The Omotesando and Harajuku area is a hub of fashion and culture where trends from Japan and abroad converge. The tree-lined avenue leading from Omotesando Station was laid out in 1919 as the approach to Meiji Jingu shrine, and roughly 160 handsome zelkova trees line both sides of the street. Flagship stores of the world's leading luxury brands stand along the avenue, and the Omotesando Hills complex and the MoMA Design Store — the museum's first shop outside the United States — are both popular. Takeshita Street, running about 350 metres towards Harajuku and Meiji-jingumae stations, along with Laforet Harajuku and Cat Street winding through the back lanes, draws young people from around the world as places to experience Japan's "kawaii" culture first-hand. Distinctive independent shops and vintage stores are tucked into the side streets, offering new discoveries with every walk. Part of the appeal is how the buzz of a district that attracts visitors from everywhere coexists with the calm of its quiet back lanes. With plenty of stylish cafés and international restaurants and good access to central Tokyo, this is a vibrant, stimulating area where expatriates and their families can enjoy the simple pleasure of exploring on foot.