Try Zakoya in Shimokitazawa for a cosy, traditional interior, delicious food and great sake selection
Shimokitazawa, also known as "Shimokita," is only a stone's throw from Shibuya and Shinjuku, but the intensity of the city drops a few degrees when you pull into the station. This laid-back bohemian district is home to vintage clothing stores, select bookstores, music shops and funky, distinctive cafés and bars. Shimokitazawa doesn't really kick into gear until lunchtime, so schedule an afternoon of select shopping followed by an evening in one of the cozy bars and cafes.
Access Shimokitazawa by taking the Odakyu Line or Keio-Inokashira Line to Shimokitazawa Station.
From Haneda Airport: One hour by train to Shimokitazawa Station.
From Narita Airport: One hour 45 minutes by train to Shimokitazawa Station.
From Shinjuku Station: Seven minutes on the Odakyu Line to Shimokitazawa Station.
From Tokyo Station: Take the JR Chuo Line Rapid to Shinjuku Station, then transfer to the Odakyu Line. Travel time: 35 minutes
In the area around the recently-renovated Shimokitazawa Station, you’ll find a number of new developments. Mikan Shimokita is a complex just outside the station, with a variety of shops, restaurants serving food from around the world, as well as a co-working space and a Tsutaya bookstore. Reload sits on the site of the old Odakyu train lines. Filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, and a gallery-like bookstore and stationery shop, it is designed to encourage visitors and store owners to interact, with tables and benches, and lots of spaces for people to relax.
If you're looking for vintage clothing or antiques, the neighborhood of Shimokitazawa is the place to go. Browse the clothing racks of New York Joe Exchange, in a building that used to be a public bath. For everyday items and knick-knacks that make good souvenirs, Antique Life Jin and Tokyo Retro a.m.a. are worth checking out.
