Day 28 Japan Sunday 8th November 2015
We wake up in our floral covered futons on Tatami mats in Hello Kitty heaven – our Airbnb apartment in the heart of Harajuku We realise we are both tired and opt to lie in. Eventually hunger drives us out and we emerge to explore our very local Harajuku neighbourhood with a goal to find food.
We brunch at Sunday Jam which on other days is being operated as a My little Pony themed restaurant. Our breakfast is accompanied by My Little Pony songs on what seems a short loud annoying rotation while surrounded by rainbow ponies on the walls. The food though – ham and cheese pancakes with mashed potato – not good for you but the best.
It continues to drizzle with rain – disappointingly as this means no Rockabilly in Yoyigo park. Still there is plenty to see – Harajuku laneways are pulsing with people requiring eyes everywhere to see the variety of dress. Vintage clothing stores abound. Young people dressed in all kinds of costumes.
We walk and walk and end up in Omotesando. Busy and wet the street was a river of umbrellas – almost entirely the clear or opaque plastic kind making it even more river-like.
We passed every high-end store imaginable coming to “KiddyLand” which had 4 floors each with an array of characters and products. We headed to Hello Kitty and then SnoopyTown – the whole store overwhelmed me. The Snoopy area was fun but so much STUFF – kitchen good, bathroom goods, clothing, bedding, handbags – every conceivable thing you could slap a Peanuts figure on and then some. Even locked cabinets of high end items – a rather cute leather bag I did not look too long at.
After a bit too much shopping and as I became increasingly indecisive – Chris became increasingly frustrated – we headed back to the apartment. I headed off for a wander on my own while Chris had a break.
Harajuku is the home of Kawaii and the Lolita like outfits popular with young Japanese women. It is also filled with second hand clothing shops which I spent a lengthy time browsing. I particularly liked looking at the second-hand Kimonos, Obi and Kimino decoration.
Dinner at Agura a restaurant that is designed as an underground cave. A degustation, a very small seating, in a concrete reconstructed cave. The lighting over each table setting was like a concrete stalactite with a light in the end. All creating a calm and pleasant atmosphere.
The food was beautifully presented, well spaced and many different tastes. I accompanied my meal with a slightly sweet, gently sparkling Sake.
Had to stagger all of 100 metres to our well placed apartment. Easily found with a neon sign on the street corner representing a half avocado – the restaurant was devoted to the Avocado – even had a Avocadochino. We did not get to try it.
