corner.)
This is a chain store and definitely has a local vibe. It’s a counter around the kitchen and orders are placed on a vending machine out the front. I like the Shoyu (soy sauce) and Shio (Salt) ramen.
A full lunch with a beer will still leave you change from 2000 yen. This is chain store so keep your eye out for more Afuri branches ( for eg. Azabu-juban, Ebisu, Roppongi Crossing, Roppongi Hills ) Some of the stores also have a vegan ramen option too.
Please note: this store does not accept cash.
AFURI, HARAJUKU BRANCH
渋谷区千駄ヶ谷3-63-1グランデフォレスタ
GRANDIFORESTA BUILDING, 3-63-1 SENDAGAYA, SHIBUYA
OPEN 10AM-3AM
AFURI MENU
Please note: this store does not accept cash.
