Omotesando

One of the most fashionable streets in Tokyo. High end brands shops, cool cafes, fabulous restaurants,… I use to go to every weekend to check out new fashion and many things…

Centred at the heart of retail Tokyo is Omotesando in Harajuku. Close to a kilometre of designer brands and consumables line the pavement between foot and automotive traffic. The strip itself is beyond typical, the real gems are down the side streets. Less upper class, more stylised niche shops line the inner roads and although you’ll still come across the standard chain retail store I encourage you to look passed these and into the well thought out independents.

This is a nice street, a breath of fresh air from Takeshita-​dori. It hosts upmarket shops, restaurants, cafes, and salons. So expect Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc. Omotesando Hills has all the swanky shopping that caters to wealthier clients. If you’re in need of clothes, staying closer to Takeshita-​dori would probably be a good idea with AE, Forever 21, H&M, Tokyu Plaza, LaForet, and so on. Other highlights of the street include Kiddy Land and Oriental Bazaar (tourist trap).

This is definitely a cool shopping street, both for sight-​seeing and for actual shopping. It’s long and covers different kinds of interests. I did notice that there were a lot more higher end stores and less boutiques, but it’s still great to walk along the street and just see tons of people doing their thing.

Omotesando is Tokyo’s answer to Paris’ Champs-​Élysées. The name Omotesando encompasses the neighborhood, avenue, and the Metro train station for the area. It gives a peak into the upscale life of Tokyo as the love for designer labels are clearly showcased along Omotesando Avenue. Designer labels have planted their flagship stores here and their award-​winning architectural buildings is a reason enough to spend a leisure afternoon strolling along the tree-​lined street of Omotesando Avenue. Intersecting this street is Aoyama-​dori, another street with more upscale stores and buildings to feast your eyes on. Whether you’re here to spend some cash inside the stores or to capture the architectural showcase along the street, it will be a lovely afternoon spent here. Impressive architectural structures to look out for include Prada in a crystal shard building and Cartier in a diamond-​shaped building (how appropriate!).
Pierre Herme whom I like to call the god of macarons, also has his name-​sake macaron boutique’s flagship in this neighborhood.
Wander off Omotesando Avenue and stroll along the backstreets and narrow alleys especially behind the Omotesando Hills shopping center and you will forget that you are in the metropolitan city of Tokyo. Oblivious to the busy Omotesando Avenue, the backstreets and alleys have lives of their own from the tiny shops, restaurants, and quiet residences that are seen as you veer to the right or left at each corner. Wander. Explore. You will discover gems. Find your way to Omotesando Koffee and Maisen Tonkatsu.