Location: At the end of the Inokashira Line 20 mins from Shibuya Station.

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This satellite town has fast become one of the youth culture spots of Tokyo The young and hip travel from all over to visit during weekends. Kichijoji has an abundance of ethnic, craft and design shops, cafes, and clothing stores.

The north side of the station has the covered shopping streets “Sun Road” and “Nakamichi” where you will find a variety of shops. The south side has the famous “Inokashira Park” with its picturesque man-made lake surrounded by cherry blossom trees.

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Location: Shibuya station on the Yamanote line

Shibuya is one of the biggest youth culture areas of Tokyo. This is a bustling city which caters to youth with clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, music shops, department stores, bars and nightclubs. Shibuya is fairly built-up with plenty of flashing lights and neon.

The crossing just outside the station on the North, “Hachiko” exit is one of the busiest in Tokyo and is a sight to see on weekends.

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Location: Asakusa station at the end of the Ginza line

Asakusa, just three stops from Ueno station, is old school Tokyo. Here you can see what older Tokyo looks like. Asakusa is an absolute mad-house at almost anytime and is one of the most visited tourist spots in Tokyo.

Famous for Sensouji, a 7th Century Buddist Temple, and Kaminari-Mon, the gate leading onto the long path lined with stalls selling all manner of tourist goods which leads up to the temple.

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Location: Akihabara station on the Yamanote line

Akihabara is known as the electical district of Tokyo. Multi-floor department stores filled solely with electrical goods and appliances pack out an area of several blocks surrounding the station.

Side streets and back alleys are filled with pokey vendors selling the latest in black market games and DVDs.

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Location: Daikanyama station on the Toyoko line

Daikanyama, conveniently located one stop from Shibuya Station is one of the ultra hip design and fashion areas of Tokyo. You will need to fan out from the station in all directions as the shops are often hidden down unassuming back streets and alleys.

The main flavour here is clothing, although there are a healthy smattering of cafes, design stores, and even the odd hip music store.

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Location: Shinjuku station on the Yamanote Line 

Shinjuku is a business hub and one of the busiest stations in Japan. The west exit leads to an area of towering high rise business skyscrapers and hotels. The Tokyo Metropolitan building is of particular architectural interest and has a viewing level at the top where you can get a good look at Tokyo from above on a clear day.  

The east exit leads to the Studio Alta big screen (a popular meeting place in Shinjuyku) and several blocks of shopping and restaurants.

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Location: Ueno station on the Yamanote line and Hibiya line

Ueno, located just 7 minutes from Tokyo station on the Yamanote line, is another example of old Tokyo. If you wander north of the station you will get into the residential area and see what living in older Tokyo is like.

East of the station is Ameyoko, an area covering several blocks with crowded alleyways jammed with vendors selling cheap “American” wares.

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Location: Ebisu Station on the Yamanote Line 

Ebisu is an upscale business area of Tokyo. A slightly older and more refined crowd hangs out here than in places like Harajuku and Shibuya. The east side of the station has Ebisu Garden Place, a spacious shopping area at the bottom of the Gardern Tower, Ebisu’s tallest building.

This is a lovely open area and very peaceful to hangout and drink coffee or munch on a pastry from the local bakery. There is also a beer garden and the Sapporo beer museum here.

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Location: Omotesando Station on the Ginza Line. 

Omotesando, just one stop from Shibuya,  is one of the high fashion areas of Tokyo. If you wander the backstreets you will find all of the foreign fashion houses such as Boss, Calvin Klein, Armarni, Jill Sanders, Yoji Yamamoto and may others.

There are also innumerable trendy eateries and cafes hidden away in this area. The iconic Las Chicas cafe has been a hit with Japanese and foreigners alike for many years. Hang a right at the Muji store and wander down the street about 200 meters to find it.

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Location: Harajuku station on the Yamanote line

Harajuku, located next to both the entrance to Meiji Jingu and the beginning of Omote-Sando, is one of the major youth fashion centers of Japan. When you get off at the station you can take the Takeshita Dori exit to see a narrow street packed with hip youth shopping for clothing.

From the Yoyogi Park exit you can go an hang out in Yoyogi Park. In summer there are hundreds of people sunning themselves, playing frisbee, hackee, street vendors and performers, musicians and bands.

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