Monday, March 24, 2008

Harajuku guide

As most of you probably know, watchful is now having time of her life in Japan.
But I didn't hear about her visiting Harajuku yet, and for every visualkei fan this is like a holly place. It's also important spot for Johnny's fans. So I made this guide using pictures I took during my trip to Japan.

Screenshots from:
- NEWS Nippon 0304 (subbed by BnS)
- Touch LE DVD (subbed by Nantoka & BnS)
- StandUP!! ep.5 (subbed by Nya!)

Harajuku is very fashionable area located between Shinjuku and Shibuya.



I'm not 100% sure, but I think during this date clip Massu is going through Takeshita Street in Harajuku. It looks different at night...


After getting off on Harajuku Station (pink square under green arrow), you'll see in front of you Takeshita Street. I made there all these pics with Johnny's goods that I posted along with Pi poster on 5th August entry.

But if you go to your right instead, you'll enter Meiji Bridge



Every Sunday you can see there loads of cosplayers. I don't know how it is now, but few years ago there were over 100 every Sunday!!

And from here you can choose 2 directions:

1. Meiji Temple

Here are scans from flyer I got there:



You have to go into park through huge wooden gate:



and follow long path inside park, after many turns you'll finally reach the temple.





It's a place where all "Coming of Age" ceremonies for Johnny's were held. Pi also had one there.
I was there ONE YEAR before Pi's ceremony, on New Year, and bought an arrow that is like a talisman giving whole year of happiness for house and family.
As you can see, kanji is the same as the one in description from Pi's Otakara Photobook I scanned (明治神宮) :



My arrow:



We have matching items *yay!*

2. Yoyogi park

Even standing on Meiji bridge you will be able to see Yoyogi National Stadium.



It was build for 1964 Tokyo Olympics but sometimes it's used also as a concert hall.



On NEWS Nippon DVD is press conference where member congratulate Pi entering Meiji University, and later you can see him going out with flowers from inside of Yoyogi Stadium!






Notice the characteristic part of building behing him.

Next to Yoyogi is concert hall Shibuya AX, both are separated by a kind of pavement-bridge.



I shrinked the second pic, I hate the way I looked back then XD

On this bridge was shooted one of StandUp!! scenes where guys organized girls hunting .
But it was made before my visit in Tokyo.



1. a part of Shibuya AX (black building) behind guys
2. I was standing and posing for pic in the spot that you can see behind Pi's head!!



From this point of view you see Harajuku Station and park under Yoyogi Stadium (on the left side)



Narimiya Hiroki and Shibuya AX in background

And something I noticed only today, after looking at Harajuku map.
I remember seeing NHK tall bulding when I was standing near Yoyogi Stadium, but I didn't know NHK Hall is right behind it!!
It's a place of shooting all Shonen Clubs! (in Tokyo)

The thing that you have to try when visiting Harajuku are Crapes!! Since my trip 3 years ago I die everyday to try them again. Delicious!



And Tegomassu likes them too.




I hope this guide helps a little.
Massu and Tegoshi are known from shopping in Harajuku area, so have your eyes wide open when you'll have a chance to go there.

Hope you'll have a great time watchful!!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

omg! i am so hoping i can visit Japan one day!
im so envy ya shelf! full of NEWS stuff isnt it? n that Pi' pink photobook..i want it...but i dunno y i still didn't bought it...haha!

i hope watchful21 has a great time there! XD

mousee said...

it's not a big deal really, since I didn't know johnyn's back then *sigh* but I want to make up for it one day (^^)
half of it is still visualkei stuff that I didn't sell because they are gifts from my friends or I have memories attached to them (^^)
Yamapi Otakara Photobook? It's really nice! have pics of Pi from his whole life up to GYM. A lot of them are backstage or paparazzi. Talking about his life in johnny's, how he used to spread fashion in JE, beginning of NEWS, dramas and loads of other info about him (^^)
The second book, NEWS Otakara Photobook is the same, but with 6 NEWS members. Also have they chibi pics (^^) up till 2007 spring tour.
You can buy them on YesAsia (link on right side of blog) (^^)
Maybe I should write review about them... not many people knows how good they are!

megu said...

oh my god meiji temple..
my bro kindly.. record it in video when he visited japan last year, he record everything in jap for me since he know i love japan and can't go there..

gyaa~ really hoping can go there..
and NEWS hunting XDDD

kyaaa~ watchful21 will have nice time there.. *envy..envy*


myuu.. pi's otakara photobook..
i've seen that from my friend's.. but i haven't bought that.. *stuck on money*
gyaa~ how a nice arrow, ne~

watchful21 said...

Thanks!! This is a good post to accompany the ones I've put up which were definitely more Pi focused!

Kimi said...

oh my god, you are like an angel! aha i hope this entry still exists when i go to Japan. This is so helpful, I'm sure even for those who aren't in Japan.

I'm sure watchful loves you even more right now! :)

you're the best!

Solarplexis said...

Harajuku defiantly seems like an amazing place to go to. In Harajuku on Sundys were there girls in lolita clothing there as well? I've been wanting to dress up and hang out with the other lolitas there for years now.

Anonymous said...

Whoa, that arrow is so cool~~~!!! Thanks for sharing this all with us :D I hope I can be there in person someday :D

Anonymous said...

after reading this post makes me wanna go japan more ! ah ~
a dream that is still far for me ,i guess >.<
& of coz , shibuya & harajuku is a MUST go & Johnny's Family Club
too . hahs .
hope watchful21 could enjoy her trip there ~ ^^ *envy*

forever_rakuen said...

EEEEeee I went to Meiji temple last summer when I went Japan!! I didn't know that they had their coming of age ceremonies there!!! Now, I feel a little closer to Pi somehow.
Hmm...I saw Pi's photobook when I was there but I didn't get it. I should have!!
I went to Shibuya and Harajuku too but I didn't see any Tegoshi or Massu...I think I saw a few J-rockers though, who I don't know. :P
I missed the Johnny's Family club too...I should have asked where it was before I went...Oh well.
I still had a great time and I hope watchful21 is having an awesome time too! :)

forever_rakuen said...

EEEEeee I went to Meiji temple last summer when I went Japan!! I didn't know that they had their coming of age ceremonies there!!! Now, I feel a little closer to Pi somehow.
Hmm...I saw Pi's photobook when I was there but I didn't get it. I should have!!
I went to Shibuya and Harajuku too but I didn't see any Tegoshi or Massu...I think I saw a few J-rockers though, who I don't know. :P
I missed the Johnny's Family club too...I should have asked where it was before I went...Oh well.
I still had a great time and I hope watchful21 is having an awesome time too! :)