
You
can get to Harajuku by Metro or by the Yamanote J
R line, one of the many train
lines in Tokyo. I usually take the JR, and when you exit you can be greeted by
two famous sights. Takeshita-dori (street) and the Snoopy Shop.

The
Snoopy shop is a great place to pick up souvenirs or if you love snoopy, you
can buy any kind of snoopy item you want. Lunch boxes, t-shirts, school gear,
even bottles of water.
Takeshite-dori
is the place to go for hand made original clothing; various styles are
available from Lolita, Gothic-Lolita, punk rock, and more. Lolita is a style
that was created from the Rococo period (the 18th era in France.)
Elegant and what you may thing ‘Old fashioned’. It was also influenced by
Victorian children’s clothing. It has
now evolved into different sub styles and now has it’s own subculture in Japan.
The Lolita look consists mainly of headdress, knee socks, knee length skirt or
dress, and high heal/platform shoes. Since the style was influenced by the
Victorian children clothing, you may often seen girls with teddy bears, or
other items that would emphasize their childlike look.

Prices
will range depending on where you shop. You are able to find many places with
used clothing, and other decently priced shops. If you are interested in the
more authentic clothing be prepared to lighten your wallet.
For
food, don't miss the opportunity to stop and purchase a crepe from one of the
many crepes stores located in Harajuku. Not one for sweet, they even offer
sandwich styles.

If
it's still not your thing, there are plenty of restaurants to stop at and take
a rest from your shopping, or just to get away from the suffocating crowd. For
some reason, you can find many Italian restaurants on Takeshi-dori and the only
a few Japanese restaurants. Those not to your liking? Walk further down to the
end of the street and you will find yourself on Meiji-dori that offers many
Japanese restaurants. They have many Izakaya restaurants that offer various,
cheap Japanese food. Izakaya is a popular place for of age young adults to
older businessmen to go and drink and eat. Drinks and food are anywhere from
100yen to 500yen.

Or
are you the type of person who enjoys shopping in the name brand store? If you
walk up the Omotesando Street you will find yourself in the post area of
Omotesando, it is only a 10-minute walk away. Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and
Prada. You can find it all. Windows decorated with black diamond mannequins, river
of water running along the front of the shopping center, it all creates a scene
of serenity, and wealth.

The
last or the first thing you must see, something you mustn't miss, if the
–bridge. A one-minute walk from the station, just walk up the street and you'll
know when you reach it. Cosplayers and musicians, artists and performers are
lined up on the bridge. Here you can buy an original piece of art, listen to a
live band or even get a free hug.
But
mostly it is just dressed up teenagers, (and adults) as their favorite artists,
anime characters (anime is animation/cartoons), or their own unique design.



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