Harajuku is the name for an area in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward that is a famous gathering place for fashionable teenagers and young adults. It is mostly in the area from Harajuku Station to Omotesando. Omotesando-dori is often called the Champs-Elysees of Tokyo, with its wide, tree-lined street with popular restaurants and boutiques.
Harajuku (Photo credit: ¡Carlitos)
The center of the youth culture is Takeshita-dori. It is packed with popular fashion stores such as Forever 21, Gap, and Louis Vuitton. Other major attractions are Oriental Bazaar, a souvenir store with a red and green exterior; KiddyLand, which has a mind-boggling array of toys and products for children; and LaForet Harajuku, a mall with stores and restaurants.
A recent addition to the scene is Omotesando Hills, completed in 2006, which has 6 floors and over 100 shops, cafes, and beauty salons. Three floors are underground, and the top two floors are private apartments.
Harajuku is always packed with young adults dressed in the height of fashion. Weekends bring out more people so that it is hard to walk through the dense crowds. Many dress in cosplay, the term coined to describe costumes based on manga or anime series.
It can be fun to visit Harajuku just to see the characters. Because of the number of people, it is a good idea to use common sense about carrying valuables and other personal safety, especially if you visit at night.
Girls in Takeshita Dori (Photo credit: mithrandir3)
You can reach Harajuku through several subway stations. From the JR Harajuku Station, walk in the opposite direction of Meiji Jingu.
