How Expensive is it in Harajuku?

Harajuku’s always been the capital of kawaii and alternative clothing in Tokyo. These days, it’s increasingly touristy, with a lot more cute accessories, gachapon and novelty snacks, especially along Takeshita Street, compared to when I first went in 2010. But there’s still a lot of cute stuff!

In this video, take a walk around the shops with me, checking out price tags and seeing how much things cost in 2025. The video includes clothes, accessories, shoes and, of course, Harajuku crepes:

Takeshita Street

All the shops in the video are on Takeshita Dori, the main, pedestrianised shopping street. There is of course a lot more to Harajuku. I find the other areas tend to be pricier – but they’re definitely still worth visiting. They’re less crowded, and less touristy.

Tokyo’s perceived as an expensive city, so actual prices can be surprising, and not as high as you might think. Especially when you consider that clothes in Harajuku aren’t the mainstream, mass-produced fashion you find in high street chain stores.

Exploring Harajuku

Remember to explore the side streets off Takeshita Street, and the backstreets of Harajuku, which have a different vibe to the main area. Once you get to the end of Takeshita Street, cross the main road and enjoy getting lost in the maze of small streets. Lots of famous shops are tucked away and not on the main thoroughfare, so if there’s anywhere particular you want to shop, pin it on your map and don’t count on stumbling across it. Remember to visit Laforet department store – the alternative shops are on the basement levels, and Kiddyland for lots of cute character merchandise. And if you need a break from the shops, stop by one of my favourite spots: Togo Shrine, with a beautiful koi carp pond.

Kawaii Brand Shopping

As well as the cheaper shops, there are plenty of shops where you can spend all your savings if you want to! Some of the small, indie shops can be pricey, and of course the lolita brands like Angelic Pretty, Alice and the Pirates and Baby the Stars Shine Bright, where dresses cost several hundred pounds. You’ll be paying list price, but you’ll almost certainly be paying less than if you bought them at home, because you’re not paying someone to import them for you. Plus, some shops are tax-free for foreigners so you can make a small saving there.

Again, check where the brand shops are, because some are surprisingly hidden away. You can find lots of famous brand names together in the basement level of Laforet department store. It’s so strange seeing alternative clothing in what’s otherwise a normal department store!

Outside of Harajuku, you can also find lots of alternative brand stores in Marui One department store in Shinjuku. There are several Marui 0101 stores, so make sure you’re headed for the right one. And Closet Child has several branches around Tokyo with used alternative clothing (usually in excellent condition).

Japanese Sales Tax

In Japan there’s a 10% consumption tax on items you buy in shops. It’s now required that this is shown on price labels – so if you see two prices, one’s the price with tax and one without.

Some larger shops and department stores are tax-free for foreigners on purchases over 5,000 yen if you show your passport, a QR code from Visit Japan Web. This doesn’t apply at most of the smaller shops in Harajuku, only at larger stores like Kiddyland and some shops in Laforet.