This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I could earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Ready to get off the beaten path in Tokyo? Here are some of the best things to do in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo’s laid-back and bohemian neighborhood.
While planning your Tokyo itinerary might seem a little bit overwhelming at first—with the sheer amount of possibilities—the beauty of it is that there’s always something new to do; new coffee shops to try, museums to visit, and new neighborhoods to explore.
It’s simply impossible to get bored here.
Believe me, after living six months in Tokyo, I still feel like I barely scratched the surface.
As a first-time visitor to Tokyo, it’s important to cover all the essentials, see Tokyo’s main sights, explore lively Shibuya, and walk Shinjuku’s neon-lit streets.
And once all that’s covered, it’s time to move to the more local neighborhoods to explore all of Tokyo’s different sides, and Shimokitazawa is a great neighborhood to start.
Known for its quirky and artistic community, Shimokitazawa is a bohemian district a short train ride away from Shibuya, packed with vintage shops, cozy cafes, international eateries, and artists’ studios.
If you are ready for off-the-beaten-path Tokyo, here are the best things to do in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo’s bohemian hub.
🗼 Planning your Tokyo itinerary? Don’t miss these travel guides:
Best Things To Do In Shimokitazawa: Tokyo’s Bohemian Hub
Grab a snack at Omusubi Gonbei in Shimokitazawa Station
You don’t even have to go far for the first thing to do in Shimokitazawa, as this stop is in Shimokita’s (its short name) train station.
Like most train stations in Tokyo, here you will find a variety of food stands and convenience shops for commuters to stop by, and one you cannot miss is Omusubi Gonbei.
Omosubi Gonbei is a small food stand close to the station’s East Exit, offering fresh and homemade omosubi—also known as onigiri—delicious balls of rice filled with different types of seafood and vegetables.
My favorite ones are the salted salmon and tuna mayonnaise. They are the perfect snack before heading out of the station to explore this fun neighborhood.
Pick up cute stickers at B-Side Label
If you’re looking for affordable, practical, and easy-to-pack souvenirs, you have to stop by B-Side Label in Shimokitazawa.
B-Side Label is a Japanese sticker shop, selling high-quality, waterproof, and UV-protected stickers, in different styles, from different artists, and they are so freaking cute!
Browsing B-Side Label’s small aisles packed with hundreds of stickers is one of the best things to do in Shimokitazawa for a fun afternoon of souvenir shopping.
We bought more stickers than we could stick on things during our time in Japan, and I regret nothing!
If you like to collect things, they also sell region-specific stickers, so make sure to grab those as you travel through Japan.
Indulge in the best soufflé pancakes at Flippers Shimokitazawa
If you are looking to start your day in Shimokitazawa, you will be happy to know that there’s a location of Flipper’s in the neighborhood.
Flipper’s is a soufflé pancake restaurant, and one of my favorite places to eat in Tokyo, especially for brunch—I normally visit their Shibuya location, though.
The pancakes are delicious, fluffy, and not too sweet, and are the perfect way to start your day in Tokyo’s bohemian neighborhood.
I visited their Shibuya location so many times, normally alternating between their strawberry pancakes and their savoury ones with bacon, depending on the mood.
Thrift some cool pieces at DYLAN
One of the best things to do in Shimokitazawa is to leisurely browse through the neighborhood’s unique vintage stores and thrift shops—the main reason the area is so popular with students.
And one of my favorite shops in the area to browse through is DYLAN, a very clean and organized thrift shop.
Normally, I’m too impatient to dig through the chaos of thrift stores, so I appreciate that there’s none of that here; most things are neatly organized, which makes it easier to navigate the store and hunt for treasure.
Here you can find good old denim items, cool jackets, oversized shirts, accessories, and so much more.
I scored a couple of Corduroy oversized shirts for the fall from here.
Fuel up on coffee and cake at The Usual
If you are running low on energy from all that shopping, fear not, there are plenty of cute cafes in Shimokitazawa to refuel, and one of my favorite ones is The Usual.
The Usual is a cozy and welcoming coffee shop, serving delicious and strong lattes and offering tasty bites, like their tempting cake slices, which you can get in a combo with your coffee.
If you want a light lunch, they also offer some sandwiches and even quiche slices.
This cute coffee shop is the perfect spot to relax and regroup before continuing with your Shimokitazawa adventures.
Chill at the lively Shimokita Senrogai Open Space
One of the best things to do in Shimokitazawa on a good weather afternoon is to stop by the lively Shimokita Senrogai Open Space.
We came upon this spot by accident, and it quickly became our favorite place in the neighborhood.
Shimokita Senrogai Open Space is a casual hangout spot with outdoor seating, food trucks, and even an open-air bar.
It’s the perfect spot to wind down after a day of exploring the neighborhood with a gin and tonic in hand on a comfy patio chair.
🍡 PS: Here I had the most delicious and perfect Mitarashi Dango ever, so if you see a food truck selling them, do not skip them!
Browse the indie shops in the neighborhood
Known for its bohemian and laid-back vibes, one of the best things to do in Shimokitazawa is to simply wander the streets and stop by the many indie shops in the area.
From local brands to multicultural shops, like this Mexican-themed one I found, there are so many unique and fun shops to explore.
So make sure to take your time visiting all those local businesses, you never know what you might find.
Browse the shelves at Tsutsaya Bookstore
If there’s a location of Tsutsaya Bookstore in the area, you can bet your money I will be stopping by—and you should too!
Tsutsaya Bookstore is a beautiful Japanese bookstore chain known for its unique and super cozy atmosphere.
Most of their bookstores have an English section, as well as beautiful coffee table books, fun stationery, and even lifestyle goods—and the Shimokitazawa location is no different.
If you get unlucky with the weather and find yourself spending a rainy day in Tokyo, you can always count on the nearest Tsutsaya Bookstore to keep you entertained for a while.
Stop at Brooklyn Roasting Company for your caffeine fix
Another great spot to slow down while exploring the laid-back Shimokitazawa is the unmissable Brooklyn Roasting Company.
Brooklyn Roasting Company is one of the best coffee shops in Tokyo, and it luckily has a few locations around the city, and the one in Shimokitazawa is beautiful.
This location is particularly spacious, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options—something rare among Japanese coffee shops.
The coffee’s delicious, and they’ve got a few tasty small bites too, making it a great spot to sit down, relax with a cup of coffee, and people-watch in this unique corner of Tokyo.
Explore Mikan Shimokita’s international cuisines
If you need a break from Japanese food for a second, Shimokitazawa is the place to go.
Due to the neighborhood’s young vibe, you will find no shortage of international eats in the area, with many of them located in Mikan Shimokita.
Mikan Shikomita is a modern corridor/shopping center, along which you also find the Tsutsaya Bookstore, and at the end of which you find Brooklyn Roasting Company.
However, along the street and inside the shopping center, you can find a variety of restaurants with cuisines from all corners of the world—from Korean to Italian to Thai.
So if you cannot fathom the idea of having another ramen, or you’re simply in the mood for something different, make sure to explore the international options here.
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Shimokitazawa
Being a much more laid-back neighborhood of Tokyo, the beauty of exploring Shimokitazawa lies in leisurely strolling through its streets, discovering new indie shops, and slowing down at one of its many cute cafes.
You will not feel the rush of Shibuya here, or the flashing lights of Shinjuku, but you will feel the local and young vibe of a student neighborhood packed with fun thrift stores and meeting spots for locals to gather and relax.
I hope this guide on the best things to do in Shimokitazawa provides you with some inspiration to slowly explore this unique off-the-beaten-path neighborhood in Tokyo.
What are you most looking forward to when visiting Shimokitazawa? Let us know in the comments.