Shimokitazawa

Pros

• Another vintage hotspot, Shimokitazawa, definitely trends young and very hip though.
• I don't feel like enough people were talking about Shimokita before I went there in 2023 so it was a pleasant surprise (we even found a beer festival!) and I would recommend that spot to anybody - especially craft beer lovers.
• for persona vibes shimokitazawa is underrated af.
• Shimo is cool, but you’re only going to need a couple hours there. It’s not an all day spot.
• Shimokitazawa for drinking and live music places both comes alive and becomes interesting at night and (especially toward the south-southwest heading toward the Sangenjaya area, serves your hankering for Showa-era stuff.

Cons

• There is no thrifting in Shimokita. It's all overpriced Western garbage designed for young Japanese.
• Shimokita is for HS and uni kids in the day.
• Skip Shimokita and do Koenji instead. Closer to where you will be and still has a vibe. Shimo died long ago.
• Shimokitazawa stopped being a "hippy area" 20 years ago. Gentrified, nothing but crappy Western used clothing, and confused foreign tourists trying to find the "hippy area."
• Shimokita died long ago and if by "vintage" you mean overpriced Western crap--none is Japanese--have fun.