Tokyo - Harajuku/Takeshita Street

Harajuku, no longer an official district, popularly refers to the area from Meiji Shrine to Omote Sandô, extending to Aoyama Avenue.

Over the years the Harajuku-Aoyama area has become a fashion center, ranging from women's high-fashion on Omote Sandô (sometimes called Tokyo's Champs-Elysées) to name brand teenage chic of Takeshita Street to the self-styled street fashion of young exhibitionists in Yoyogi Park.

Harajuku is a center for the dissemination of new fashions. Clothing stores selling the most advanced and original fashions for the younger generation are concentrated on Takeshita Street, where the youths who stroll by wear the latest avant-garde clothing. In contrast, the nearby Omotesando is home to boutiques for more refined adult tastes.

Takeshita-dori, the street (alley is a better word, as no cars are allowed down this long narrow road) for the younger generation, used to be a quiet humble place about 20 years ago. Nowadays this street is crowded with many young people, especially students. Takeshita-dori is made up of a wide variety of interesting and cute (targeting teenage girls) stores. This area is a window shopper's paradise. And if you are a people watcher, try Sundays when the streets are filled to capacity. For those of you not into the crowds (like me) nearby Yoyogi Park is a pleasant contrast of peace and serenity.

Links of interest:

Harajuku: Old and New
Street Culture: Harajuku Still a Creative Haven
Harajuku At a Glance: Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street Tour
Harajuku: Fads and Fashions for the Young
Hrajuku: Olympic Legacy