Shimokitazawa is a trendy, artsy, and hip neighbourhood that is a true haven for thrift shopping. You can shop for vintage clothes, handicrafts, vinyl records, and all kinds of Japanese souvenirs without blowing through your budget.

Drawing hipsters, yuppies, and hippies alike, Shimokitazawa is one of the best places to go off the beaten path in Tokyo. It’s packed to the brim with trendy concept stores, jazz bars, coffee shops, art galleries, theatres, independent record stores, and live music venues. All of them bursting with creative and bohemian energy.

Want to cap off your night with chill beats? For the funkiest bars on this side of Tokyo, Shimokitazawa is known for its lively and exciting nightlife scene. Bars and clubs play a wide range of music, from soul to R&B to city pop — a carefree and retro style of Japanese pop music that grew popular around the 1970s and 80s.

Address: Shimokitazawa, Kitazawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0031, Japan

Getting There: The easiest way to get to Shimokitazawa is by train. The neighborhood is just a short ride away from central Tokyo, accessible via the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku Station or the Inokashira Line from Shibuya Station.