Harajuku with kids – where to eat, what to see and where the playgrounds ( and toilets) are!
This post covered the Harajuku and neighbouring Omotesando area with kids – and by “neighbouring” the two areas all smoosh together so much that they are practically one in the same in terms of distance.
Extra tip: Did you know it’s quite easy to walk between Harajuku & Shibuya. It’s around 20 minutes ( 30 or so if you’re making your way along with kids) but I recommend putting a whole day aside to explore this area – just so you can do them both properly. – If you like to rush I suppose you could jump on a train at some point and also do Shinjuku but I just think you would miss so much by moving too quickly .
My tips for Shibuya with Kids are here.
My tips for Shinjuku with Kids are here
More tips on walking between Harajuku & Shibuya Here.
The Harajuku area really comes alive on the weekends.
If you don’t cope with crowds well you may prefer a weekday however you will miss out on some of the “action” and, honestly, the hustle’n’ bustle is really a major part of this area.
The area really gets vibey from around 11:30am onwards. So it’s worth saving some activities until lunchtime-ish or even later.
If you’re looking for activities for earlier in the day for Harajuku & other parts of Tokyo I recommend my Tokyo Before 10AM post here.
The Farmer’s Market at UNU (United Nations University) is held every Saturday and Sunday. It is sometimes cancelled for rain.
There are as many as 70 different stalls to include organic fruit & veg, food trucks, juice & coffee vans, vintage clothing, souvenirs and home-wares. It’s a great place for some Japanese language practice if you’ve been studying your food vocab and also a chance to stock up on healthy snacks for the next few days.
Just an idea but…why not buy some treats and walk to Yoyogi Park (below) for a picnic?
5 -53-70 JINGUMAE
神宮前5-53-70
OPEN 10am-4pm (WEEKENDS ONLY)
If you need fresh produce, with organic options BEFORE 10am, try a small version of the Bio C Bon supermarket,near Exit 2 of Meiji Jingu Mae (Harajuku) Metro Station. Just outside the ticket gates.
They also have free wifi here and also have a bulk produce corner.
BIO C BON MEIJI JINGU MAE METRO PIA STORE
渋谷区明治神宮前1-18-22
1-18-22 MEIJI JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 7:30AM-10PM ( OPEN 9AM-9PM ON SUNDAYS)
If you’re looking for somewhere for breakfast (open from 7am ! Almost unheard of for a proper sit down brekkie in these parts!)
It is worth the 13 min walk from Harajuku station if you crave a western breakfast.
The building is designed so beautifully and it has a large outdoor terrace which makes it extremely kiddie friendly. This place is just 11 minutes walk from Shibuya Station (and 14 mins from Harajuku, in case you feel like switching areas afterwards.)
Here is the Full Trunk Menu.
They serve Western-style breakfast.
If you decide to visit in the evening the hotel interior and bar doesn’t quite feel appropriate for children but the Trunk Kushi (skewered meat & veg) restaurant out the front of the hotel definitely is fine – with outdoor seating and, once again, enough space for a little wriggle.
This hotel/ restaurant is also very accommodating when it comes to guests/diners who require gluten-free dishes.
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.
Another breakfast option is breakfast (or lunch ) on the terrace at Racines Aoyama.
Racines Aoyama is a lovely family-friendly spot that feels a bit fancy – it’s a great place to catch up with another family. I recommend sitting out the front on the terrace for more wriggle space for kids (best to bring some toys or colouring to keep them busy and quiet-ish at the table though.) If you’re sitting on the terrace you can also wheel a stroller right up to the table. This restaurant is open for breakfast (weekends only) , lunch and dinner. Breakfast options are french toast and waffles or eggs etc. Lunch options include salads, steak frites, soup, rice dishes, pasta etc. Dinner is a selection of antipasto options, meat and fish dishes and pasta.
This restaurant is also attached to a microbrewery.
For lunch here I would budget for 3000 yen per adult and more like 7000 yen at dinner time.
Racines Aoyama accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
This restaurant is 5 mins walk from Omotesando Station (take exit A3) or 7 mins walk from Gaienmae Station (take exit 3)
RACINES AOYAMA
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST ON WEEKENDS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 9AM-11AM
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH 11AM-2PM
OPEN EVERYDAY AS A CAFE 2PM-4:30PM
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR DINNER 6PM-10PM
I recommend taking kids for a run around in Yoyogi Park. A huge park (no playground equipment) and a lovely slice of green in the middle of the busy city. Like all large, beautiful parks in Japan, the foliage and view is completely different with every season.
The cafe near the entrance sells some savoury snacks and sweets as well as outdoor toys such as wind-up planes, frisbees and bubble liquid and wands. There are lots of vending machines and public restrooms. The pond in the middle has ducks and lots of big trees make for great hide’n’seek sessions. If you have a kite or a scooter – this is one of the best central parks for it (some other parks have funny rules about sporting equipment etc.)
JINNAN 2-CHOME, YOYOGI-KAMIZONO-CHO
代々木神園町じなん２丁目
OPEN AS EARLY AS 5AM (CLOSING TIMES VARY FROM SEASON TO SEASON)
While in Yoyogi Park, make sure you put Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park just minutes walk away – WHY? Well to see those famous transparent public toilets – of course!
Within the Harajuku Station building “The Bridge” you’ll find the newest branch of Sarutahiko Coffee with the cutest takeaway coffee cups ( I may or may not have gone there just to get my hot chocolate in this cup….)
If you’re hungry they have some simple breakfast-type options like muffins, eggs on toast, french toast and some sweet breads.
If you like this brand of coffee, they have other stores in Omotesando, Shinjuku, Azabu, Kojimacho and Sengawa and Ebisu.
SARUTAHIKO COFFEE
渋谷区神宮前1-18-20 原宿駅2階
2ND FLOOR, 1-18-20 HARAJUKU STATION, JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY: 8AM-10PM
Reissue, the latte art cafe, is such a fun cafe to visit as their baristas are actually very talented artists. It’s located in the back grungy alleyways of Harajuku. You are shown to your seat , you choose your coffee or hot chocolate and then show a picture or photo (on your phone is fine) of what you would like on top. The drink order takes about 15 minutes so make sure you have some things for kids to do while you wait. They really are so talented. It’s definitely not the cheapest cup of coffee ( around 1000 yen) but is a really fun thing to do for adults and children. Reissue also serve rice, soup or salad lunch plates.
There is a big flight of stairs at the entrance so you may need to decide to either fold up and carry in your stroller or leave it outside.
TANJI BUILDING, 2F, 3-25-7 JINGUMAE
神宮前3-25-7, TANJIビル2F
OPEN 10am-6pm
Takeshita Street is fantastic anytime after 11:30am. Heads up, Takeshita is going to be mega in terms of the pure volume of people. So you may want to put kids on shoulders, fold up strollers and all hold hands – but the road only spans two blocks and it’s all about the journey. Walk slow. Look and point. Kids will love the colours and the funny knick-knacks.
Consider stopping for a giant fairy floss at the Totti Candy Factory, taking a purikura (photobooth picture printed on stickers), ordering a creme brulee crepe or really go out on a limb and grab an even more unusual selection such as a “tuna & salad” or a “sausage” crepe.
Tip: Don’t try and have a sit down meal here – mainly because of the long wait times. (Have kiddies use the restrooms before you start the walk too.)
But if someone does needs to pee, go half way down Takeshita is the Alta complex and they have toilets on the 3rd floor – opens at 10:30am.
If you need a bathroom before 10am there is a McDonalds on Takeshita street that is open 24 hours (toilets are upstairs and not very lovely …but hey.. if you need options…right?) and down the other end of Takeshita street is another fast food restaurant called Lotteria. Open from 8am – 10pm. There toilets are also not exactly beautiful but if you get stuck……
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.
Just next to the print club place is a simple cafe of the same brand/name. They also open at 8am.
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.
Just next to the print club place is a simple cafe of the same brand/name. They also open at 8am. They serve waffles and drinks etc. Nothing fancy – just if you’re hungry.
Warning : they do have a smoking room so, even though it’s enclosed, be sure to sit far away from the entrance with kiddies.
渋谷区神宮前1-17-5 B1F
BASEMENT FLOOR, 1-17-5 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN EVERYDAY 8AM- 11:30PM
Almost exactly half way down Takeshita Street is the small department store called Alta. Alta also sells some food and sweets and lots of colourful accessories.
My daughter and son like the basement floor of Alta. There is a 390 yen store called Thank you Mart which sells all sorts of characters like sponge bob and the muppets etc on towels and lunch boxes etc.
Did you know that in the Alta building on Takeshita Street you can buy and decorate your own phone cases with colourful and cute beads?
The name of the shop is Fancy Pods. Open 11am-8pm on weekdays and 10am-9pm on weekends (I recommend being ready to go here at 10:45am on a weekday to avoid the crowds.) It ends up costing around 3000 yen total.
*Photos of Fancy Pods courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/jolsen1020/
Just off Takeshita St is the MiPig Cafe – an animal cafe where you can meet and interact with miniature pigs. I recommend booking in advance. I’ve written about the MiPig Cafe in Harajuku here.
If you look at the shops on the right hand side, about half way down when walking away from the station, you’ll see this t-shirt shop selling these cute t-shirts. They can be found among the other touristy tat but I like this one.
Keep an eye out for this guy who loves to walk around Harajuku & Omotesando with his pram full of pussycats. Love this guy.
And after you’ve finished at Takeshita Street, and, if you’re kids need a little wriggle and a play. Walk for just a few minutes to the toy store Bornelund.
There are a few pieces of playground equipment out the front and some playstations inside ( mostly shoes off play areas so make sure you’re kids have easily slip on and off shoes etc like I talk about in my ‘Packing for kids for Japan’ post here.)
Note: the outdoor playground is still accessible even when the shop is shut.
There is also a breast-feeding room and a toilet with a change table.
BORNELUND MAIN STORE, HARAJUKU MAIN STORE
GROUND FLOOR, JIBURERUTA JINSEI HARAJUKU BUILDING
1-3-12 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 10AM-6PM
CLOSED : THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH
Another place that you can take a baby or a toddler for some quite time and/or tummy time is the Shibuya Chuo Public Library. This library is 4 mins walk from the bottom of Takeshita Street (and 4 mins walk from Bornelund Main Store pictured above.
There is a lovely children’s book section (mostly Japanese books but it can be cute to see Japanese versions of popular English children’s books.) There is also a little tatami sections where kids can sit and relax and play quietly.
SHIBUYA CHUO LIBRARY
1-4-1 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 9AM-9PM (CLOSES AT 6PM ON SUNDAYS)
If you’d like to eat at a sushi train restaurant for lunch ( or dinner) I recommend Kura Sushi ‘s Harajuku Branch. It is located just 200 metres from Meiji Jingumae subway station or 5 mins walk from Harajuku Station. The entire restaurant is automated and no Japanese language skills are required. The restaurant is open from 11am-11pm daily. They accept most major credit cards, are smoke-free, offer takeout, welcome families with small children. The restaurant is open from 11am-11pm everyday. It’s located on the 4th floor of the YM Square Harajuku Building. The restaurant has free wifi.
This restaurant is in a super touristy area so I recommend going there around 15 mins before they open in the morning – especially when visiting with kids.
Just an extra tip – the drinks options for kids aren’t that great here. Just orange juice or apple juice or tea. No softdrinks.
Also, they sell fries but they don’t have ketchup.
(Kurasushi is great when dining with kids and there are lots of cooked non-raw sushi options but if you really love sushi you may be a little disappointed with the raw-fish quality / some have found that the fish meat is a bit frozen in the middle. See here for my tips on what to do in Japan if your kids like to eat westernized versions of sushi or california rolls etc.)
KURA SUSHI HARAJUKU
渋谷区神宮前4-31-10ワイ・エム・スクウェア原宿4F
4TH FLOOR YM SQUARE, 4-31-10 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM
Or how about some okonomiyaki in this area? This restaurant is very popular and quite touristy – but that’s because the food is good and it’s nice a vibey. Sakura-tei is 8 mins walk from the Takeshita exit of Harajuku Station or 8 mins walk from A2 Exit of Omotesando Station. This is really fun way to eat out with kids as they can take part in the cooking process right at their own table. I, personally, wouldn’t try and go here without a reservation unless I was at the door of the restaurant right at opening time. Make reservations on the Sakuratei website here. At lunchtime I recommend budgeting for 2000 yen per adult and more like 3500 yen at dinnertime. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. This restaurant can also cater to vegan and gluten-free customers.
SAKURATEI
渋谷区神宮前3-20-1
3-20-1 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-11PM
Just a minute or two from Takeshita St is the Tokyo branch of the beautiful, beautiful British cupcake shop Lola’s cupcakes. Their teeny cupcakes are just the cutest. They have a large selection. Oh…and they are 250 yen each! Winning! They also do “on the spot” Happy Birthday cupcakes (incase you just remembered someone’s special day!) If you’d like to take your cupcakes home they will include an icepack in the packaging.
It is located inside the Cascade Restaurant Complex. There is also a change table in the restroom on the basement floor.
LOLA’S CUPCAKES, HARAJUKU STORE
渋谷区神宮前1-10-37カスケード原宿2F
CASCADE HARAJUKU RESTAURANT COMPLEX, 2ND FLOOR, 1-10-37 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 11AM-8PM
In the same complex, Cascade (2 mins walk from Harajuku Station), is Mexican Restaurant Las Dos Caras.
The cuisine is “Modern Mexican.” The restaurant seats 132 people but it’s probably good to have a reservation on a weekend. The handy thing is that this complex is kind of hidden from the main tourist drag so you wouldn’t normally know it was here at all – which makes it a gem for families. If you miss out on a seat here though for some reason (if you’re trying to just “walk-in” – you can next trip Pizzeria Spontini which is also big and family friendly and within the same complex.)
For lunch I would budget around 2000 yen per adult. And at dinnertime? More like 5000 yen.
Please note that there is a 440 yen service charge per person after 6pm.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking, takes most credit cards and has an English menu.
See the full Las Dos Caras menu here.
LAS DOS CARAS, HARAJUKU
渋谷区神宮前1-10-37
GROUND FLOOR, 1-10-37 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN MON-THURS 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-10PM
OPEN FRI 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN ON WEEKENDS 11:30AM-10PM
In the same Cascade Complex but on the 2nd floor is Pizzeria Spontini. The restaurant is big (seats 75) so you could make a reservation (gets busy on weekends) or try a walk-in. As I mentioned above, if it is busy and you miss out on a table, you can always try Las Dos Caras instead, one floor down. The pizza slices are big and super cheesy (in the best way.) The entire restaurant is non-smoking and they accept most major credit cards. Children and babies are welcome here and there is space to store strollers while you dine. There is an English menu. Be sure to ask for takeout if you can’t finish your pizza. I would budget for around 2000 yen per adult at lunch and 3000 yen at dinner. You can see the full Pizzeria Spontini menu here (please note that not all options are available year round and not all at lunchtime- the 4 main pizzas are always on the menu though.
PIZZERIA SPONTINI
渋谷区神宮前1-10-37 2F
2ND FLOOR, 1-10-37 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-4PM & 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM)
OPEN WEEKENDS 11AM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM)
CLOSED FOR THE NEW YEARS HOLIDAYS
If you’d like to sit down to a Yakiniku, Steak or Teppanyaki Restaurant in Harajuku that serves Kobe Beef and Wagyu, I recommend Harajuku Yakiniku Kintan. This restaurant welcomes children at lunch times and also at dinner -but only at dinner time if you have a reservation. This restaurant is 1 min walk from Exit 3 of Meiji Jingumae Station.
If kids just aren’t in the frame of mind for restaurant dining, Kintan also do amazing takeout bentos made with marinated Kobe Beef or Wagyu served on rice. Budget for lunch here is 2000 yen and more like 8,000 yen at dinner time. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. There is also an English menu here. There is also space to store a stroller while you dine. This restaurant also is open to making changes for those who require gluten free options (best to bring a food allergy card to make everything easier though.)
HARAJUKU YAKINIKU KINTAN
渋谷区神宮前1-10-37 CASCADE 原宿
CASCADE HARAJUKU COMPLEX, 1-10-37 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM & 6PM-11:15PM (LAST ORDERS 10:45PM)
OPEN SATURDAYS 11AM-3:30PM (LAST ORDERS 2:30PM) & 5PM-11:15PM (LAST ORDERS 10:45PM)
OPEN SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11AM-3:30PM (LAST ORDERS 2:30PM) & 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDERS 9:30PM)
Gluten free bakery and pizza shop!
Or for more gluten free options in Shibuya (11 mins walk from Shibuya Station or 6 mins walk from Meiji-Jingumae “Harajuku” Station) I recommend Rice Hack Bakery. They sell breads but also pizza (every thing is gluten free). They also sell sweet treats like chocolate muffins. There is a little bench out front to sit and eat (if you’re not taking away.)
RICEHACK BAKERY
渋谷区神宮前5-16-5
5-16-5 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN MONDAYS 11AM-3PM
OPEN THURS-SUN 11AM-5PM
CLOSED TUES & WED
12 minutes walk from Harajuku Station ( and roughly the same distance from Omotesando Subway Station or Aoyama Station) you’ll find a gluten free cafe in Omotesando called Riz Labo Kitchen.
They serve gluten free pancakes on Wednesday, Friday and weekends and crepes on Wednesdays. It’s a small restaurant and you’ll need google maps to find it.
RIZLABO KITCHEN
4-5-2 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN TUES-SUN 12PM-5PM
CLOSED MONDAYS OR THE DAY AFTER A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
Meiji Shrine is located on the edge of Yoyogi Park and the walk into the shrine is just as spectacular as the shrine itself. You wont believe that you are only just over the train tracks from busy Harajuku. On weekends you will almost always be able catch a traditional Japanese wedding (ask the staff when the next procession will begin.) There are toilets in several locations on the path to the shrine. The shrine is free to enter.
It is a decent walk along the path so little, tired legs will definitely need a stroller.
1-1 KAMIZONO-CHO, YOYOGI
代々木神園町1-1
OPENING HOURS CHANGE MONTHLY (SEE HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION)
WEBSITE
*If you’re looking for a place to breastfeed baby near the shrine, there is a feeding room in a nearby restaurant called Yoyogi.
Just around the corner at the entrance to Yoyogi Park are the Rockabilly Dancers. This fascinating insight into Tokyo Subculture is a must see on a Sunday afternoon. This is, by no means, a paid performance but, instead a gathering of a large group of people who share a love for Americana-Happy Days-Soda Pop-Grease Lightning fashion and old school Rock’n’Roll.
My kids love to have a little dance along from the sidelines – their own little rendition.
YOYOGI PARK
JINNAN 2-CHOME, YOYOGI-KAMIZONO-CHO
代々木神園町じなん２丁目
OPEN AS EARLY AS 5AM (CLOSING TIMES VARY FROM SEASON TO SEASON)
On the weekends there is almost ALWAYS a food festival going on in the park just behind the Yoyogi Gymnasium. Food stalls from around the world. Might be worth a look if you have some time to spare.
If you’re looking for a really lovely baby playroom really close to here (for changing and feeding baby too) go to the Omotesando Hills department store. Basement floor 2 in the main building. (Beautiful pictures and all of the facilities on the baby change facilities at Omotesando Hills here. )
Another brunch, lunch or dinner option is Mr Farmer in Omotesando ( there are a handful of Mr Farmer restaurants around Tokyo.)
If you’re after fresh juice, organic vegetables, vegan meal options and desserts or just want to get in extra greens, you will LOVE this place.
*Smoking is allowed on the outdoor terrace.
*There are no high chairs but there is some sofa/booth style seating which makes it easier with toddlers.
MR FARMER, OMOTESANDO
渋谷区神宮前4-5-12 セピア原宿ビル1Ｆ
GROUND FLOOR, SEPIA BUILDING, 4-5-12 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 9AM-8PM
Another dining option in Omotesando is Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard. This Omotesando cafe can also prepare a gluten free lunch set upon request. Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard is in the backstreets behind Omotesando Station (just two minutes walk.). There is a beautiful outdoor dining area filled with greenery. Reservations are possible here, as are walk-ins. Most major credit cards accepted and is a non-smoking establishment. English menu available. I would budget for 2500 yen per adult for a meal here. If you are vegan, there is a simple steamed vegetable set to order.
BROWN RICE BY NEAL’S YARD
渋谷区神宮前5-1-8 1F
GROUND FLOOR, 5-1-8 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 11:30AM-6PM (LAST ORDER 5PM)
CLOSED ON THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AND DURING THE NEW YEAR PERIOD
I highly recommend the new Gompachi restaurant called Nori-Temaki for a modern take on counter sushi enough.
It’s kid-friendly. You can substitute sushi rice for cauliflower rice. You can order a little or a lot… it’s perfect!
Here is my detailed blog post on Harajuku’s Hand-Rolled Sushi Counter restaurant “Nori-Temaki”.
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. My kids eat some of mine and have Niku Gohan (Pork pieces on rice). With kiddies, be aware that you may have to queue so don’t wait until you’re all starving to head there – or, if you’re really, really keen, maybe consider heading there as soon as it opens at 10am?
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 that 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 that this store does not accept cash.
There is an elevator from the street level, near American Eagle.
STARBUCKS, TOKYU PLAZA 6th FLOOR
4-30-3 JINGUMAE
神宮前4-30-3 東急プラザ6F
OPEN: 8:30am-11pm
*Random recommendation for while you’re in this Omotesando Tokyu Plaza Complex, on the 3rd floor is a shoe store called “Oriental Traffic.” If you have big feet like me (I have size EU40-41 feet) this might help if you need some women’s footwear as this is one of the few shops that stock the LL sizes.
This sign in the picture was for during a sale where you could buy two pairs of shoes for 11,000 yen. This is the Oriental Traffic Ueno Store.
Just one floor above this Starbucks is this family-friendly restaurant.
Bills Omotesando is an Australian restaurant and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They keep some tables for walk-ins but reservations are the best way to avoid disappointment. Reservations can be made in English on their website. They have two vegan meals here and one vegan dessert.
It’s a higher end price point here so I would budget for 4000 yen per adult for dinner and 3000 yen for breakfast and lunch.
They are on the 7th floor of the Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Building- which is 4 mins walk from Harajuku Station. See here for the full Bills Omotesando menu. They also have space to store strollers while you dine. They also have a kids menu here.
BILLS OMOTESANDO
渋谷区神宮前東急プラザ表参道原宿7F
7TH FLOOR, TOKYU PLAZA OMOTESANDO HARAJUKU SHOPPING MALL, 4-30-3 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 8:30AM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM)
If you wanted to do some toy shopping, there is Kiddyland right on the Main Street between Harajuku.
BUT…. you’ve been warned…. this place is manic on weekends. Manic!
Still it makes for some fun souvenirs and treats.
KIDDYLAND, HARAJUKU
渋谷区神宮前6-1-9
6-1-9 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-9PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 10:30-9PM
WEBSITE (JAPANESE ONLY)
Just near Kiddyland ( on the other side of the road back up towards Harajuku Station) is Lush. The products aren’t that different to other ‘Lush‘ stores but they have a sushi-train style bath bomb display that is pretty fun to check out.
For a casual dinner or lunch option, I recommend Guzman Y Gomez. It’s on the 2nd floor of La Foret department store. There is also a change table in the female restroom of this department store. This store is open every single day of the year.
GUZMAN Y GOMEZ
渋谷区神宮前1-11-6 ラフォーレ原宿 2F GOOD MEAL MARKET内
2ND FLOOR GOOD MEAL MARKET SECTION OF LA FORET HARAJUKU, 1-11-6 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 11AM-9:30PM
WEBSITE
Another option that is just one walk from Omotesando Station – Casual Italian Restaurant “Cafe La Boheme Kita Aoyama.”
This restaurant welcomes families and servces both lunch and dinner. Budget for lunch is around 2000 yen per adult and more like 4000 yen at dinnertime. Please note that there is a 880 yen service charge for each person when dining after 6pm. This restaurant is big (seats 82 people) but it is still wise to make a reservation if you want to eat there on a weekend or during peak season. You can make reservations in English on their website. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They accept most major credit cards.
Although it’s only a couple of options each – there are vegetarian and vegan items on their menu too ( their vegan quinoa and kale salad is so good and they also have some vegan pasta dishes.) You can see the Cafe La Boheme Kita Aoyama menu here.
CAFE LA BOHEME KITA AOYAMA
港区北青山3-6-5
3-6-5 KITA-AOYAMA, MINATO
OPEN FOR LUNCH ON WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM (OPEN FOR PASTA SET PLATES ONLY 3PM-5PM)
OPEN FOR LUNCH SETS ONLY ON WEEKENDS (NO LUNCH MENU AVAILABLE) 11:30AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER EVERYDAY FROM 5PM
If you’d like to explore the Aoyama area before or after a meal, please see my suggestions here.
And also only 3 mins walk from Omotesando Station is a casual burger joint called Umami Burger, Aoyama. This place is popular with kids as they also sell giant colourful “freakshake” style milkshakes. For a meal here, I would budget for 2,500 yen per adult. They accept most major credit cards. They also accept reservations (or you can just try for a walk-in as the restaurant seats 70 people so, hopefully, the wait time isn’t too long.) Umami Burger also have a vegetarian menu. They also have space to store strollers while you dine ( you will need to lift the stroller over stairs to enter the restaurant though.) The kids menu is so cute- they are little mini burgers. See the full Umami Burger menu here.
UMAMI BURGER, AOYAMA
港区北青山3丁目15－5
3-15-5 KITA-AOYAMA, MINATO-KU
OPEN 11AM-9PM
Perhaps you’d like to take your kids to a Ninja Cafe in Harajuku? I wrote this article for Japan Travel Planning that you may find useful.
I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area:
- “La Foret” department store, 3rd floor, Female restroom (change table)
- “Tokyu Plaza” department store, 4th & 5th floors, Disabled restroom (change table, 4th floor also has a breastfeeding space)
- “Anniversaire” restaurant, Female restroom (change table)
- “Crayon House” restaurant and children’s bookstore, 2nd floor (breastfeeding space)
- “Omotesando Hills” department store, Basement B2 Floor (breastfeeding spaces, change tables, a microwave and boiled water. Stroller rental for children under two available from the store’s information counter)
- “Cascade” restaurant complex, Basement B1 Floor, Disabled toilet (change table)
- ‘Bornelund’ toy store. (change table, breastfeeding corner)
An extra Harajuku Tip, if you need to store luggage in the area, you can store it for a fee at the Harajuku Information Center OR if you walk down Takeshita St and then turn right down the first alleyway and then travel to the 3rd floor. There are coin lockers here. If you have any trouble finding them, they are called “Fuji Coin Lockers.”
And for a decent organic supermarket in this area, try Bio C Bon on Gaien Nishi Dori.
They have vegetarian and vegan options and nuts and chocolate and some makeup and baby goods.
Its just outside the ticket gates a
BIO C BON, GAIEN NISHI-DORI STORE
澁谷区神宮前3-42-2
3-42-2 JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR 9AM-9PM
BIO C BON
There is a smaller version of Bio C Bon near Exit 2 of Meiji Jingu Mae (Harajuku) Metro Station. Just outside the ticket gates.
They also have free wifi here and also have a bulk produce corner.
MEIJI JINGU MAE METRO PIA STORE
渋谷区明治神宮前1-18-22
1-18-22 MEIJI JINGUMAE, SHIBUYA
OPEN 7:30AM-10PM ( OPEN 9AM-9PM ON SUNDAYS)
BIO C BON
For even more select organic options, try Natural House in Aoyama ( at the top end of Omotesando.
NATURAL HOUSE, AOYAMA STORE
港区北青山3-6-18 共同ビル（青山）
3-6-18 KITA-AOYAMA, MINATO-KU
OPEN 10AM-10PM
NATURAL HOUSE
Where to after Harajuku?
Head to Shibuya. If you walk it is only 20 mins! (or you can take the train to speed it up of course!)
It’s really easy to then quickly do a switch to my Aoyama with Kids post. There are so many beautiful flower cafes in this area. Stunning.
