下北沢 － Shimokitazawa

[princessmarisa]

Anyone got any first hand information on this area between Shibuya and Shinjuku?

Read a few blog posts mentioning it here and there but other than cafe reviews most are quite sparse. Wondered if anyone here had ever been and had any info about it.

From what I have read it seems to have lots of second-hand record stalls, maybe the odd clothes shop or stall and little cafes and is in general an interesting place for "Young people" to look around for a day (or maybe just a couple hours)

My time in Tokyo will be limited, so I want to know if it will be worth squeezing it in for a couple hours for miss misa and myself inplace of something else, like say a trip to Tokyo Dome area.

[samokan]

I like shimokitaza, its just a few minutes from Shinjuku on the Odakyu line or from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira line.

Yes its sort of a combination of Harajuku and Shibuya but much cheaper. Lots of restaurant, affordable shops.

I have brought lots of my friends there, and I've got positive response so far.
Might give it a little time. If you are planning to go to Tokyo Dome, then do it and then go to Shimokitawa late in the afternoon.

[princessmarisa]

Thenkyou that is really helpful, I will add it to my list.

The reason I mentioned Tokyo Dome is that, as my trip is already quite full I would probably have something else planned for the morning(maybe Harajuku for example), and Tokyo Dome in the afternoon, and if it is worth not going to the dome and going to Shimokitazawa instead.

I think I have decided tht there isn't that much at the dome anyway, so it will be a good swap out

[samokan]

if u are a big baseball fan, the tokyo dome is a must to see. Actually there are times that tokyo dome area is full of cosplayer, last time I was there, there was an event and the place was crawling with cosplayers as well as baseball fanatics.

Harajuku and Shimokitawa are not far each other actually. Chiyoda line runs from Harajuku to Yoyogiuehara where u can transfer to Odakyu, but u will be using the JR pass right? so I guess u will need to go back to Shibuya instead.

Coming from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira line would be cheaper , its just 120 yen and nearer from Harajuku so I suggest u take that route.

Have fun.

I think I've put Shimokitawa in my blog already , but if u need to see more pictures , just tell me. I usually do my grocery in Shimokitawa ..

[Gahzirra]

Shimokitazawa has quite a few second hand clothing and record shops along with live music bars. Its Harajuku without the touristy feel. If that's your thing I would suggest going as their have been plans kicked around for a while to level it and make a new highway, so who knows how long it will be around.

[princessmarisa]

Thanks everyone, we are not big baseball fans but I might see if there are any cosplay events due to meet around the dome too.

We are very harajuku people, and a less toursity one sounds great.
I have been to harajuku like 4-5times, so new places are great for me.

We plan to use tokyo free kippu so we can go on any trains/地下鉄, its not worth the JR pass for our plans really.

[siokan]

Shimo-Kitazawa is a maze.
It did not go so much though the high school that went was near....
(Though it is maybe because I am a man)

Strolling in Kichijyoji might be also good if going to the Ghibli museum.

*There is temperature gradient in June and take care about clothes.

[MissMisa]

This sounds interesting.

I don't care much for baseball, I guess it'd be interesting to see it, but this would be equally interesting.

What clothes do you recommend for June then siokan?

[princessmarisa]

Originally Posted by siokan

Shimo-Kitazawa is a maze.
It did not go so much though the high school that went was near....
(Though it is maybe because I am a man)

Strolling in Kichijyoji might be also good if going to the Ghibli museum.

*There is temperature gradient in June and take care about clothes.

Not going to see Ghibli. Not sure bout miss misa but I think it is way too touristy and I am not a big fan of the Ghibli stuff at all. Also I think it costs a lot with advance booking and is kinda in the middle of no-where-else-we-want-to-see.

I went to Japan in May before and found the weather to always be really warm, but also pretty rainy. Will june be the same?

Most days I just wore jeans and a tshirt with a light cardigan/zipped hoody for the evenings. Will this work in June too?

[MissMisa]

Not too bothered about Ghibli, I like Ghibli but not THAT much. Ghibli is for my next visit to Japan. For now I want to see all the stuff I really want to see.

This was my plan too, jeans, tshirt and kitty hoody xD And then something so I don't feel too out of place in Shibuya 109 xD Which is prolly impossible because I don't wanna spend 3873275 on clothes, haha.