If you ask most of my friends living in Japan – most of them would say that they would live in Yoyogi-Uehara if they could. It feels like the suburbs when it is actually right in the heart of central Tokyo. The vibes are vibing here too – so many really amazing restaurants and cafes frequented by Tokyo creatives. The architecture along in this area alone is just beautiful to take in. The residents and cafe owners love good food, design and quaint dining experiences.
Yoyogi-Uehara is :
5 mins by train from Shinjuku (12 mins by taxi)
6 mins by train from Harajuku
12 mins by train from Shibuya
16 mins by train from Roppongi
20 mins by train from Koenji
21 mins by train from Tokyo Station (for taking the bullet train)
Did you also know that Yoyogi-Uehara is one of the stations that you can take the train to Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Katase-Enoshima and Karakida?
My favourite part about staying in Yoyogi-Uehara is the fact that it doesn’t feel at all touristy. This isn’t a hotel hot spot – it’s just locals going about their Tokyo life and it is so lovely to get amongst all of that.
Gotta love how even the construction signs are so polite in this area!
See here for my tips on navigating meals and treats for kids in Japanese convenience stores.
See here for my tips on healthier convenience store options and options for baby’s first solid food options.
Are there many supermarkets in the Yoyogi-Uehara area?
Good News Store specialty supermarket (open Thurs-Sun 12pm-7pm)
Italian grocery store Piatti (open Wed-Sun 11am-1pm & 2pm-7pm)
Maruetsu Yoyogi Uehara (open daily 9am-11pm)
Tokyo Camii Halal Market (open daily 10am-7pm)
OdakyuOX supermarket (open daily 10am-11pm)
GAIA organic goods supermarket (open daily 11:30am-7:30pm)
*Maruetsu supermarkets also stock Beyond Meat (plant based meat alternatives) and Beyond Tofu for cheese alternatives.
Are there many places to eat out with kids in the Yoyogi-Uehara area?
There are !
And here are a few of our favourites (for a range of budgets and for lots of different types of food too)
Bondi Coffee Sandwiches
This cafe is very popular with local families for good reason. The cafe is spacious and light and well known for lots of yummy veggie-laden sandwiches, acai bowls, smoothies and baked potatoes. They also sell 2-3 vegan sandwiches AND can substitute cow’s milk for oat milk.
This is a walk-in restaurant only so need to worry about reservations. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Please note that they only accept card payments (no cash.) Open daily 7am-7pm.
You can also order these Bondi treats straight to your apartment using Ubereats!
Cosmos Juice Tomigaya
This juice stand, as well as juice, serves smoothies, acai bowls, vegan veggie bowls, wellness shots etc. The kids smoothie options include green smoothies or blueberry or strawberry smoothies. Open 7am-3pm (Closed Wednesdays.) They accept most major credit cards. This smoothie/juice bar is 7 mins walk from Sumii apartment Yoyogi-Uehara.
I really like the pumpking soup here.
Freshness Burger
Freshness Burger is a Japanese fast food chain and the very first store is right here ! It’s like a little cubby house too! Very cute. See the full Freshness Burger menu here.
You Know What? Pizza Restaurant & Cafe
You Know What? is just 1 min walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station. They serve pizza, pasta, wine, cocktails. They also serve brunch and coffee. This cafe/restaurant welcomes children and also has space for strollers. Every adult diner is asked to order one food & one drink item. I recommend budgeting for 2000 yen per adult for lunch and more like 4500 yen at dinner time. They accept most major credit cards. Please note that there is a 110 yen service charge to dine here. Make a reservation for You Know What? here. Open 9am-10pm (Last Orders 9:30pm.)
Kitchen Origin
This is a great option for a takeaway bento to eat at the park or back at the apartment. It is just near Yoyogi-Uehara Station so is good for grabbing something on the way back home. It is set up like a deli and you can choose all the sides in your bento yourself. They also have a wide range of onigiri (rice balls.) Bento prices range from 500 – 1000 yen.
Open 7am-10:30pm. They accept most major credit cards.
Little Mermaid Bakery
Within Yoyogi-Uehara Station is a bakery called Little Mermaid. This is a chain and the Yoyogi-Uehara Store is open from 8am-9pm. They accept most major credit cards. See pictures of the products sold at Little Mermaid bakery Japan.
Goo Italiano
Goo Italiano welcomes kids and babies. This Italian restaurant is 1 min walk from the East Exit of Yoyogi-Uehara Station. Please note that this restaurant isn’t great at customizations so best to just order what is on the menu.
Open 5pm-11pm (Last Orders 10pm) & Open for Lunch on Weekends and Public Holidays.
They accept most major credit cards. I recommend budgeting 5000 yen per adult at dinner time here and more like 2000 yen at lunch time.
Are there many playgrounds in the Yoyogi-Uehara area?
There sure are!
Uehara Park
This local park is buzzing with little local children from around 3pm onwards. When putting it into google – enter “Shibuya Kuritsu Uehara Park.” There are public toilets here too & a vending machine.
Tomigaya Park
This park is small but it does provide enough for kids to have a lovely little play. There are public toilets here – a vending machine too.
Where can I buy nappies / diapers in the Yoyogi-Uehara area?
Cocokara Fine drugstore stocks nappies.
The drugstore inside Yoyogi-Uehara Station called Tomods also sells nappies /diapers. They also sell quite a range of jars and tins of baby food and baby friendly crackers etc.
If you’ll be in Japan for a month or more I highly recommend staying in this area at Sumii Furnished Apartments in Tokyo!
I’ve written about the Sumii apartments in Yoyogi-Uehara n detail here .
This isn’t an affiliate link but I do have a 10% off discount code for Sumii – please be sure to use the code “SUMIISUMMER26”
