Day 4: Harajuku, Part One

       Say hello to famed Harajuku Street.

     The most crowded goddamn place in the whole world.

     Kneel before our Baby-Army.

     And our sleepy, costumed youths.

 

     Seriously, this place was fucking crowded.

     Still beat up on the inside from the Octopus Ball adventure (Listen, at the time, eating poorly cooked seafood from a street vendor seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea. Things like this make sense when you're an idiot.), we took to the Harajuku district for their world-renowned Sunday extravaganza. Over the years Harajuku has developed into a hub for shopping as well as a venue for costumed young people to walk about and show off their latest outfits to the general public. Sunday in particular is the big day for this. Some are straight cosplay, some are creatively dressed in original attire, all are pretty fascinating and perfectly fine with the varied horde of locals and tourists gawking and taking pictures. But I get ahead of myself. 

     To the beginning.

     

     We hit the street right around the time the crowds were starting to come in. We stopped at Oriental Bazaar first (no pics allowed, grr....), then followed up at this place...

     Kiddy Land. A six-floor toy and game store. 

     

 

      Carisa made friends immediately.

     And so did I. 

     Then we saw about 5-7 things that were adorable and vaguely disquieting, which is a pretty unique combo. Observe.

 

      These things.

 

     Ugly Dolls.

 

     Monkey...bird...robot...horse? Yes? 

 

 

     Not really sure which category this falls under. 

      This...uh...ah the hell with it. Let's just move on.

    

 

     We made our way further down the street and well what do you know! Finally, a little class in this dump! Take a wild guess where you're all getting souvenirs from! 

     And at last, the main drag of Harajuku.

 

      "Gee Kevin you weren't kidding when you said it was crowded." No. No I was not. 

     I'm someone who's lived in cities the majority of my life and even I was shocked. It was like this for 10 solid blocks with no break. It was a relentless press of humanity, with double the screaming vendors Ueno had. Imagine Wrigleyville or the Village but take out everyone that speaks English, replace them with five people that speak Japanese, and give every third one a bullhorn. Congratulations, you've made a Harajuku. Alas, I make it sound worse then it was. Carisa found some cool stuff as we shop-hopped, and I'm 95% sure I saw Rorion Gracie (black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Inventor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship). Big win all around.

       

     And when you win, you celebrate.

 

     We ate too, don't get nervous. It was a tiny restaurant hidden in the undulating masses that Carisa had eaten at the last time she was in Tokyo, and she remembered it being really good. She was absolutely right. Fried chicken and pork. Add rice and Sapporo. Serve. Victory is assured.

     Up Next: Part 2 - Costumes, A Shrine and an Appearance by an Old Friend.