Thank you very much Amy for this great video. My first time in Japan and therefore in Harajuku was only in 2017. I have since been there two more times, and next March, will return (I cant wait) . Harajuku has definitely changed a lot. I prefered it, when it was less touristy and with more special shops, catering not only to tourists. I enjoyed the alternative fashion, the beautiful but now destroyed Harajuku station, and the freaky shops.
It is disappointing when you think of how it used to be (and how it was before I went, I'd love to see it back in the 90s!). As there's nothing we can do about that, I try and remember that places will always change, and to enjoy what's there now.
@@cakeswithfaces I totally agree, and I think that you are doing a great job about it. Your video shows us how positive you are, and the good things that you can still enjoy there. Btw: I also enjoy B-Side Label. I have a big poster from the in my kitchen, which I got on my first trip to Japan in Kyoto. There I also got presents for family and friends.
This was a really good one Amy. Thank you. I have the same perception as you regarding how commercial and tourist-oriented the main 'drag' of Harajuku has become. I avoid it as always and explore the little backstreets, basement and upper floors of buildings around the rest of Harajuku and Omotesando, which is likely what you do too.
Have never interested in Tokyo but because of you and the rickshaw guys I’ve become very interested and fond of Harajuku and Asakusa appreciate much from you guys and hopefully soon i will be visiting and seeing what they are all about and what they have to offer and the people who live there 😎😎😎
Me and my wife visited Harajuku and Takashita street in March this year. The day we visited Takeshita street, it was jam packed, so we didn't bother to stay there very long. We found some very nice back streets and alleys while walking frrom Shinjuku to Harajuku, we returned to the back streets and got back to Harajuku station. The Fender store may have me go back to Harajuku :-) Great video BTW 🙂
Thanks! The backstreets are a lot more pleasant to be in, tbh - you can stroll around freely and actually look at things properly without 1000 people in the way!!
As someone living in Tokyo, I personally don't really wander into Harajuku (mostly Takeshita Dori) anymore. It feels very icky, lots of shops that don't really have my fancy and the area towards Omotesando is way more interesting to me, personally.
I can understand that! Thankfully there are lots of places to go instead. I was wondering if another area will become the indie/alternative fashion district instead - maybe Shimokitazawa?
Definitely changed a lot from the first time i visited japan as well (way back in 2008)…the last time i did go, it definitely was a lot more crowded than it was previously…but i guess that’s also because everyone is going to japan at the moment. Keen to see what is still there when i head there soon!
Went there trying to find a gift for a friend and was overwhelmed by how busy it was. However, we found the loveliest cafe ocross the other end in one of the shopping centre.
That was a great video, I miss Harajuku!! I loved all the side streets, they were much calmer than Takeshita street but still had a lot of shops. I hope that Harajuku will remain a j-fashion/street fashion homeland, I love seeing all different fashion styles around that area
Me too! I was wondering if maybe the alternative fashion scene might move somewhere else as Harajuku becomes more touristy. The closest I can think of is Shimokitazawa, but it has a different vibe.
Off to Tokyo at the end of the month 😊 Been religiously referring to your two books and all your videos for inspiration and tips/tricks etc... I know Harajuku isn't what it used to be all those years ago when I started pining for 日本 but I'm still looking forward to going and having a look around. We have such a large list of places we want to visit but we've only got two weeks so we're editing it down but Harajuku, Ikebukuro's Otome Rd & Sunshine City, and Nakano Broadway are my non negotiable shopping destinations 😁 Thanks for all the info - your books & channel are brilliant ❤
Aww thanks so much! So glad you'll be going - and I'm sure you'll love all those places! There's so much new stuff in Ikebukuro now if you like anime, gachapon, etc. You definitely won't get bored in 2 weeks! PS Love your hair! 🌈
I definitely prefer the Harajuku St side over Takashita Dori though I mostly go for j-fashion rather than specifically kawaii things. Haven't been back in a few years so hoping some of the shops on that side still exist. Good to know that ACDC Rag is slowly expanding again in the area. Def will visit the new shop when I'm there in Dec Gotta keep an eye on your pop up cafe list. I keep forgetting and missing out on good ones.
The backstreets have changed less than Takeshita Street, and still have a more authentic feel. The new ACDC Rag shop looks amazing, it's decorated so well. I can never believe how many pop-up cafes there are! Hope the timing works out with a good one for you!
Hi Amy n Phil 🙋🏻♀️, this vid couldn’t come at a better time, taking my 2 girls to Japan for their very first time (at the end of October) and they are super excited to explore the fashion, the food, the endless shopping & more. Absolutely ❤ your vids 🤗🤗
Fantastic video. This does make me want to take another visit to Harajuku, as we haven't been back for quite a few years! Also OMG, I LOVE Blue Giant. I haven't read the manga, but I adore the movie and I would kill for those Converse!!!
@@cakeswithfaces I managed to get the Converse! The online store had them, so I was able to have a forwarding service send them to me. I received them yesterday and they're so awesome. Thank you so much for making me aware of them!
I loved this video so much!! That I wanted to jump into my tv be in Harajuku and shop EVERYTHING!! My dream is to travel to Japan and my dream place to go is Harajuku Takeshita Street. I love Sanrio and cute stuff. I already see so much things I would want to buy If I ever went there. LIKE THE SANRIO GACHAPON RINGS OMGG SO CUTE And all the cute clothes and OMGGG I WANT TO GOOOOO Atleast I can watch these vlogs for now, really good video😊 Please do more!!
It really does help to know where you are going, We went to go on the Thursday evening but my partner's feet were killing her - as in her shoes were falling apart and she was full of blisters 😒so we made our way back to the apartment and then were only able to go back on Saturday, it was horrible at 3pm on the Saturday. We couldn't even get into ACDC Rag there was a queue. The Shrine was packed too and the toilet area before it was a mess, it wasn't something I wanted to go near! I liked Cat Street and the back streets much more, we were trying to find Tokyo Fashion so we were moving with purpose. We ended up searching for food for about an hour (as it was closing time by then )and then we ended the day in a tiny dive bar, which could have been good if we had been with a local or the like, because we didn't feel welcome in there.
Oh no, it's so busy at the weekends, I feel for you! I also understand how much your feet can hurt after walking around so much in Japan..! Did you manage to find Tokyo Fashion in the end?
@@cakeswithfaces We did - wasn't the best response though, he just wanted to talk about himself - it was like he needed to be better than me, because I used to be a photographer for Nikkei and when he heard that he seemed to get defensive 🤨
Quick odd question, when you went in to the Fan Fancy place was the hologram image working in person? On the video they just look like black fans with sticks instead of fan blades but it should have looked like some sort of image or hologram.
It may well have done - with concentrating on filming and not falling down the stairs I couldn't say!! 🙈😂 But things like that often come out weirdly on camera. I often have a nightmare with frame rates and all the fluorescent lights in the shops (new camera teething problems).
Could you actually buy a school uniform from Conomi (4:48), or it is just for rent as a lot of other places? 🤔 I honestly think I'll have to be a milionare before I can visit Japan, seeing how I'd want to buy a loooooot of stuff 😅
I love Harajuku but ngl, Takeshita Street is often too crowded (which sounds kinda weird for someone who loves Tokyo) I usually go on pretty much ANY other street, or am on Takeshita Street at 11am RIGHT when everything opens. That okonomiyaki shop looks really good (I'm vegan - although not so strict, and sometimes in Japan I will slide to just regular veggie, so I like vegan options!) but I may have to look at a map see if I can get there any other way/minimise Takeshita Street time (I can't explain, it just stresses me the heck out!). Sad, my fav shop ever in Harajuku closed a few years ago and then during the pandemic, ALL the locations closed so I'm really really sad
I know what you mean - it can be very crowded on Takeshita Street and it feels very full-on. Thankfully you can get to the okonomiyaki place without going along there; it's in the "Ura-Hara" area next to Design Festa. Which was your fav shop that closed?
@@cakeswithfaces it was called Closet Child but it was specifically used CDs - I know they have a few clothing stores. I really like Japanese music, specifically Visual Kei, and if you know Japanese music, VK isn't exactly the most popular style. It can be hard to impossible to find VK in a 'mainstream' store, this focused on VK exclusively. They still do online but NOT as good a selection as when they had physical stores. Thanks for the info on the okonomiyaki place! I was going to pull up a map later but I think I remember where that is!
The main street, Takeshita Street, is 350m long. Then you also have the side streets, a few things on the main road at the end, and the maze of backstreets which are an area across that main road. If you're interested in all this, you can easily spend a whole day there, or half a day if you're less interested!
It's sorely missed! I don't know if you saw in my Japan News; they're rebuilding a replica that will be part of a "commercial complex" - I'm guessing: shops/cafes.
I know, it's a problem!! I turned one of my gachapon into a necklace. I've seen some people get those deep frames (I think they're called shadow box frames?) and put them all in there, which is a nice idea!
hmmm,... foreign tourists seem so happy in Harajuku but I hate this district .... Monsen-Nakacho and Kameido and especially Mitaka are so much better in Tokyo ...
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks - watched a few but can't find anything specific - I'll keep any eye out for the "Phil's manly shopping day in Tokyo" video...☺
@@jeffholt9437 You'll have to make do with this: scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164628153_4192858107442548_878498003183606515_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p526x296&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=06a7ca&_nc_ohc=QwDeIRjqOXAQ7kNvgFOYAvO&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-2.xx&oh=00_AYBpdtPmuz8Llx2DB9HgmhZnDiUA1Dz2YrJgWCJS3xYc_g&oe=6707DECC
It's sad it's not how it used to be. However the backstreets are much less crowded and still have an authentic feel, as most tourists only go to Takeshita Street.
Hello. I am a Japanese person currently experiencing a midlife crisis. Harajuku Takeshita Street was in its heyday in the 1980s, but did you know that at that time, the young people who hung out in this area were attracted to Kensington, London? Facts and the flow of time are main Shioji castings.
That's interesting, I didn't know Kensington was popular among people at the time! I wonder why? Now, there's Japan House London on Kensington High Street in London.
Harajuku reminds me of Camden Town these days, full of shops selling tat to tourists with very little relation to what made the areas famous in the first place 😕
Thank you very much Amy for this great video. My first time in Japan and therefore in Harajuku was only in 2017. I have since been there two more times, and next March, will return (I cant wait) . Harajuku has definitely changed a lot. I prefered it, when it was less touristy and with more special shops, catering not only to tourists. I enjoyed the alternative fashion, the beautiful but now destroyed Harajuku station, and the freaky shops.
It is disappointing when you think of how it used to be (and how it was before I went, I'd love to see it back in the 90s!). As there's nothing we can do about that, I try and remember that places will always change, and to enjoy what's there now.
@@cakeswithfaces I totally agree, and I think that you are doing a great job about it. Your video shows us how positive you are, and the good things that you can still enjoy there.
Btw: I also enjoy B-Side Label. I have a big poster from the in my kitchen, which I got on my first trip to Japan in Kyoto. There I also got presents for family and friends.
@@swissfoodie3542 Glad you discovered it too! I love their designs. Going to their shop's like visiting a mini art gallery!
This was a really good one Amy. Thank you. I have the same perception as you regarding how commercial and tourist-oriented the main 'drag' of Harajuku has become. I avoid it as always and explore the little backstreets, basement and upper floors of buildings around the rest of Harajuku and Omotesando, which is likely what you do too.
Thanks so much! It's good there are still places worth going in Harajuku, even if it's not the same as it once was.
Have never interested in Tokyo but because of you and the rickshaw guys I’ve become very interested and fond of Harajuku and Asakusa appreciate much from you guys and hopefully soon i will be visiting and seeing what they are all about and what they have to offer and the people who live there 😎😎😎
Happy to share these places with you! There's so much to discover in Japan.
Me and my wife visited Harajuku and Takashita street in March this year. The day we visited Takeshita street, it was jam packed, so we didn't bother to stay there very long. We found some very nice back streets and alleys while walking frrom Shinjuku to Harajuku, we returned to the back streets and got back to Harajuku station. The Fender store may have me go back to Harajuku :-) Great video BTW 🙂
Thanks! The backstreets are a lot more pleasant to be in, tbh - you can stroll around freely and actually look at things properly without 1000 people in the way!!
As someone living in Tokyo, I personally don't really wander into Harajuku (mostly Takeshita Dori) anymore. It feels very icky, lots of shops that don't really have my fancy and the area towards Omotesando is way more interesting to me, personally.
I can understand that! Thankfully there are lots of places to go instead. I was wondering if another area will become the indie/alternative fashion district instead - maybe Shimokitazawa?
Your videos are so good. Not been to Japan for 5 years so enjoyed seeing your updates.
Thanks so much! I always enjoy vicarious travel through videos too!
Definitely changed a lot from the first time i visited japan as well (way back in 2008)…the last time i did go, it definitely was a lot more crowded than it was previously…but i guess that’s also because everyone is going to japan at the moment. Keen to see what is still there when i head there soon!
It's interesting to see how places change, and it's difficult not to be sad about how it used to be, so I try and remember that everywhere changes.
Went there trying to find a gift for a friend and was overwhelmed by how busy it was. However, we found the loveliest cafe ocross the other end in one of the shopping centre.
It can be SO busy I'm Harajuku! Especially at the weekends. Makes it difficult if you actually want to go shopping! 😅
Takeshita Dori is awesome to visit on a weekday right when shops open (10-11am)!
@@Mchannelw we went in the afternoon on a weekday. Maybe next time I'll try earlier.
That was a great video, I miss Harajuku!! I loved all the side streets, they were much calmer than Takeshita street but still had a lot of shops. I hope that Harajuku will remain a j-fashion/street fashion homeland, I love seeing all different fashion styles around that area
Me too! I was wondering if maybe the alternative fashion scene might move somewhere else as Harajuku becomes more touristy. The closest I can think of is Shimokitazawa, but it has a different vibe.
Off to Tokyo at the end of the month 😊 Been religiously referring to your two books and all your videos for inspiration and tips/tricks etc... I know Harajuku isn't what it used to be all those years ago when I started pining for 日本 but I'm still looking forward to going and having a look around. We have such a large list of places we want to visit but we've only got two weeks so we're editing it down but Harajuku, Ikebukuro's Otome Rd & Sunshine City, and Nakano Broadway are my non negotiable shopping destinations 😁 Thanks for all the info - your books & channel are brilliant ❤
Aww thanks so much! So glad you'll be going - and I'm sure you'll love all those places! There's so much new stuff in Ikebukuro now if you like anime, gachapon, etc. You definitely won't get bored in 2 weeks!
PS Love your hair! 🌈
I definitely prefer the Harajuku St side over Takashita Dori though I mostly go for j-fashion rather than specifically kawaii things. Haven't been back in a few years so hoping some of the shops on that side still exist. Good to know that ACDC Rag is slowly expanding again in the area. Def will visit the new shop when I'm there in Dec
Gotta keep an eye on your pop up cafe list. I keep forgetting and missing out on good ones.
The backstreets have changed less than Takeshita Street, and still have a more authentic feel. The new ACDC Rag shop looks amazing, it's decorated so well.
I can never believe how many pop-up cafes there are! Hope the timing works out with a good one for you!
Hi Amy n Phil 🙋🏻♀️, this vid couldn’t come at a better time, taking my 2 girls to Japan for their very first time (at the end of October) and they are super excited to explore the fashion, the food, the endless shopping & more. Absolutely ❤ your vids 🤗🤗
Ah I'm sure they'll love it! Have an amazing time!! (And make sure you go to Harajuku on a weekday so it's less busy!).
@@cakeswithfaces thank you so much 🌺
I love the vintage shop upstairs on the right by the street sign. Tons of twill racing jackets
Thanks for the recommendation!
Fantastic video. This does make me want to take another visit to Harajuku, as we haven't been back for quite a few years! Also OMG, I LOVE Blue Giant. I haven't read the manga, but I adore the movie and I would kill for those Converse!!!
The Converse did look really cool, even though I didn't know the manga! 🙈 It must be popular though, to have such a big pop-up!
@@cakeswithfaces I managed to get the Converse! The online store had them, so I was able to have a forwarding service send them to me. I received them yesterday and they're so awesome. Thank you so much for making me aware of them!
Always love Harajuku! You can’t not go when in Tokyo 🤩
Exactly - it'll always be on my list, even if it's not how it once was. In any case, I love cute stuff and gachapon...!
Awesome job Amy.
Thank you!!
No problem Amy
I loved this video so much!! That I wanted to jump into my tv be in Harajuku and shop EVERYTHING!!
My dream is to travel to Japan and my dream place to go is Harajuku Takeshita Street. I love Sanrio and cute stuff.
I already see so much things I would want to buy If I ever went there.
LIKE THE SANRIO GACHAPON RINGS OMGG SO CUTE
And all the cute clothes and OMGGG I WANT TO GOOOOO
Atleast I can watch these vlogs for now, really good video😊 Please do more!!
Aww thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you can make it there one day! 💕✨
Shopping 🛍️🛒 heaven ❤😊 Thanks Amy 🫶
It's one of the only places I really enjoy shopping!! :-)
Amazing video as always
Thanks so much! 💕
Thanks for mentioning Sakura tei. I'm leaving Tokyo soon and I'm Vegan so I'll pop in before I leave 💅🏼
Enjoy!! Did you see my list of restaurants with vegetarian options? (Many of them are vegan!)
We went in July, very busy but good fun!
It's definitely a fun place, that's for sure!
It really does help to know where you are going,
We went to go on the Thursday evening but my partner's feet were killing her - as in her shoes were falling apart and she was full of blisters 😒so we made our way back to the apartment and then were only able to go back on Saturday, it was horrible at 3pm on the Saturday. We couldn't even get into ACDC Rag there was a queue. The Shrine was packed too and the toilet area before it was a mess, it wasn't something I wanted to go near!
I liked Cat Street and the back streets much more, we were trying to find Tokyo Fashion so we were moving with purpose.
We ended up searching for food for about an hour (as it was closing time by then )and then we ended the day in a tiny dive bar, which could have been good if we had been with a local or the like, because we didn't feel welcome in there.
Oh no, it's so busy at the weekends, I feel for you! I also understand how much your feet can hurt after walking around so much in Japan..! Did you manage to find Tokyo Fashion in the end?
@@cakeswithfaces We did - wasn't the best response though, he just wanted to talk about himself - it was like he needed to be better than me, because I used to be a photographer for Nikkei and when he heard that he seemed to get defensive 🤨
@@londoncreative Ah sorry to hear that. I always enjoy their photos and street snaps.
Hopefully yes ❤❤ I wanna visit
I hope you can make it happen one day! ✨✨✨
Quick odd question, when you went in to the Fan Fancy place was the hologram image working in person? On the video they just look like black fans with sticks instead of fan blades but it should have looked like some sort of image or hologram.
It may well have done - with concentrating on filming and not falling down the stairs I couldn't say!! 🙈😂 But things like that often come out weirdly on camera. I often have a nightmare with frame rates and all the fluorescent lights in the shops (new camera teething problems).
Could you actually buy a school uniform from Conomi (4:48), or it is just for rent as a lot of other places? 🤔 I honestly think I'll have to be a milionare before I can visit Japan, seeing how I'd want to buy a loooooot of stuff 😅
I think they sell as well as rentals. Let's hope the exchange rate for Yen keeps things cheaper for foreigners then!!
I love Harajuku but ngl, Takeshita Street is often too crowded (which sounds kinda weird for someone who loves Tokyo) I usually go on pretty much ANY other street, or am on Takeshita Street at 11am RIGHT when everything opens. That okonomiyaki shop looks really good (I'm vegan - although not so strict, and sometimes in Japan I will slide to just regular veggie, so I like vegan options!) but I may have to look at a map see if I can get there any other way/minimise Takeshita Street time (I can't explain, it just stresses me the heck out!). Sad, my fav shop ever in Harajuku closed a few years ago and then during the pandemic, ALL the locations closed so I'm really really sad
I know what you mean - it can be very crowded on Takeshita Street and it feels very full-on. Thankfully you can get to the okonomiyaki place without going along there; it's in the "Ura-Hara" area next to Design Festa.
Which was your fav shop that closed?
@@cakeswithfaces it was called Closet Child but it was specifically used CDs - I know they have a few clothing stores. I really like Japanese music, specifically Visual Kei, and if you know Japanese music, VK isn't exactly the most popular style. It can be hard to impossible to find VK in a 'mainstream' store, this focused on VK exclusively. They still do online but NOT as good a selection as when they had physical stores.
Thanks for the info on the okonomiyaki place! I was going to pull up a map later but I think I remember where that is!
@@hanagara1907 Ah that's sad that closed. I miss Listen Flavor, although at least they're still going as an online shop.
@@cakeswithfaces and at least Listen Flavor have that space on 2F, I may have to break my no Takeshita Street Rule to go lol
"Love Live collaboration with Sanrio".
Yep that's it! Very kawaii!
Is harajuku giant cotton candy shop still open ?
Yes, it's still there!
How long does it take to walk through Harajuku?
The main street, Takeshita Street, is 350m long. Then you also have the side streets, a few things on the main road at the end, and the maze of backstreets which are an area across that main road. If you're interested in all this, you can easily spend a whole day there, or half a day if you're less interested!
Still cannot believe that they got rid of the original Harajuku station...
It's sorely missed! I don't know if you saw in my Japan News; they're rebuilding a replica that will be part of a "commercial complex" - I'm guessing: shops/cafes.
🛺🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
They are all cute but wear do you display them all😅
I know, it's a problem!! I turned one of my gachapon into a necklace. I've seen some people get those deep frames (I think they're called shadow box frames?) and put them all in there, which is a nice idea!
hmmm,... foreign tourists seem so happy in Harajuku but I hate this district .... Monsen-Nakacho and Kameido and especially Mitaka are so much better in Tokyo ...
It's definitely not for everyone! I can see why tbh.
@@cakeswithfaces This district seems too annoying,... Hibiya and Akasaka (especially Suntory Hall) have more style
Wot, no Gundam???!!!
There are one or two shops, ike Sootang Hobby, in my previous Harajuku videos!
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks - watched a few but can't find anything specific - I'll keep any eye out for the "Phil's manly shopping day in Tokyo" video...☺
@@jeffholt9437 I'll put in a request with him!! 😂
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks - oh, and some cakes with faces on? - I've watched loads of videos so far and not a single cupcake!
@@jeffholt9437 You'll have to make do with this: scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164628153_4192858107442548_878498003183606515_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p526x296&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=06a7ca&_nc_ohc=QwDeIRjqOXAQ7kNvgFOYAvO&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-2.xx&oh=00_AYBpdtPmuz8Llx2DB9HgmhZnDiUA1Dz2YrJgWCJS3xYc_g&oe=6707DECC
harajuku is terrible do not reccomend. crowded touristy ick
It's sad it's not how it used to be. However the backstreets are much less crowded and still have an authentic feel, as most tourists only go to Takeshita Street.
Hello. I am a Japanese person currently experiencing a midlife crisis.
Harajuku Takeshita Street was in its heyday in the 1980s, but did you know that at that time, the young people who hung out in this area were attracted to Kensington, London?
Facts and the flow of time are main Shioji castings.
That's interesting, I didn't know Kensington was popular among people at the time! I wonder why?
Now, there's Japan House London on Kensington High Street in London.
Harajuku reminds me of Camden Town these days, full of shops selling tat to tourists with very little relation to what made the areas famous in the first place 😕
@@davidindub There's more street food than anything else in Camden now. I miss how it used to be! 😭
Thanks for doing more Gatchapons :)
Haha I knew you'd enjoy this video if you like gachapon! There's another Gachapon Challenge on the way at some point too.