How to Unlock Shops at Harv's Island Plaza in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Harv's Island offers players a unique opportunity to showcase shops and photograph friends without needing to redesign their own island. Unlocking the various shops allows access to new items, customization, and gameplay features.

Recruiting Your First Villager

To access Harv's facilities, you must first invite a villager friend to pose for a photoshoot. Chat with Harv who will explain the concept and have you choose a villager from your Contact list to invite via NookPhone.

Unlocking Photopia

Once the invitation is sent and received, head to Harv's Island. Inside his rustic outdoor studio, agree to take a picture of the villager. This will reward you the Construction Permit DIY to craft Photopia panels.

Building Photopia

Use your handy Workbench to craft the Panels, then place them around Harv's exterior studio area to expand and construct the beginnings of Photopia. Input any theme ideas when prompted.

Unlocking The Roost

After completing a photoshoot with the invited villager inside Photopia, speak to Harriet who will thank you. She mentions opening a cafe and hands over the Blueprint for The Roost cafe!

Constructing The Roost

Similar to Photopia, craft the blueprint item then place panels on the empty lot space beside Harv's house. Input a cozy cafe theme and watch The Roost materialize ready for business.

Unlocking the Able Sisters' Shop

Once The Roost is in place, Harriet may approach asking to expand further by adding an clothing boutique. She provides the Blueprint to develop the space.

Building the Able Sister's Shop

As with the previous constructions, craft the blueprint and lay panels on the remaining empty lot space to build out the stylish Able Sister's fashion emporium complete with changing rooms.

Continuing Expansions

As you progress further in the main game by funding more of Tom Nook's infrastructure projects, inviting more villagers, and fulfilling tasks, additional Blueprints will unlock for shops like Nook's Cranny and the campground.

Using the Shops

Now that the developments are complete on Harv's island, feel free to visit the stores daily like you would back home. Some key details:

The Roost Brewster will serve coffee and takeout, with rewards for loyalty
Able Sister's will carry full clothing catalog and custom designs
Nook's Cranny offers expanded seasonal item selection
Campground tents invite any amiibo cards scanned

Earning Harv's Posters

As thanks for your help developing Photopia, Harriet will reward you with photo session mementos - Harv's Posters. Display them with pride!

Using Photopia

Now that the island is developed, recreate any room setting using the Pro Camera app. Invite any villagers or friends over to pose and snap pictures together across all seasons.

Hosting Special Events

Get creative hosting themed events in Photopia like fashion shows, art exhibits, flower arranging contests using items from the shops as decor and prizes.

Earning Extra Bells

Since Harv's island offers expanded goods, turn a profit by shopping the Daily Selection then returning home to your island Nook's Cranny to resell high demand items for markups of 10,000+ Animal Crossing Bells each.

Selling Turnips

Since Nook's Cranny on Harv's island functions independently from your island, travel there on rare spike Sundays to purchase turnips that won't rot if you time travel back home before selling.

Photographing Your Friends

Swap best friend codes with others to invite them over Photopia for collaborative photo shoots across different themes and seasons for your custom portfolio.

Sharing Designs

Using the design portal at Able Sisters in Photopia, visit to upload and download custom designs, clothing patterns and QR codes directly from the kiosk.

Earning Nook Miles

Complete the Harv's Handy Harold Nook Miles achievement list across various activities on the island like shopping, photographing friends, and using emotes for more bonus Miles.

Showcasing Your Island

Recreate miniature sets or dioramas of areas from your home island like the plaza, orchards or special buildings to give tours for friends visiting Photopia.