After enjoying all that Takeshita Dori has to offer, don't leave Harajuku without visiting Kiddy Land! This store is located on the tree lined street of Omotesando.
Every floor of Kiddy Land welcomes a world of wonder as you'll find products of every popular character from Japan or abroad. My daughters absolutely love Kiddy Land, and we're sure to visit this store every time we're in Harajuku.
As we strolled down Takeshita Dori, we came across a sign for Pompompurin Cafe. We climbed the stairs and saw a line that had formed as the restaurant had not opened yet. The menu was posted outside and as we read through it, my youngest daughter got in line as she jumped for joy. It was like we had found a pot of gold in the middle of Harajuku!
Since there was a line, be sure to go early. If you don't get in on the first round, there may be a long wait as families tend to stay a while to get the full experience of the cutest cafe you'll ever see!
Pompompurin is a Sanrio character. You'll walk through a small gift shop before entering the cafe.
Everyone who sits down in the cafe must order a drink or a dish in order to stay.
My daughter ordered the french toast for lunch as she couldn't resist the picture of the sweet dish!
Is that a taco salad? Yes it is!
My daughter left nothing on the plate as it tasted even better than it looked!
My husband and I shared this picnic plate that included a sandwich and salad.
All dishes were about $12.90 in American dollars.
Everything tasted so good. It was quite a pleasant surprise!
Pompompurin cafe was definitely a favorite place for our two girls!
Across from Pompompurin Cafe is Patty and Jimmy's Cafe, another very cute place to experience!
Nearby on Takeshita Dori is a Sesame Street character cafe!
If your children enjoy the Sesame Street characters,
this would definitely be a fun place to have a meal!
Character Cafe's will add to the memorable Tokyo experience!
My daughters love everything about Harajuku! They especially love Takeshita Dori, which is an area where teenagers like to showcase their Harajuku fashion style. Everything kawaii (cute) can be found in Harajuku, which makes it a wonderland for two young girls!
As you exit Harajuku station, the walkway through the station is very narrow. You'll soon find yourself in another Tokyo ocean of people, pouring out onto the streets. A huge Gap store stands in front of the station. Head right and you'll walk down a tree lined street called Omotesando which showcases familiar American stores and restaurants. Go left and walk down a small hill and you'll soon approach the entrance to Takeshita Dori.
Stores on Takeshita Dori open at 10:00am, while some stores and restaurants open at 11:00am.
If you choose to visit Taskeshita Dori on the weekend, be prepared for large crowds. You can barely walk down this narrow street as everyone dresses up in their "Harajuku style" and visit the area on Saturdays and Sundays.
A large Daiso can be found near the entrance to Takeshita Dori.
One of our favorite stores on Takeshita Street is Choco Choco. The cutest macaroons can be found here. You'll wish you could buy every flavor in every design!
These gift packs are so adorable! We wanted to bring one back for everyone we knew!
Takeshita Dori is filled with many stores just like this one.
That's what makes Harajuku such a fun place to visit!
We always make it a point to visit "Chicago" when in Harajuku. There are actually two locations, one on Takeshita Street and the other near Omotesando Street,
up a couple of blocks from Kiddy Land.
We like to shop for used Kimono or Happi Coat at Chicago. On our last visit, I found 2 Happi Coats for my daughters for less than $10 each! They have been using them at our Bon Dance Celebrations in Hawaii. In the past, we've also found Yukata, obi belts and Japanese slippers.
Harajuku is definitely a favorite stop on the Yamanote Line!
If you love the big city scene, stepping into Shibuya from the train station fills you with a rush of excitement as the tall buildings, huge video screens and tons of people suddenly surround you. If you love shopping and eating, Shibuya is definitely the place to visit!
Is that Hachiko? Yes it is! Look for the signs pointing to the Hachiko exit in Shibuya station as there are many different ways to leave the bustling train station. Walk onto the courtyard and the famous statue is on your left. It was a little rainy on this day so there was no line for pictures!
Walk past Hachiko and walk towards the street. There, you'll be waiting at the famous Shibuya Crossing. Many movies and TV shows are filmed at this very spot as the crosswalks criss cross to form this very busy intersection.
Sunny Day in Shibuya
Rainy Day in Shibuya
Huge buildings and Giant Video Screens surround you in Shibuya.
As we walked through the streets we came across this Disney Store shaped like a castle. It had a circular staircase inside! There are so many shops to enjoy. On one street there were even 3 different 100 yen stores!
The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is located across the street from Shinagawa station and offers a wide range of family entertainment. Not only is it convenient when traveling to and from Haneda Airport, but it also offers an aquarium, movie theater, swimming pool and bowling alley. You can also find an aracade for the kids as well as a Beauty and Relaxation center for the adults. An indoor tennis and golf center is within walking distance. You'll also be pleased with the many shops in the area. We enjoyed the food court located inside the hotel!
When entering the main entrance of the Prince Hotel, I was told by the front desk that we were staying in the North Tower. It was an extra walk, but we found our way there and noticed that the front desk was not as grand as the one located past the main entrance. After further research, I found out that the rooms are smaller in the North Tower, and it is the older part of the hotel. To make up for this, occupants in the North Tower receive free breakfast each morning. There are also washing machines and dryers located only in the North Tower. These amenities are not available to guests staying in the main tower. I took note of these differences, as I made my reservation through booking.com and was not aware of the two towers.
Breakfast in the hotel is very convenient since many places aren't open that early in Tokyo.
On our first day there, I visited the Beauty and Relaxation Center after having lunch at the food court. I've always wanted to get my hair straightened through the "Japanese hair straightening" process, so what better place to have this done than in Japan!! Luckily, I could get right in and spent the next 4 hours in the hair studio as a team of stylists worked tirelessly to tame my mane! During the entire process, my hair was washed 3 times, I got 2 massages and felt so relaxed as if it were my birthday, Mother's Day and Christmas all rolled into one! At the last hour, the main stylist came in and worked on my hair so carefully and precisely. He made me feel like I was a movie star. Needless to say, the experience was very memorable. I would surely go back for another appointment in a heartbeat!
In Hawaii, I was told it would take 4 hours for the straightening process at $100/hr. At the Shinagawa Prince, there was a flat rate of $187 + a haircut of $45.
I loved my hair so much that my mom and daughter returned the next day for haircuts too!
Hair stylists in Japan will not accept tips.
While we were at the salon, my youngest daughter got her nails done! We were surprised that they had a different price for children.
The next day, we visited the Aquarium, which is connected to the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The Shinagawa Aqua Park offers an impressive display of marine life, while showcasing some of their creatures in scheduled shows. There are also rides near the entrance of the Aquarium.
I loved how the Aqua Park incorporated technology, music and ocean life into one exhibit. It was like walking through a piece of artwork!
We went outside to the penguin show, but all the information in the show was in Japanese.
Still, the kids enjoyed watching the penguins move across balance beams and perform tricks.
The main attraction was the dolphin show at this arena.
They also sold ice cream and other treats (beer) at the show!
After spending an afternoon at the Aqua Park, we decided to have a fun night at the bowling center! It was located on the floor below the Beauty and Relaxation center and just a short walk down from the food court. We were lucky that there weren't leagues bowling that night as the alleys were empty.
Inside the bowling alley is also a giant arcade! My kids enjoyed this more than the bowling.
We stopped to watch this boy play his very involved game for a little while.
My daughter said, "Look mom, he even wears gloves!"
The Shinagawa Prince Hotel is definitely a family friendly place to stay in Tokyo!
So cute! It's hard to leave the store without making a purchase!
You can even find a sale table!
Any Star Wars fans?
