Harajuku, Fashion district in Tokyo, Japan
Harajuku is a neighborhood in Jingūmae in central Tokyo that became known chiefly for fashion boutiques and youth culture. The streets are narrow, lined with low buildings and often full of people moving between shops and food stalls.
The area served as a rest stop for travelers during the Edo period and transformed into a center for fashion and youth culture from the 1960s onward. Development accelerated after the 1964 Olympics, when new shops and cafés opened.
The name comes from a historic outpost and today refers to a district that has drawn young people for decades who want to wear or buy unusual clothing. Many small shops show handmade accessories and uncommon outfits often visited by teenagers from across Japan.
The JR station sits right on the main road and offers access to surrounding neighborhoods as well as the park and shrine nearby. Weekends are usually crowded, while weekdays are calmer.
A curved parallel lane called Cat Street runs away from the main axis and shows a different side of the neighborhood with calmer shops. International brands mix with independent designers there at a more relaxed pace.
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