Daikanyama is just a single stop away from bustling Shibuya, but the neighbourhoods couldn't be more different.
Daikanyama has a distinctly European/modern American style, with some streets reminiscent of downtown New York, and others evoking Paris or London. Indeed, many cafes and restaurants here bear Italian and French names, and there's even a shop selling paletas, Mexican frozen fruit, and milk desserts on a stick.
You don't need a map or a guide book to enjoy this area: simply choose a direction and start wandering. Three main streets lead from Daikanyama Station: Hachiman-dori (towards Shibuya), Kyu Yamate-dori street (towards Komaba), and Komazawa-dori (towards Ebisu).
Top tips
For design-lovers, bookworms and music afficionados: Check out the amazing T-Site – just a short walk from the station (take Kyu-yamate-dori), which includes the massive Tsutaya Books.
For foodies and beer-lovers: Check out the Spring Valley Brewery for a bite to eat and a bottle of craft beer.
For dog lovers: Hang around T-Site's dog park, where Daikanyama's most stylish pooches go for their grooming and dog fashion (!)
Combine a trip to Daikanyama with...
A walk around next-door Ebisu, a neighbourhood known for its funky restaurants and nightlife.
Or breakfast overlooking the iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing.
Steph Newman @steph.newman
In the last few years, I've travelled more than some people do in a lifetime. I've covered four continents, ten countries and more kilometres of train travel than I thought mentally endurable. Japan for me is a home away from home. It's the land I yearn for, and it calls to me from across the oc...
