It was one of the best days we’d had in a while, on the weekend anyway, so it was off to Harajuku for me for the next station on the JR Yamanote Line which is 1 stop or roughly 2 minutes from home so it doesn’t get much easier than this week.
A quiet Saturday night meant i was up and into it early, hoping to have a good look around and get plenty of pictures.
Harajuku on a Sunday is busy at the best of times, a Sunday with weather around 25 degs is definitely enough to gaurantee anyone tossing it up, would make it out.
Harajuku is a must for any tourist visiting Japan. It’s a great mix of cheap stalls and shops in Takeshita Dori to the expensive brand names and boutique stores along and around Omotesando Dori and into Aoyama.
It’s a place i’d been many a time but mostly i’ve stayed on the beaten track so this time i was determined to get a bit further a field and see what else Harajuku had on offer.
Over the bridge and you’ll find one of the more famous and popular shrines in Japan, Meiji Jingu.
I didn’t get in to Meiji Jingu this time, i’ve done the walk many times before and will no doubt do it again, next time i have a few overseas visitors i’d imagine.
Some early Cosplayers on the bridge, must be hot with all that black get-up on.
Heading down to Takeshite Dori the crowds were arriving on mass.
I’d seen a reference to these t-shirt earlier this month from Andrew.
And still they come, every few minutes a train arrives with more people keen for a day in Harajuku.
Toe Socks, one of the most painful items of clothing i’ve worn in japan. Still makes me laugh when i sit in a meeting and see a pretty high up guy opposite me, shoes off, wearing toe socks.
Interesting mannequins about the place.
Crepe stores are in their dozens, i still haven’t had one … they look too sweet for me.
The interesting characters are limited to just the bridge.
At the end of Takeshite Dori it’s just like any other intersection in Japan.
Ahh, Kebab for lunch, it really hit the spot too … to hard juggling the kebab and camera to take a photo of it though.
The view down Omotesando Dori.
Heading over Omotesando Dori into the quieter streets of Aoyama i found a lot of food options and some great clothes stores, mostly new but several second hand ones too if that’s your style.
Parking is at a premium … anywhere you can find a spot
Full on my Kebab meant i didn’t stop for any Octopus
If i had the parking at home i’d consider getting one of these bad boys
Right in the middle of the 2 way road there’s room for a playground
28,000 yen and this bike is all yours
Not a whole lot of construction going on but was there was were major works indeed
Alley upon alley there were small bars and cafes full of people eating and enjoying Sunday in Harajuku station.
Looking down Omotesando Dori once again, this time from the walking bridge from Aoyama.
Some Vespa enthusiasts had gathered to compare their vintage Vespa’s.
Lots of Bars and Cafes … almost outside … not quite in the sun though.
Yet another small Cafe tucked in the back streets, far from the craziness of Takeshite Dori.
Another entrance to Meiji Jingu, much quieter than the main one.
Back up to the bridge and it was a dissapointing collection of Cosplayers. Maybe it was too hot, maybe they had an off day, i don’t know. I’m sure i’ll be out that way again soon but for now i’ll just have to point you towards past visits of Harajuku for all the Cosplay action.
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Nice! I enjoy reading these posts. Makes me envious that i dont live there!
Did you get a pic of the Bruce Pee clothes shop? That always makes me chuckle.
I know what you mean about the cosplayers / loligoths – sometimes you have a good day, sometimes there are hardly any around.
Care to do a big update on yoyogi park? Thats my fave place in the world! So many excellent bands there, and a great atmosphere.
I plan on getting down to Yoyogi park in the next few weeks when the weather is good ….. i hear there’s plenty going on there at the moment … late afternoon, early evening.
Thank you very much for the reference =). I never saw the cow shirt, that is pretty funny (got the milk there too haha).
A few things:
- You seem to have covered pretty much ALL of Harajuku with your photos! Takeshita douri, the bridge, Urahara (which is my favorite), and Omotesando douri. Excellent stuff and really great photos… I have a few Friends interested in Harajuku, so I will definitely direct them here.
- I remember the day my Girlfriend and I were walking to Harajuku and passed that Audi building, and I was like “this building is sooo cooooool! Let me take a pic!” So I proceed to take out the camera and realize I forgot the battery. haha =(
- We didn’t know that was an alternate entrance to Meiji Jingu!
- I got this really awesome bracelet from a shop in Harajuku, and sure enough, a week back in Canada and I lost the damn thing! Just waiting to go back so I can buy it again.
- Apparently that takoyaki place is really good… haha. Also bought a lot of earrings and such from the place right behind it (or at least close to behind it)… A BOMBER. Great shop & really friendly people.
I’ll stop here, otherwise I could talk about these pictures forever. I really wish I had taken more pictures of Harajuku! Oh well, always next time.
I need to correct myself on the alternative entrance …. i don’t believe that picture is another entrance to Meiji Jingu ….. it must be another Shrine. There are alternative entrances to Meiji Jingu though, i have used the one from Sangubashi station.
Glad you like the pics anyway, It’s probably one of my favourite places in and around where i live.
Meiji Jingu is one of my favorite places too – I’ll be heading out there to see the Iris garden in June for sure. It’s quite a site.
Love the t-shirts. I want to get them all!
Thanks again for another great post on the Yamanote Line!
Yeh I have to admit the cosplayers weren’t all that great that day. Quite a few good ‘uns on Golden Week.
I can’t wait for your review of Otsuka Station. Please take many pictures. My wife used to live there. I have been there many times. I also look forward to seeing Ikebukro and Ueno. Wjen in Ikebukro, please make a point to stop by “The Hub” and take a few pictures.
Very comprehensive, Neil; Lots of good pics.
I’ve been in Tokyo for awhile, but I rarely make it into Harajuku; I guess it’s just because I feel way uncool around some to people there. Me and my UniQlo duds, you know.
Looking forward to the next stop!
Will be visiting Tokyo in two week’s time. Should I do Harjuku on Saturday afternoon and Akiba on Sunday afternoon?
Mysuggestion would be – do Harajuku around mid morning to after lunchtime on Sunday then out to Akiba from 3pm onwards. Of course you can go to Harajuku on Saturday too but you won’t see the cosplayers on the bridge like you will on Sunday.
Hi Neil,
This was my plan to cover these areas on the weekend. Your view?
Sat : check-in Shibuya (11am), (afternoon)Harajuku, (evening) Shinjuku TMG bldg for sunset, (night) Shinjuku
Sun : Asakusa, Ameyoko, (afternoon)Akiba, (evening)Shimokitazawa, (night)Shibuya [alternative Tokyo Tower]
Thks.
I guess the only thing you’ll miss out on is Cosplay on the bridge in Harajuku on Sunday. Looks OK to me …. i guess you’ll only be spending a few hours at each during the day and then settling in more at night. I’d stretch the Shinjuku at night to Kabukicho aswell, a little more lively in my opinion.
You’re probably on atleast 3 different train lines to get to all those places Sunday (i don’t know Ameyoko) but it’s definitely achievable … Sunday is definitely a much more geographically challenged day. Saturday’s 3 stops are all within 8 minutes in total on the JR Yamanote Line.
I used to love going to Harajuku on a Sunday – the absolute best for people watching. Seeing your pics reminds me of how long it has been since I left Japan.
Wait – did they get rid of Snoopytown?! It was there in February/early March! What the heck?!
Brought back some sweet memories of Takeshita Dori, Harajuku Station and all the great little shops and restaurants tucked into the back alleys. I’d ride my bike all over back there to see what I missed walking by on the way to work.
I’d kill for a kebab!
I`m going to head out there tomorrow … with my new camera. Will reply to your email then too …. just been busy this afternoon.
Great pictures. I don’t think I have ever seen those shirts, but they are classic. It’s funny how Harajuku never changes. You could go almost any day and see exactly the same thing/people.
Which is why Harajuku is great for a tourist …. it’s starting to bore me a little these days.
This brought on a big wave of nostalgia, once again. I spent a few Sundays in Harajuku while I was there. I’ve seen most of these places. I have that pig shirt, but in pink. And the crepes are delicious!!
The punker at Yellow House told me recently that he is giving up his punker ways and becoming a monk. I wonder if he actually did it.
That is actually not an entrance to Jingu, its a entrance to another, medium sized, shrine. They have a nice pond with a wood walkway and platform over it and nice waterfall. I think there is a restaurant/office cafeteria next to it that has a nice overlook for whoever is in that building. I have no idea what it is, can’t remember.
I went in there one time and even though the surrounding area was swarmed, my friend and I where the only ones at the garden. Very nice break from the madness. I have pictures of the garden…somewhere…I’ll have to dig out the external hard drive and look.
Thanks for the info!