Community, Photography, Travel

Takeshita Day Trip

Forestwood

Living in the wide open spaces of Australia, taking a “day trip” is something so commonplace, it is almost obligatory, but rather than showcase my own backyard, I have chosen a recent day trip in Japan, for this week’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge: Day trip.

Making our way to Yoyogi Park via the highly efficient Tokyo Subway system, we orientated ourselves at the entrance to Tokyo’s Harajuku station. The Station building has a rather old world feel about it, dating, I believe, from the 1930’s.

japan travel
Starting the day at Harajuku station

It is clearly a busy station, but one must remember this is Japan, a country of over 125 million people, so perhaps this was actually a quiet day.

Directly opposite the station, we found Takeshita Street!

The Mecca for youth and Japanese craziness and shopping.

Think sideshow alley on steroids with an Asian twist and you have Takeshita Street.

It is noisy, crazy and colourful. Be prepared for sensory overload.

Some of the delights to be found

In Takeshita Street, the crowds are so thick you can easily get up close and personal with the Japanese population and a whole variety of tourists.

The average Japanese citizen is around my height, so for once I felt quite comfortable and not amongst the shortest in the crowd perusing the shops. Miss Teen, now Adult, however towered over the heads of the shoppers like a Blonde German Supermodel.

“What a beautiful girl from the beautiful sky,” was what one shopper regarded her as we strolled past.

Kind of made the Day Trip.

Something to Ponder About

Friendly Friday Photo challenge

Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

62 thoughts on “Takeshita Day Trip”

      4. Oh, No. The funny thing is apart from the East coast, I have seen more of Scandinvia than Australia. I may go to South Australia in a few years. Have you looked at Google Earth?

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  2. I have never been to Japan, but would love to go. Thank you for this daycation on Takeshita Street. Your video is amazing! I live in a little village with some 500 people …

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    1. A model who wears Tommy Hilfinger jackets and her mum’s beanie hehe!! I can’t wear high heels at all. So I remain at hobbit level, Snow!!! So nice to hear from despite your busy life!

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      1. 5 years ago, just before I had my son. Waiting for him to get to an age where he’ll enjoy going as much as I will

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  6. Oh my, “It is noisy, crazy and colourful. Be prepared for sensory overload.” I can see this clearly! I must say that I’m afraid I’d get crazy in such an environment if it lasted for a while. But a happy elephant spotted, and that video paints a good picture. Great overheard comment! It reminds of the Austrian woman at a music festival. When my friend passed her as I walked behind him, I heard her say: “Was fuer ein Mann!” What a man! 😀 He was bare-chested, longer hair and looked like a Greek god.

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    1. Japan is fun and wild but you can also find those quieter spots for reflection. Maybe that is why they place so much importance on zen and gardens. They need respite from the crowds and madness.
      Those overheard comments can be fun, and for someone who is insecure with their self – image an important personal reinforcement, Manja. I guess they occasionally can be meant to hurt too (such as a racist comment along the lines that Mabel Kwong was pointing out at her blog recently – https://mabelkwong.com/2019/07/11/6-reasons-why-you-feel-like-you-dont-belong-anywhere/ ) also can be cruel too, but they are the ones we dismiss. A compliment from a stranger has much more positive power, I think. And whatever happened to the Greek Dionysius?

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  11. This looked like an amazing day trip at Takeshita Street. You are probably right in saying that that was a quiet day there…and even when it’s crowded it’s not a push and shove kind of crowded because Japan are too polite and nice for that.

    In some parts of Asia, white and blonde Westerners are still regarded as the epitome of beauty, and some locals would even stop these Western tourists for a photo 😛

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    1. It is funny you say that, Mabel as that is what happened to Miss Teen, now Adult, when she was in Europe. The Asian tourists all wanted to take photos of her!
      You are definitely correct about the Japanese. Polite and courteous. The railway station subway entries and exits were chaotic, but it was an orderly chaos. Everyone moving in a straight line, no weaving or crossing over to trip everyone up and slow down the movement of pedestrians. In that way, the crowds were not a bother at all. I assume from your comment that you have experienced this?

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      1. In Asia, quite a few people still see whiteness and being Western is still seen as the way of life to aspire to. Some people in Asia seem to think every white person is a celebrity. It is very peculiar behaviour.

        Yeah, the Japanese approach everything in such an orderly manner that even crowds don’t seem to be a bother. Even their trains run to-the-second. You might have read this, but when a train in Japan departed a few seconds early and the train company apologised, that made headlines around the world.

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      2. I can imagine the train departing early would have been amazing to the Japanese and to the world. I did notice that the trains were incredibly punctual. I had expected that but it was almost to the second! Miss Teen now Adult would love to hear that she was considered to be a celebrity!

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  12. What a fun day trip! It reminds a bit of an outdoor shopping mall several stories high we checked out in Seoul. Even though photos can show what you saw, I appreciate the video clip as it adds sound, movement and local mood to the post! 🙂

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    1. Short videos take you there, Sabine!! My son was in Seoul last year in winter. He liked it but it was bitterly cold. I will have to ask him if he went to the mall you mentioned.

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      1. The mall was in the Insadong area. The center was open and the stores around the sides. Ramps went all the way around and up to the top. It wasn’t giant, but surely interesting! I’ve heard that it gets cold there. We went in May and the weather was perfect!

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      2. From my son’s photos, it looks like there are some examples of interesting architecture that might make it a worthy travel destination. How come you picked it?

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      3. We chose Seoul because we thought that it would be smart to break up the journey to Bali. It’s 10 hours from Seattle to Seoul and Korean Air let us do a “no extra charge” stay-over in Seoul. We thought why not, plus we’d get a chance to adjust to their time. Five days later we got on the plane to Bali. That was another 6 to 8 hours! On the way back to the US we just planned a long layover at Incheon Airport and rented a room in the hotel inside the international terminal for 8 hours. We were able to sleep, check emails, shower and regroup. Then we ate, and got on the next plane home without having to go through security again!! Super convenient and everyone there was really nice! I highly recommend this airport, especially with a layover. The hotel room was clean and very inexpensive, but nothing fancy. It can be booked in advance too.

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      4. 8 hours to sleep regroup etc was well spent, Sabine. I think it is great to have a layover like this. That is how I discovered Japan on the way to Europe. I didn’t know you had been to Bali! That is a long way to come to go to the beach!!

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      5. It is a long way from home! Whenever we make it down to Australia, we’ll probably stop in Hawaii for a few days first, and then perhaps somewhere else along the way. I find that to be efficient, less expensive than separate trips and it gives you a chance to see a place you wouldn’t necessarily visit otherwise. South Korea had never been on our radar and now I’m so glad we took the chance! I think we might have to check into that.

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      6. Very sensible and highly recommended. Hawaii is a great spot to stop. I also like to do hop, skips and jumps in terms of flights. My Norwegian friend once said I travel like an American! Hah! I think when you have to travel long distances such as we do, it makes sense to make more of the in-going and outgoing trip. And jet lag doesn’t rear its ugly head so much. it is a shame that there is not more landfall across the Pacific.

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      7. We’ve been to Hawaii a few times. Not all the islands, just Maui. We also want to stop in Tahiti one day. It looks so peaceful! Funny that your travel style is “American”. Most Americans I’ve met have never been abroad, and many never even out of their own state!

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      8. The Norwegian was incorrect then! And funny you mention Tahiti as I was going to suggest that to you. The Cook islands are also extremely tranquil but a bit further south.

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  14. I lived in Japan, just 25 minutes west of Shinjuku by train, for three and a half years, teaching English. Loved seeing your photos, brought back great memories! Harajuku is like nowhere else.

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  15. Yet another satisfying peek into Shibuya! and the iconic Harajuku station as well … thank goodness for travel archives!

    P/S All good on the Random Raiders front.

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    1. Awesome – thanks for checking the links for me on this Takeshita post. I really enjoy looking at my travel photos and reflecting back on those fun trips, especially when we had that freedom of movement pre Covid. Never had to worry about being in enclosed spaces with loads of people back then.
      2/2 for random raiders!

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