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!!

Dramas locations - Kurosagi

I'm in progress of downloading yesterday's Chubaw desu yo! and thought I can do this in the mean time.

Recently I found a lot of japanese blogs posting pics of locations where dramas were shooted. I love to see these places and the "Ah! It was made there!" feeling, so I decided to make a series of posts about it.
Maybe if you will have a chance to go to Japan, you can see these places and for example eat inside a restaurant where Kurosagi was filmed.

Forgive me if it's too heavy from graphic.

Starting off with Kurosagi drama.
Credits for pics to waspring.
Please visit original blog for more information about places and locations marked on maps.

「クロサギ」ロケ地巡り
Vol. 1
Vol. 2

Snapshots from drama:




I think this is most famouse place that witnessed a lot, including Tsurara confessing her feelings to Kurosagi.


Snapshots from drama:



Kurosagi's (and later also Tsurara's) house.
The place have a poster sticked to the stairs saying: "Access forbidden, except for owner". Probably it was put after too many fans tried to get in.



Snapshots from drama:



Locations on these 2 photos are connected, used a lot in scenes where Kurosagi and Tsurara were going back home.
Actually, after you pass the tunel, you can see Kurosagi's apartment


Snapshots from drama:



Restaurant Katsura. It was a place where Kurosagi was getting informations from Katsuragi.
When in real life it's a French restaurant located close to Tokyo Station. It must've been difficult to film drama in such busy location.

Snapshot from drama:



Builing that is suppose to be Police Station is actually a private school.

Snapshots from drama:




In here was shooted intense scene where Kurosagi was beaten up by a policeman (Sakurai Sho) (episode 6)

Snapshots from drama:



Place where Kurosagi took tissues from part-time working Tsurara (episode 8).
It's usually very crowdy place.

Snapshots from drama:




Kurosagi swindled Shirosagi into thinking it will be a place where she's going to be vice-president (episode 9)
The real meaning of this place is Culture Center in North part of Central Park.

That's it for Kurosagi, but you can expect at leat 3 more posts like this one in future.