Roger and Stephen in Singapore

Sunday, 2 September 2012

Harajuka district Tokyo

Harajuku is the district in Tokyo for teenage fashion and young designers located near the Harajuka train station. Every Sunday afternoon, young people dress in a variety of styles including gothic, punk, or what is know as cosplay which is a style of a fictional character taken from a board game or movie or the popular Japanese comics anime or magna styles. Collectively the style is often referred to Harajuka girls. One particular street called Takeshita Street was bustling with teenagers shopping and parading down the street and more than happy to pose for a camera often giggling at the same time.

Also popular are "Maids Cafes" which the waitresses are dressed as maids and are extremely popular with the locals.

Entrance to Takeshita Street

Takeshita Street

Spruiker for shop

Spruiker for maids cafe

Harajuka girls

Local designer

Harajuka girls

Anime billboard

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Imperial Palace Tokyo

The Imperial Palace is located not far from Tokyo station and is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family. It is a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls. The Palace was destroyed in World War Two but was rebuilt in the same style of the one built in 1888.
Guided tours allow visitors into the Palace grounds but are very limited to numbers and were all booked out when we were there. Beside the Palace is the Imperial Palace East Gardens that can be visited any time and would be spectacular in Spring with the blossoms. Even though we could not tour the grounds of the Palace we could get a glimpse from the Nijubashi bridge which means double bridge as it is built of steel and timber. This is the main entrance to the Palace and is used for state visits etc.