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Harajuku

There are several reasons to take the time to visit Harajuku.

This area has a wonderful mix of old and new that co-exist in a way to be envied and enjoyed.

As with most of Tokyo, there are few, if any, truly stunning landscapes to savour - it's not that kind of place - but the experiences are everything. This place has those for you by the bucket load.

The Omotesando Area

As you come out of Harajuku station from the Yamanote Line, once you get through the gaggle of people usually massed around the ticket gate area, you will see the main road in front of you and a convenience store to your right.

If you look across the road and just to your right at the main intersection, the busiest street leads you down Omotesando-dori (dori means road/street). Here you will find all the luxury shopping you could possibly want.

The big name brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and many others, have been easing the cash out of the pockets of passers-by for many years now in Harajuku but nobody is complaining. This is a fun and hip place to be - just don't forget your wallet!

Just down the road, Takeshita shopping street provides a host of funky little shops to have a nosy around and make some great purchases if they have your type of thing.

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Omotesando Hills Shopping Mall

A little further on and you will see a modern, rather funky looking building. This is Omotesando Hills - a sophisticated complex that turns shopping from luxury, into an art form. Only the best can be found in here.

If you are looking for that ¥600,000 briefcase, this is one of the places you can find it. Looking for a designer dog collar and coat for your wee pooch? Ditto.

Personally I've never bought anything of significance here but I love the atmosphere and the chances to people watch are endless. This district in Harajuku is well worth a visit.

Want some more places to shop? See our Ginza shopping or Odaiba shopping pages.

Heading back towards the main intersection in Harajuku. On your left-hand side is a shop called Oriental Bazaar. This is the perfect place to buy some souvenirs to take back home with you.

They have everything Japanese - dolls, pottery, sake and tea sets, etc. to suit all price ranges. It's a convenient way to get most of your gift shopping done under one roof if you don't want to buy a different item in each place you visit.

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Meet The Goths And Lolitas Of Harajuku

Back at the main intersection. Cross the junction to the other side and you will see a colorful, fun, strange, or bizarre - depending on your perspective - medley of people in front of you.

This is the traditional hang out area for the goths and lolitas of Tokyo. Gwen Stefani professes to hold them in high admiration and has made reference to them in her songs.

These youngsters take a real pride in their appearance and it takes some of them many hours to get ready before arriving here. You will see black and white make-up, black and white clothes, fancy dress, leather items, body piercings galore and much more... and yet this is all in good nature. There is nothing threatening about it - it's a simple case of self-expression.

Once you've had your fill, continue on walking and you will see the entrance to Yoyogi Park, one of the most famous parks in Tokyo or keep going until you get to Shibuya.

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Meiji Jingu Shrine

Nearby is Meiji Jingu Shrine. Built in 1920, destroyed during WWII and reconstructed in 1958, this shrine honours Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken. I really love this shrine and have been very lucky to see some beautiful celebrations here, including the wedding in the photo on the right.

Meiji Jingu may be a reconstruction but it is one of the best I have seen in Japan. Authentic materials and methods were used when building the current shrine and I think you can still catch a sense of the past as you make your way through the grounds.

The grounds surrounding Meiji Jingu are worth a mention in their own right. The shrine is surrounded by 100,000 trees which it is said were donated by the same number of visitors to Japan. Why is this shrine so important? Emporer Meiji was responsible for ending Japan's isolation from the rest of the world.

Inside Meiji Jingu garden you can also take in a traditional teahouse, some fantastic flowers if you visit when they are in bloom and a peaceful lake to sit down and think your own thoughts by.