From the top of Takeshita in Harajuku, it's clear the street is bursting with culture and quirkiness. The colorful storefronts and cosplay characters make it interesting for any kid.
It's also a great place for them to stretch their legs, as this trendy tourist destination includes a single pedestrian pathway–enclosed by shops on each side. And although far from busy roadways, by noon, we were more worried about crowds than cars. Most businesses open at 11:30 a.m. and draw swarms of visitors.
Getting there is easy; the street is right across from the Harajuku station. We let Liv out of the stroller as soon as we got there, so she could walk alongside us. The decorative trinkets on display grabbed her attention for a short while, before she darted off to the next interesting thing.
While a majority of the shops cater to an older crowd, with endless aisles of interesting knickknacks– Kiddyland is the most child-friendly. It's a toy store featuring tons of international characters, like Hello Kitty and Snoopy. We were hoping to find a play area inside of the five-story building, but the toy vending machines and bobble-head dolls kept us thoroughly entertained!
For lunch, we found some toddler-friendly options–a unicorn cheese sandwich and giant cotton candy. To escape the crowd, we hung out on the side street, where Le Shiner (featured above) could be found. There aren't many places to sit down on Takeshita, so we stood off to the side and ate our food.
After a day of checking out Takeshita's craze, you might be surprised to discover that on the opposite end, there is calm. Meiji Jingu Shrine allows visitors to surround themselves in nature and to experience a bit of Tokyo culture and history.
VIDEO: Exploring the funkier side of Tokyo with a trek through Takeshita Street in Harajuku.
Takeshita Street // 1 Chome-17 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan // Things to note: eateries (sit-down/to-go), souvenir & clothing shops, no restroom, no benches
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