Things to do in Shibuya & Harajuku, Tokyo 2024 / Japan Travel Itinerary

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Things to Do in Shibuya and Harajuku! 57 Recommended Spots! Hi! I’m Akanemaru, born and raised in Japan. This time, we'll introduce some recommended spots in Shibuya and Harajuku. Let's start with the Harajuku area. First up is this shop called "I'm donut?". It's a specialty store for donuts that opened in July 2023. It's the most popular shop in Harajuku, and there is always a line. We got in line around 2 PM on a weekday, and it took us about 20 minutes to get donuts. While waiting in line, a shop staff will hand you a paper with the menu written on it. You write down the number of the donuts you want to buy and your name, and after paying, you can receive them. Let's start with plain flavor. It has a nice buttery aroma. It has a fluffy and chewy texture, and the sweetness of the sugar is just right. This one is chocolate flavor. The coated chocolate is crispy. It's not too sweet and you can taste a subtle bitterness of cocoa. This is a matcha donut coated with white chocolate. It has a nice aroma of matcha and an elegant taste. Another recommended shop is BPC Donuts. It's located in an alley, and you can buy donuts without waiting in long lines. We’ll briefly introduce 2 kinds. This one is a cream donut. The dough is fermented, so you can enjoy a chewy texture. The cream inside has a nice aroma of vanilla beans. This donut is filled with pistachio cream. The rich flavor of pistachio spreads in your mouth.  Next up is Omotesando. Here is a luxurious shopping area where high-end brand stores are lined up. We’ll introduce 3 stores on this street. First up is KIDDY LAND, the specialty store for character merchandise. It's a large store with 4 floors above ground and 1 basement floor. The 1st basement floor specializes in SNOOPY merchandise. There are items made in Japan and cute towels, and more. There are also exclusive items at this shop. On the 1st floor, you'll find popular characters that are currently trending and toys. On the 2nd floor, there are famous Japanese anime characters and Studio Ghibli merchandise. The 3rd floor mainly offers Kirby and Pokémon items, and there are also toys. On the 4th floor, you'll find Sanrio, Miffy, and Rilakkuma items. There are only cute items, so it's enjoyable just to look around! Next is Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera. It's a conveyor belt sushi restaurant  operated by the Ginza Onodera, which has won the Michelin star for 4 years in a row. It's a popular restaurant with lines every day, and you might have to wait for about 2 hours. If you come at 10:30 AM when they open, you can enter without much waiting. Currently, sushi isn't rotating, so you need to order using a touchscreen. You can change the language. This time, we'll briefly introduce 4 particularly popular kinds of sushi. Let's start with salmon. It's thick and has just the right amount of fat. Each salmon roe is large. It has a popping texture, and the saltiness is perfect. This is conger eel drizzled with sweet sauce. It's fluffy and melts in your mouth. The medium fatty tuna is rich, but the aftertaste is refreshing. It's incredibly delicious, so I think it's worth waiting in line for. If you want to enjoy sushi at a more affordable price, we recommend the Kura Sushi Harajuku store. During lunchtime, it can get crowded, and you might have to wait for about 2 hours. It's better to come around 11 AM when they open or around 4 PM to avoid the crowd. This time, we'll introduce 3 menu items exclusive to this store. First up is a dish made with crepe batter automatically baked by a machine. This crepe has fried rice inside. The crepe with salmon and cream cheese has a refreshing taste. The texture of the lettuce and tamagoyaki is good. This crepe has pork seasoned with sweet sauce. It's satisfying and delicious. This is the shrimp sushi roll exclusive to this store. The avocado and mayonnaise are creamy, with a subtle sweetness. If you like hand-rolled sushi, Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI is also recommended. It's a specialty shop for hand-rolled sushi located about a 2-minute walk from Harajuku Station. The one with salmon and salmon roe is incredibly delicious.  Next, we'll briefly introduce 2 shops located on Cat Street, which is known for its fashionable clothing stores. Let's start with this shop, THE MATCHA TOKYO. It's a specialty shop for matcha that opened in March 2023.  A particularly recommended item is the soft serve ice cream.  It has a subtle bitterness with just the right amount of sweetness.  Matcha castella cake is perfect for souvenirs. It's moist, fluffy, and has a nice aroma of matcha. Next is WaraTako, a takoyaki specialty shop located about a 1-minute walk from THE MATCHA TOKYO.  The classic flavor with sauce and mayonnaise is delicious,   but the most popular one is the takoyaki  topped with green onions and salt sauce.  It's just as delicious as takoyaki you would eat in Osaka.  Next is Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku. It's a commercial facility with apparel brands and cafes. The recommended spot in this building is Omohara no Mori on the rooftop. It's rich in green, so much so that you wouldn't believe it's on the rooftop, and it's very relaxing.  There are benches and tables, so you can also enjoy a meal.  There is also a STARBUCKS on this floor, so it's perfect for a break.  The view is also great, so you should check it out!  There is Ichiran Harajuku located about a 1-minute walk from Tokyu Plaza.  Even after lunchtime, there can be long lines,  and you might have to wait for over an hour.  It's recommended to go around 10 AM when they open.  Next is Meiji Jingu. It's a shrine built in 1920, and admission is free. This place is surprisingly rich in nature, you wouldn't think it's in Harajuku. There are also many photo spots. There are some manners at the shrine, so we'll briefly introduce the manners when you visit. First, you put a coin in the offertory box. Any coin is fine, but it's believed that a 5-yen coin brings blessings. You bow twice and clap twice. After offering a prayer with your hands together, you bow once more at the end. Now, let's move on to the next place. Next, we'll introduce Yoyogi Park, located next to Meiji Jingu. About 1/3 of the park is covered with trees, so you can fully enjoy nature. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring. It's especially popular as a cherry blossom spot in Tokyo, so it's crowded with many people. In front of Harajuku Station, there is a building with UNIQLO and IKEA.  It's a recommended spot for shopping. The IKEA keyrings exclusive to Japan are popular items that many people buy. There is a space on the rooftop of this building where you can take a break. There are chairs and tables, so you can enjoy takeout food. Seat cushions are also available for free. The view is great, and you can see Harajuku Station from above. Next is Takeshita-Dori Street. This place is known as a hub for Japanese fashion trends, with many shops, making it a recommended destination for shopping. It gets very crowded on weekends, so it's better to come around 11 AM on weekdays. We’ll briefly introduce 6 popular shops on Takeshita-Dori Street. First up is this shop, "LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!!" The most popular item is TORNADO POTATO, made by skewering potatoes and frying them. The Cheese Corn Dog, filled with melted cheese,  is also delicious, so be sure to give it a try! Next up is TOTTI CANDY FACTORY. Their colorful cotton candy is popular on social media. The next shop is Strawberry Fetish. The most popular strawberry candy is crispy on the outside, and the strawberry juice spreads throughout your mouth. Grape candy is also delicious, so it's worth trying! Next up is Le Shiner. The most popular item is the rainbow sandwich. This skewer made by wrapping fried potatoes in potato chips and frying them has an addictive flavor. Next up is MARION CREPE. It's the most popular crepe specialty shop in Harajuku with many varieties. The next shop is YURIN-AN. The most recommended item is the Ichigo daifuku. The strawberry is very sweet and delicious. The Google Maps link of the shop introduced in the video is in the description box. You can check the location and opening hours there. Also, saving it would be convenient for your travels. Next is Togo Shrine, located about a 1-minute walk from Takeshita-Dori Street. This shrine is built in 1940, and is believed to bring blessings of victory. Beautiful koi fish swim in the pond. It's a hidden spot with fewer people compared to Meiji Jingu. Next, we'll introduce some recommended spots in the Shibuya area. By the way, Shibuya Station is just one stop away from Harajuku Station by train. It's close, so you can get there in about a 15-minute walk. First up is a spot where you can see the Shibuya Scramble Crossing from above. It's located inside MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 right in front of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This is a commercial facility where you can buy souvenirs and clothes. On the 6th floor, there is the Mugiwara Store selling ONE PIECE merchandise. It's also popular as a photo spot. The rooftop of this building is Shibuya CROSSING VIEW. The admission fee is 1,500 yen. It comes with one drink, and you can also choose alcohol. Cash is not accepted, so you need to pay with a credit card or Suica card. There are tables and chairs here, so you can take a break while enjoying a drink. At the top of the stairs, there is an observation deck. The area where you can see the Shibuya Scramble Crossing is a bit small and crowded, but if you wait a bit, you can enjoy the view. It's a special view that can only be seen from here. Next up is the Hachiko Statue in front of Shibuya Station. The afternoon gets crowded, so if you go around 9 AM, you'll be able to take photos easily. By the way, there is occasionally a man who takes photos for you. He is a volunteer and doesn't require money, so don't worry. About a 5-minute walk from the Hachiko Statue, you'll find CREO-RU, a takoyaki shop. Their Osaka Dotonbori store is a popular shop with long lines every day. The Shibuya store open at 5 PM. And on Sundays, they open at 3 PM. In the Shibuya area, there are popular shabu-shabu restaurants among international tourists such as Nabezo and Mo-Mo-Paradise. Both are great, but our recommendation is a place called SYABU-YO, right in front of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. During lunchtime, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu starting from 1,539 yen. The course including beef is 1,979 yen. On weekdays, you can enjoy up to 5 hours of all-you-can-eat from 11 AM to 4 PM. We have provided detailed explanations in a video we posted before. The link to the video is in the description box, so be sure to check it out!  Kumachan-Onsen is located about a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station.  The hot pot soup is shaped like a bear, which is cute, so it's popular on social media.  It's a very popular restaurant, so it's too hard to visit without a reservation.  It's highly recommended to make a reservation before visiting.  About a 5-minute walk from Kumachan-Onsen,  you'll find Nanaya, a tea specialty shop. You can try the richest matcha gelato in the world.  If you like matcha, you should check it out! Next is an all-you-can-eat Wagyu yakiniku restaurant located about a 2-minute walk from Hachiko Gate.  It's called Butcher's Kitchen Shibuya Miyamasuzaka.  There are 3 courses available, and with the 6,000 yen and 8,000 yen courses, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat Wagyu. In the description box, there is a link to the official website where you can make reservations  even without a Japanese phone number. It's a recommended place where you can enjoy Wagyu at an affordable price! Next is Shibuya Center Gai Street. There are many shops, making it convenient for shopping. We’ll briefly introduce 5 recommended shops on this street. First up is the IKEA Shibuya store. It's smaller than the regular stores,  but they sell kitchenware and more. On the 1st floor, you can enjoy soft serve ice cream for 50 yen. The next place is HANDS Shibuya Store. They sell character merchandise and toys, and things like that. Our highly recommended one in this store is the Laser Engraving Factory on the 5C floor. They engrave letter and illustrations on items like keychains and chopsticks using a laser. On the 5A floor, there is also a place where they make personalized pens with names. It can be completed in as little as about 60 minutes. Next is Yaro Ramen. This ramen shop is recommended for those who like rich flavors.  The tonkotsu broth with garlic is addictive. The chashu pork melts in your mouth. The noodles are thick and chewy. Next up is Shinjidai. It's a very affordable izakaya, and even if you can't drink, you can enjoy various dishes. The price of beer is only 209 yen. This yakitori is 55 yen for one skewer. Agedashi tofu is 385 yen. The karaage is 605 yen for 5 pieces. Next up is Mamo Kebab. It's the most popular kebab shop in Shibuya, and their kebab sandwiches are delicious. Next, we'll introduce a recommended hotel. It's The Millennials Shibuya. This hotel opened in 2018. The rooms are capsule-style. It's the latest bed, so you can relax even in a small space. By the way, you can enjoy all-you-can-drink beer during the evening hours. Next is Shibuya PARCO. It's a recommended commercial facility for international tourists, because there are shops with character merchandise that are only found in a few locations in Japan and popular restaurants. First, we’ll introduce popular restaurants from the restaurant area located on the basement floor. It's KIWAMIYA, a specialty shop for hamburger steak. You can enjoy grilling hamburger steaks and steaks to your preferred doneness using the griddle in front of you. The restaurant fills up as soon as it opens at 11:30 AM, and it's so popular that there is always a line. On the day we went, we got in line around 2 PM,  but it took about 50 minutes to be seated. If you don't want to wait too long,  it's better to come around 4 PM. Next up is the 6th floor. On this floor, there is a popular store selling Japanese anime and game merchandise. There is a JUMP SHOP selling popular anime merchandise like ONE PIECE, which is also popular overseas. The next place is the Pokémon Center in Shibuya. It's a specialty store for Pokémon merchandise that opened in 2019. At the entrance, there is an actual size Mewtwo, which is a popular photo spot. Near the entrance, you'll also find various other merchandise on display. There are around 5,000 types of Pokémon items. There are many Pokémon plush toys that you can't find in other stores, so many tourists buy them. You'll also find exclusive smartphone cases  that you can only get at this store. In the middle of the store, there is a Pokémon DESIGN LAB where you can design your own T-shirts. It's an exclusive service available only at the Pokémon Center in Shibuya. You can design your own T-shirt for 4,400 yen for adults and 3,300 yen for kids. It takes about an hour for the T-shirt to be completed, so it's a good idea to have lunch during that time. The next is Nintendo TOKYO, located on the same floor as the Pokémon Center. It's a specialty store for Nintendo merchandise, opened in 2019. You'll find statues of popular Nintendo characters, and many people take photos with them. There are around 1000 items, half of which are exclusive to Osaka, Kyoto, and this store. We'll introduce recommended snacks for souvenirs from this store. It's like the pipes that often appear in Mario games, which are cute! The package of cookies features prints of various Mario game designs. The cookies have a nice aroma of butter. It's sweet and tasty. There is SHOGUN BURGER, right in front of Shibuya PARCO. It's a specialty shop for Wagyu hamburgers. Especially recommended is the Avocado Cheese Burger. Wagyu juice spreads in your mouth,  making it incredibly delicious. There is a shop called "oh my DOT Shibuya"  just a 1-minute walk from SHOGUN BURGER. It's a cup noodle shop where you can customize the type of soup and noodles. It's popular on social media because a machine automatically prepares the soup. The curry cheese ramen is especially great, so be sure to give it a try. The soft serve specialty shop Shiroichi is also popular, just a 5-minute walk from Shibuya PARCO. You can enjoy a crunchy texture of ice bits and a rich milk flavor. The next is SHIBUYA SKY. It's located inside Shibuya Scramble Square. You can buy a ticket at the counter, but it's a popular place, so tickets often sell out, making it hard to buy one on the day. So, it's better to buy it in advance from the official website. You can't bring suitcases inside, so you have to leave them at the entrance. Take the elevator and head to the 45th floor. You can reach the 45th floor from the 14th floor in about 30 seconds. When you go to the outdoor area, you have to leave your baggage in the lockers. You can bring your smartphone and camera. You need 100 yen to use the lockers,  but it will be refunded afterward. Once you've left your baggage, you can go outside. This is the 46th floor, but it's not the top floor. Let's take the escalator and go to the rooftop of this building. This is the rooftop, the SKY STAGE. In the center of this floor, there is a helipad made of artificial grass, so you can even sit directly on it. You can enjoy views not only of Tokyo but also Chiba and Kanagawa, and you can see the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower as well. It's recommended to take a photo at the popular photo spot, which is the corner of the building. Many people are taking photos, so you'll need to wait in line, but it's worth it because it's a view you can only take photos at SHIBUYA SKY. It will definitely become a great memory of your trip to Japan! Next, we’ll introduce the most popular sushi restaurant in Shibuya. It's located on the 4th floor of Shibuya Mark City. It's called Sushi no Midori. There are always long lines even before the opening, and you might have to wait for over 2 hours on weekends. If you make a reservation on the official website in advance, you can enter without waiting. When making a reservation, you have to select a course, and everyone in the group must choose the same course.  The sushi is absolutely delicious! If you want to enjoy Sushi no Midori more casually, Katsu-midori is recommended. It's located on the 8th floor of Seibu Shibuya. It's a conveyor belt sushi restaurant operated by the same company as Sushi no Midori. It's so popular that there is a line as soon as it opens at 11 AM. By the way, you can't make reservations at this restaurant, so you have to wait in line. It's recommended to come after 3 PM because there are usually many people during lunchtime, starting from right after opening until 1 PM, and you may have to wait for more than an hour. There are other recommended conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Shibuya, so we'll briefly introduce 7 of them. First up is Kura Sushi Shibuya store. It was priced from 132 yen per plate before,  but it increased to 150 yen in October 2023. Despite the price increase, the taste is still delicious, so it's reasonable even at 150 yen. The next restaurant is Sushiro, located about a 3-minute walk from Shibuya Station.  On weekends and holidays, it gets crowded,  and you may have to wait for over 2 hours.  If you come right after the opening at 11 AM on weekdays, you can enter without much waiting. Next up is Kaiten-sushi Misaki. It's operated by a sushi restaurant with over 80 years of history, and you can enjoy sushi starting from 121 yen per plate.  There are only counter seats, but it's a recommended place if you want to enjoy sushi casually. The next place is located in the Shibuya Hikarie building, directly connected to Shibuya Station.  It's Miura Misakikou Megumi on the 6th floor. This is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic sushi made by a sushi chef. It’s recommended to come around 3 PM on a weekday because it gets crowded during lunchtime. Next is Uobei. You can enter in the order of arrival, so let's line up and wait. On this day we went, we arrived around 1 PM on a weekday and waited for about 30 minutes to be seated. The Uobei Shibuya store only has counter seats. Even if you come with a group, they'll seat you next to each other, so you can enjoy your meal together. The price starts from 150 yen per plate. The last 2 restaurants we'll introduce  are located inside Shibuya PARCO. First, it's Sushi-tsune on the basement floor. It’s operated by a sushi restaurant with a history of 70 years. You can enjoy sushi made by sushi chef, starting from 143 yen per plate. If you come around 4 PM on a weekday, you can avoid the crowds. The last conveyor belt sushi restaurant is Kanazawa Maimon Sushi on the 7th floor. It has 24 locations across Japan, and one in the capital city of Taiwan, Taipei. It's a popular restaurant where you can enjoy fresh sushi because fish is directly delivered to the restaurant from ports on the Japan Sea, located on the northern side of Japan, at least 3 times a day. On weekends or during lunchtime, there is usually a line, and it takes time to be seated, but we came around 4 PM on a weekday, so we were able to get seated right away. Now, let's move on to the place. Next up is Mega Don Quijote Shibuya. Don Quijote has been featured many times on this channel, so there is a link to the video in the description box. Many recommended snacks and foods are introduced, so be sure to check it out! The next place is this building called Dogenzaka-dori. It's a commercial facility that opened in August 2023, with a hotel, offices, restaurants, and more. It's located right in front of Don Quijote. This time, we'll briefly introduce 5 shops located within this facility. First, let's start with THE CITY BAKERY. It was founded in New York and currently has over 30 stores in Japan. The most popular item is the croissant sandwich. The crispy texture of the croissant goes perfectly with bacon and mayonnaise sauce. Next up is the gelato specialty shop, Giolitti. The most popular flavor is pistachio gelato. It's a rich flavor that tastes just like eating pistachios themselves. Next is the Inari sushi specialty shop, Koshirahe. The most popular one is juicy with a Japanese-style broth soaked into it. The wasabi-flavored ones have a subtle spiciness and a nice aroma. Next up is Lil Woody's, a hamburger shop also found in Seattle, the US. The most popular item is the Lil Woody Burger. The patty is crispy on the outside, and the juices overflow from the inside. Next, we'll introduce Domise Shibuya Dogenzaka. This is a store that mainly sells private-label products operated by Don Quijote. It's a baked sweet potato made from Anno-imo. It's very sweet, so it's like a dessert. It's incredibly delicious, so it's worth trying! Next is Miyashita Park. It's a commercial facility that opened in 2020, with many shops. A popular spot in Miyashita Park is the rooftop. It's a park with benches and tables. It's recommended to have a meal here on sunny days. On the 1st floor of Miyashita Park, you'll find Shibuya Yokocho, where you can enjoy dishes from various regions of Japan. On the 3rd floor, there is a food court with 6 restaurants. One especially recommended shop is MAGURO MARKET. The poke bowls, topped with plenty of tuna, cucumber, and more, allow you to enjoy various textures and flavors, making them delicious. The last spot is Kuuya, located right near the entrance of Miyashita Park. It's a specialty shop for monjayaki, a Tokyo specialty food, and the staff cooks it right in front of you on the griddle.  It's so popular that there is a line every day. The busiest time is from 7 PM to 8 PM, and you might have to wait for over an hour to be seated.  If you go around 4 PM on weekdays,  you can enter without much waiting.  There are English menus available,  so you don't need to worry.  Each person must order one dish, so keep that in mind.  By the way, automatic appetizers called Otoshi are served. The day we went, it was Tamagoyaki.  It contains fresh cream and minced meat, giving it a sweet flavor.  The aroma of pepper adds a nice accent. Next up is the most popular dish, Monjayaki. It contains spicy cod roe and mochi. Mozzarella cheese is an extra charge, but adding it is recommended. The broth and sauce have a nice aroma. The cheese and mochi melt, making it delicious. The nicely browned parts have a crispy texture. Finally, we'll have okonomiyaki. Cooking okonomiyaki yourself can be difficult, so it's really helpful when the staff cook it for you. The aroma of the sauce is irresistible! After sprinkling on the aonori seaweed, it's done. The dough is fluffy, and the texture of the cabbage is nice. The sauce has a rich flavor, so it makes you want to drink beer! It's a highly recommended restaurant, so be sure to give it a try! Well, that’s all for today! See you in the next video! Bye bye!
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Channel: SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel
Views: 83,174
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Keywords: tokyo, japan, shibuya, harajuku, japan travel, Things to do in Shibuya, Things to do in Tokyo, Things to do in harajuku, japan travel itinerary, What to do in Shibuya, What to do in Tokyo, Tokyo Travel, Where to go in Tokyo, Where to go in Shibuya, japan travel update, japan travel tips, japan travel guide, Shibuya Food, tokyo food, harajuku food, street food, tokyo street food, japan guide, tokyo guide, SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel, what to do in harajuku, Shibuya Crossing
Id: g1k2KC44T1s
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Length: 33min 47sec (2027 seconds)
Published: Thu Apr 25 2024
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