Harajuku always has something.
It’s so cawaii !
A shop that has been here for a long time
Kiddy Land began in 1950 as a small bookshop in the Harajuku and Omotesando area. Today it is one of the best-loved character shops in Tokyo, a place where children and grown-ups both stop to smile.
Finding it
The shop is on Omotesando Avenue, in Jingumae. It is about a three-minute walk from Meiji-jingumae Station, and about seven minutes from the Omotesando exit of JR Harajuku Station. Opening hours and the contents of each floor can change, so please check the official website before you visit.
Why I love going
Whenever I go, I end up looking at everything. Each floor has its own little world, and every time I pass through, something is new: a seasonal display, a new character, a new color. It never feels the same twice, and that is the reason I want to visit again and again.
I took the photo above in the summer of 2024. From now on, I would like to take a photo from the same corner every year, and quietly watch how this little town of characters changes with the seasons.
A small note for travelers
If you are visiting Tokyo, Kiddy Land is easy to enjoy even in a short time, because it sits right on the way between Harajuku and Omotesando. It is lovely to look around, even if you do not buy anything.
Is there a shop from your childhood that still makes you smile when you walk by?