Harajuku

 

Harajuku Station is a railway station on the JR East Yamanote Line in the Harajuku area of Shibuya Ward of Tokyo . It is situated adjacent to Meiji-Jingumae Station of Chiyoda Line. Harajuku Station consists of an island platform and a temporary platform on the west side used only during major events in the area, especially New Year's Eve when people visit Meiji Shrine in large numbers. There is another platform on the north side used by the Imperial Train.

 

Harajuku , the area around Harajuku Station, is known for its extreme teenage culture and fashion styles. Every Sunday, the area becomes the center of young people dressed in punk style fashions in neon and metallic colors resembling anime characters, punk musicians, cosplay, Gothic Lolita, and the like. These garishly dressed youth spend the whole day in the area socializing and being snapped by visitors and fashion photographers.

 

Harajuku has its beginnings at the end World War II. After WWII, the U.S. soldiers and their families settled down in this area. Young Japanese began flocking this area, called Harajuku, to watch a culture completely new to them. In 1958, the Central Apartments were built and were soon occupied by fashion designers, models, and photographers. This brought in more young people. Later during the 1964 Olympics, Harajuku attracted more youth as the Olympic village and the stadium were located nearby and the teens gathered here in the hope of seeing someone famous. Since then, “Harajuku” began taking its shape as the teenagers began wearing their unique styles and the area became what it is today.

 

Each area of Harajuku has its distinct style. Jingu Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge connecting Harajuku to the Meiji Shrine, has teenagers dressed as Gothic Lolita and other Japanese extreme fashions; the area around the entrance of Yoyogi Park has the punk rock style fashions; the sidewalks on the south side has rock bands and junk vendors; and the street leading from the south side to Shibuya has all sorts of street performers – singers, dancers, and street theaters.

 

The center and symbol of Harajuku is Takeshita Dori , a narrow 400 meter long pedestrian street lined with shops selling trendy fashion clothes that cater to the youth style that Harajuku is famous for, used clothes stores, crepe shops, and fast food joints. There are also a few “antenna shops” where manufacturers test market their new designs before launching them nationwide.

 

One of Tokyo 's largest 100 Yen Shops, Daiso Harajuku , is also located on Takeshita Dori. All goods at 100 Yen Shops in Japan are sold at 105 (100 plus 5 for taxes) Yen per item. Usually the items at these shops are factory seconds or closeout items, but Daiso Harajuku sets itself apart by selling low priced items bought directly from local manufacturers in high volumes or cheap goods imported from China . The goods sold at the multi-storied Daiso Harajuku are of a large variety, which include clothing, kitchenware, stationery, and food.

 

Another famous place of the area is LaForet Harajuku , a seven storey shopping complex. Most of the stores at LaForet are fashion boutiques geared towards the young females. The place, which is known as an incubator of young fashion designers, draws the largest crowds in July during the summer bargain sales. On the top floor of the complex is LaForet Museum , a venue for various events and exhibitions.