Shimokitazawa is a Tokyo district known for its vintage stores and hipster vibe. In this post, I’ll give you a tour of the best boutiques — including one that sells secondhand Gothic & Lolita clothing.

My lion t-shirt is from the I.T / Izzue store in Hong Kong. The image reminds me of my Scottish Fold kitty, Basil Farrow.

Met up with my Tokyo friends, Yukiro and Michelle. Their purple and blue coordinates happened to match.

Attempting an avant-garde pose underneath the subway tracks. Not sure if we succeeded.

Faux leather skirt: GladNews in Shibuya 109 (more photos from this shop soon)
Leopard print tights: from a random boutique
Silver stud ankle boots: Yosuke, from Shibuya 109

It’s easy to get to Shimokitazawa; the ride takes only 10 minutes by subway, from Shinjuku or Shibuya. “Shimokita” is a favorite hangout for Japanese youths, packed with retro anime stores, music shops, coffeehouses and second hand fashion.

We had lunch with Jake Adelstein, crime journalist and author of Tokyo Vice, a gripping memoir of his yakuza reporting escapades. Jake and I recently worked together on a TV show, but we can’t say much about it yet… lest we lose a finger!

Yukiro was so hungry that he began eating the flowers outside the Thai restaurant. (Tokyo in the spring is beautiful, isn’t it?)

After eating, we browsed the various secondhand stores in Shimokitazawa. This one had crates of old anime, manga and retro character goods. Michelle was tempted to get the Sailor Moon VHS tapes.

Gotta love Japanese programs for kids, which always leave you scratching your head in wonderment.

Not only young people live here… this neighborhood is a nice mix of residential and indie businesses.

Yukiro couldn’t stop laughing at the “Toy n Gay” stamp on the wall.

We all love Sailor Moon, crosses, spikes, and cats.

Upstairs, in the secondhand store Grand Bazaar, there were racks of Sweet Lolita fashion. Brands included Jane Marple and Justine et Juliette, which you can’t always find in Closet Child.

This intriguing boutique had Alice in Wonderland decor on the outside. But it was marked “Members Only,” so we dared not enter.

This thrift store looked like a repurposed bathhouse, and had a large selection of colorful sweaters, long skirts, and clothing from the 1970s and 1980s. Love the style of these two girls.

Marilyn Monroe overlooks a row of 70s-style tops. If you’re a fan of vintage shopping, you could spend all day here.

Haight & Ashbury is much-loved among treasure hunters. Items are pricier, but you’ll be sure to find high-quality, rare or designer pieces.

There’s an outstanding antique / dolly section, with faded lace and Victorian-style purses.

Shimokitazawa’s a fun place to spend the day, shopping and people-watching.

Be sure to bring your camera, stop for coffee or pancakes, and wander aimlessly.

You’ll be sure to stumble upon oddities, like this Doraemon (earless robot cat) store.

Or a skeleton playing a cello.

Have you heard of Shimokitazawa, or been to this Tokyo hipster neighborhood? Which are your favorite vintage stores?

And what do you think of our outfits in this post? Let us know below…

Happy Easter! Shall we celebrate by visiting the Tokyo Bunny Cafe?

I took my friends Duff McKagan, Susan Holmes-McKagan and their daughters on a shopping tour of Harajuku. Keep reading for a zillion cute photos.

Perhaps you recall the J Valentine costume photoshoot I did with Josie Stevens. She introduced me to Susan, her E! Network “Married to Rock” co-star, and we immediately bonded over Japanese cute/pop culture. A former top model, Susan is CEO and designer of Holmes Swimwear, and writes for Huffington Post.

Her husband, Duff McKagan, was touring Tokyo with his band Loaded. You may also know Duff as the bassist of Guns n’ Roses and Velvet Revolver.

After the concert, Duff and Susan spent the next few days exploring Tokyo with their girls, Grace and Mae. I took them on a tour of my favorite Harajuku shops.

SBY Happy Room is a favorite of Josie’s as well.

An entire nook is devoted to fake eyelashes, including Dolly Wink, Kyaru Pamyu Pamyu, and gyaru brands.

SBY is a popular store for Harajuku girls.

It’s perfect for picking up cute little gifts as souvenirs.

I took them down Takeshita-doori. We popped into this cute characters boutique, Tama Depa.

We also stopped to try candies, boba, and my favorite yuzu (Japanese citrus) drink.

Harajuku Shoes is a must-visit for Goth Punk Rocker boots.

Susan got a pair of Yosuke boots, similar to the ones I’m wearing below.

Since we were visiting a bunny cafe, I wore an Alice in Wonderland inspired outfit:
Girly lace dress: Liz Lisa x My Melody collection
White rabbit stopwatch purse: Amavel, in Lumine Shinjuku
Studded black boots: Yosuke, from Shibuya 109
White fuzzy bunny-eared jacket: Peace Now, from Closet Child (sad the brand is gone…)

Near the end of Takeshita doori, we went into the Pink Latte store.

There’s a pink jet inside, cockpit and all.

The Meiji-doori department store, Laforet, had a Nico Panda pop-up (fashion line by Lady Gaga’s stylist, Nicola Formichetti).

Remember, the best stores in Laforet are in the basement! Don’t miss Swimmer, for kitsch-kawaii.

Duff McKagan met us outside Laforet. The Jin Sinn (famous rock store) staff recognized him, and gave him a leather jacket with a leopard-print collar.

Onward, to the Harajuku bunny cafe Raagf. Address: 3F, 6-14-15 Jingu-mae, Shibuya.

The rabbit cafe is hard to find, as it’s in a tiny side-street. Look for the nearby Toni & Guy, and Etoile nail art salon.

Bunny cafes are similar to Japanese cat cafes: customers enjoy drinks while playing with cute little bunnies. Isn’t the poop logo ridiculous?

So many different rabbits to hug. For more about bizarre Japanese cafes, check out my Tokyo theme restaurants book.

I loved spending the day with this sweet family. If you too are interested in a tour, contact my La Carmina & the Pirates company.

Want to peek inside more Harajuku fashion boutiques? Visit my Tokyo shopping guide (with maps, photos and more).

Would you visit a Japanese bunny cafe? What are your favorite Harajuku destinations?