All that shopping in Harajuku and Omotesandō can work up an appetite. Luckily, these trendy districts are also good for trendy sweets.
Takeshita Street has long been known for its cream-filled crepes, but there is so much more kawaii (cute) street food to be found (and eaten). Find out where to find the rainbow-colored candy floss, and other must-try Harajuku sweets.
Rainbow cotton candy
This cotton candy delight on a stick is not hard to miss, and is currently Harajuku’s most popular treat. That could be due to its enormous size and bright rainbow colors — or because of the amusing show people make trying to eat it.
You can choose from the largest, which has five colors and costs ¥1,000, and the medium-size, which has three colors and costs ¥700. You can also opt for a take-out cup starting from ¥550.
The store often has collaborations and seasonal surprises, so you’ll never know what to expect. Currently, they have a collaboration with Long! Longer!! Longest!!! for a pretty, well, long cotton candy treat.
Gourmet popcorn
Combine high-quality food with limited-edition flavors, chuck in a bit of kitsch American style, and you’re onto a winner in Japan. Garrett Popcorn drew lines down the street when it opened, and remains a big draw today.
The thing here is the number of popcorn flavors from which to choose. Regular menu items inlude include Caramel Crisp (our personal favorite), Cheese Corn, Mild Salt, and Almond Caramel Crisp. If you fancy it, you can try the Chicago Mix, which is half caramel and half cheese. Or try any of the seasonal flavors that are introduced throughout the year.
Popcorn starts at ¥340 for a small bag and goes up to ¥660–¥1,700 for a large bag.
World-famous crepes
Of course, you can’t go to Harajuku without trying the crepes, be they stuffed with cream, brownies, cheesecake, or pie!
There are several options along Takeshita Street: Santa Monica Crepes and Marion Crêpes are the usual favorites, but we have a soft spot for Sweet Box.
You can use your inevitable queue time to take your pick from the myriad of wax-plastic recreations on display. There are some savory creations too, but where’s the fun in that? The crepe of your choice will be made fresh in front of you and cost around ¥600.
Korean corn dogs
Forget what you think you know about corn dogs. The Korean version of the American classic comes with variety of fillings — and not just hotdogs (or any kind of sausage). There are all kinds of options but the one that gets the most attention is stuffed with gooey mozzarella cheese and covered in sugar. It is one of the best sweet and savory mixes that you’ll find in Harajuku.
There are a couple of chain options on Takeshita Street, including Gamaro GangJung, known for their rainbow cheese dogs, and Arirang Hotdog for more classic options.
Puffy pancakes
You might say crepes and pancakes fall under the same category, but we beg to differ. Harajuku crepes are meant to be folded up and eaten on the street, but these pancakes — the fluffiest, softest, and bounciest ever — deserve a proper sit-down experience.
There are an incredible number of places to eat pancakes in Harajuku, including imports like Bills and Eggs ‘n Things, but our top recommendation is Rainbow Pancakes. Unfortunately the pancakes are not actually rainbow-colored, but they do come in mouth-watering combinations — try the chocolate and orange.
Down the road in Omotesandō, you’ll also find A Happy Pancake, which serves high-quality pancakes in a spacious shop.
Can’t get enough of Harajuku? Read our guide on more things to do in the area.
