Harajuku is known for fashion, but food trends have long been a popular part of the scene as well. From the famous crepes to the Insta-worthy rainbow sweets, there’s plenty to give you an energy boost during a shopping trip. While eating on the street is generally frowned upon in Japan, there are certain areas where it’s a little more relaxed. Along Takeshita-dori you may well see people snacking and most shops have a small eating area with plenty of signs to let you know where you can enjoy your snack.
Famous Crepes from Marion
These are the staple street food of Harajuku and your trip to the shopping hub isn’t complete without trying one. A distant cry from the restrained French originator, these are crammed with cheesecakes, brownies, scoops of ice cream and much, much more. There are also savory versions, but these are slightly less fun (tuna-salad crepe, anyone?). There are a few places to choose from - all channeling distinctly American vibes, but Marion’s is the most famous. Started in 1976, the company started in Shibuya and soon opened their second store in Harajuku, quickly becoming synonymous with Takeshita.
Spot Information
- Address: 1F Jeunesse Building, 1-6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Toyko
- Location: Marion’s is located on a corner of Takeshita, beside Broadway Clothing.
- Hours: 10:30 - 20:00 (Weekdays) 10:00 - 20:00 (Weekends)
- Regular Closing Days: None
Korean Rainbow Sandwiches at Le Shiner
The first spot to bring Korea’s popular multi-colored sandwich craze to Harajuku, Le Shiner is a cute and very Instagrammable spot. Alongside the stretchy cheese sandwich, they also offer sugared corn dogs and carefully layered rainbow ice cream as well as rainbow sodas and lightbulb drinks. The little cottage-like shop is just around the corner from Takeshita with plenty of pink decorations that make it easy to spot.
Spot Information
- Name: Le Shiner (レ・シャイナー)
- Address: 1F COXY176, 1-7-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Le Shiner is located a little off Takeshita, behind ZakuZaku Bakery.
- Hours: 11:00 - 18:00
- Regular Closing Days: None
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY’s Candyfloss
Known for their cloud-like rainbow candy floss, TOTTI CANDY FACTORY has a range of super-fun sweets to try. The most famous is no doubt the ‘Harajuku Rainbow’ floss, while they also have cup versions and tri-colored versions too. There are also adorable cake-pops made from chocolate gateaux and transformed into cute animals. The queues for the second-floor store can be long, but during especially busy times a ticket system is used to avoid confusion.
Spot Information
- Name: TOTTI CANDY FACTORY (トッティキャンディ ファクトリ)
- Address: 2F RYU apartment, 1-16-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: TOTTI CANDY is located on the 2nd floor along Takeshita-dori, it is above ‘Rainbow Sweets Harajuku’.
- Hours:
- 09:30 - 20:00 (Weekends, holidays and spring/winter break)
- 10:30 - 20:00 (Weekdays)
- 10:30 - 19:00 (Weekdays, Nov - Jan)
- Regular Closing Days: None
A Crunchy Pastry at CROQUANTCHOU ZAKUZAKU
Combining factory and shop, the ZAKUZAKU Bakery is a delight you’ll smell before you see. The crunchy treat is an alternative take on the cream-puff, swapping the circular shape for a longer stick shape. The croquembouche choux has a crunchy shell of almond and sugar and a rich custard filling inside the soft pastry. Baked fresh and served within minutes, they also use Hokkaido’s finest milk and butter to ensure every visitor enjoys the best possible experience.
Spot Information
- Name: CROQUANTCHOU ZAKUZAKU (クロッカンシューザクザク 原宿店)
- Address: 1F CUTE CUBE HARAJUKU, 1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: ZAKUZAKU is on the first floor of the CUTE CUBE Department Store on Takeshita-dori.
- Hours: 10:00 - 20:00 (currently 11:00 - 19:00 due to Covid-19)
- Regular Closing Days: None
Tornado Potatoes at LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!!
Specializing in size, this fun store sells relatively normal snacks in impressive quantities. Most popular are the twisted Tornado Potatoes, which are sliced thinly but kept whole, spiraling out along the stick before being fried and coated in delicious flavors. The churros are a sweet-option for chocolate lovers and there’s also multi-colored cotton candy at an impressive length! All three are available in three sizes: long, longer and longest - as you may have guessed!
Spot Information
- Name: LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!! (ロング!ロンガー!!ロンゲスト!!!)
- Address: 1F CUTE CUBE HARAJUKU, 1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: LONG! LONGER!! LONGEST!!! is on the first floor of the CUTE CUBE Department Store on Takeshita-dori.
- Hours: 10:00 - 20:00
- Regular Closing Days: None
Tapioca Bubble Tea Favourites
There are a whole variety of Bubble Tea shops in Harajuku, mostly located along Takeshita-dori. Popular favorites include The Alley and Gong Cha, along with many small pop-up style stores. While the two big names often have the longest queues, it’s worth trying the smaller options for unusual flavors and lower prices - not to mention shorter waits. Options include XING FU TANG, Moge Tee, TenRen’s Tea and Mot Tram 100% with more popping up every few weeks!
Spot Information
- Name: The Alley Harajuku Store (ジアレイ 原宿店)
- Address: B2F WITH HARAJUKU, 1-14-30 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: The Alley is located within the ‘WITH HARAJUKU’ Store a little off from Takeshita-dori.
- Hours: 11:00 - 21:00
- Regular Closing Days: None
- Name: Gong Cha Harajuku Omotesando Store (ゴンチャ 原宿表参道店)
- Address: 6-9-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Location: Gong Cha is located towards Omotesando, along Cat street.
- Hours: 11:00 - 21:00
- Regular Closing Days: None
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