Photos taken while out n about with wifey the other day in Tokyo. Please join us as we go on a walking tour which starts at Harajuku [原宿] and passes through Omotesando [表参道] and then onto Shibuya [渋谷].
First you will need to look at the route which can be found at Google Maps - we did take some side streets though but that was the general route.
First up - we take the train from our local station to head to Harajuku.
Japan is full of kawaii - even posters warning folks that its dangerous to look at your phone while walking down the track - and also being drunk.
There has actually been many cases where people have been injured or died because of careless behaviour like this.
Snap!
Charging our SUICA - the electronic payment card that you can use to buy stuff and pay for travel fares too. The other type of card is PASMO which does the same job. If you are not sure which to get then just pick up a SUICA as its been around for longer.
Both of these cards can be charged at all train stations.
At Harajuku station.
The relatively new GAP store outside Harajuku station.
All the leaves are turning yellowy brown at this time of year.
Do you always feel like somebody is watching you? Well thats because there is. In Japan you will often see folks sitting at street corners counting not only the amount of people who walk by but also your age, gender and any other particularities that they have been asked to watch out for. This chap here has a load of counters so the data he is collecting looks pretty refined - the most I've seen is about 5.
Photo from the pedestrian bridge outside Harajuku station.
Down over to the left of this photo is Madoka.
Tis a lovely route to walk at this time of year. Slightly chilly but you should be fine with a light jacket.
Lady armor.
Its that mysterious XAG sign.
At the Meiji Jingumae crossing.
Another recently-ish opened mini fashion mall - Tokyu Plaza.
Just entered Omotesando.
We turn into a side road to see a looooong (cat) queue of folks lining up for some waffles.
Time to check out the Singaporean Hokkien Mee restaurant Yac Man - tis located in the small road below.
[gmap=35.668486, 139.706560]
Only a few more countries left to visit in Asia.
Hokkien Mee!
Lovely bright n clean interior.
Carrot Cake portion is about 1/3rd the size of Singaporean portions though.
Quite a few Christmas decorations up by now but more in the first week of December.
Exploring the back streets of Harajuku filled with local brand fashion stores.
Tokyo is not without its graffiti but its *usually* in places where there is a mutual understanding that its OK to scribble on. Rarely would you see graffiti on trains and peoples houses.
Pedestrians and cars share the same space.
The fashion store that all gaijin love - WOMB!
A shop dedicated to selling stickers.
Lovely stickers! But they each cost 300 yen. Which of these is your fave? The 2 oppai ones bottom left look cute ^^
Got both NEX 5N and RX100 with me today - most of these taken on the SONY RX100.
Our drink vending machines are colourful.
Snap!
Now outside Omotesando Hills - filled with shops that I never shop from.
Omotesando Hills is filled with brand name shops. But have always thought to myself how do they make enough money to keep these shops open? I never see anybody in them.
Maybe the marketing budget is used and the main purpose of these stores is for exposure and branding?
They done up the inside with a lovely Christmassy theme...
But they dont want you to take photos of it.
Folks ask about the photos I take. I always take photo first and then ask later - but then forget to ask later.
Dont bother asking if you can take photos because you know what the answer is going to be.
Sometimes I do get asked not to take photos but when I politely ask the reason why, they freeze up and dont know what to say.
Queues are people magnets in Japan. There was a TV report one day interviewing people queuing up and asking them why there were doing so - many people said that they didn't even know!
Many folks thought that this robot dog was real at first - including me ^^;
Now at Omotesando crossing about to turn right and head towards Shibuya.
Chocolates look yummy!
KFC got some new burgers. Soon the whole of Japan will be tucking into some KFC and this is why.
At Kodomo no Shiro - this statue thingy is supposed to be for the kids to enjoy - but probably scares the death out of them.
The middle tower building is the Amazon Japan offices - I started to work there 10 years ago as Website Manager - this is what it was like.
110 Mbps 4G connection in your pocket for 4,410 yen per month.
Most parking spots by the road only let you park for 1 hour - if you want to park longer then you need to move your car so that its out of the range of the parking meter sensor and then park again ><
The meter sensor is located facing the actual car so just move your car forward and then back.
Now in Shibuya.
Shibuya station ahead.
Now inside the newly opened Shibuya Hikarie mall.
Probably the same everywhere but traffic is heavy coming into Tokyo in the morning - then heavy in the evening going out of Tokyo.
You can get a shot of Shibuya like this from the observation deck at Hikarie.
Shibuya station from above used to look like this many moons ago.
Lots of food to om nom nom on at Hikarie.
Some after dindins dessert.
My new wallet is the Mirai Carry Case - should be available to purchase online in January or so - but next available at Comic Fiesta!
So far we have released Japanese learning cards, T-shirts, cases and soon something much bigger in size...
Snap!
I remember seeing these type of chairs in Malaysia many moons ago - very comfy.
Newly renovated bridge in Shibuya.
Lovely Japanese traditional style art used in this poster.
A poster for the Evangelion manga. The movie Evangelion 3.0 Q You Can (not) Redo recently came out too.
There is a poll embedded in this article.
I think Japan is the only place where you can sleep in public.
Back on the Yamanote line heading back to base.
This post has been added to the Places to visit in Japan category and you can find more listed up below.
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