A Day in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo: Exploring the Trendy Spots, Daytime Drinking, Cafes, and Thrift Shopping!

Summary

This time, my friend and I visited Mikan Shimokita, a newly opened commercial facility in Shimokitazawa in 2022. We enjoyed exploring the inside of the new building and strolling through the streets, visiting the shops along the way.

Shimokitazawa is a stylish neighborhood known for its eclectic vibes, bustling streets filled with fashion and music culture, and an abundance of vintage clothing stores, cafes, and trendy bars. Please refer to it and enjoy your trip✨

*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

10:55am Mikan Shimokita (ミカン下北)

We came to a commercial facility right in front of the east exit of Shimokitazawa station! It was crowded with many people!

Exterior

The entrance is located right in front of the east exit of Shimokitazawa Station.

Restaurant District

The neon glowing decoration is cute!

There are restaurants from many different countries!

Mikan Shimokita is a complex located in Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. It is a hot spot that opened on March 30, 2022.

11:00am Kankoku shokudo (Korean Restaurant) Hanuri Shimokitazawa (韓国食堂＆韓甘味ハヌリ 下北沢店)

Firstly, let’s have lunch! Go to a Korean restaurant in the Mikan Shimokita restaurant district! This restaurant has an extensive menu to choose from.

You can find all kinds of Korean dishes such as samgyeopsal (Korean barbecue), sundubu (Korean soft tofu stew), bibimbap (Korean rice bowl), and more!

Exterior

There is also a standing drinking area outside.

Interior

Some seats face the terrace, providing an open and airy atmosphere.

Menu

All-you-can-eat salad bar for lunch✨

There is also an extensive drink menu!

Banana Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and Pomegranate Makgeolli

Easy to drink, just like juice✨

Grilled Seafood Cheese

Plenty of tender cheese✨

Sundubu

Hot! Not too spicy!

Korean Restaurant Hanuri Shimokitazawa is a Korean cuisine restaurant located in Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. It is certified as an excellent Korean restaurant and offers authentic Korean cuisine. We also recommend the daily special plate and soy sauce marinated shrimp.

12:00pm Toyo Department Store Annex (東洋百貨店 別館)

After passing through the restaurant area, we arrived at a department store with 7 apparel stores. This is the best store offering cute and inexpensive items✨

Sanbiki no koneko (3びきの子ねこ)

(The shop name means three kittens in Japanese!) A vintage clothing store that sells clothes starting at 660 yen. The cute jeans was a surprise at 1,000 yen!

IBUQUI

You can get innovative and unique accessories at affordable prices.

Vintage Clothes Puchi Koshon (古着プチコション)

A vintage clothing store with all items under 770 yen! So cheap!

SMOG

A large number of band T-shirts are too cute! A total of 5,000 yen for 3 pieces!

sukonbu (素今歩)

All handmade accessories shop✨

A’gem

Trendy Korean style fashion items are available.

Marco Polo (マルコ・ポーロ)

An apparel store.

Toyo Department Store Annex, located in Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, is the second branch of Toyo Department Store, a popular shopping destination in Shimokitazawa. Inside the store selling secondhand clothing, accessories, and small goods, ranging from reasonably priced items to select clothing. This is a must-see spot for fashion lovers.

1:00pm OHAGI3 Shimokitazawa (OHAGI3下北沢店)

We came to organic-themed sweets store offering Japanese-style treats✨

Exterior

Menu

Hojicha (roasted green tea) Latte and Organic Matcha Latte with Warabimochi

You can enjoy the aroma of authentic hojicha and green tea! The warabi mochi (Bracken-starch Mochi) was chewy and delicious✨

OHAGI3 Shimokitazawa store, located in Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, is Japanese sweets shop that is particular about its ingredients and production methods, such as red beans, sugar, and rice. They do not use any additives and offer sweets that are safe for both children and adults. The store is not large but has an eat-in space with four seats, and it is very popular among locals.

2:00pm cafe Stay Happy

Next, past the Shimokitazawa Minami Shopping Street, you will find a cute cafe with an interior that looks like a secret base! There was a café menu, and a wide variety of alcoholic beverages on the menu.

Exterior

I can tell from the exterior that it’s absolutely adorable✨

Interior

Even the small object displayed by the window are cute! There is also a kotatsu(a Japanese heating table covered with a blanket) for seating on the tatami floor!

Menu

The dessert and drink menu was extensive, but we were surprised at the variety of beer..!

Chai Tea Latte and Cheesecake

The cheesecake is filled with raisins. Cheese and raisins are a great combination!

Earl Grey Tea and Chocolate Cake

The chocolate cake is not too sweet and you will never get tired of it.

Located in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, cafe Stay Happy is a cafe serving organic food and wine. The interior is decorated in a cute secret base-like style, and a variety of menu items are available. The owner and her husband opened this cafe after traveling around the world, so there are kotatsu and travel books from around the world. It is the perfect place for a leisurely cafe lunch. All the ingredients are organic and naturally grown, so they are gentle on the body.

04:00pm TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Shimokitazawa (ツタヤ ブックストア下北沢)

After taking a break at the cafe, we returned to Mikan Shimokita and went to the TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE share lounge where we could spend time in a variety of ways.

Exterior

Once inside, there are books of various kinds all the way to the third floor!

Interior

This is what the inside of the share lounge looks like! Reservations are required, and the regular plan is 1100 yen per hour. There are individual work spaces, so it looks like it would be easy to concentrate on working.

Free Snack Space

Free snack space available to all share lounge users! It’s like a candy shop!

Free drink space (alcohol)

If you choose the alcohol plan, you can choose as much alcohol as you want! We’re glad there are so many kinds of alcohol!

TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Shimokitazawa, located in Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, offers not only books, but also a SHARE LOUNGE that combines the convenience of a shared office with the cozy atmosphere of a lounge. Users can enjoy all-you-can-eat drinks and snacks, and the space is highly rated as the perfect place to work or relax and read books near the station.

Watch the video