Welcome to Harajuku Dori

It was March 19th and despite the shows being postponed, I wanted to celebrate a little. My day started with a package from Wunderwelt Fleur being delivered to my hotel. The beautiful Moi-même-Moitié Jewelry and Roses Eyeglass Case turned out to be even nicer than I imagined, and both style of cleaning cloths were included. I found out last year that having my orders sent to my hotel was very helpful. So it was like getting a present this day.

But I wasn't going to spend the day in my hotel. Because this day called for cake. So I headed to Harajuku. I was curious how people and businesses were handling creating safety from the virus. I stopped by Laforet, where they left the doors open so customers didn't have to touch the handles. This also allowed better air circulation in the store. Which does help. There were also fewer shoppers. 

I then went into the little streets behind Laforet. I always find something interesting along these Harajuku alleys. This time it was Casa Mozart.

Down a pretty street full of greenery and up a flight of stairs and I had arrived at this little cafe. A European feeling next to the very busy Takeshita Dori.  

It is a lovely feeling to sit out here in the open air. 

I was going to spoil myself today. So it was Gentle Blue Earl Grey tea and strawberry shortcake. 

 This was a little different that the usual style of strawberry shortcake, but it was still delicious. 

After my tea and cake, I made the mistake of going into Takeshita Dori. Usually packed with tourists, they had been replaced by Japanese middle and high school students. While Japan had shut down all the schools because they did not want children being in large groups, they didn't consider the fact that the older kids would still want to be in large groups. So instead of being supervised in class rooms, they were congregating in places like Takeshita Dori and Sunshine 60 Dori in Ikebukuro. The school closure did not make a difference, to be honest. And many were not wearing masks. Personally, I felt nervous being there, and quickly made my way out of the crowd.

Thankfully there are lots of less crowded places in Harajuku. Just across the main road there is Harajuku Dori. With lots of little cool shops and restaurants. And a lot less people.

One of my favorite stores was open. Bloody Mary. The atmosphere created by the interior design is gothic wonderfulness. One of these days I will buy a piece of jewelry from them. It is just really hard to chose.

I was more in a window shopping mood. And there was fun stuff to see. Like this Ai Yazawa Trapnest shirt from "Nana". 

Nice to walk through here. Besides there being space, most people were wearing face masks. I was also wearing a mask. 

I found Reissue again, but I did not stop in. When times are safer, I want to visit again. 

Gothic fashion shop Noble Noire is here also. They put on the Harajuku Gothic Walk, this time with everyone wearing gothic masks. 

I may have posted a photo of this jacket in a past post? I also saw a guy wearing a black with blue roses shirt during my trip. Very pretty. I was envious.

My stroll along Harajuku Dori got me in the mood to visit another shop. It was a place I've never been to before. That will be my next post.

First Stop Harajuku

Since this was my first time being in Japan in July, I'm not sure if the weather is always like this. But it was pretty much the same as it was when I left in June. Rainy Season. 

Still, I was not going to let keep me from getting to places. While it was not the best weather to take photos, I did want to get a few of a couple places. So my first day back I headed to Harajuku and Laforet. 

In through the back of the building, a little looking around and then out the front. 

The reason why, besides shopping, was to add a few photos to the MALICE MIZER Locations Map. 

I didn't find anything to buy but I did get photos to add.

But that wasn't my main reason for going to Harajuku. Back to that secret place for butterfly pea flower tea and cake. 

This time I tried their Mille-feuille. Not too sweet and decadently creamy. It was nice. 

Of course there is always Closet Child. I had less luck this time, but I did find a Moi-même-Moitié little square dish in it's original box. These were given away as gifts when a person purchased over a certain amount. I didn't pay much for it, and it's nice to have something to go with my tea cup.

There is also seeing the interesting architectural details in the small streets that surround Harajuku. 

I thought this was a nice way to break up the otherwise cold exteriors here. Someone went to some effort to make this pretty fence work with sculptural iron and stained glass.

I had another reason to be in the Harajuku area. That's in my next post.

Happy Harajuku Birthday

 Still March 19th. I stopped at a couple other areas of Tokyo besides Ebisu. Nothing too interesting, just a little shopping. It included Harajuku. Crowded Harajuku. Takeshita Dori was packed with people as it usually is.

So I ducked down a side street. I find them much more appealing than crowds of tourists. 

You never know what you will find. Creative decorative details. 

Lovely little plazas with fountains. 

I made it to LaForet, a department store known for it's fashion. Heading back up Omotesando Dori towards Harajuku Station, I noticed a cafe. I thought I had read about it online. So I thought I would stop in at Tokyo Apartment Café. 

There were plenty of seats and the wait staff was friendly and helpful. Besides being a café, it looked like they also did a bit of bar service. Long counters for the food with liquor bottles overhead. 

If I could describe the decor, it reminded me of 1960's Americana with a Scandinavian touch. My artist uncle would have loved it, since it made me think of his home. There were a few different rooms beside the main one I was in. The one downside was even though I was in the non-smoking section, the odor of cigarettes was strong. Clearly it's not non-smoking in this place even if they say it is. It's also interesting that the café is below street level, giving a below ground view of the street.

The menu was in the form of a newspaper, which I think was a clever way to do it if a place's menu changes a lot.  

Because I had eaten lunch, I was in the mood for something else. Being it was Mana's birthday day, of course cake was needed. 

 Just a photo to give a feel of the place.

I chose Earl Gray cake. Accented with a bit of mint and a little sprinkle of powdered sugar, the cake was nice. Not too sweet, the cake was moist and light. While it might be overdoing the tea, I went with iced oolong which paired well with this. 

So not much else for Harajuku since I've been there a number of times before. Just click on the label for it and you can see other posts about the area. As to what I bought at LaForet, just a couple over the knee Moi-même-Moitié socks. I do like them, they stay up well unlike some other brands I have tried. As for what is next, maybe night time sights?

Overheated Harajuku with Art

The day after my trip to Haneda and Shibuya I was out in the heat again. No avoiding it. This time I headed to Harajuku.

Despite the weather the area was packed with people.

One of my favorite places to visit in my prior trips, the Laforet store. A little sad this time because h.NAOTO no longer is selling inside and they have closed their stores in Harajuku.

Vivienne Westwood's shop is still here.

Along with more anime style characters. These ones I recognize. They are from "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪" which is an otome game and anime series. I noticed that many of the department stores now have spaces with cardboard cutouts of different anime, manga and game characters where people can take photos, buy goods and I imagine maybe meet people related to the media. I admit I found it a little odd given that these are regular stores versus Akihabara shops.

But I wasn't there for that. My visit was to Atelier Pierrot inside Laforet. Lots of cute and pretty clothing there along with my being able to see the clerk open a box from Moi meme Moitie. I was hoping there was something in there that I was looking for but no luck. I wish I could have tried one or two things on but given that it was extremely hot I did not feel right about doing that. Maybe next time.

Back out on the street and walking to my next destination. I really think this was the hottest day I was there. Or maybe all the people made it worse along with all the concrete and asphalt. I stopped at the new Volks location but it was closed. Odd because it wasn't a holiday and it was past the time they should have opened. Probably saved me a few yen.

There are a number of interesting shops and more in the back alleys of Harajuku where very few people go. One is this Gintoki jewelry store which also has art by people like Kiyoha who creates beautiful and thought provoking cut-out art. Kiyoha has a blog here.

Just beyond Gintoki was the main drag of Harajuku, Takeshita Dori. I've had fun wandering here in the past, visiting the many stores. But in this crowd in this heat, I did not want to.

Oh Takeshita Dori, louder than ever and even more tacky. Never boring that is for sure.

I had thought about visiting the Calbee store where they bake chips right there. But long line inside was discouraging.

I did reach the other place I wanted to visit. MIJ Factory. It's a place that only sells stickers. What is cool is they offer artist ones. I bought a couple cat stickers and a number by popular gothic artist Yoh.

His "Yoh's monochrome world" manga has been running in the Gothic Lolita Bible magazine along with his artwork being featured in fashion shops. Like others who have his stickers I plan on placing them in a frame. The book I bought at a different place in Tokyo. Yoh's website is here.

So that was Harajuku. But I wasn't done for the day even though I felt done. Next stop is in my next blog.