Harajuku

2009-06-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Harajuku, the common name for the area around Harajuku Station, between Shinjuku and Shibuya. Local landmarks include the headquarters of NHK, Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park.

It is a wild and crazy place best seen on a Sunday or any other holiday for that matter. It is located just 1 station north of Shibuya and some consider it to be the extion of Shibuya. You may be suprised to find teen dressing up in cosplay, anime, or other gothic type costumes right out side the station or street performers acting out for a little extra money. The area known as "Ura-Hara" (back streets of Harajuku) is a center of Japanese fashion for younger people, with brands such as Bathing ape and Undercover having shops in the area. Harajuku street style is promoted in Japanese and international publications such as Fruits. Harajuku offers a means as a city center to various other locations and is a must see.

Harajuku refers to the sector around the station of Harajuku in Tokyo, a station north to Shibuya on the Yamanote line. It is Japan's center of most extreme teenage cultures and mode, but also offers shopping spot for adults and historic sight.

The focal point of Harajuku's teenagers culture is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) and its side streets, which are lined by many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend conscious teens.

Japanese are still great west trends consumers, so when you hang around the boutiques of Takeshita street in Harajuku you'll in big chance see many teenagers wearing mod clothes. Harajuku is a Vatican for artists, freedom spirits, and burgeoning fashion trends that provides a space of free expression from the conservative Japanese culture. But Japanese fashion has no doubt to make a one step further, dressing-up in costume is seen as a main idea of fashions, so no-one will bat an eyelid at a nice and beautiful girl wearing a plastic fried egg round her neck as a fashion statement.

One nice thing about Japanese and their Harajuku fashion, is that it's not a matter of shops and brands (like Gap) instructing what people wear, but teenagers instracting what the shops will start selling.

Nowadays there are many clothes and websites which sell harajuku fashion and lolita fashion, but the spirit of this japanese style has come up from teenagers not being in deeep confusion to customise and accessorise their own clothes, and to wear crazy outfits with a sense of humour to retaliate against social expectations of nice clothes, nice jobs, nice attitudes.

In order to feel the culture of the teenage at its more extreme, come to visit Harajuku on Sunday, when many young people meet around the station of Harajuku and engage in cosplay (“costume play”), dressed up in crazy costumes to resemble anime characters, punk musicians, etc.

Stores, cafes and the restaurants for all ages are found along Omotesando, a broad, tree lined avenue, sometimes indicated under the name of Champions-Elysees of Tokyo. The hills of Omotesando, a recently opened complex of stores along the avenue, had attracted huge attention.

However, Harajuku is not only about teenage culture and shopping. Meiji Dori, one of the principal shrine of Tokyo, is located just at the west of the railway ways in a large green oasis divided with the Yoyogi Park, a roomy public park. Beautiful paintings of ukiyo-e are performed in the small Ota Memorial Museum of Art.

Harajuku is now internationally famous, that's why anyone wearing harajuku style being photographed as much as the London punks who hang out in Trafalgar Square in tartan trousers and mohicans, waiting get paid by tourists to pose for photos. And that's no problem? When you're a punk you have fewer job options because of the extremity of your dress code, and however you have to make money.

If you decided to harajuku style you are required to be full dedicated. It is only as serious as you expect it to be. You may prefer not having a regular job or attending school and be fully dedicated into the band scene, but essentially the look of harajuku style is based on clothes and make-up which can be removed as you want, so it is extremely ok if you want to be a part-time Harajuku girl Punks with mohicans and piercings have to be punk (to some degree) all the time, but teenagers who harajuku-style, no matter they are boys or girls can wear ordinary outfits then dress up harajuku-style at the weekend. Pure pop fashion, but achieve a lot of fun!

For Japanese youth culture "cool” and “nice” - Harajuku, northern Shibuya, is the number one central of mode, recreation, maniac, ridiculous and crazy "crib" to "chill out". Come on Sunday and you'll watch them all!

Anyone who makes it to Harajuku is in for a treat because the fashions are unbelievable. Like Camden in London, but a lot more weird. In 2001, believe it or not, the look was like the Amish folk in the Harrison Ford film 'Witness'. In 2002, the look was grunge for the boys and Lolita Goth (also known as Goth Lolita, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth) for the girls.

Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan. Lolita is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include goth style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.

Harajuku burst the first time on the scene in 1964 - the Olympic year. The Olympic gymnasium and the village being located very close, the prospect for meeting someone famous in the street attracted many people attention. Today, the sector includes the Takshita Street, The Avenue of Meiji Dori and The Aavenue of Omotesando Dori.

The Takeshita Dori Street is opposite to Takeshita Dori Exit of Harajuku Station. Here, the stores sell the most extraordinary mixture of the goods reflecting the Japanese concepts of “nice”, “cool and American” and "rebellious and British". In other words a strange mixture of Hello Kitty, hip-hop and infamous British punk. As for the customers? Well, any shape of fancy dress accepted.

Turn right at the bottom of Takshita Dori Street, walk along Avenue of Meiji Dori as far crossroads, then turn left into avenue of Omotesando Dori. Sunday, the avenue of Omotesando Dori is fulled with street performers. Look out for the resident Rockerbilly Band.

Timing is certainly amiss, but quiffs rise high. Thus as well as the two men in the costumes which lose the major part of their day speaking with pink rabbits, it is certainly a curiosity. At the end of the avenue of Omotesando Dori, you will find Aoyama, an elegant sector full with the expensive stores and boutiques.

For however more street performance on sunday head up to Yoyogi park. It's near Harajuku station. The plaza of NHK broadcasting is across it. You'll be in Shibuya only five minutes
walking over the plaza.

Harajuku became famous in the Eighties due to a great number of street performers and an extravagant dressed teenagers who crowded there on Sunday when Omotesando traffic was closed. This led to the vibrant “Hokoten Band Scene”. This was stopped at the end of the Nineties and of the number of performers, visual Kei fans, rockabilly dancers and punks firmly decreased since.

Harajuku is as much a mythical entity as it is ground Zero for Tokyo street style; its mysterious borders blend with nearby, upmarket Aoyama and bustling Shibuya. Here, in its tangled back alleys, lives the New Japan where left-wing artistic types mix with fashion-conscious teenagers in one oxymoronic mélange of youth culture. Meanwhile, the beau monde fights for turf on Omotesando— a concrete catwalk and Tokyo’s Champs Elysées—as creatives toil away in the quiet back streets of Aoyama and sports enthusiasts take in a game on the grounds of Meiji Jingu’s Outer Gardens.

Today on Sunday one can see many Gothic Lolita also many foreign tourists taking photograph of them on the way to Meiji Srine. Some tourists are astonished to see so great exposure of the Japanese youth dressed in often shocking outfits. Close to the train station there is Meiji Shrine, which is a popular attraction of tourists, just like the Yoyogi Park.

Also close to the Takeshita Street, a street furnished with the shops of mode and the various goods, mostly for young teenagers, and Omotesando, a very long street with the coffees and the upscale mode boutiques, popular with residents and tourists.

Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku Girls

2009-05-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Harajuku girls, used to identify girls who gather in Harajuku district, Tokyo, Japan. Their costumes is in several different styles of clothing that originated in the culture of Japan's major cities.

The term is not only monopolized by those who gather in the district themselves, but has become a relatively popular expression in the United States. Popular use originated from the American singer Gwen Stefani's 2004 Love.Angel.Music.Baby album, which brought attention to Stefani's entourage of four supposed "Harajuku Girls" who were hired to portray the look, three of whom are Japanese and one of whom is Japanese American. These "Harajuku Girls" are not in fact the fashion aficionados or the home sewing hobbyists from whence they derive their name.

Harajuku is a popular iconic placed in the world of entertainment, inside and outside of Japan. It was said that the girls of Harajuku are “beauty stars of Japan”. The American singer Gwen Stefani puts Harajuku reference in several of her songs and incorporated four female dancers, appointed under the name of “love,” “angel,” “music,” and “baby,” dressed like girls with Americanised Harajuku, as her background act.

A song is devoted to them on the album which she called after them, entitled of the “Harajuku Girls” and the word “??” (Harajuku) is depicted on the surface of stage during her music video for the Hollaback Girl. In her songs, Stefani mispronounces the word Harajuku. Instead of the Japanese pronunciation, Stefani spells “hair-ajuku,” although the Japanese loudspeakers on its album pronounce the word correctly. Her use--which critics call her appropriation--of Harajuku girls and Harajuku fashion was criticized by a certain number of Asian-Americans, in particular Margaret Cho, to perpetuate stereotypes of the flexible Asian women.

According to the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Blender magazine, American comedian Margaret Cho has labeled Stefani's Harajuku Girls a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women. [1]. The Harajuku Girls have continued to appear alongside Stefani in the media, and are featured in the music video for "Wind It Up" (2006). If you search the term Harajuku girls in internet, most probably you will find Gwen Stefani name also as the search results.

Gwen Stefani, singer principal of the pop band No Doubt, has lead Madonna-esque fashion revolt in both her recent video clip for her single What You Awaiting For and her solo album Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Its involving in 80’s inspired popish tunes, platinum blonde hair and Like A Virgin kit outside the art cover of album reinforce her homage to the material girl, though it can be slightly language in the cheek. In 2006, Stefani launched a second clothing line, called the “Harajuku lovers,” she said it is inspired by the zone of Harajuku in Japan. But its her references to the girls of Japanese Harajuku peppered in all the album and on a way in particular which drew the interest from a various range of te commentators. However who are these Harajuku Girls?

The Harajuku District of Tokyo and in particular street of Takeshita, a narrow street furnished with the stores is the brilliant house for these fashionistas. Since the end of the Second World War, the “consumerism” and “consumption” are becoming national past-time for most Japanese and in particular to teenager girls who often live at the house with their parents well until their twenties. Their free existence of rent provides them enough funds to gather at Harajuku each weekend, where they transform themselves into baby doll of Lolita-esque caracitures. Of course it is an extreme-pretty combination of dressing, but however you will find kind of oase of japanese dress besides their ordinary-working-day dress which is everything is very ordered and conservative.

Various fashion styles is available among the girls who spend time in Harajuku, including Gothic Lolita, Gothic Maid, Wamono, Decora, Second-Hand Fashion, and cyber fashion. The Japanese street fashion magazine, FRUiTS, features many of the varied clothing styles that are popular in the Harajuku district. They wear fake blood and bandages, and dark outfits often combined with traditional Japanese clothing (kimonos, fans) and modern Japanese symbols (hello kitties, cell phones, photo stickers). What drives these girls to dress in such outrageous outfits in a weekly ceremony that lasts only a few hours? Is there a really great bordem in Japanese society so this is one of their way to release all of those bordem?

Some of the answers are more immediately visible. For example, we know some of them are imitating rock bands such as Japan X. However, as with all cultural symbols, there are likely to be deeper reasons beyond fashion. The weekly play allows them to temporarily escape, within a group, all of the rules of Japanese society. It gives them individuality not as easily expressible while in their weekday school uniforms, it gives them a voice to express, often in very sexual ways (with ripped stockings, garters, and mini-skirts, etc.), the oppression of the female gender in the largely male dominated Japanese society.

It is whole kind of a pop-art meets pop-culture meets decadence kinda street where oWesternften a t-shirt with a western image like Mickey Mouse can go for several hundreds of dollars a noise. This constant continuation of rock n roll pop star hipness is prolonged with the boys of teenager too. They turn to choose western inspired hip-hop culture of disheveled jeans hanging halfway to their knees, of the hats to all the angles on their heads and surely many, many, many of blings.

So often, the net result resembles something out of a comic book of Manga while the fashionistas of Harajuku compete to look less human and more iconic. Not pay attention to what we in the west may see like a conflict of fashion above substance, girls of Harajuku is different to Goths, punks and bond girls which became trends previously, is not about rebellion to the society. It is just a crazy-extreme-freedom expression of dressing in certain day (sunday), free from those ordinary dress which requires them to dress "politely, nice, and good looking".

Harajuku Girls just like most Japanese, are often extremely polite and happy to pose for photographs with the curious tourists who flock each Sunday to take the happy snap of these caricatures of super-model. Just ask them for a photograph nicely, they will do that happilly. And as a gratitude you can offer them something, ussualy they won't ask something out of your reach. For the girls of Harajuku, their most extreme request can be a simple cigarette.

Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku Style

2009-04-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Harajuku fashion gets its name from the Harajuku district of Tokyo. All the switched-on harajuku kids go there to explore the many clothes shops and gather Yoyogi Park, the cafes in Omotesando Street or on the way to the Meiji shrine to display their latest harajuku creations for tourists as well as for their friends.

Harajuku style has been so popular since Gwen Stefani released her single Harajuku Girl, but of course Harajuku style is not Gwen Stefani’s idea and she is the one who started it. Harajuku style originated among teenagers style in Harajuku district, Tokyo. As many teenagers street fashion style, it is so hard to make a clear definition of this style because of its dynamic and many manifestations. There is no main pattern of this style, but if you want to dress Harajuku style, just read this article until finished.

Harajuku became famous in the 1980s due to the street performers and wildly-dressed teens who gathered there on Sundays when Omotesando was closed to traffic. Omotesando is a very long street with cafes and upscale fashion boutiques popular with residents and tourists alike. Once it became pedestrianised on sundays it was the perfect place to meet, play music and show off! Having a regular meeting place for art, conversation and performance gave rise to the vibrant Hokoten band scene. This was stopped at the end of the 1990s and the number of performers, Visual Kei fans, rockabilly dancers and punks has steadily decreased since. Today on Sundays one can see many Gothic Lolita as well as many foreign tourists taking pictures of them on the way to Meiji Shrine. Some tourists are surprised to see such a large exhibition of Japanese youth dressed up in often shocking outfits.

First of all, you should quit your loyalty of any brand. If you are some brands freak as Gucci or Calvin, it is so obvious that Harajuku style is not for you, but it’s still ok if you want to mix those brands product with a style of your own, since Harajuku is all about creating your own style. If you keep maintaining the original style of those brands or trying to look like a fashion model in magazine fashion, surely you will look so stylish, but you are not Harajuku. Secondhand clothing and do-it-yourself styles are popular ingredients in a Harajuku clothes.

Then you need to mix and (mis)match different fashions. Sure, you like matching those solid blue jeans with your favorite shirt, but try layer tees under 1 sleeve shirt with lots of different colors. What is now known as Harajuku style started as teens in the district began to integrate traditional Japanese attire, especially kimonos and get a sandal, into their dress. Before, they wore primarily clothes that were influenced by the West, but by mixing the traditional with the modern they created a new style. Other examples of mixing and matching including the punk look with the schoolgirl uniform or a gothic look with designer clothes. In Harajuku, mixing different styles and mismatching colors and patterns is encouraged--you can do anything you want!

Exploring costumes is also a must. It is not all Harajuku style is theatrical, but certain costumes, such as schoolgirl and maid costumes are popular. Costume elements are typically worn in combination with other styles. After that, you need to wear whatever looks good to you. It's been said that the Harajuku style is not really a protest against mainstream fashion and commercialism (as punk was), but rather a way of dressing in whatever looks good to you. If you think mismatched rainbow and polka-dot leggings look good with a plaid dress, go for it.

Customizing your clothes is a very good option to choose. Like that flowered skirt, but think it would look cuter with a ribbon pinned on it or with a more uneven, angular hemline? Get out the scissors and glue and make your store-bought clothes uniquely yours. Or, go even further and make your own skirt. Cutting the fabric to create bold angles and lines can make even a plain black dress appear remarkable and fun. Dressing in layers is the best addition and the role pattern. One of the hallmarks of Harajuku is layering. Sweaters, vests, or jackets over blouses over t-shirts; dresses worn with leggings: layering clothes (or giving the appearance of layering, by wearing ruffled dresses, for example) allows you to mix and match more different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit.

Using accessories is needed. Legwarmers, leggings, lots of pearls, layered hats, arm warmers, stripy stockings, polka dotted pantyhose, ties, large necklaces, ear warmers and so much more. Make it shnazzy. Add any wild accessories you have, such as belts, earrings, hair clips, jewelry, and handbags. Remember, accessories can be colorful and loud," and they don't have to match your clothes. Speaking of loud, in decora, a particular Harajuku style, accessories embellish an outfit from head to toe, and objects such as bells are sometimes used to add an aural dimension to the wardrobe.

You have to do doll-like makeup, but again, don't overdo it. No really bright lipcolor, but bold eyeliner (liquid, on top of eyelids) works well. Prep up your hair. Those cute Asian girlies from Harajuku usually wear bangs, high, short pigtails, and short bobs. Go for colored hair. A light pink is hot, and bold. Or rainbowish, whatever, Hair clips do the job. 5 or six! Wear platforms. The clunkier, the better. Japanese street style is about individuality -- not just piling on tons of layers, colored hair and makeup. Japan's street style changes as quickly as the days. Look to style mags: Fruits, Street and Tune, for inspiration, or check other fashion magazines at your local Asian neighborhood. Kinokuniya bookstore has a great selection, and many locations.

You should understand that Harajuku has many forms and is constantly changing. Gothic Lolita, decora, and wamono are a few of the styles that originated or developed in Harajuku, and many Harajuku girls (and boys) integrate one or more of these somewhat more defined styles into their outfits. It's impossible to pinpoint one "Harajuku style." Also, like all fashions, Harajuku style changes very quickly. It's easy to say that Harajuku is just bright colors, stripes, and leggings, but that's never really been accurate, and next week it may be even less so.

To keep yourself up to date with the style you need to keep up with the evolution of the style by reading publications like FRUiTS and Style-Arena.jp. These publications and others like them offer a wealth of pictures of Harajuku outfits and are updated weekly or monthly. If you want to dress in Harajuku style, looking at pictures is a good way to get inspired. Don't forget your hair and makeup. The wild Harajuku style doesn't have to stop with your clothes. Pigtails and other "cute" hairstyles are particularly popular, as is dying your hair. Creative, even theatrical makeup can be a fun addition.

Try not to shop at "prep" places or shops that tend to be more popular. The colors are likely to be muted, as well as the shoes. The best places to shop would be small stores, or stores that sell other Japanese things. Remember that there are specific types of street styles in Japan, like Ganguro, and Harajuku-like. There is no certain way to dress this way, you need to see Japan to believe it, and be unique at it. So the conclusion how to dress Harajuku style is be creative, be theatrical, mix and match, look cute, have a sense of humor, be confident wearing clothes that mix genres and influences, be confident wearing clothes that have weird shapes, if you go for bright colors, make sure you have unusual, fun contrasts, if you wear make-up, wear it black, be confident in your chosen look, above all, be stylish!

Nothing really compares to, or prepares you for, this scene. Every weekend, usually on Sunday, the freaks and the attention seekers gather in front of Meiji shrine in Harajuku to... well nobody really knows why they gather, not even, it would seem, these 'trend setters'. When asked 'why', the answers are ambiguous, 'it's cool' or 'my friends are here' are what you're likely to hear. Seen in small groups, or (shudder) alone, the effect is almost painfully embarrasing. But in a large group like they've gathered here, somehow you feel like you are the one out of place, that somehow the bars at the zoo have been reversed, and you are the one in the cage. One thing is for sure though, this fad isn't dying out like most fads in Japan do. They've managed to create their own sub culture. You'll always see amateur photographers milling around taking pictures, normal people posing with the groups for a laugh, and most of the time the kids let them, but you get the feeling they'd just rather be left alone so they can be freaks in peace. Japan is a place where everyone is individual - but in groups. If you go to the park on a certain hour every Saturday, you'll see hundreds of boys dressed as rock and rollers, dancing to rock and roll music... very seriously. So it's no surprise that when girls want to display groundbreaking fashions that no-one has ever seen before, they want to do it in the same place, at the same time. And that place is the Harajuku district in Tokyo.

Japan is still very good at consuming trends from the West, so if you walk down the boutiques of Takeshita Street in Harajuku you'll probably see a lot of teenagers wearing mod clothes. Harajuku is a mecca for artists, independent spirits, and burgeoning fashion trends that provide a space of free expression in what is ordinarily a rather conservative Japanese culture. But Japanese fashion isn't afraid to take it one step further... dressing-up in costume is seen as a major element of fashions, so no-one will bat an eyelid at a pretty girl wearing a plastic fried egg round her neck as a fashion statement. The nice thing about Japanese - and Harajuku fashion - is that it's not a case of shops and brands (like Gap) dictating what people wear, but teenagers dictating what the shops will start selling. There are now many clothes and websites that sell Harajuku fashion and lolita fashion, but the spirit of this Japanese style has arisen from teenagers not being afraid to customize and accessorize their own clothes, and to wear crazy outfits with a sense of humor to retaliate against social expectations of straight clothes, straight jobs, straight attitudes.

Harajuku is now very big internationally, so anyone wearing Harajuku style is photographed as much as the London punks who hang out in Trafalgar Square in tartan trousers and mohicans, waiting for tourists to pay them to pose for photos. And why not? When you're a punk you have fewer job options because of the extremity of your dress code, and need to make money somehow. If you're into Harajuku style your dedication to it is only as serious as you want it to be. You may choose not to have a regular job or attend school and be fully into the band scene, but essentially the look of Harajuku style is based on clothes and make-up which can be removed as desired, so if you want to be a part-time Harajuku girl, that's perfectly okay. Punks with mohicans and piercings have to be punk (to some degree) all the time, but Harajuku girls and boys can wear normal clothes then dress up Harajuku-style at the weekend. Pure pop fashion, but so much fun!

Anyone who makes it to Harajuku is in for a treat because the fashions are unbelievable. Like Camden in London, but a lot more weird. In 2001, believe it or not, the look was like the Amish folk in the Harrison Ford film 'Witness'. In 2002, the look was grunge for the boys and Lolita Goth (also known as Goth Lolita, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth) for the girls. Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan. Lolita is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include gothic style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.

Harajuku style isn't the only Japanese subculture fashion out there. Some girls are honing down their style to become Classic Lolita or Lolita Goths, who carry gothic teddies and look like stylish Victorian dolls. Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan and has deep links with Harajuku fashion, which came out of performers and fashionable teenagers collecting to meet in Tokyo's Harajuku district. Lolita fashion is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include gothic style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.

Skirts are typically knee length and are worn with a pannier or petticoat to add volume. As in mainstream Japanese fashion, over-knee socks, knee socks or stockings are extremely popular. Frills and other charms are often added to the top of the sock. And white and black tights are also common. Footwear is typically shoes or boots with high heels, though not usually stiletto heels. Platforms with little-girl straps are also worn. Frilly, ruffled, or lace-trimmed Victorian blouses are popular for this style. These blouses often have Peter-Pan collars or sailor collars.

Although westerners might view 'Lolita' fashion as something that tries to be sexual in a weird underage way ("Lolita" is, after all, a reference to Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel), most Lolita Goths and followers of Lolita fashion don't consider it sexual or at least overtly sexual, even if a lot of the girls into Lolita fashion are teens. Lolita followers present themselves as Victorian children or baby dolls and prefer to look cute, beautiful or elegant rather than sexy.

Gothic Lolita, also known as Lolita Goth, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth, is a street fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women, although boys and western girls are also getting involved. Lolita Goth is a subcategory of Lolita fashion that emphasizes Victorian-style and Edwardian clothing and often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls, but is sometimes more into the idea of elegance than looking cute and girly, and always has a Goth twist. The typical Lolita Goth or "Gothloli" style originated sometime around 1998 and became more widely available in various boutiques and some major department stores by around 2001.

The popularity of Lolita Goth style peaked around 2004/5 in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, but now it has settled down as one of many 'alternative' youth fashions, although its popularity is still slowly growing. Gothic Lolita was influenced and popularized by the imagery of more feminine Visual Kei (or "visual rock") bands. Visual Kei is a Japanese form of rock music defined by bands featuring performers in elaborate costumes but whose musical style varies.

Mana, the cross dressing former leader and guitarist of the Visual Kei band Malice Mizer is widely credited for having helped popularize Gothic Lolita. He coined the terms "Elegant Gothic Lolita" (EGL) and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat" (EGA) to describe the style of his own fashion label Moi-même-Moitié, which was founded in 1999 and quickly established itself as one of the most coveted brands of the Gothic Lolita scene. Another popular figure was the singer Kana; who often modeled for Goth Lolita - related fashion magazines.

Gothic Lolita may favor long skirts and jackets to emulate Victorian women rather than overtly child-like designs. They still aim for elegance, but Lolita Goths aren't trying to like children or little victorian dolls. Some Lolita Goth accessories are Lace-trimmed headdresses, Mini-top hats worn to the side, gothic Lolita Intricate old-fashioned jewelery.

Pale complexion, make-up optional but dark eyeliner and lips preferred, Black, blue or red hair is necessary, Ribbon and lace are some good additions, Crinolines and petticoats obviously, Fishnet tights can perfect your style.

Gothloli style is usually a combination of black and white, often black with white lace and typically decorated with ribbons and lace trims. Skirts are knee length and may have a crinoline or petticoat to add volume. As in mainstream Japanese fashion, over-knee socks or stockings are extremely popular. Black fishnet stockings and white or black tights are also common. Shoes or boots with high heels - think platforms rather than stilettos - complete the look. Frilly, ruffled or lace-trimmed Victorian blouses are also popular especially with Elegant Goth Lolita, who may also favor long skirts and jackets rather than the overtly 'childish' designs of the typical Gothloli. Apart from occasionally short skirts, Lolita Goth designs are usually modest, sometimes with long lace-capped sleeves and/or high-necked blouses.

And there's more! Gothic Lolita is ALL about the accessories and the details! Yes, to move on, some additions to your LoliGoth outfit may include an Alice in Wonderland-style apron, tiny top hats, parasols, lace gloves, and lace headpieces. Mostly black or white, headgear might consist of a headband with ruffles, ribbons, lace or bows. Sometimes even bonnets are worn. Hair may be curled to complete the porcelain doll look. The naturally dark Japanese hair color may be lightened to blonde or kept black. Some may choose to wear wigs as well.

Makeup is used sparingly and used more often by Elegant Lolita Goths than with other Gothloli styles. Black eyeliner is typical. A pale complexion is preferred, so white foundation might be used. Red or black lipstick is seen but lighter makeup is the rule.

Gothic Lolita outfits may be accessorized with other props like conspicuous pocketbooks, hatboxes, handbags and other bags, sometimes in the shape of bats, coffins, and crucifixes. Teddy bears and other stuffed animals are also common, and some brands make special gothic teddy bears out of black leather or PVC. Also, many Gothic Lolita own Super Dollfies and carry them around. A Super Dollfie is a ball-jointed doll first manufactured by Volks, a Japanese doll company, and is popular with many subcultural trendsetters, not just Lolita Goths, for its expressive eyes and distinct personality.

Lolita Fashion's crossover with Goth. Gothloli as a fashion is not as strongly associated with a particular style of music or outside interests as Goth, and individual followers of Gothloli fashion may listen to a wide variety of music including regular Japanese pop and Visual Kei. In Japan, Goth is a minor subculture with few followers, partly because the emphasis upon visual identity in Japanese youth culture makes other factors such as music and literature less important signifiers and perhaps partly because Christianity and Germanic culture are not integral parts of society. In Japan, people who have heard the term Goth usually assume that it is simply a contraction of Gothic Lolita, except for the Goths themselves, who strongly emphasize the differences. Likewise, some western observers assume that Gothloli is the Japanese version of Goth, purely on the similarities in fashion. Previously in Tokyo, the largest Goth club events, such as Tokyo Dark Castle, would also attract a noticeable proportion of Lolita Goths. However, since 2005 their numbers have dwindled and such events now primarily attract more typical Goth, industrial and metal music fans. Visual kei concerts are often attended by many Gothloli, but conversely, few Goths.

Gwen Stefani said it, and that settles it, right men? No? What is this Harajuku, and why do its girls have wicked style? Simply put, Harajuku is a neighborhood around Tokyo's Harajuku Station. Because of its innumerable clothing stores, boutiques, and shops catering to the young and super-trendy, Harajuku has for years served as a thriving hangout for teenagers, trendoids, fashion mavens, and cultural fringe-dwellers. The wide Omotesando Avenue used to be closed to auto traffic on the weekends, making it a locus for street performers and other ne'er-do-wells. Though the edge quotient might have dropped once cars came back and the performers thinned out (though they never vanish), the throngs of super-cute teens have, if anything, increased dramatically. Harajuku has in fact developed its own style, ranging from barely restrained Urban Outfitters chic to nutty pastiches of clashing colors and materials. Beyond that, it's even been appropriated as a Stefani-spawned fashion brand unto itself by the product line Harajuku Lovers. And far from getting burned out by the constant turnover, the Harajuku scene feeds on constant reinvention and re-creation, with new shops (and new departments or sub-stores in existing shops) announced most every week. It's nearly impossible to keep up with what's new and hot versus what's already old and busted, but the thrill is all in the pursuit of cute.

Gwen Stefani's recent status as a formidable pop starlet has undeniably been hugely aided by her unorthodox image. Despite the fact that her album is actually quite pleasant, her look is significantly more entertaining. Her attention-grabbing attire and the bizarre entourage that she features in every video and performance have established the Stefani product, and the eccentric approach to fashion she takes has helped mould her music. According to the singer, her individual style supposedly heralds from the Tokyo streets, specifically the Harajuku district of the city. Indeed, throughout her album she repeatedly references the 'Harajuku girls’, from whom she claims to draw inspiration. Honoring them with a ditty on her L.P., Stefani evidently perceives them as unparalleled style champions in the fast-paced world of street fashion.

However, her relish for 'Harajuku' style is somewhat overdue. 'FRUiTS', a subculture magazine in Japan, has been publishing images of Tokyo street style (principally from Harajuku), for just under a decade. Following on from the overwhelming success of the original 'Fruits' collection, Phaidon have just released the second compilation volume of the most outstanding and jaw-dropping images from their library, entitled ‘FRESH FRUiTS’.

Harajuku is an area of Tokyo where the younger generation flood the streets adorned in the most outrageous, unconventional and flamboyant getups. Drawing inspiration from both Eastern and Western designers, they attempt to fuse oriental and Western culture with their own individual style, creating a unique and personal look that challenges classic dress codes and relishes in anything distinct or quirky.

The beautiful thing about Harajuku style is the volume of different inspirations from which the ‘fruits’ image is created, meaning that there exists a massive number of contrasting styles to absorb when considering the ‘fruits’. Although all the Harajuku kids possess a similar group mentality in their anti-establishment approach to clothing, the individual subsets embraced by the ‘fruits’ slogan are often wholly in conflict with one another in terms of style.

I’ve heard people discussing Japanese street style in the past and commenting that the Harajuku fashionista ‘just throw anything on to look different’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In almost all the images in ‘Fresh Fruits’, there is a significant amount of thought channelled into their attire.

Firstly, it is usually paramount for the ‘fruits’ to have allegiance to one of the strands of the Harajuku dress code before adding their own individual twist to a certain look. These are especially varied and incorporate several distinct elements, ranging from the darker rudiments of punk and Goth, to the charismatic and upbeat colours characterized by cyber and manga imagery. There are several looks unique to the ‘fruits’ style but evidently customized from existing imagery.

The most obvious is the Elegant Gothic Lolita movement. This is perhaps the darkest and most sinister presentation of the ‘fruits’. The EGL’s adorn themselves in the most gothic garb imaginable, including bonnets, lace gloves and heavily lace-trimmed skirts and cardigans. Teetering on up to ten-inch, super-elevated black platforms, the look is often completed by some brooding makeup – heavy eyeliner and purple lips create a formidable and ominous image. Conversely, some attempt to lift their persona to a more childish level by making their faces as white as possible, save for deep, red, blusher and rouge lipstick. Hair is kept neat and tidy, usually in a shoulder-length bob or sometimes in clipped Victorian curls to complete the prim and proper look. The EGL’s accessorize carefully, picking handbags and clutches that will complement their image. Black Vivienne Westwood, Emily Temple or Jane Marple bags and jewellery are usually favoured, in a formal, sensible style to mirror the rest of the outfit (often purchased from EGL favourite Milk). The overall impression is somewhat surreal when this approach has been taken – the finished EGL looks akin to a living Victorian doll. Creep shit.

Working hand-in-hand with this darker subset of Harajuku style are the Japanese punks – inspired by the 70’s movement that savaged London several decades ago. A vision of badges, rips, and leather, these new age oriental rebels are packing serious attitude. In contrast to the delicate elegance of the EGL’s hairstyles, they magnify punk to an extreme level, growing enormous Mohicans dyed vibrant, in-your-face colors, ranging from electric blue to flaming auburn. Dog collars, spiky black cuffs and homemade patches are applied as accessories, along with several chunky, black, studded belts. For most of their garments, they favor non-uniform designers like Sex Pot Revenge. However, Westwood’s bondage trousers and parachute shirt designs are staple pieces in many a Harajuku wardrobe. For the girl-punks, ripped tartan or black skirts are teamed with stripy Marylyn Manson-inspired tights. Chunky Doc Martins are the preferred footwear for both sexes, and with regards to body-adornment, Harajuku punks rarely shirk from multiple facial piercing to amplify that coveted rebellious persona. Despite being closer to the EGL’s than any other Harajuku fashion, they don’t possess any of the dainty chic of the aforementioned group.

Cosplay (costume play) and Decora (one who is decorated) are two styles from the opposite end of the ‘fruits’ fashion spectrum. Furiously colorful, these Harajuku kids are awash in gloriously bright neon. Those choosing the Cosplay style dress up as their favorite cartoon or computer game character, usually donning furry boots, bizarre looking skirts and crazy, out of control spiked hair complete with cyber hairclips and bobbles. The look is principally unisex and the general consensus is the brighter the better. A childish element is once again employed to give the image character. Power Rangers T-shirts, Teletubbies bum-bags and Pokemon rucksacks are all perfect accessories for the Cosplayers, although these can also be used for the Decora style, which is similar in many ways. Think mid-nineties ’Crasha cyber-kid raver and you’re halfway there. They’re the most outrageously flamboyant collection Harajuku have to offer. Head to toe in fluorescent brilliance, they prefer vivacious labels like Cyberdog, Super Lovers and Hysteric Glamour. Accessorizing heavily, the Decora followers add plastic jewelery and toys to their outfits to create noise when they move. This is certainly an interesting concept, despite sounding fiendishly irritating.

Although the diffusion lines of Harajuku style all seem excessively abnormal, they are merely a reaction to the ultra-strict upbringings many of these colorful characters have had in their youth. Dressing up has always been used as a response to establishment conventions and rules – what better way to express discontent than through something as openly accessible as image? Despite falling into separate categories, ‘fruits’ style is still powerfully individual, with each Harajuku kid projecting their own personality into their getup by customizing their look in a particular way.

In our current climate of ‘chav-chic’, bowing out to consumer power houses like Nike has become commonplace for the majority of the nation. Fewer people today think about what they wear and are happy to dress in anything without considering the label they are actually endorsing. ‘Fresh Fruits’ is like fashion medicine, a breath of fresh air for a country burdened by stagnant, lifeless street style. No two pictures are the same and the publication oozes fun and attitude. I find myself wishing we had our own Harajuku. But I have a feeling the streets of England aren’t ready for the Elegant Gothic Lolita invasion just yet. Fresh Fruits is published by Phaidon and is out now.

Harajuku Style, Cosplayers behind the Mask 2006-05-03

Many people go to Harajuku to take photos of cosplayers. It's kind of embarassing to join the crowd all maneuvering for photos of very young girls many of whom resemble various flavors of candy. But the results are so colorful and emblemmatic of this society. I think cosplay mimics the hidden masks that people wear all the time. The cosplayers are not being themselves, but perhaps they come closer to admitting it than others.

If you watch a group of cosplayers in Harajuku, they are relating with each other -- laughing, talking, perhaps crying, discussing life, etc. Being together is a place where they find belonging. But when a photographer comes, they pose. Their faces change. Commonly they assume a dead expression and stare off to stage left (or become super cute and twinkly, evil and leering, and so on). This time I resolved to try and take a few photos that would show the human side of the people that I met. One girl frankly told me that taking a photo of her "unposed" would be "dame" (out of bounds). But generally cosplayers are hanging out waiting to be photographed. So I stood around for awhile and took a few photos like this one. You can see this girl posed in the next image.

By the way, I left the cosplayers and went into Yoyogi Park. I love Yoyogi Park! You'll see why as I post more photos in the coming days. When I was coming back, it occured to me that many tourists and others stop at the bridge and spend all their time gawking at cosplayers, and they never go further. That's a tragedy, because Yoyogi Park beats cosplayers hands down in every category. It's a visual feast, an incredible display of the life and energy of Tokyo, and a musical extravaganza.

Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku Lovers

2009-03-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for something different in kid's wear, you should go to Harajuku Lovers, one of line space of clothing by Gwen Stefani for the men, the women and the children who have “an attraction mortal with the kindness”.

The collection is strongly influenced by the music of Stefani and the modern Japanese culture, in particular the zone of Harajuku of Tokyo which is preferred trail for the artists, the fashionistas and the hippies Japanese. Shopping at Harajuku-lovers.com is not certainly your standard experiment of purchases.

You and your trusty mouse "prowl the streets of Harajuku" with the princess of cool, Gwen Stefani with the research of the clothing and the accessories of hip. To catch the subway of Tokyo, to review the stores, to listen to brilliant music, to trail with Gwen and her Japanese friends and to take some completely fresh clothing.

Best Information about Harajuku.

KiddyLand

2009-02-13T07:05:00.000-08:00

KiddyLand, used to be called Tokyo's Capitol of Cute in Harajuku. It is one of Tokyo's most fun, famous and popular toy stores sightseeing spots in Tokyo. Located along the Omotesando - the georgous harajuku boulevard - KiddyLand consists of six floors filled with all kinds of huge selection toys from electronic games, character goods to stuffed animals.

Many major toy brands and popular characters, including Disney, Barbie and Hello Kitty, Peanuts Gang, American Superhero are available here. In 2nd floor, you can find any Peanuts Item in Japan. Sometime, The shop use Peanuts for Season Campaign Character. For example was the Xmas campaign of 1996. Overall, KiddyLand is nirvana of toys, the must visited spot for the young and the young at heart.

KiddyLand is located at 6-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. If you want to go there, you can take JR "YAMANOTE-LINE", and take off "Harajuku". And exit "Omotesando-Guchi"(Entrance of Omotesando). Crossing road and you can see Drugstore in the corner. Walking straight few minutes, and crossing Meiji Ave, and burger shop in corner. 1 - 3 minutes on foot, you can look up KiddyLand Building.

You do not need an excuse if you want to go in and buy yourself something plastic, silly and completely useless. In fact, it seems half the Japanese teenage population thoroughly recommends it. The merchandise is global, making it a great place to buy not only Doraemon and Sanrio products, but also anything from the Moomins to Spiderman. The items here priced from a dollar to several hundreds of dollars.

There are rumors that some celebrities from foreign countries also visit there often. RelaKuma is the most popular character in KiddyLand. The store is usually so crowded with teenagers that it's impossible to get in the front door. If you are a person who doesn't like crowds, I wont recommend you to go there. It also has a large selection of gag gifts, including temporary tattoos and who knows what else. KiddyLand is open daily 10am to 8pm; closed the third Tuesday of some months.

Best Information about Harajuku.

Laforet Harajuku

2009-01-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

Laforet Harajuku (Rafore Harajuku) is a department store and museum located in the Harajuku commercial and entertainment district of the Shibuya neighborhood, in Tokyo, Japan, on one of Harajuku's most famous intersections.

Its museum is on sixth floor and HMV in the basement. Laforet Harajuku used to be called the teen fashion mecca. It is a trend setting shopping complex, consisting of seven floors of fashion boutiques and shops, mainly geared towards girls audience.

Laforet Harajuku, a building packed with fashion boutiques, is a local landmark, while Ura Harajuku (Backstreet Harajuku), or "Urahara" for short, used to be a quiet residential area but became a hub for young designers in the 1990s. Most girls will enter this store, since it serves the ultimate trends in Japanese fashion. Be warned, as this place is really wacky and may not appeal to Western style clothing. Laforet is known for its big summer bargain sales in July and for striving to be on the cutting edge of fashion by having the exterior of the building constantly remodeled. The reference to "underground malls" in Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Girls" may be to Laforet, which has an extensive underground shopping arcade.

The building of Laforet Harajuku curved form resembles a glowering fortress clad in aluminum siding. On the southernmost corner, a turret rises and supports a huge sign bearing the building's name. This sign is noteworthy because of how the word "Laforet" makes its way around in a circle. Instead of the illuminated letters moving, the core of the cylinder is lit up, and a cut-out stencil on a stainless steel ring turns around it. Visually, it's less obvious than the usual neon and LED signs that populate most of Tokyo's major crossings, but its unique form encourages the eye to linger, trying to figure out how it works, before moving on.

Another unusual feature of this building are its many half-floors. Usually reserved for structures like parking garages, part of this building is vertically offset, creating a rather confusing layout for the first time visitor. Because of this irregularity, there are ten floors above ground, even though they are labeled 1 through 6. That's because there is a 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and a 4.5 floor. Below ground is even more confusing, where the levels are B0.5, B1, and B1.5. In some strange way, though, this layout actually works because Laforet isn't put together as a single cohesive shopping experience. Rather, it's like a vertical bazaar with dozens of individual stalls independent of each other.

It is a fashion and cultural landmark and the launching pad for the latest Japanese fashion trends. Apparel brands, creators and artists vie for the mark of distinction that “Launched at Laforet” provides. More than just a retail space, Laforet Harajuku includes the fully integrated Laforet Museum exhibition space, where new movements in Harajuku art and culture are born. The commercial know-how we have built up at Laforet has been put to work in VenusFort, Roppongi Hills, and Omotesando Hills. Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood is the epicenter of all that in trendy in Japan. The nexus of that culture is the crossing of Meiji Dori and Omotesando Dori. The roads intersect on a slight hill, and the most prominent position on that hill is held by the rounded fortress known as Laforet Harajuku.

Laforet Harajuku is so often viewed as the origin of Tokyo's street and youth culture. Located at the center of Harajuku for more than 20 years, it broadcasts to the teen mass the latest in trendy fashion and hosts regular art events. Since its opening, Laforet Museum has hosted a wide range of events and exhibitions offering visitors opportunities to enjoy art and entertainment that transcend genre. The variety of cultural experiences provided by Laforet Museum has impacted significantly on the era, the city, and the people. There can be no doubt that Laforet Museum will continue to encourage new movements for new eras.

Since its phenomenally successful debut in 1978, it has been always a face of Harajuku because of their cool sense. Recently they use Nagi Noda as their art director. Laforet Harajuku shopping center and museum has established itself as the preeminent source of new fashion and culture in Tokyo's most fashionable district. In tandem with the provision of cutting-edge fashion information, Laforet Harajuku has assisted the development and future success of young fashion designers and entrepreneurs by providing them with exposure through various promotional events. Mori Building is now expanding the Laforet Harajuku concept to Matsuyama, Kokura, Niigata, and other cities throughout Japan.

Laforet Harajuku has had their renewal opening on August 25th 2006. With this renewal, 21 new shops and 23 shops were renewed. Both a men’s and women’s store have been lined up in this fashion building and is now aiming to be a place where creativity can be released. This is the first time for Laforet Harajuku to be renovated since their opening in 1978. The building is located in an area that is of walking distance from the now famous Omotesando Hills, and with increasing consumers in older age segments, this renewal came in hand with increasing their target consumers.

Laforet Harajuku 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3475-0411. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae.

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Omotesando

2008-12-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

What's a splendid way to spend a beautiful autumn day in Tokyo? The gorgeous Keyaki tree boulevard of Omotesando, often called the Japanese Champs-Elysees, attracts many nostalgic foreigners. "Omotesando" means "front approach"

Known on the name of Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, Omotesando is a one kilometer long, tree lined avenue, serving as the main approach to Meiji Shrine. Numerous stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, including several leading fashion brand shops, stand along the avenue. This avenue conects Jr Harajuku and Aoyama. There always are stream of people in various ages.

It is subway station and neighbourhood in Tokyo stretching from Harajuku station to Aoyama-dori where Omotesando station can be found. Zelkova trees line both sides of the avenue. Around one hundred thousand cars drive down the main street daily which serves as the main approach to Mejii Shrine.

Omotesando is an area of symbolic buildings, popular shops, wide sidewalks and trees, where many people come to take a leisurely walk It is known for its rapidly changing mixture of young culture and residential space.

Surely considered one of the top three most popular areas of town in Tokyo, the streets of Omotesando and Aoyama with their fashionable shops, lovely open-terrace cafes and hip beauty salons are as full of creative vigor and energy as ever. A number of fashionable beauty salons are hidden in the back streets. Give one a try, if you have time, or make a reservation to visit one you like.

Strolling along the main streets, you will have the chance to take in all the splendor of this fabulous shopping district, yet veering off to a back alley, you will encounter the surprisingly familiar daily activities of local residents.

In Omotesando and its adjacent Aoyama, fashion designers began to set up their offices and studios after the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Since then, more and more fashion stores for adults and fashionable coffee shops and restaurants have been built in this area. Aoyama with its zelkova tree lined avenue has the atmosphere that resemble those in European streets.

It is known as an upscale shopping area featuring several international brand outlets, ranging from Louis Vuitton, Gucci etc to the more affordable The Body Shop, Zara, and others, that’s why it is so called "Tokyo's Champs-Élysées".

It has opened the largest Louis Vuitton shop in Japan in 2003, and queues are frequent. It is one of the rare avenue of the Japanese capital to be planted with trees all its length.

Beginning with Louis Vuitton Omotesando, which just opened this September, and the Esquisse Omotesando building complex, which offers all the luxury brand names like Chanel and Gucci, Omotesando offers you dozens of different brand name shops of all descriptions-fashion, cosmetics, interior design, you name it. After walking and walking, take a load off and rest your sore feet at any of the lovely street cafes.

Omotesando is also home to the famous Japanese toy store Kiddyland and the latest development, Omotesando Hills, which opened in 2006. Side-streets leading off Omotesando feature a range of trendy cafes, bars and restaurants, as well as boutique stores specialising in everything from handbags to postcards to vintage glass bottles.

Japan's first posh western-style apartment buildings, the classic Dojunkai apartment buildings along the avenue, match the atmosphere perfectly. Unfortunately, these buildings are soon to be torn down, rebuilt and modernized. From Omotesando straight down to Kotto-Dori (Curio Street), you can enjoy high-end window-shopping to your heart's content.

This neighborhood, where creative minds gather, has many museums and unique galleries to satisfy your artistic interests. Nezu Museum, behind Kotto-Dori Street, is a treasure house of Oriental classic art with a magnificent garden. In the tearoom, you can enjoy ceremonial ground green tea and Japanese confections. If you prefer more radical, modern art, why not visit the Okamoto Taro Memorial Museum next door?

Omotesando is filled with joy during any season of the year, but it is at its most beautiful in late autumn, when the leaves of the tree-lined Omotesando Boulevard and the ginkgo groves at Jingu Outer Shrine turn bright yellow. This is a must-see for a most impressive urbane day of leisure.

Best Information about Harajuku.

Daiso Harajuku

2008-11-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

Alongside the glamour boutiques and dining in Harajuku is the "Daiso Harajuku" otherwise known as the 100 yen Shop. Take a look of it from Takeshita dori, Harajuku’s busy pedestrian mall, Daiso looks like a big pharmacy, full of cosmetics and toiletries.

But if you take a look around inside you’ll see that there are 3 more floors: a basement full of kitchenware, and a huge range of stationary, homewares and electrical accessories upstairs. Browsing through, it seems like a regular variety store, until you notice that everything is priced at just 105 yen.

Daiso is a 100 Yen store right in the heart of Takeshita dori in Harajuku, located only a few steps from Harajuku Station along Takeshita Dori. It is only one minute walk from JR Harajuku Station (Takeshita-guchi Exit). While Japan's largest 100 Yen shop, Daiso Giga Machida, spans 5 floors in front of Machida Station (30 minutes, 360 Yen from Shinjuku by Odakyu Railways). Daiso Harajuku is one of the largest 100 Yen stores in central Tokyo offering a wide array of goods on multiple floors at 105 Yen per item (105 yen incl. tax) - sometimes 99 yen.

The products amount here is around 90,000. It sells almost all original products developed by Daiso. Daiso provide the following living wares. - Stationeries - Foods and beverages - CD and Books - Interior goods - Cosmetics - Gardening utensil - Kitchen utensil - Plastic goods You can find a lot interesting goods for your daily necessities or souvenirs. Daiso Harajuku probably the biggest store of Daiso. Large stores in other cities include: Daiso Sapporo Chuo (South 2 West 2, Odori Station), Daiso Nagoya Sakae Skyle (Sakae Station), Daiso Osaka Nihonbashi (Nihonbashi Station), Daiso Kobe Promena (Promena Kobe, Kobe Station) and Daiso Fukuoka Kotsu Center (Fukuoka Kotsu Center, Hakata Station).

100 yen stores are enhancing their status in the retail industry to rank alongside department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores. Dozens or perhaps hundreds or even thousands of these often small (a few are multi-storey complexes with the look and stock of department stores) dot the landscape. Daiso, one of the bigger operators, runs more than two thousand stores across Japan. Japan's biggest 100 Yen, or “dollar” shop, Daiso Giga Machida, covers 5 floors of Machida Station. According to published sources, by “purchasing products in huge quantities and at big discounts from countries with low production and labor costs,” these commonly available, usually small shops bring a broad range of products to consumers. The 100 (or 99) yen shops are great for shopping for basics while you travel, or for rooting out all kinds of interesting knick-knacks to tote home as gifts.

Daiso is a major player in the 100 Yen chain store located all over Japan commonly known as "hyakkin". Daiso store is ranging in size from multi-storey "department stores" to small corners in shopping malls. Some are as large as 5 floors high. Imagine four floors of items from food to stationary, pet stuff, kitchen and bath goods, and even some clothes that are ALL 100 yen each. And it’s decent stuff. Daiso has expanded its product lines and number of stores on such a scale that it can no longer be categorized solely as a 100 yen stores. It is now so well established as part of everyday life that it has become the destination of choice for the purchase of daily commodities.

Daiso apparently can sell items cheap because they get things in bulk. They also have companies in China make a lot of the make up and other items that they then sell as Daiso products. Almost everything is for sale for the basic fee plus a small consumption tax, which means these are the dollar stores of Asia. Harajuku branch is a great introduction to the 100 yen shopping experience, it is not the biggest in Tokyo, but it is the most conveniently located of the big 100 yen stores, as it is in an area that visitors would most likely want to visit anyway. There was a news that Daiso recently went international with a store in Vancouver. In the year ended March 2005, Daiso sales exceeded 320 billion yen and our network of shops across Japan numbered over 2,400. The number of stores is growing at a rate of 20 to 30 stores a month and our overseas network is also increasing at a rapid pace. Daiso pursues an aggressive expansion policy.

Best Information about Harajuku.

Togo Shrine

2008-10-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Togo Shrine (???? Togo-jinja), located on Meiji Dori in Harajuku, near the intersection of Takeshita Street and Meiji Avenue. It is accessible from Harajuku Station, near Meiji-Jingumae, Tokyo. It was built in 1940. Togo shrine is an oasis of peace and harmony, right next to the crowded Takeshita-dori street.

Togo Shrine is a memorial Shinto shrine dedicated to military commander Admiral Togo Heihachiro (1848-1934) shortly after his death. Togo Heihachiro campaigned commander in the defining 1905 victory against Russia at the Tsushima Straits. The Admiral defeated the Russian fleet in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.

Togo supervised former Emperor Hirohito's education from 1914-1924. The shrine was established in 1940 but destroyed in the air bombings of 1945. Then the shrine was replaced by a contemporary building in 1969 and a memorial hall was added in the shrine. Togo Heihachiro is celebrated as a shinto kami in Togo Shrine. There is a small museum and a bookshop dedicated to Togo Heihachiro located within the grounds of the shrine. Togo Heihachiro physical remains are interred at Tama Cemetery in Tokyo.

There is a flea market in Togo Shrine, which has a nice and peaceful atmosphere. This is a lovely place to walk around. While wandering amongst the stalls you can enjoy the Shrine garden. This flea market is a Sunday morning open-air antique market with more than 120 booths, if it is raining so all the booths are suspended. This is the largest antique market of its kind in Tokyo. The flea market opens on the 1st, 4th, and 5th Sunday of every month from 4am to 2pm. After 2pm the sellers start to clean up their shop, so you must come earlier. This is the best place to buy used kimono, furniture, record player, a wooden trunk, or even some film posters from the show era. Almost all customers here are non-Japanese people. The sellers here seem like used to have foreigners customers so they use a little bit English to tell the prices. Don’t forget to bargain when you shop here.

Togo Shrine is 5 minutes from Harajuku Station. From the platform, go down the stairs and out Takeshita Exit. Cross the road and enter Takeshita-dori (full of shops on both sides). Walk straight and head left at a small four-street intersection (before Seven Eleven). There will be a fork in the road with steps to the right. Go up the steps, walk straight and you should see more steps that will lead you to the entrance to the shrine. And it takes 7 minutes to Togo Shrine if you are from Meiji-jingumae station. From Exit 3, head toward Harajuku Station, past Snoopy Town Shop, to Takeshita-dori. Enter Takeshita-dori and walk straight. Head left at a small four-street intersection (before Seven Eleven) and there will be a fork in the road with stairs to the right. Go up the steps, walk straight and you should see more steps that will take you to the entrance to the shrine.

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Louis Vuitton

2008-09-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

The Louis Vuitton store in Omotesando, Harajuku was opened in autumn 2002. This is The Louis Vuitton company's largest store in the world, also their luxury goods maker’s and one of the most beautiful store. The public store occupied five of the building's ten floors, which are designed as a stack of trunks rather than conventional floors.

The success of Louis Vuitton, of course, is based on bags, and so along with shoes. The store located at 5-7-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3478-2100. Open daily 11am-8pm. The nearest station of the store is Omotesando Station.

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Yoyogi National Stadium

2008-08-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yoyogi National Stadium (????????, Kokuritsu Yoyogi Kyogi-jo?) in Shibuya, Tokyo, is an arena in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, Japan which is famous for its suspension roof design. It was designed by Kenzo Tange, Japan's foremost postwar architect.

It was built between 1961 and 1964 to house swimming and diving events in the 1964 Summer Olympics. This stadium located across the Inokashira Avenue from the Yoyogi Park. The Stadium is one of Tokyo's most impressive landmarks. National Yoyogi Stadium is also in Harajuku area. Located in Yoyogi Park which is also where Meiji Shrine located, no wonder National Yoyogi Stadium is one of most attended place in Tokyo.

The design inspired Frei Otto's arena designs for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. its awesome and daring shell-like steel-suspension roofing has earned it a spot in the Japanese Ministry of Construction's Top 100 Public Structures of Japan. The stadium seats 8,000 and is used for concerts, mostly rock, as well as sporting events.The arena holds 10,500 people. A CFD evaluation of the stadium interior was recently performed by the Shimizu Corporation to better understand the quality of the air-conditioning system for both modes of stadium operation.

Nowadays, this Stadium also being used for ice skating and volleyball competitions, basketball competitions, concerts (it's a nice place to concert) and various other events. In October 1997, the NHL opened its season at the arena with the Vancouver Canucks taking on the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in two matches. The following season the San Jose Sharks played the Calgary Flames in two games also to open the 1998-99 NHL season.

National Yoyogi Stadium, a holy place for athletes in Japan. The design of the stadium applied the same technique as a suspension bridge and the 126-meter long and 120-meter wide roof hanged from one or two main posts is providing a large open space. With its unique and stunning design. It has employed innovative suspended roof construction utilizing high tension cables, and we are proud of their unique shapes. The premises feature the 1st gymnasium, which looks like a tent supported by two columns; the 2nd gymnasium, which looks like a dragon spiraling towards the sky; and other sports facilities. The stadium was used for international competition in swimming, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and ice skating and has brought up and sent many athletes into the world, becoming a place for people who love sports.

Two of the stadia, built for the Olympics, remain the area's most famous architectural features. The main building of Tange Kenzo's Yoyogi National Stadium is a dead ringer for Noah's ark, and its steel suspension roof was a structural engineering marvel at the time. Inside are a swimming pool and skating rink (Mon-Sat noon-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm; ¥900). The smaller stadium, used for basketball, is like the sharp end of a giant swirling seashell.

The damper mechanism from KYB protects the elegant suspended roofs of the gymnasiums from vibration due to strong winds and earthquakes. It supported the roofs and the history of the gymnasiums for more than 40 years. The damper mechanism is the root of the present vibration insulation system. In 2004, an overhaul of the system was conducted, and it was proved that 12 dampers removed from the building had maintained the designed performance after 40 years of service. The same technology is used in the large roofs of Fukuoka Dome and Oita Dome.

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Oriental Bazzar

2008-08-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Oriental Bazaar is one of Tokyo's largest souvenir shops, most probably it is the most famous of souvenir shops. Oriental Bazaar is very popular among foreign travelers who look for typical Japanese souvenirs, such as kimono, tableware, lamps, dolls, furniture and samurai related goods.

This store is located about halfway between Omotesando and Harajuku station on Omotesando Dori (5-9-13 Jingu-mae) near Togo Shrine in Harajuku. To find the Bazaar go to Omotesando station and walk down the main street towards Harajuku, the shop is on the right about halfway down the road. It is just down the street from Kiddyland. The Oriental Bazaar is set in a quieter section of bustling Harajuku.

Oriental Bazaar is also the most imaginatively laid out. The bazaar has several different focuses, and the store is laid out accordingly. It is a four-stories store, and when you step to the higher floor you will get the more expensive items. The basement stocks bright, cheap and cheerful, touristy items, while the top floor offers antiques and traditional Japanese kimono and crafts. It is surely one of the best places to buy affordable and beautiful, second-hand original kimonos. Yukata (new and used), ceramics, towels and papercraft are some of the more popular items. There is also available woodblock prints, paper products, wind chimes, stationery, fans, chopsticks, lamps, Imari chinaware, sake sets, Japanese dolls, pearls, books on Japan, and a large selection of antique furniture.

The first floor is mostly occupied by furniture and ceramics/porcelains with more touristy items there as well. Also, a very fine selection of tea and sake services is found downstairs. Go upstairs you will find prints (standard and woodblock), more touristy items, and textiles for purchase. The bazzar has sections which each section of the store is operated by a separate owner, so you will not be allowed to go away with goods from one section to browse in another. Make you purchase and move on or compare and come back to buy. Overall, the Oriental Bazaar is a handy place to do some comparative shopping in one central location. The craftsmanship probably is not as good as in some high-end shops, but it is quite nice and the price justifies the purchases.

If you don’t have plenty of time to go around to find the best souvenir you look for, Oriental Bazaar is an easy one stop souvenir store in Tokyo which can provide you with the best-completed souvenirs. This is the city's most popular and largest souvenir/crafts store, selling products at reasonable prices. This store will also ship things home for you. Open Friday to Wednesday 10am to 7pm. For last-chance suit-of-armour purchases, you can go to the branch at Narita airport. The staff at both branches speak fluent English. The English-speaking staff are quite willing to wrap things up and have them posted for you. Oriental Bazaar is the place to go to when you want to return home bearing souvenirs of your trip to Japan. Oriental Bazaar will satisfy all the gift buying needs for your friends and family back home.

It's hard to miss the Oriental Bazaar - its grand red and green exterior welcomes you into a real temple to Japanese consumerism, with a facade that resembles a Shinto shrine. The Bazaar is housed in an instantly recognizable building with a faux-Chinese temple roof.

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NHK Studiopark

2008-08-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

NHK Studiopark, located in Shibuya, Harajuku, adjacent to Harajuku Station or JR Shibuya Station, is a part of NHK Broadcasting Center. It is close to Yoyogi Park and open to the public. NHK (Nippon Hosou Kyouka) means Japan Broadcasting Group or Corporation. It is a public TV of Japan just as The ABC in Australia and BBC in Great Britain.

NHK Studiopark gives visitors a chance to look behind the scenes of television broadcasting for a small entrance fee, 200 Yen. By paying that admission, visitors can look the production of a live programs on most days such as the popular morning drama, the historical taiga drama, and the kids program "Okaasan To Issho". The visitors can also watch the nationwide live broadcast of the talk program "Studiopark Kara Konnichiwa" from behind the scenes on weekdays from around 1pm.

NHK Studiopark hs attracted nearly a million visitors a year. Visitors are eager to visit this studiopark since it offers a tour of the recording studios where the visitors can see where some of Japan's favorite television is recorded. They might even be lucky enough to see some recording of drama or news.

Like all Japanese media there are some pretty cute and somewhat weird animated characters in the NHK line up including Domo-kun. He is the little brown creature with a mean looking mouth hatched from an egg and he lives underground with a wise old rabbit. He is one of the favorite s at the great gift shop at NHK Studiopark which stocks lots of TV themed T-Shirts and other Japanese novelties. Furthermore, there are attractions which introduce various broadcasting an 3D images, and illustrated information about popular programs of the past, NHK announcers and brodcasting histor. Finally, there is a shop where NHK related goods, tapes and books can be purchased.

The public is also treated to a mini studio theme park with quite a few attractions incluing chances for visitors to try their hand at announcing or even acting. Studio Q offers visitors to see the cutting edge broadcasting technologies used to deliver quality television and there is even a 3D high definition theatre which is well worth a visit. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on the third Monday of each month, except in August and December and if the third Monday falls on a National Holiday, in which case the studiopark remains open on Monday but closed on Tuesday. Closed from December 25-31. For those who want to be in the studio audience of one of the sometimes whacky television shows you can make an advance booking with the centre.

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Yoyogi Koen

2008-08-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

The largest Open to the public park in Tokyo (Akasaka Park and the Imperial Palace having partly restricted access). Yoyogi Park lies between the Meiji Shrine grounds and the NHK Broadcasting Center.

Contrarily to others like Ueno or Shinjuku Gyoen, it has a much more luxuriant flora, and is the only one really like a forest rather than a park or gardens since Yoyogi Park has variety of landscape and places to sit and enjoy your time. A popular place for "Lovers" to go.

Yoyogi Koen (Yoyogi Park, in Japanese, park is koen) a vast expanse of trees and grass, is one of Tokyo's largest and pleasant city parks, featuring wide lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is a great place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. It is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine not far from Shibuya. Approximately 3-5 minute walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. JR Harajuku Station is on the Yamanote Line which makes Yoyogi Park easy to reach from most parts of Tokyo. It is next to Meiji Shrine, so as a photographer you can easily make it a day at these very different (but close) areas. but, there are no pathways between the two as the forest there is a bird sanctuary. So, you must walk past the entrance to Meiji Shrine to actually enter the park.

Although Yoyogi Park has relatively few cherry trees compared to oter sites in Tokyo, it makes a niceh cherry blossom viewing spot in spring and in the fall it is a great place to see some really beautful ginko trees that turn golden. There are a reasonable number of cherry trees in Yoyogi so it is popular in the spring for blossom viewing. As well, the forests of Ginkgo and other deciduous trees make it popular in the fall for leaf viewing. There is a small rose garden near the south entrance to the park. Assuming the weather is nice (and sometimes even when it isn’t) there are plenty of people enjoying outdoor activites, sports, picnics, sunbathing, dancing or just relaxing. Furthermore, it is known for its ginko tree forest, which turns intensively golden in autumn.

Before becoming a city park in 1967, the area where Yoyogi Park is located today, was the site of the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan, on December 19, 1910, by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa, following which it became an army parade ground. During the Second World War occupation, it was the site of an American housing complex called Washington Heights, residence for U.S. officers and US military personnel. Yoyogi Park served as the site of the olympic village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and the distinctive Olympic buildings designed by Kenzo Tange are still nearby. The stadium remains one of Tokyo's most impressive landmarks. Tokyo is bidding to again hold the Summer Olympics in 2016 and Yoyogi Park is once again an important part of the bid. Recently, Tokyo governor, Ishihara, has backed building a 100,000 seat olympic stadium in the park as part of Tokyo's bid.

Located in Harajuku, Yoyogi Park is one of Japan's most active sites of counter youth culture. For more than 20 years, it has been the place that young people to hang out on Sunday and dismiss Japan staid business culture as irreverent. In return, the police periodically sweep through and attempt to clean up the "antisocial" aspects of the park. The park is one of the largest in Tokyo when combined with the adjacent Meiji Shrine and while it may not be the prettiest it sure is one of the most vibrant and colorful. It is a western style park with wide lawns, bike paths, forests, ponds and fountains.

If you want to know what the Japanese do on a Sunday afternoon, then head off to Yoyogi Park. The whole of Tokyo seems to descend on this wonderful park. Families come for a picnic, unsigned pop bands play inpromptu gigs, theatre groups practise their latest plays and people just hang out letting the world go by! Everything seems to happen in this one place! When I went there a year ago, I felt like I saw the real Tokyo - seeing the Japanese at play.

Today, the park is a popular hangout, especially on Sundays, when it is used as a gathering place for people to play music, practice martial arts, etc. The park
has a bike path, and bicycle rentals are available. As a consequence of Japan's long recession, there are several large, but surprisingly quiet and orderly, homeless camps around the park's periphery. These are somewhat like the Hoovervilles during the Great Depression in the USA. Foreign visitors once marveled at the exhibitionist Japanese rock-n-rollers here when the road through the park was closed off on Sundays, but that's been stopped.

Not a lot about the place is unusual; it's just a good place to get away from it all for a while and perhaps take a nap on the grass. A nice fountain with changing patterns punctuates the middle of the park, and there's a bicycle path for kids that features free rental up to junior high school age. Yoyogi Park is also a popular spot for jogging. Early in the morning, you may encounter a practicing saxophonist or drummer. They can be sure the empty park, at least, won't tell them to keep quiet or move house.

Another interesting thing about Yoyogi Park is that all types of people gather here. If you come on a weekend you will see people playing sports, juggling, playing instruments, dancing and anything else that can be done outside. One of the more unique groups of people is the interest group that is all about the 50s (or maybe 60s). I am not sure if these people dress (and style their hair) like this all the time and are stuck in a time warp or if it is just a weekend activity but you really should take a minute to watch this short video of them dancing.

Where can you find dozens of Japanese Elvis doing the twist? Guys dressed up as school girls playing live music? A man in a Fred Flintstone-like costume doing the salsa? A family of dogs wearing sunglasses? A painter selling his art in order to support his family? Or an illustrator and fairy tale writer giving out free copies of his work in hopes that one day he can make a living out of his hobby? Yoyogi Park, of course! .

While bands and other entertainment are banned from the park that doesn't stop them from setting up on the corner between Harajuku Station and Yoyogi Park. As well, the corridor south of Yoyogi Park to the NHK buildings is usually bustling with bands and street theatre. Cosplaying is a major part of the park's culture and every Sunday groups descend on the park. In turn, photographers descend on them in equal numbers.

This naturally wooded park adjoins the Meiji Shrine, and until 1996 was the venue for Tokyo's amateur rock and roll bands to show their stuff every Sunday. They have since moved to Omotesando, and Yoyogi Park has become quiet, and ideal for lovers and families who like to enjoy a tranquil Sunday afternoon with each other on the grass and strolling by tranquil ponds filled with koi (Japanese carp). Rental bicycles are available within the grounds during summer for JPY500/hour.

Opening date
Land area
Number of trees
Variety of plants

Address
Nearest station

20 October 1967
540,529 m2
Tall trees : 15,382 / Shrubs : 92,689 / Lawn : 200,689 m2
Sawara cypress, Zelkova trees, Himalayan cedars, osmanthus,
oleanders, azaleas, gingkos, cherry trees, pines, konara oaks, etc.
Yoyogi Kamisonocho/Jinnan 2-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
3min walk from Harajuku (JR line) or Yoyogi Koen (Chiyoda line),
6min walk from Yoyogi Hachiman (Odakyu line)

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Harajuku Station

2008-08-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

The station of JR Harajuku is the principal entry of Harajuku nowadays. By using the line of JR Yamanote which functions circularly in the middle of Tokyo, you can easily reach Harajuku. As soon as you leave the station, you will see a crowd of the young people with the fashion of novel.

Harajuku Station is a station on the JR Yamanote Line located in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, adjacent to Yoyogi Park. The station was opened on October 30, 1906.

JR Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line is the obvious way to get to Harajuku. The station is very conveniently located next to both the entrance to Meiji Jingu and the beginning of Omotesando.
The station takes its name from the area on its eastern side, Harajuku.

The Chiyoda Line Meiji Jingumae Station is immediately adjacent Harajuku Station and is marked as an interchange on most route maps, although there is no physical connection between the two stations.

Harajuku is also the station used by the Imperial Train for journeys beginning and ending in Tokyo. To the east of the Yamanote line platform there is a separate platform for the Imperial train.

The station is composed of a single island platform . A provisional platform is located on the Western side of the station usable by rail travelling towards Shinjuku which is used when the principal events occur in the sector, particularly around the new year when many people visit the Meiji Shrine.

The bathrooms in Harajuku Station also act as mini dressing rooms for many teenagers and rebellious youths who express themselves through the outrageous fashions for which Harajuku is famous.

The main entrance is at the southern end of the station. A smaller entrance is in the center of the platform is convenient for Takeshita-dori, another famous sector in Harajuku. Takeshita-dori is a popular shopping street and the entrance of Takeshita-dori is often very crowd, creating a bottleneck at the weekends when a mass of tourists and people of the country arrive and leave Harajuku generally and the shopping areas in and around Takeshita-dori specifically.

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Takeshita Dori

2008-07-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

Takeshita Street (Takeshita dori) is no doubt identified as the principal place of Harajuku and Harajuku's main attraction. This symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of much of the mode of Japan tends is narrow, busy, pedestrian-only, a street of roughly 400 meters length striped by stores, shops, cafes and fast food restaurants which target market is the teenagers of Tokyo.

Once exiting the Harajuku station. Parallel and across the street you can find the Takeshita Dori. Filled with shops for Youth including Gothic supplies, Band Shirts, miscellaneous character items and idol goods popular among teens.

Here you can find some of Japan and mainly Tokyo's up and coming Gothic type of Teen Fashion. The stores on Takeshita Street include the principal chains such as the body shop, but the majority of the companies are the small independent stores which carry a choice of models. The stores on this street are often a bellwether for broader fads, and some are known as "antenna shops," which manufacturers seed with prototypes for test-marketing.

The street (alley is a better word, as no cars are allowed down this long narrow road) for the younger generation, used to be a quiet humble place about 20 years ago. But nowadays Takeshita Street was a reliable place to go and purchase fake Japanese and American street brand goods from the early nineties to 2004.

Since 2004, a stronger metropolitan government stance on counterfeit merchandise has led to a decrease of such items being available to the public. Placed directly through the exit of the station of JR Harajuku, Takeshita street is very popular for young teenagers, who usually visiting Tokyo for the School trip, or for local young people who want to buy small “nice” goods at the weekends.

This street is always crowded by many young people including the students of excursion school all over Japan. We can feel the bottomless positive power among the disorderliness when we walk by this Takeshita street. Harajuku is the powerful sector which has brought delivered huge amount of uniqe prevalence one after another while charming teenagers for the target. This area is a window shopper's paradise.

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Snoopy Town

2008-06-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is a toy kiosk provided for Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang merchandise freak located directly across Harajuku Station. Snoopy and the Peanuts gang freak would absolutely fall in love with this toy kiosk at the first visit to this place. Snoopy Town sells all kinds of Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang stuff. This kiosk was opened on april 2nd, 1999.

This Harajuku Snoopy Town kiosk is the third kiosk in Tokyo, and the fifth kiosk in all over Japan. The theme of the store is a shool bus stop, a yellow American shool bus is put inside the kiosk. The kiosk is a branch of the popular Snoopy Town kiosk within the Hep Five shopping complex in Umeda.

If you want to go to this kiosk, you may take JR YAMANOTE-LINE, then take off at Harajuku station and exit by Omotesando-Guchi (Entrance of Omotesando). As soon as you exit the station, Snoopy Town kiosk is the first store your eyes would spot at. You would find the big Snoopy and his friends, you would never lose a way.

The main idea of the kiosk is so obvious, all merchandises are inspired from the characters of world-famous Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang comic strip and cartoon. The kiosk itself is enormous--the largest on its floor of the Hep Five shopping center--and carries too many miscellaneous items to list beyond its selection of clothing and other wearables. The kiosk is originally served kids needs of amusements, but you will still find an abundance of teenage girls, and even young adults looking for good gift ideas.

Harajuku Snoopy Town kiosk serves Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang merchandise you can’t find in Camp Snoopy in the Mall of America and Camp Snoopy in Knott’s Berry Farm. The kiosk provides baby clothes, bibs, children’s items, stationery, etc. There is also a housewares section in the kiosk which serves you Japanese style bowls, tea sets, and dinnerware, all emblazoned with adorable images of Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang. Also available car accessories such as cell phone holders and rear view mirror adornments.

Charles Schulz, the creator of Snoopy had created a dynamic and entertaining character who could assume a variety of identities. Detective Snoopy, World War I Flying Ace, Doctor Snoopy, and Legal Beagle all had outfits available. Overall, Harajuku Snoopy Town kiosk is the best kiosk in Tokyo for the Snoopy freak.

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Omotesando Hills

2008-05-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Omotesando Hills (Omotesando hiruzu), Aoyama's newest landmark which was recently opened at 10:30 a.m. on February 11, 2006, a shopping complex along the avenue, has been attracting lots of attention with its intriguing interior design. It looks like a three-story building from the outside, but it's actually six levels once you're inside (three of them underground).

A convenient meeting spot and a good place to get in from the weather, it's filled with the same sort of upscale shops you'll find in the rest of Aoyama, but it also provides some surprisingly affordable eating and drinking spots. Omotesando has lured Tokyo’s fashion-lovers for years; now the boulevard has an added the new attraction.

It consists of upmarket shops, restaurants, cafes, and beauty salons. It is, the much anticipated opening day of Omotesando Hills, a sprawling, upscale Tokyo shopping development spanning the Harajuku and Aoyama neighborhoods and running along the historic tree-lined Omotesando Avenue, a famous shopping and (previously) residential road in Aoyama sometimes termed Tokyo's Champs-Élysées. It contains over 93 shops, cafes and restaurants reflect Japan's re-emerging interest in the high end as it perhaps starts to pull out of a decade-long economic slump. There are also 38 apartments are located at the top of the shopping complex. Omotesando Hills is a shopper’s wonderland. The most devoted fashionista can even live on site, in one of the development's 38 flats. Shops are open daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm and restaurants are open until midnight.

Newly opened, Omotesando Hills is the fresh, innovative core of Omotesando Boulevard from where the latest in Japanese fashion trends, arts and lifestyles are transmitted to an eager public. 'Media Ship', the media concept linking people, the city, and the world, attracts people of sophistication and discernment from around the world. The low-rise building profile is set at the level of the 'zelkova' trees along Omotesando, a bucolic approach reinforced by extensive use of rooftop gardens. Omotesando Hill's six-story atrium is enclosed by a spiral ramp that mirrors the slope of the boulevard outside, transforming the interior into a parallel avenue with its own fabulous array. It occupies a two hundred and fifty meter stretch of Omotesando. It features a central atrium and a gentle spiral slope, which is at the same grade as the street outside, Omotesando. The complex offers an interesting line-up of 93 shops, including a few from overseas that are making their debut in Japan.

Omotesando Hills a somewhat fancy shopping mall appealing to a completely different group of rich people. For the last five years or so, the once-stylish Harajuku neighborhood has been naturally gravitating from the 90s hidden hipster street-wear shops to enormous stores for European luxury brands. Slowly but surely, Japan is losing its status as a unique fashion enclave. It was built in 2005, in a series of Tokyo urban developments by Mori Building on the lot of the former-Dojunkai Aoyama apartments. Internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando designed the architecture. The place is designed in an upward slope. The halls, if stretched out of their zigzag shape, are the same length as the avenue outside. New Age music and sounds of waterfalls and birds are piped in, and what seems to be the shadows of trees graze the walls. A look down over the railing reveals a widening staircase that runs through the center of the sublevels.

Prior to the official opening on February 11 2006, the new complex as revealed to the media on February 2. On December 9 2005, Mori Building Co., Ltd. unveiled the construction site of "Omotesando Hills" to the media. The number of visitors to Omotesando Hills reached 10 million in a mere one year since its opening in February 2006. On average, the number of visitors is between 20,000 and 30,000 a day on weekdays while it is 40,000 - 50,000 on weekends and holidays. Annual sales also reached ¥1.65 billion (approx. US$ 135 million/€1.1 million), exceeding by approx. 10% the ¥1.5 billion (approx. US$ 123 million/€1 million) previously estimated.

hundred-yen stores (the Japanese equivalent of the dollar store) seem to occupy every corner of the world's most expensive city. Still, most are welcoming Omotesando Hills as the newest addition to Tokyo's long list of hot spots. And while the main draw this opening day seems not so much the shopping as the overall spectacle, Omotesando Hills is certainly poised to top the list of Tokyo's most avid and well-heeled shoppers. The independent, style-conscious urbanites who gravitate to Omotesando will find in Omotesando Hills a new benchmark. Omotesando Hills is a world away from urban Japan's bargain-hunting culture, wherek in creativity: the place to go for insights into the latest trends and the most up-to-date lifestyles. Omotesando Hills will bring additional refinement to tradition, authenticity, and quality by reinterpreting and revitalizing fashion, art, artisanship, and the traditional Japanese aesthetic of wa. The creative space formed through this approach will stand for the first expression of a new era in style. From the outside, the two-story structure, covered in 250 square metres of glass, offers no hint of what lies within. But step inside and you find yourself in a long, narrow building.

Omotesando Hills is one of Omotesando's latest forays into the world of luxury-eccentric architecture for retail shops (e.g. Herzog and de Meuron's Prada Building). It occupies a long stretch of Omotesando, partly obscured by trees, and with only a few retails shop on the outside. The repeating glass panels on the external facade aren't very exciting, though they are dressed up at night with a light display that emulates silhouettes of people's legs walking (video). There is also a small stream of water that flow adjacent to the building and flows along the slope of the street. One consequence of the sloped street is that the retail shops on the outside gradually climb up the facade of the building as you walk alongside. The building’s doublespeak-filled PR page says,“The spiral connecting slope will allow visitors to enjoy indoors the sensation of strolling outdoors.” They took away the natural light and replaced it with TV. They destroyed the real experience of strolling outdoors to provide an indoor “sensation.” They took away the trees and the ivy and replaced them with concrete. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. The use of natural hues and organic curves blends the man-made elements of the design into the soon-to-be leafy surroundings. The concrete modules form a gracefully lit grid, and the exterior - at first glance somewhat stark - will radiate vitality once the trees grow and the essential human element is added: people, enjoying the space and living their daily lives.

Ando connects the interior to the outside by echoing these external design elements: walking, slope, trees, and water. A odd speaker stick fills the mall with ambient water noises, flowing silhouettes of leaves are projected onto the floor, and images of stick-figure people walking adorn many of the walls. Slope is the connecting design of the interior in the form of continuously ascending ramps set around a thin triangular perimeter. The ramps create a series of convergence lines at the apex that are fun to photograph, though I must admit they aren't quite as impressive in person. A long stairway fills the apex of the triangle while escalators occupy the base. They, too, are fun to photograph. Nothing can change the fact that the interior is ultimately a mall. Retail shops line the outside perimeter, though there position is made slightly more difficult because of the continuous slope. Like Ando's CollezTadao Ando connects the interior to the outside by echoing these external design elements: walking, slope, trees, and water. A odd speaker stick fills the mall with ambient water noises, flowing silhouettes of leaves are projected onto the floor, and images of stick-figure people walking adorn many of the walls. Slope is the connecting design of the interior in theione down the street, Omotesando Hills has a difficult problem: it's hard to transcend the nature of a shopping complex, even if you throw water and trees at it.

Omotesando Hills is Tadao Ando most recently completed projects, and one of his largest commissions, a high-end shopping complex on Tokyo's boutique-lined street, Omotesando. It was built at a cost of $330 million, has been marked by controversy since it is replaced an old historical building. Regarding the construction, Ando said, "It's not Tadao Ando as an architect who has decided to rebuild and make shops, it was the owners themselves who wanted it to be new housing and to get some value with shops below. My task was how to do it in the best way.” It supplants the famous Aoyama Apartments, a landmark of early Japanese modernism, that were controversially destroyed before the new construction began. Ando has kept the shell of a portion of the original structure, erected in 1927 by Doujunkai, a governmental design bureau as the first public reinforced-concrete apartments in Japan. Ando has a deep understanding of architectural history, as well as a firm rootedness in his national culture, and I'm sure it is only with profound reluctance that he participated in the replacement of a local landmark with a luxury shopping mall.

Nearly eighty years have passed since the construction of the Aoyama Apartments in 1927. However, it became old and was disassembled in 2003 for redevelopment. The long-familiar apartments are now being redeveloped. The destruction of the apartments raised questions about Japan's unwillingness to preserve historic buildings. As a regenerated building, Omotesando Hills will reuse part of the existing facade. The new apartments designed by Tadao Ando will have an ingenious spiral slope enclosing an atrium. Dojunkai, which were constructed right after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 to provide accommodation for victims from the natural disaster. For recent years, the buildings had been functioning as a landmark of the fashionable Omotesando Ave., housing boutiques and galleries which make the most of the nostalgic atmosphere of the buildings. Although by the time of their demolition not many were occupied, they also housed shops in the facade opening onto the Omotesando thoroughfare. Unfortunately, all the character and charm of the previous site has been lost. One small fragment of the apartments remains at the East end of the complex.

Dojunkai, dilapidated flats were latterly the home of a ragtag selection of galleries and boutiques. Their Bauhaus-inspired, ivy-covered facades oozed charm, and their cracked and overgrown aura imbued Omotesando with a village feel that seemed resistant to the changes in the rest of the city. But charm is a rare commodity, and the space was approved for a redevelopment that includes 50 shops and 38 apartments. One would think that on a street that purports to be Tokyo’s Champs Elysees, the architect, Tadao Ando, could have created a green space that interacts with the neighborhood. Instead, he has built an unbroken opaque flat glass wall stretching down the entire road and up to the Zelkova treetops. The frontage is crossed by horizontal bands that step up inexpertly with the slope. This wall is capped by heavy concrete slabs holding dark, boxy apartments that weigh down upon the street and block out light. Perversely, the natural light that has been lost will be replaced by garish illuminated panels, creating what in effect will be a 250m-long television screen. The only respite from the wall is an angular notch that will lead to an inner spiral courtyard surrounded by shops.

“The Omotesando district has a proud history‚ and an important role of redevelopment is to carry that tradition forward‚” stresses Nobuo Arakawa‚ General Manager of Omotesando Hills Management Office‚ Mori Building Co.‚ Ltd., which carried out the Dojunkai Aoyama Apartments renovation‚ and has been involved in numerous largescale redevelopment projects throughout the Tokyo area. “Omotesando Hills is very much in line with the concept of ‘urban memory’ advocated by Mr. Ando,” says Arakawa. “We place a strong emphasis on maintaining the local culture and the way of life of the area’s residents. Many of Mori’s other redevelopment projects have been focused on creating new neighborhoods from the ground up. But I think the Omotesando Hills project has successfully demonstrated that a district can be revitalized in a way that fully preserves its original atmosphere.”

In spite of the fact that Omotesando Hills is indeed an entirely new facility‚ the new building has blended in with its surroundings ever since the scaffolding was removed. The building is certainly extensive. However‚ it is designed so that the roof lies below the tops of the zelkova trees lining the sidewalk in front. Rooftop gardens cover the residential portion of the new complex. These measures were perhaps necessary to preserve the “urban memory” of Omotesando‘s lush greenery‚ and they have been marvelously successful. One section of the Omotesando Hills complex houses the Dojun Wing‚ a faithful reproduction of a portion of the Dojunkai Aoyama Apartments as they were so many years ago. An art gallery that was once housed in the old Dojunkai complex has reopened its doors in the new Dojun Wing.

The concept behind the reconstruction of the historic Dojunkai Aoyama Apartments, a landmark on chic Omotesando Boulevard, was launching a Media Ship. Omotesando Hills, the media linking people, the city, and the world, brings the latest in fashion, the arts, and lifestyles and draws in people of sophistication and sensitivity from around the world. Mori Building invited world-renowned architect Tadao Ando to participate in the design of this structure, whose low-rise profile echoes the height of the zelkova trees along Omotesando,an approach reinforced by extensive use of rooftop gardens. Omotesando Hills thus keeps the memory of its historic site alive as it grows into a landmark for a new generation. Omotesando Hills carries on the nearly 80-year-old memories of visitors and residents‚ and is already adding new strands to the tapestry of urban memory. Some 20 or 30 years from now‚ Omotesando Hills will have become an even more integral part of the garden-like Omotesando district.

Toilets
There are seven toilets at Omotesando Hills.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING 3F?2F?B1F?B2F?B3F

Multipurpose toilets
There are two multipurpose toilets equipped with handrails. these toilets can be used with the wheelchair.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING 2F?B3F

Nursing Room
There is a nursing room at Omotesando Hills.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING B1F

Diaper changing seat
There are two diaper changing seats at Omotesando Hills.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING 2F?B3F

Coin lockers
There are coin lockers at Omotesando Hills.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING B1F

Telephone
There is one public phone at Omotesando Hills.The type is a telephone to accept both the telephone card and the coin.
Location:MAIN BUILDING 1F

Smoking area
Designated smoking areas have been provided. Please refrain from smoking while walking in the facilities or in areas other than those specified.
Location:MAIN BUILDING B3F

Cash service
There is one bank and ATM at Omotesando Hills.
Locations:MAIN BUILDING B3F SHINSEI BANK
Store Hours:Bank 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
ATM 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
TEL:0120-456-860 (toll free)

Bicycle parking
Location:MAIN BUILDING 1F
Open 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Parking fee Free parking
accommodates 71 bikes
Location:MAIN BUILDING B4F
Open Monday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Opening hours on Sundays in the middle day of three consecutive holidays are same as Monday - Saturday.
Parking fee 500/day
accommodates 35 motorcycles
Bicycle parking/Motorcycle parking

Parking
Location:MAIN BUILDING B4F
Open Monday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Opening hours on Sundays in the middle day of three consecutive holidays are same as Monday - Saturday.
Parking fee 350/30 min.(700/hr.)
Accommodates 182 cars
Parking Guide

Access by subway
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Chiyoda Line, Hanzomon Line Omotesando Station Exit A2, Two min on foot.
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Meiji-Jingumae Station Exit 5, Three min on foot.

Access via the JR Line
JR Yamanote Line Harajuku Station Exit Meiji-Jingu, Seven min on foot.

Best Information about Harajuku.

Meiji Shrine

2008-04-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

Meiji Shrine (????) is Tokyo's largest shrine, and one of Japan's three "Jingu"(Imperial shrine). This shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. In Shinto, it is not uncommon to enshrine the deified spirits of important personalities.

This perfect example of Shinto architecture--muted colors and spare lines—was completed then opened in 1920 to commemorate the death of Emperor Meiji in 1912. It was built by over 100,000 volunteers. It is located in a wooded park area next to Yoyogi Park, Harajuku, Tokyo. Various events and festivals are celebrated at the shrine throughout the year. Meiji Shrine located in Tokyo, Japan near Harajuku Station.

Meiji Shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park, smack in the heart of ultra-fashionable Tokyo. Aoyama, Omotesando, and Harajuku are a short walk away; Shibuya and Shinjuku are a couple of stops on the Yamanote Line. The shrine is is a short walk from Yoyogi Station on the Yamanote Line. The park contains the site of the 1964 Olympics. Kenzo Tange's Yoyogi National Stadium was built for those Games and is still a Tokyo landmark. Perhaps the most beautiful area is the Inner Garden (Jingu Nai-en), which in late June is filled with irises in full bloom. Farther in is the Treasure House, where the royal couple's clothes and personal things are kept.

It was designed by outstanding scholars such as Dr. Seiroku Honda, the father of afforestation in Japan. He and others had a 100- to 200-year vision that the forest would pass to future generations. The woodland must regenerate itself without human intervention. It was created as the first "eternal forest" in Japan, based on the most advanced practices of afforestation that Honda learned while studying in Germany. In spite of the common belief at the time that a shrine forest should consist of trees such as cedar and cypress, Honda chose broad-leafed evergreens like shii (chinquapin), kashi (evergreen oak) and kusu (camphor) for the primary trees.

The ultimate ideal of forest creation is natural regeneration using the conditions inherent in Tokyo. During the 80-some years since the launch of the original plan, the forest has grown more rapidly than Honda expected and has already begun to attain the appearance of a natural forest. It has been steadily growing into a state of perfection.

The shrine staff says in unison, "Rather than meddling with the forest, all we do is keep watch over the trees as they grow naturally on their own." That the forest, left to natural regeneration, has grown to this scale in just 80 years clearly shows that Japan is blessed with a rich natural environment and mild climate. However, it is certain that the biggest reason why this forest has remained and flourished is that the area is protected by the revered shrine, with every one of its trees considered sacred and venerable.

The main entrance to the shrine is close to Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) or Meiji Jingumae Station (Chiyoda subway line). You enter through an enormous wooden torii and proceed along a wide gravel walkway. After several minutes walk turn to the left and go through another torii - the largest wooden torii in Japan. To the left is a small park - admittance charged and not really worth it. (A surcharge is added while the irises are blooming in June / July whether in full bloom or nearing expiration!). Itnear the Asakusa district. It is a very serene place (that is when the tourists and school trips are not around: which means morning on weekdays), good for admiring nature, old architecture and peace of mind.

The shrine itself follows a type of Shinto shrine architecture dating back to the eight century of dignified simplicity with decorations limited to the absolute minimum. This is in stark contrast to the splendor and excessive decoration at the mausoleum of the first Tokugawa Shogun in Nikko. At Meiji Jingu most of the wood are unpainted, with a limited use of white paint and copper naturally turned green the only contrasting colors. The chrysanthemum crest of the imperial family is visible in several places including the square lanterns hanging from the eaves.

If you cut your shrine viewing teeth in Nikko or Kamakura, Meiji Jingu will come as a pleasant surprise - there are practically no stairs here. That said the walk from the entrance to the shrine itself takes a good 20 minutes or so. It is mostly gravel and can get a bit dusty on a busy day. It is also not suitable for narrow wheel strollers and wheelchairs although ones with thicker wheels seem to be OK.

The Original Meiji Shrine was burnt down in air raids then destroyed during WWII. The present shrine buildings was rebuilt from November 1958 with funds raised in a nationwide public subscription. In contrast to many other postwar reconstructions in Japan, the original plans were followed and the correct building materials, in this case mainly Japanese cypress, were used. It houses the "Yasakani no mgatama" (jewels), which is one of the three Imperial Regalia. On your visit do not miss the beautiful imperial carriage. Portraits of the Emperor and Empress done by the Italian, Edoardo Chiossone in the 1890s complement the collection. Surrounded by 72 hectares of shady trees and various Japanese flora of the Meiji Jingu Park, it is one of Japan's most sacred and picturesque shrines.

The shrine was built in a garden area where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken sometimes visited. Emperor Meiji was the first emperor of modern Japan. He was born in 1852 and ascended to the throne in 1868 at the peak of the Meiji Restauration when the power was switched from the feudal Tokugawa government to the emperor. During the Meiji Period, Japan modernized and westernized herself to join the world's major powers by the time Emperor Meiji passed away in 1912 and Empress Shoken in 1914. After their demise, people wished to commemorate their virtues and to venerate them forever, and so this shrine was constructed, and their souls were enshrined on November 1, 1920. The Imperial Treasury House annex exhibits mementos, including the coronation carriage, of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

The reign of Emperor Meiji (1868-1912) saw Japan transformed from a medieval to a modern state. He devoted himself to increasing the prosperity and peace of the nation. As a result, Emperor Meiji was regarded as a truly great Emperor. He is credited with modernizing Japan to a level able to compete with the best in the world after almost three centuries of self-imposed isolation. Both the Emperor and his wife are enshrined here. He and Empress Shoken are not buried here, but near Kyoto. Meiji Shrine was established by a resolution of the Imperial Diet the year after the emperor's death to commemorate his role in ending the long isolation of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate and setting the country on the road to modernization.

The shrine grounds consist of three areas:

Naien, or the inner precinct/garden, centered on the shrine buildings, which include a treasure museum that houses articles of the Emperor and Empress enshrined here. The treasure museum is built in the Azekurazukuri style and is made up primarily of Japanese cypress from Kiso, which is considered the best lumber produced in Japan, together with Noritoden (where the words of praise the Emperor and Empress are recited)

Once scrubbed to the main courtyard which was surrounded on all sides by shrine buildings. If you wish to part with more money then this is the place to do it - all for the good of your spirituality of course! You can buy wooden plaques (good luck amulets) which have inscriptions on one side. The other side is left blank for you to write your hopes and wishes on. Once you have done this, the plaques are hung on a tree in the courtyard. Few of the plaques that had been written in English and French. Hopes ranged from passing exams, being cured of an illness, wanting a long and happy marriage, through to football fans wanted their team to win the premiership.

Visitors can also purchase their fortunes. To do this, you pick up a box of sticks and shake it until one falls out. The stick has a specific number written on it which you hand to the cashier. She then hands you the "omikuji" (fortune written on a roll of paper) which corresponds to your number. If the fortune is bad or you just don't like it, you should tie the "omikuji" on to the branch of a tree in the Meiju Jingu. This ensures the bad fortune stays within the shrine and doesn't follow you out.

Gaien, or the outer precinct/garden, which includes the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery that houses a collection of 80 large murals illustrative of the events in the lives of the Emperor and his consort. It also includes a variety of sports facilities, including the National Stadium, and is seen as the center of Japanese sports.

The inner gardens used to be part of the suburbs of Harajuku but during the Meiju period it came under the control of the Imperial household and was renamed the Yoyogi Imperial Gardens. It was often visited by Empress Shoken. There is a token entrance fee of 300 Yen but for this you get a useful map of the gardens and pathways. Within the Gyeon, there is a small Japanese teahouse, a lotus pond filled with Carp and an iris garden - all connected by winding paths that make you feel like you've stumbled into a secret garden. As a gift to the Empress, Emperor Meiju built the Iris Gardens. This is truly beautiful but I was a month early. They don't come into full bloom until June.

Meiji Memorial Hall, which was originally used for governmental meetings, including discussions surrounding the drafting of the Meiji Constitution in the late 19th century. Today it is used for Shinto weddings. In Shinto Weddings, usually all of the brides were in traditional dress, but we were told that some wear Western bridal dresses. It is located in the corner of the Outer Garden

Besides them there are also Shinko (the Treasure House), Shinsenjo (the Consecrated Kitchen for the preparation of the food offerings) and some office buildings. The materials are mainly plain Japanese cypress with copper plates for the roofs

These areas are covered by an evergreen forest of 120,000 trees of 365 different species (you quickly forget you are in the world's largest city in there) which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. This 700,000 square-meter (about 175 acres) forest is visited by many people both as a spiritual home of the people and as a recreation and relaxation area centre of Tokyo. The gardens offer a cool retreat for visitors. The gardens are a must for photographers and artists.

The shrine is very busy on Sundays and Thursdays when couples come to present their babies in a ceremony known as miya mairi.
The peaceful Inner Garden (Jingu Nai-en), where the irises are in full bloom in the latter half of June, is on the left as you walk in from the main gates, before you reach the shrine. Beyond the shrine is the Treasure House, a repository for the personal effects and clothes of Emperor and Empress Meiji -- perhaps of less interest to foreign visitors than to the Japanese.

The Meiji Shrine and its surrounding woodlands is a place for everyone to enjoy. On Saturday many parents dressed formally bringing their cute as a button young babies (also dressed formally) to be blessed. There was also a coach bringing a newly wed couple and their guests from out of town to snap some photos and to seek blessings at the shrine. Various events and festivals are celebrated at the Meiji shrine throughout the year. You’ll be lucky to be there when cultural troupes from the various shopping malls in Tokyo were in competition. The shrine courtyard became a swirl of riotous colours as the various troupes danced and sang in unison after months of practice.

An annual festival at the shrine takes place on November 3rd, Emperor Meiji's birthday, which is a national holiday, unless you like crowds, do not go to the shrine on November 3rd. As many as a million people will jam the shrine and park on these two days. On the festival day and at New Year's, as many as a million people come to offer prayers and pay their respects. Several other festivals and ceremonial events are held here throughout the year. Even on a normal weekend the shrine draws thousands of visitors, but this seldom disturbs its mood of quiet gravitas: the faster and more unpredictable the pace of modern life, the more respectable the Japanese seem to find the certainties of the Meiji era.

The huge torii (gates) are built from 1,700 year-old cypress trees from Taiwan. They are shaped like the Pi symbol and words can't convey the grandeur of them when you're standing beside them. It is on the way from the parking lot to the shrine, you enter through the tall gate, made out of Taiwanese cypress trees. The simple design: two pillars and two cross bars (the top one curved up) make up the traditional Shinto gate. Before entering a Shinto shrine (jinja) worshippers pass under the torii gate.

The torii symbolizes the perch made for the mythical cock that announced the dawn and brought the sun goddess Amaterasu from her cave. The two torii at the entrance to the grounds of the shrine rise 40 feet high the crosspieces are 56 feet long. Torii are meant to symbolize the separation of the everyday secular world from the spiritual world of the Shinto shrine. The buildings in the shrine complex, with their curving green copper roofs, are also made of cypress wood. Passing under the torii purifies the worshippers' hearts and minds before praying to the kami (gods or spirits). When you pass through (under), you are symbolically entering a sacred place and leaving behind the everyday.

As you enter the shrine area, you will notice to your left a hand washing station. This is where visitors stop and wash their hands in cold water using wooden ladles. This is done for purification purposes, although it seems to entertain a lot of the visitors. The shrine itself has a rustic feeling to it. You can go up to the altar, throw some coins into the slots in front of the altar, clap your hands twice and bow. Clapping is appropriate in Shinto shrines as it awakes the gods (though in Buddist temple it will most likely get you kicked out). You can purchase a variety of lucky charms here as well. Anything from "Luck in travel" to "Luck on an entrance examination" can be obtained for a little bit of yen.

After you've walked under the huge but utterly simple cedar torii at the entrance to Emperor Meiji's shrine, then down the gravel path as wide as a four-lane highway toward an even larger torii and the Inner Garden, you may begin to feel you've entered some sort of Shinto heaven. It's quiet except for the birdsong and the murmur of the streams. The air is so pure it could be bottled. Unlike adjacent Yoyogi Park, which has signs prohibiting this and that, there is no need to admonish visitors here. Everyone is aware they are in a special place, immaculately cared for. Visibly stunned, visitors walk more slowly than usual and converse in a low voice. Many come alone, just to be here by themselves. This isn't Tokyo.

Further up the path way, there’s a large display of what seem to be a white lanterns. There were over 150 of them, all brightly painted in greens, reds and black writing. These turned out to be barrels of Sake. As a mark of respect to the Emperor Meiju, ever Sake manufacturer in Japan donated a barrel to honour his memory. I was astonished to also find out these Sake barrels were all full. I'm not known for my cynicism but, you'd need a 24 hour guard on them if they were in a London park

Japan is bursting at the seams with shrines and temples. For the first-time visitor, deciding which one to visit is like trying to choose a chocolate from the box without having the content card to hand. Tokyo is known around the world as a supreme concrete jungle, but this magnificent Shinto Shrine is an oasis within the urban sprawl. Once you get to the shrine itself, be sure to clap your hands a couple times to invoke the attention of the gods.

The grounds are thickly wooded from more than 100,000 seedlings (flowering shrubs and trees) that had been sent from all over Japan, many of which were donated by private citizens. This "Way" sign guides visitors through the woods and to the shrine and famous gardens. The iris garden is considered the most beautiful in Tokyo. The Emperor frequently visited it.

The shrine itself is like no other in Japan. There is space and it is surrounded by abundant greenery. It is the repository of Emperor Meiji, who sent bright young men abroad to learn how to build railroads and universities and banks and a government. It is a holy place.No wonder, then, that Meiji Jingu is the sole location for a special ring-entering ceremony performed by a sumo wrestler after he has been promoted to the exalted rank of Grand Champion..

Many come to worship. The way that worshipers pray in different sects of Shinto vary, but the common etiquette to be observed when praying at a shrine is to bow twice, clap your hands twice, pray and then bow once more. Bowing is a way of showing trust to the gods. Shinto worship have three elements in common. It begins with the act of purification, which usually involves the use of water. There are fountains at the shrines where worshippers cleanse themselves by rinsing their hands and mouths. An offering is presented to the kami, today usually money, but often food; and in a prayer or petition is made.

Etiquette to be Observed When Praying at a Shrine.

1. See to it that you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. Pass under the torii and walk through the "sando" or approach to the shrine.

2. Go to the hand-washing stone basin and cleanse your hands thoroughly. With a dipper, pour water into your cupped hand and then bring the water to your mouth and gargle. Do not bring the dipper directly to your mouth.)

3. Advance before the god enshrined. Then throw some money (either paper currency or coins into the offertory box.)

4. Bow deeply two times.

5. After that, clap your hands twice.

6. Then make a deep bow once more.

COST: Shrine free, Inner Garden ¥500, Treasure House ¥500.
OPEN: Shrine daily sunrise-sunset; Inner Garden Mar.-Nov., daily 9-4; Treasure House daily 10-4; Closed 3rd Fri. of month.

Subway: Chiyoda subway line, Meiji-jingu-mae Station; JR Yamanote Line, Harajuku Station (Exit 2).

Few facts about Meiji Shrine:

* Located in Yoyogi, central west Tokyo.
* Present temple dates from 1920s.
* Next to 1964 Olympic complex.
* Beautiful, peaceful swath of green in the middle of the concrete jungle.
* The place to be on New Year's Day in Tokyo.
* Good place to stroll day or night.

Best Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku List

2008-03-13T06:39:00.000-07:00

Meiji Shrine
Omotesando Hills
Snoopy Town
Takeshita Dori
Harajuku Station
Yoyogi Koen
NHK Studiopark
Oriental Bazzar
Yoyogi National Stadium
Louis Vuitton
Togo Shrine
Daiso Harajuku
Omotesando Dori
Laforet Harajuku
KiddyLand
Harajuku Lovers
Harajuku Style
Harajuku Girls
Harajuku

Best Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku Links

2008-02-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

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Best Information about Harajuku.

Harajuku Privacy Policy

2008-01-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

Harajuku Privacy Statement

What follows is the Privacy Statement for all Harajuku websites (a.k.a. blogs) including all the websites run under the Harajuku domain.
Please read this statement regarding our blogs. If you have questions please ask us via our contact form.

Email Addresses

You may choose to add your email address to our contact list via the forms on our websites. We agree that we will never share you email with any third party and that we will remove your email at your request. We don’t currently send advertising via email, but in the future our email may contain advertisements and we may send dedicated email messages from our advertisers without revealing your email addresses to them. If you have any problem removing your email address please contact us via our contact form.

Ownership of Information

Harajuku is the sole owner of any information collected on our websites.

Comments/Message Boards

Most Harajuku websites contain comment sections (a.k.a. message boards). We do not actively monitor these comments and the information on them is for entertainment purposes only. If we are alerted to something we deem inappropriate in any way, we may delete it at our discretion. We use email validation on most of our message boards in order to reduce “comment spam.” These email addresses will not be shared with any third party.

Cookies

Currently we assign cookies to our readers in order to save their preferences. This data is not shared with any third party. Accessing our websites is not dependent on accepting cookies and all major browsers allow you to disable cookies if you wish.

Third Party Cookies

Many of our advertisers use cookies in order to determine the number of times you have seen an advertisement. This is done to limit the number times you are shown the same advertisement. Harajuku does not have access to this data.

Traffic Reports

Our industry-standard traffic reporting records IP addresses, Internet service provider information, referrer strings, browser types and the date and time pages are loaded. We use this information in the aggregate only to provide traffic statistics to advertisers and to figure out which features and editorials are most popular.

Legal proceedings

We will make every effort to preserve user privacy but Harajuku may need to disclose information when required by law.

Business Transitions

If Harajuku is acquired by or merges with another firm, the assets of our websites, including personal information, will likely be transferred to the new firm.

Links

Harajuku websites frequently link to other websites. We are not responsible for the content or business practices of these websites. When you leave our websites we encourage you to read the destination site’s privacy policy. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by Harajuku

Notification of Changes

When Harajuku makes changes to this privacy policy we will post those changes here.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding our privacy policy, please contact us.

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at nasibaru@gmail.com.

At Harajuku, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by Harajuku and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, Harajuku makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
Harajuku does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include Google Adsense, Amazon, ETC.

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on Harajuku send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

Harajuku has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. Harajuku's privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

Harajuku Contact Info

2007-12-13T06:28:00.000-08:00

Harajuku Contact Info

Name: Mona Baron

Address: Jl. Baru No 5 Jakarta 64834, Indonesia

Phone Number: +628882227454

Email: nasibaru@gmail.com