Harajuku...

Well after years of waiting and speculating I have made it to Harajuku and I have to admit it failed to disappoint, infact on many levels it has exceeded my expectations if that is at all possible.

True not everyone would be as intrested as myelf in the place although the designs and ideas behined each shop is incredible. I have never seen so many modern chic hairdressers in one place...and the concept shops they have here...amazing! I have never seen an R Newbold shop before and it was pretty cool with a nintendo control deck in the window where one could?play super mario bros. There was one shop which had ipods hanging from the window which customers could?listen to..there was not much in the shop..just some clothes...well random. Seeing the likes of evisu on home soil is intresting as it feels so much more organice when compared to the sales marketing ploy back in Europe. Its funny seeing the likes of earl jeans and chanel next to some of these shops...it just goes to show how times have changed. who would have imagined it in the times when bape first started that they were opening in an area that would later explode on this scale.

On another random day we wandered into what is known as ura harajuku which is full of shops downstairs in basements, hidden upstairs or down random back alleys. I distinctly remember seeing a vivienne westwood orb that i have only seen in the vw exhibition in a shop there. Basically they are extremely rare and priceless, but incredible to look at...the orb itself is about the size of my palm...a mere 4000 pounds for a magical piece of history. hahahaha... I have to admit some shops when found look daunting just to go into as there is no real sign just a blank door and you litterally have to ring a bell or knock on the door. It is rumoured that if they dont like the look of you they wont even open the door! hahahaha...well cool man. Recon, bape, neighborhood, porter, bounty hunter, stussy...they are all there...well heavy man.

Takeshita street, also known as junk store hell is crazy, second hand cheap clothing everywhere, punk shops, hip hop shops...you name it, they pretty much have it. During the weekends the street gets so packed with goth/punk/hip hop kids its kinda scary.

If one is to truly experience the real youth culture or scene in tokyo then harajuku is a must which can be seen from the many bewildered tourists who go there looking fascinated and at times scared! It really is youth culture personified and is an incredible experience.