When I first visited Tokyo in 2014, a friend told me to check out Shimokitazawa. And while I can’t remember anymore who gave me that advice, I would like to thank them because Shimokitazawa (or lovingly referred to as just “Shimokita” by locals) was probably the coolest find on that trip.
Shimokitazawa can be easily reached from Shibuya. Just take the Inokashira line and you’ll be there in no time. The town is well-known due to its artsy bohemian vibe, where you can find vintage shops and indie theaters.
Fast forward to now, a lot has changed and many will say Shimokitazawa is now overrated. While it’s true that it is hardly unknown to tourists, ignore the naysayers. I think Shimokita is still a cool place and worth checking out if you’re looking for a smaller neighborhood to hangout in.
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Here are some ideas what you can do in Shimokitazawa:
Food & Restaurants in Shimokitazawa
1. Hiroki Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake, usually cooked on a teppanyaki (flat iron griddle) right in front of guests and served fresh. I love going to Okonomiyaki restaurants because they usually would have teppanyaki on every table, making it a very interactive experience.
Hiroki is located in the small alleys south of Shimokitazawa station. There are only 8 seats in this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. For each Okonomiyaki, you get to pick soba or udon as the noodle base, then add on toppings as you want. When I visited in 2014, there was only Japanese menu, and I really got to test my Japanese skills, but luckily they do have English menu now.
Try to sit on the counter if you can, this is where you can watch the action as it happens. The chef will cook and mix your Okonomiyaki for you according to order and once done, he will push it to the hot plate area in front of you so the Okonomiyaki stays warm as you eat it off the counter’s hot plate.
2. Shimokitazawa Curry Town
In the recent years, there have been many curry restaurants popping up in Shimokitazawa that it now became known for curry. You can find all kinds of curry restaurants in this area, from soup curry to Japanese curry.
In one of my visits, I managed to check out Rojiura Curry Samurai, a restaurant known for soup curry which originated in Sapporo. Rojiura is located in the north-west area from the station.
This restaurant is still cash only. The curry dishes ranges from 1,350 to 2,600 yen, so make sure you have enough cash! I didn’t have enough on me, so I had to settle for the vegetarian curry, which was the cheapest item on the menu.
While soup curry is typically served with chicken leg and 10 kinds of vegetables, I’ve been told their pork belly is the star of the restaurant.
Other curry restaurants in Shimokitazawa worth checking:
- Ponipirika – Another restaurant known for their soup curry
- kappa-ism – Known for the strong dashi flavor in their curry
- Nasu Oyaji – Retro curry shop specializing in Japanese curry. It was mostly made famous as one of the locations featured in a popular manga titled “Uruwashi no Yoi no Tsuki”
3. Kamakurayama Onigiri Shop
This onigiri shop is located just a stone-throw away from the station. They specialize in onigiri, aka Japanese riceballs with various stuffing. Yes, you can usually find onigiri at konbini, but freshly made onigiri just hits different.
My favorite onigiri is usually the flaked salted salmon, but I tried very hard to try new things and not order my usual. I ended up with the Soboro Tamago (minced chicken with egg), Ume (salted plum), and Tuna with Shiso leaf.
Coffeeshops in Shimokitazawa
1. Brooklyn Roasting Company
Brooklyn Roasting Company is one of the reasons why I came to Shimokita, because I was looking for a laptop-friendly cafe where I can park for a bit and work on my laptop.
Brooklyn Roasting Company is located underneath the train tracks of Odakyu line. From the east exit of Shimokitazawa station, follow the train tracks and you’ll find it easily, about 4 minutes walk.
2. Et – The Cultural Coffeeshop
I happened to walk by this shop on my way to Shiro-hige cream puff. The coffeeshop caught my eyes with the aesthetic, but they also serve great coffee!
3. Bear Pond Espresso
A cozy cafe in the north-west area from the station. Bear Pond has been around for a long time. They’re known for their espresso based drinks, which many say is flavorful, especially the Dirty Latte.
Dessert places in Shimokitazawa
1. Totoro-shaped Cream Puff at Shiro-hige
Shiro-hige went viral for their delicious cream puffs, which is shaped like Totoro, a beloved animation character from a popular Japanese anime by Studio Ghibli.
Shiro-hige is located within a residential area of Shimokita, so the walk there from the station is an interesting one. You’ll get to see how the area fades from the commercial stores around the station, to slowly becoming more quiet streets with residential houses.
There are 4 flavors of cream puff: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and green tea. My favorite is the green tea one, but I like the vanilla one for photo because the puff is decorated with a green leaf, which is the closest to the Totoro character in the anime.
The price inflation is so real though – when I visited them in 2019, a vanilla custard puff was 460 yen. Fast forward to 2026 – they’re now 700 yen. The place is still cash only, and I didn’t even have enough cash to buy the cheapest custard puff.
2. Flipper’s Pancake, a Japanese-style souffle pancake
Do you know the light fluffy style of souffle pancake that is popular in Japan? Well, Flipper’s specializes in souffle pancakes.
The place is technically a cafe, so you can wait for a table to eat inside and see their full menu, but if you’re like me and just want something quick, head around the corner to find their take out menu. You can get the pancake with different toppings and sauces, but my favorite is the strawberry cream one. The takeout pancake is only 800 yen.
Shopping in Shimokitazawa
1. B-side Label Sticker Shop
I first got to know B-side Label while shopping at Loft, a Japanese lifestyle store. They have this super cute onigiri character that I love, and I always decorate my laptop with. I noticed their stickers are very high quality, and its the kind that does not leave any mark if you take off the sticker.
2. Second-hand & Vintage Shops
Head to the area north from the train station, and you’ll find a quiet labyrinth of streets full of second-hand shops and colorful specialty shops.
3. Shimokitazawa South Street
The alley south from Shimokitazawa Street is the OG shopping street in Shimokitazawa. It has some of Tokyo’s most well-known brands like ABC Mart (budget shoe shops) and Uniqlo, but if you’re willing to explore, you’ll find thirft shops here too.
Alright, that’s a wrap on Shimokitazawa. I hope you’ll check out this neighborhood and if you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
Have fun! 👋
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