Harajuku Cat Street

Hoping to find streets overflowing with cats or cat merchandise? You’ll be sorely disappointed. But if you’re looking for a trendy neighborhood full of trendy shops serving even trendier customers, you’ve come to the right (or should that be trendy?) place.

In case you didn’t catch it, “trendy” is the buzzword of Cat Street. Its location between two of Tokyo’s biggest shopping districts, Harajuku and Shibuya, makes it an ideal catwalk for fabulous 20- and 30-something trendsetters. The half-mile long street is lined with stores ranging from vintage shops and local designer clothing to upscale boutiques and high-end international brands.

Harajuku is known for its offbeat fashion, but you’ll find a range of trends and clothing identities being explored by young and old.

One of Cat Street’s most well-known shops is RAGTAG. Though there are a few other branches around Tokyo, the Harajuku branch specializes in Japanese designers, so you can grab pieces by MGM, Comme de Garçon, and Issey Miyake for cheap. Plus, unlike some other popular shopping streets in Harajuku, Cat Street has plenty of stores covering male fashion. (RAGTAG does men’s designer clothing as well).

The street’s trendiness applies to its restaurants too. The area is home to The Great Burger, one of Tokyo’s best burger shops and one of a few places you can get a proper milkshake; Good Town Doughnuts, a hipster-vibe cafe that serves freshly baked doughnuts; and several coffee stops that serve artisanal brew. Just like the clothing stores, these restaurants span the price gamut, so you can find something delicious whatever your budget.

Though you can’t go wrong sticking to the main thoroughfare of Cat Street, the area is best explored by just letting yourself get lost. The real gems are tucked in the endless small streets and alleyways branching off the main street.