Japan : Tokyo Part 1 - Harajuku

I came to Harajuku twice: once on a weekday so I was able to stroll down Takeshita Dori, the focal point of Harajuku's teenage culture, with its cute little stores, creperies and young Japanese girls (some in those Japanese schoolgirl uniforms I had only ever seen in cartoons and movies), and the next time on a Sunday, when the streets are absolutely jam-packed with people, including 'Harajuku girls' (and gothic lolitas, or simply the gothics, and other crazy fashion) one hears so much about, when young (sometimes not-so-young) Japanese dress up in crazy costumes and gather around Harajuku Station...

There is also much to see around or near Harajuku, including the Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park (also best to go here on a Sunday), Omotesando Hills and even Aoyama (with the famous Prada store); I will save these areas for future posts, but here is some of Harajuku:


The gateway to Takeshitadori (name of the alley/street) in Harajuku, which gets crazy-packed on weekends...

I flipped when I saw this girl! Does anyone else remember the Popples?!?

There were several 'crepe carts' selling crepes with a variety of toppings (including cheesecake!) and ice cream flavours...

Of course I had to try one...

How cute is she?

This girl more than happily obliged to pose for photos (for or with) tourists (although I was trying to catch her between poses)

Cool shoes...

The goths...love that skirt and dress!

Cute girls in pretty 'frocks'...

Although it is not only the girls that get to dress up in 'pretty' frocks...

Hubby & I absolutely adored these cute tees! Almost made me wanna turn vegetarian...

Hubby's purchase of the day, a 'vintage' (this model is I think 5 years old) yet new watch - love it! My picture does not do it justice, I'm afraid.

This one is mine, still kicking myself for not also buying the Casio Databank calculator watch I had my eye on (I have been searching for a cool Casio calculator watch for years) - it was such a cool vintage model with a funky green panel...Ah well, 'should've could've would've'. I love mine too, I think this model is 3 years old or so...