For cheap, fun trends, make your way to Takeshita Street in Harajuku .

Here you'll find upcoming trendsetting boutiques sharing walls with more iconic long-term staples like the nearby Dog, known to be frequented by fashion icons like Lady Gaga.

Keep an eye out for deals as you dig through the shelves, and don't forget Daiso and Thank You Mart, Takeshita's two big discount stores.

Weave your way through the back streets that shoot off Takeshita to uncover a variety of tiny shops and at the end cross the main road to find Harajuku's sneaker district (look for the small alleyway to the right of Murasaki Sports).

For the ultimate in "kawaii" fashion, be sure to stop by 6% Dokidoki, located near Meiji Jingumae station behind the Kawaii Monster Cafe.

If you love crepes, you'll also love it here.

Kiddyland is a great place to pick up a Japanese toy or character as a souvenir. It opened in Harajuku in the 1950’s and is popular with locals and tourists in the area. Each of its 5 floors is a treasure trove of traditional toys, new trends and popular characters including Hello Kitty, Disney, Star Wars and Snoopy.

Getting There: Harajuku and Omotesando are both easily accessible by train.

Take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station for Harajuku's Takeshita Street or the Metro Chiyoda Line to Meiji Jingumae for Omotesando. Both areas are connected by a main boulevard, so the best way to travel around is by foot.

Importance Rating: 8 - this is the epicentre of fashion in Japan and a great place to visit.

Busyness Rating: 10 - it gets very busy.

Top Tips: The bridge by Harajuku Station is a popular spot for cosplayers and rockabilly dancers.

Capture some fun memories with a quick photo booth session at a purikura store on Takeshita Street. The themed photo booths and crazy edits are a great souvenir of Japan.

Another Takeshita Street stop, Daiso is a Japanese discount store stocking a fun range of products for 100 yen or less.

Kids will love exploring the aisles which are jam packed with weird and wonderful creations including sushi and cake erasers, lucky cats and origami sets. At around $1 a purchase it’s a fun and inexpensive treat.