May 18, 2013 - 1 min read

Cat Street, Harajuku/Omotesando

An intersection of interests

By Sher Ying Wee

Community writer

Going towards Cat Street by walking along Omotesando Street. Weekends are sure to be crowded, so avoid going if you dislike crowds. But I'd recommend going at least once just to people-watch.

The young generations' fashion senses are highly varied. Ahh, it's good to be young!

Hat shop selling all kinds of hats. There are a fair number of hat shops that carry different styles. Most prevalent among them are the street-hip-hop kind though.

Barbie store - selling make-up, clothes and other services. The mannequins are all (of course) Barbies.

O-shaped lamp posts line the street. Found this to be a great way to track back to where I started. Lifesaver for people who get lost easily (like me).

Yukatas in Chicago Thrift Store. It’s quite mind-boggling to see that much clothing displayed in the 2-storey shop.

The kimono shop on the second floor seems to target a younger audience with the really gaudy prints on the kimonos and bright pink of the shop interior. First floor is another thrift store.

B-Side Label shop. They specialize in stickers that are UV protected and water resistant.

Rows and rows and rows of stickers of all kinds and shapes! A good buy for general souvenirs.

Can badges that come in small and big sizes. Felt badges and postcards are available too. The shopkeepers were really nice and allowed me to take photos freely in the shop. They seem to give free stickers too, but it depends on the amount of stuff you buy

The Os light up! Useful decoration that serves as guidepost, street lamp, and art deco all at once!

A mobile coffee van with quaint coffee making equipment. It takes the term 'to-go/takeaway' to a whole new level.

Cute and very bright clothing store mainly for children. A must if you are finding ways to spot your child easily in crowds.

Ore Ryuu Shio Ramen! Food shops are generally located on the side streets of the main Cat Street.

The menu and ordering site at the ramen shop is very efficient. Let the pictures do the talking!

Yummy shio ramen with a little slice of yuzu citrus. A tad salty though, but hey, it’s all handmade, be it the soup or noodles.

'Cat Street' is a misleading but apt nickname for the Ura-Harajuku shopping street. Several theories exist, one being the legend of a black cat wandering the streets; another being because the street itself is shaped like a cat's tail. Shops here have cat-like personalities too, being individualistic and charming in their unique ways. Western and street culture seem to be more popular, but other modes are seen as well, like the lacy-girly style, natural zakka, punk rock, and artsy.

Most goods are mid to high price range, with reasonably priced items discovered through searching. Thrift and 2nd-hand shops carry all kinds of apparel—definitely a must for clothes shopping. Well known brand shops are making their way in as well, so there's a nice mix of things for travelers to see.