Fashion in Tokyo

Tokyo is 

But the only two reasons why you would go to Japan would be for anime or fashion.

A tried and tested guide to the best Tokyo Fashion haunts to add to your Tokyo itinerary so that the next time you visit Tokyo, you don’t miss out on the real reason you’re there: Fashion.

Each and every piece of clothing I bought from Japan is, in its own way, the best piece of clothing I have ever owned.

This list consists of a mix of thrift stores and high-end fashion stores alike. So you’d better loosen those purse strings before stepping into any of the stores.

Shibuya

When you hit up Shibuya, it’s like stepping into Tokyo’s version of Times Square, buzzing with electric energy. 

• This neighborhood is the ultimate fashion hotspot! 

• At the iconic Shibuya scramble crossing, you’ll see millions of people rocking everything from high-end luxury brands to the freshest streetwear. 

• Take a break from treasure-hunting and have the best sushi on a conveyor belt at Uobei. 

• For the best Ramen in all of Shibuya, don’t miss out on Ichiran Ramen.

Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa, located in Setagaya, has the best thrift and local fashion stores, in addition to pretty indie cafes. 

• You can expect to find everything here, from American and Japanese designer vintage. 

• Another thing to admire in addition to the clothes is the architecture and of course, the Gothic Cappuccino. 

• If you’re not going to Shimokitazawa for the fashion, go for the cappuccino, because it is to die for.

Shinjuku

When I say that you need to go to Shinjuku right now, don’t question me. It’s the next Shibuya and is already on its way to blowing up, so you should pay the neighborhood a visit before all the best of fashion is gone.

• Shinjuku is a foodie’s paradise, packed with awesome restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that come alive after dark. 

• If you’re into shopping, you’ll find plenty of high-end brands in its bustling department stores. 

• We first headed to the popular ones like Lumine EST, NEWoMan, Lumine 1, and Mylord, before moving on to the smaller ones for each of our specific needs.

Daikanyama

Residential with high-end stores and fancy food spots.

Daikanyama for fashionable/trendy retail is pretty rad

“My favorite shopping area in Tokyo is Daikanyama. It’s full of really cool boutique shops and I could spend an entire day just walking around there. If you go there, walk over to T-Site and check that out too. T-Site isn’t a clothing store, but it’s an interesting hybrid bookstore/cafe. The Daikanyama area in general is great because it’s not overrun with tourists, and I can actually hear myself think when I’m walking around.”

Ueno

The best experience of the week we had was at Ueno. 

• Not only known for its cheap, kawaii and chic clothes, Ueno is also known for the night markets and street food tours.

• Ueno will not let you go away disappointed. It has something for everyone. From night markets, music and affordable thrift stores. 

• The market is rows and rows of streets selling just about everything you could imagine, mixed in with many eateries and also arcades which is good for the teens.

Harajuku

Harajuku is the neighborhood of Japanese Streetwear, from punk to grunge, you can find everything eccentric and edgy here. 

Japanese streetwear might range from Lolita to Cosplay to Goth to Decora. Known as Tokyo’s most fashionable neighborhood, Harajuku has both high-end boutiques and shops with more unusual clothing. For fashion-inspired teens, Harajuku is the place to be. It has tons of interesting stores, art galleries, hidden alleys and the best sneaker stores in all of Japan.

But fashion doesn’t end at buying it. I learnt it best from the Japanese that it’s the attitude that makes the best accessory to the exemplary fashion choices.