Day 2 - Harajuku + Shibuya + Omotesando + Aoyama

Alot of ground to conquer today, we are going to cover Tokyo's hippest and trendiest (not to mention hugeee) area that stretches from Aoyama to Omotesando to Harajuku and finally, Shibuya.

We took the train to Omotesando, where high end boutiques such as Prada, LV and Gucci are found. But of course, we'll have to start off with a nice brunch to start the day right.

Lunch was planned at Maisen Tonkatsu, famous for it's breaded pork cutlet with rice dishes. Converted from an old bathhouse, the premises of Maisen is breathtaking.



A bit of info on why the pork cutlet at Maisen is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Firstly, it's not just any pork. These are the specially reared "Black Pork". Known as Kurobata Pork in Japanese, this kind of pork is naturally more juicy, tastier with a great bite to boot. World-famous chef Nobu Matsushita named Maisen as one of his favourite restaurants in the world!

There's wide variety to be found on the menu but I highly recommend the Kurobata Pork Tonkatsu Set as well as the Katsu-don Set pictured here:


When the food arrived, me and CK were so thrilled at it's presentation, but our first bite was even better. Anyway after this first visit, we loved it so much we vowed to return on our second last day in Japan, which we did!

And for those who love sandwiches, I am pleased to say that Maisen sells Tonkatsu sandwiches just outside its premises for those on the go (we had these on our flight home to Singapore actually)

Moving on, we walked the impossibly hip boutiques at Aoyama and Omotesando. A few boutiques really stood out including the stunning Prada building (below), the ultra advant garde Commes Des Garcons boutique and the BAPE store with revolving shoe conveyor belt centrepiece (think conveyor belt sushi).



The long stretch of Omotesando takes you alongside the most famous bouqtiues in the world and links up with the trashy, loudness of Harajuku. When walking along this street, do make sure you make a stop at Kiddy Land for your deserved overdose of cuteness. Surreal, weird and at times too cute, this 4 or 5 storey shop is loaded with Hello Kittys and other oddly shaped characters with a strange combination of weird meets cute.

Takeshita Street..


At Harajuku, we went straight to the famous Takeshita Street for our next overdose of weirdness. But this time, it's street culture weird. There were loads of shops that run the gamut of pet shops selling matching doggy outfits with doggy houses to Cosplay boutiques with French maid and S&M themes. If you're hungry, you can try one of the many crepe stands that line the place. We had a summer berry custard crepe which was very nice.



The other end of Takeshita leads to Harajuku Station where it's just minutes away from Meiji-Jingu, the largest and most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo. A must visit for its beautiful premises,marvel in the contrast of this unexpected oasis with the sheer madness of what lies just outside it. The serenity of tall trees and gravel road that leads into the very beautiful premises indescribable.

Meiji-Jingu Shrine...


Oh, and while you are there, do not miss the Cosplay kids on Sunday. Take a look at this and you know why you won't wanna miss it. From french maids to gothic punks to couples that looked like they just stepped out from the Victorian age, this is a spectacle to behold.



After the long trek, yup, it's time to eat again. Haha. Yayy. Our early dinner was at Kyushu Jangara Ramen, another very very famous place. They serve Tonkotsu Ramen which soup of the kyushu style, made from pork bones boiled to a milky broth. This one tastes great but it is a tad too salty for me. The first tonkotsu flavour one we ordered was much tastier than the miso base one. And like all ramen in Japan, this one too had a thick layer of pork fat floating on top, which we walloped. Yum.

However, I did prefer the ramen one we had in Shinjuku yesterday. Then again though, those who know me will know that I am addicted to the Tonkotsu Flavour by Nissin's Chu Qian Yi Ding, a flavour sold in Australia and Hong Kong but unfortunately is not sold in Singapore.



It was getting dark and the time was perfect for our next pit stop - Shibuya. Shibuya made my heart race with the crazy mass of people thronging the place. Loads of Ah Lians (those tanned girls with bleached hair and pale lipstick) infiltrated every corner and this place was teeming with dozens of fashion boutiques! Whoo hooo!

Shibuya spreads over a relatively large area so time is of essence is you really want to cover as much as possible. But if you are time strapped, it is absolutely essential to pay a visit to these few places.

1) Hachiko Statue.
Quite possibly the world's most loyal dog, Hachiko waited for his master's return for 10 years at the same spot where his statue is now erected. The story goes that his master had died at work and failed to return to their usual meeting place but the faithful dog kept at it till the day he died. Hachiko was the first dog in Japan to have his obituary run in the papers!



2) Shibuya Crossing
The epitome of the fast paced nature of Tokyo life, find yourself lost amongst the crowd at the world's busiest street crossing.



3) Shibuya 109 Shopping Mall
In a nutshell, this is Ah Lian central. Filled with shops selling the latest Ah Lian gear, I believe there are many bargains to be found at this place. But the shop that made me go absolutely crazy was this lingerie shop called Peach John. Check out their endless selction of the prettiest underwear you can find that range from tacky to practical, it's a girl's dream come true.



Example of Ah lian:


4) Dogenzaka
A long street that cuts diagonally across, this area is a sort of gateway to the other things Shibuya offers. Walk along it and you will find the most happening discos (like womb) nearby and a whole slew of Love Hotels as well as many quaint pubs, ramen shops and boutiques etc.