竹下通り Takeshita Doori ♥

A little walk-through shopping guide to the stores on Takeshita Doori (竹下通り). Obviously these aren't all the stores along the street, but mainly the ones that I like, the ones that cater to gyaru and the more general everyone-can-find-something-they-like ones ♥

When you go out of Harajuku 原宿 station at the Takeshita Doori 竹下通り exit, you'll see this arch. The decor changes every now and then, but the street is the same. This is how it looks like on a lazy day, no crowds. One of the first things you'll see on the left is stairs going down to a Family Mart. People like to take shelter there when it rains ^^

This is my condensed map of Takeshita Doori, listed on it are the stores I like (: It's not all the stores, just the more general ones and ones catering to gyaru. Not exactly drawn to scale, but the I guarantee that the locations are quite accurate!

Brief description of the stores, starting from the right side of Takeshita Doori:

Family Mart: Convenience store

I love looking at all the drinks and desserts they have in convenience stores! Family Mart sells delicious mini choux puffs that come in packs of 10pcs for 150yen!

Lotteria, McDonalds: Fast food

Paris Kids: 315yen accessories store.

Lots of pretty hair accessories, necklaces, phone straps, earrings etc, all for 315yen.

Daiso: 105yen store

6 storeys I believe? Lots of different goods, all for 105yen.

大戸屋 (Ootoya): Japanese restaurant

Fancy Pocket (2F): Cheap hair accessories/school bag deco, by Sunhoseki

Conomi (1F): School uniform style clothes

SBY Happy Room: Gyaru store

Sells gyaru cosmetics, lashes, accessories, small goods, bags.

Main store is in Shibuya 109, which is amazing! This Harajuku store just sells goods, but the store in 109 has a little cafe where you'll often see highschool gyarus hanging around, and it also has a dolling-up station where they have curling irons/straigteners, makeup and big mirrors on the walls, you can sit there and use them all to doll yourself up. For free! The staff are really friendly too ♥

Claire's: Accessories

Angels Heart Crepes: Crepes

Marion Crepes: Crepes

(This is right beside the public toilets though!)

7-11: Convenience store

Liz Lisa: LIZ LISA!

Also has Tralala and the Chambre a coucher on the upper levels.

To be honest, I almost missed this cos the store name is in lights but the lights weren't on, and against the white wall background they were hardly visible. I only noticed it after seeing the red floor mat!

Aimer Feel: Lingerie

Left side of Takeshita Doori:

Yoshinoya: Beef bowls, really delish!

Mighty Soxer: Socks

Harada's: Gyaru clothes

Goodday House: Gyaru clothes

Momo: Gyaru clothes

Tutuanna: Hosiery, legwear.

Upper floor is lingerie.

Luceo: Gyaru clothes

ManiaQ: Fairy-kei clothes

MatsuKiyo: Drugstore

There's no Donki at Harajuku, so if you must get cosmetics you can try MatsuKiyo. They have shower stuff, sheet masks, loads of drugstore cosmetics like Majomajo, Kate, Integrate etc. They have lashes too! Luminous Change, Astrea V., Tsuji-chan, Dolly Wink, older Diamond Lash. However if you want gyaru/model-produced cosmetics go to SBY Happy Room!

Cafe Crepes: Crepes

ANAP: Clothes

Thank You Mart: 390yen store

Toko Kirakira: 500yen store

SoLaDo: A building.

Houses Pink Latte, Claire's, Wego (used clothing) and others.

Pink Latte: Pink, girly accessories, clothes and candy.

Lotteria: Fastfood

At the end of Takeshita Doori, turn right to Meiji Doori 明治通り:

Forever 21: American clothing store chain

The shopping bags are NEON PINK!

They also have the regular yellow ones, but the NEON PINK ones are so cool!

H&M: Swedish clothing store chain

Don't let that 799yen sign fool you. H&M is comparatively more expensive in Japan? It's more expensive than Forever21. Perhaps my comparison basis isn't fair because when I spammed H&M it was in Marseille and Barcelona during summer sales^^

ABC Mart: shoes

After ABC mart, around Laforet, right where there starts to be railings on the sidewalk, lots of magazine photographers/editors/staff or whatnot like to hang around? In the two times on two different days (a Thursday and a Saturday) that I walked by that exact same spot I was approached thrice. Exact same spot. And you can't really differentiate staff from regular peopl cos they're just...around and blend in? :/

Laforet: department store.

Houses many brands including Kitson and Swimmer, a cute small goods store.

At the intersection after Laforet, turn left for Omotesando, where all the luxury goods stores are, or turn right to go back to Harajuku station or to visit Meiji Jingu shrine. This is towards Harajuku Station.

Sembikiya, nice desserts!

Harajuku Station.

I really like this station, it's so pretty! ♥

I love Takeshita Doori. It does however cater to a younger crowd, but everyone can love the stuff they sell there!