Takeshita-Dori
My two daughters and I were headed by train from Shinagawa Station to Harajaku Station to visit Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. In a major case of serendipity, we stepped off the train to see Takeshita-Dori , the famous teen-age shopping street where the Harajaku girls trend began. In doing research on visiting Tokyo I had read about this area but only a slight memory of Gwen Stefani and her Harajaku girls was all I knew about them. Apparently, American civilians and soldiers lived in this area post-war and Japanese youths who were curious about the different cultural aspects started visiting here. Then fashion designers started settling in the area and the movement took off.
Takeshita-Dori (or Takeshita Street) is a trendy pedestrian street with shops, restaurants and crepe stands. Crowded with not only shoppers but also tourists, it's a wall-to-wall people watching delight. Teens dressed up in all different styles frequent here - from cosplay (costume play) to punk to Lolita(Victorian style dress)- you can find all kinds of trends and this is where they started.
Known for their outlandish fashion and make-up, the teenagers who frequent Takeshita-dori dress the part. Crazy hair colors, baby doll clothes, matching outfits and platform shoes are the norm. The stores here are also very interesting with hawkers standing outside to push their products.
Around the corner from Takeshita-Dori is Ometesando, Tokyo's version of Les Champs-Elysee. We tried to find a cat cafe but it was closed. So we took a seat and viewed all the chaos. It was incredibly crowded with shoppers, trucks promoting Japanese boy bands and no restrooms to be found.
But Takeshita-Dori is not only known for their crazy fashions, but also for it's crepes. Flavors and flavors of crepes at crepe stands with long lines. Delicious crepes.
I'm so glad we happened upon Takeshita-Dori. I'm not sure I would have sought it out but it was a fun coupla hours wandering the area and eating crepes. If you love people watching and sweets, then Takeshita-Dori is your kind of place!
Have you been to Takeshita-Dori? What did you think?
I'm linking up with Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections Enroute and Friday Postcards at Walking On Travels so go check 'em out!
Takeshita-Dori (or Takeshita Street) is a trendy pedestrian street with shops, restaurants and crepe stands. Crowded with not only shoppers but also tourists, it's a wall-to-wall people watching delight. Teens dressed up in all different styles frequent here - from cosplay (costume play) to punk to Lolita(Victorian style dress)- you can find all kinds of trends and this is where they started.
Known for their outlandish fashion and make-up, the teenagers who frequent Takeshita-dori dress the part. Crazy hair colors, baby doll clothes, matching outfits and platform shoes are the norm. The stores here are also very interesting with hawkers standing outside to push their products.
Around the corner from Takeshita-Dori is Ometesando, Tokyo's version of Les Champs-Elysee. We tried to find a cat cafe but it was closed. So we took a seat and viewed all the chaos. It was incredibly crowded with shoppers, trucks promoting Japanese boy bands and no restrooms to be found.
But Takeshita-Dori is not only known for their crazy fashions, but also for it's crepes. Flavors and flavors of crepes at crepe stands with long lines. Delicious crepes.
I'm so glad we happened upon Takeshita-Dori. I'm not sure I would have sought it out but it was a fun coupla hours wandering the area and eating crepes. If you love people watching and sweets, then Takeshita-Dori is your kind of place!
Have you been to Takeshita-Dori? What did you think?
I'm linking up with Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections Enroute and Friday Postcards at Walking On Travels so go check 'em out!
That looks fab! I'd love to have that blue dress with the fur trim (I'm way too old for it, but I live in the inner city so everything is 'normal')
ReplyDeleteThe clothes in that store were adorable and I would have loved to own them all - even though I am too old for them also!
DeleteThat was a piece of luck stumbling across the Takeshita-Dori! I haven't been but will definitely go when we are in Tokyo. Marty absolutely loves crepes so I know he will want to go too. :)
ReplyDeleteThe crepes were delicious - my girls each had one and I tried theirs. And they loved this area also - so unique to Tokyo.
DeleteThat was a piece of luck stumbling across the Takeshita-Dori! I haven't been but will definitely go when we are in Tokyo. Marty absolutely loves crepes so I know he will want to go too. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess that visiting this street is a good excuse to dress up as your favorite character. I have passed close to convention centers when a ComicCon is happening and people get dressed as you have no idea. I imagine this street is similar except that you see people dressed up every day. Oh, and the crepes look great!
ReplyDeleteYou're right Ruth! And I'm pretty sure I was the only one staring - everyone else just took it as normal!
DeleteI've not heard of Takeshita-Dori, but it looks fascinating. My own daughter once drug me to every.single. Forever 21 store in NYC so I know she would love to shop at the one in Tokyo.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for getting through all the Forever 21's! This is the only one I saw in Tokyo but it was huge!
DeleteWe have been to Tokyo but not to Takeshita Dori. Tokyo seems to have so many different districts and they are all so interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Lyn - so many interesting niches in Tokyo and I feel we only touched the tip of the iceberg!
DeleteI didn't get to Takeshita on my recent trip. The other fun neighborhood to walk around in is the one with all the anime shops (I forget the name). It's similar in that it's focused on young people and they come all dressed up in their outrageous outfits!
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't get to the anime neighborhood. So many cool neighborhoods of Tokyo! Will have to put that on my list for next time.
DeleteWe went looking for Takeshita-Dori because I had read about it before. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteI was very happy to have stumbled upon it --thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI've been to Meiji Shrine, but we didn't have time to turn the other way from Harajuku Station to stroll down Takeshita-dori. As my daughter is entering her tween years now, I can see her really enjoying all the interesting clothes on this street. It's just her style. Those crepes look delicious. I'd have trouble choosing.
ReplyDeleteWe ended up combining the two - Meiji Shrine and Takeshita-Dori - though that wasn't the original plan. And I am sure your daughter would love this street - it is a tween-teenager's delight!
DeleteI remember visiting this area when I was in Tokyo a few years ago. Lots of fun,
ReplyDelete