Diverting, riveting hub of young Tokyoites' fashion style and culture, the Harajuku area girds Harajuku station, between Shibuya and Shinjuku. Among a kaleidoscope of exorbitant youth fad and craze, some of the popular Tokyo landmarks, like the Meiji Shrine, NHK Studio Park and Yoyogi Park, abound as well. Here the old and the new Japan meet and blend for your senses. Harajuku first burst onto the scene in 1964, the Olympic year, when the National Yoyogi Stadium served as the Olympic gymnasium. The anticipation of meeting someone famous enticed people from different parts of the metropolis to drop by the place, especially the youth who dreamt of sharing the glitz and glitter of the rich and famous.
There are two well-known streets that comprised the area. Takes
hita Dori, a long street lined by shops, cafes, restaurants, and argueably believed to be the origin of a legion of Tokyo's fashion trends; Omotesando, a broad tree-lined avenue of designers' boutiques, restaurants, cafes and aspiring to be Tokyo's "Champs Elysees". Both cater to the exigencies and cravings of young Tokyoites.
hita Dori, a long street lined by shops, cafes, restaurants, and argueably believed to be the origin of a legion of Tokyo's fashion trends; Omotesando, a broad tree-lined avenue of designers' boutiques, restaurants, cafes and aspiring to be Tokyo's "Champs Elysees". Both cater to the exigencies and cravings of young Tokyoites. Anyone can expect a hassle-free shopping spree in Harajuku at the very interesting interior designed six-storied Omotesando Hills, with its high-end shops, restaurants, cafes and beauty salons and even apartments; LaForet Harajuku with its chic and stylish shopping complex suited to every woman's fancy; Oriental Bazaar which is very popular among foreign travelers looking for Japanese souvenirs; Snoopy Town for a buy of Snoopy goods of all sorts; Kiddy Land that sells major toy brands like Disney, Barbie and Hello Kitty; Daiso Harajuku 100 Yen Shop which offers a wide array of consumer goods at very tempting and reasonable prices. More attractions include the Meiji Shrine which is surrounded by a stunning, dense forest consecrated to the deified souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken; The NHK Broadcasting Center which gives the general public the chance to look behind the scenes of television broadcasting via the NHK Studio Park; Yoyogi Park which is considered to be one of Tokyo's most extensive leisure parks that features wide lawns, ponds and forested areas, great for family outdoor activities; Togo Shrine, a Shinto shrine hallowed to Admiral Togo, who defeated the Russian fleet in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905; The Ota Memorial Museum of Art which is limned as a small but elegant place that showcases more than 10,000 pieces of works of art; The National Yoyogi Stadium that was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and hosted the Olympic swimming competitions.
Another popular hangout is the Harajuku Bridge where Japanese teens, especially the females dubbed as "
Harajuku girls" are dressed in diverse fashion costumes like Lolita, Gothica, Gyaru, Ganguro and Kogal. They may also be dressed as characters from an anime, movie or manga known as cosplay. Basically, the teens who are dressed up are just hanging out with friends; many of them come with the hope of being photographed by the many magazine photographers who scan and merge with the crowd.
Harajuku girls" are dressed in diverse fashion costumes like Lolita, Gothica, Gyaru, Ganguro and Kogal. They may also be dressed as characters from an anime, movie or manga known as cosplay. Basically, the teens who are dressed up are just hanging out with friends; many of them come with the hope of being photographed by the many magazine photographers who scan and merge with the crowd. 
Other trendy shopping streets in Harajuku include Cat Street, Harajuku Street, Meiji Dori and Killer Street.
The street names alone are out of this world, but only in Tokyo. So, if you want to catch a glimpse or goggle at youth culture, Japan style, head for Harajuku on a Sunday and there you can be a mind-boggled witness of the now and the future in youth and fashion and style, Paris notwithstanding!
How To Get There:
On the JR Yamanote Line, two stations south of Shinjuku and one station north of Shibuya (130 Yen from either station). Also by the Chiyoda Subway Line, which stops at Meijijingu-mae Station, next to JR Harajuku Station; provides a direct connection to Otemachi Station (15 minutes, 190 Yen) near Tokyo Station.
*published in the May '08 issue of "Let's Tour Tokyo", Philippine Digest*
*photos by Din Eugenio*
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