Shimokitazawa is the Brooklyn of Tokyo.
Shimokitazawa named the Brooklyn of Tokyo
August 4, 2026 - Brooklyn Of (brooklynof.com), a travel publication that names the coolest neighborhood in more than 150 cities worldwide, has named Shimokitazawa the Brooklyn of Tokyo.
The "Brooklyn of" a city is a metaphor, of course: shorthand for the coolest neighborhood in town, the one where independent culture, serious coffee, and creative energy define the character. Not the old town, not where the hop-on-hop-off bus goes. Every big enough city has one, and the site names exactly one per city. In many cities the pick is close to consensus, the name locals would give without hesitating. In others it picks a side. Tokyo's verdict went to Shimokitazawa ahead of Nakameguro, Koenji and Jimbōchō, which take the runner-up positions.
"We named Shimokitazawa the Brooklyn of Tokyo, and it was not a hard call. Streets that dead-end without logic, live music in every genre nobody's parents listen to, and enough record crates and vintage racks to lose an afternoon in. Tokyoites are welcome to tell us we are wrong," says Per, creator of Brooklyn Of.
The verdict comes with a guide to Shimokitazawa's independent hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops: no big chains, nothing sponsored, and placements are not for sale. Selections draw on research and local tastemakers in each city, and readers who disagree are invited to make their case.
The full Tokyo verdict: brooklynof.com/tokyo
Press contact: Per, creator of Brooklyn Of, hello [at] brooklynof.com
Press kit and images: brooklynof.com/press/tokyo
Runner-up neighborhoods: Nakameguro, Koenji, Jimbōchō
Free for editorial use in coverage of brooklynof.com. Credit: brooklynof.com.
hello [at] brooklynof.com · Per is available for interviews, quotes, and written commentary on this and every city in the index.