Tokyo Style (Day 5 - Harajuku and Shibuya)

Today is Sunday!  Time is flying by so quickly this trip.  I don't remember the previous trips going by so quickly.  Today is THE day.  Today we are getting our haircut (well those who made the appointment with JTB).

First stop, 7-Eleven.  Time to stock up on the essentials (food, water, etc).  Today is not a good for me.  I woke up with an itchy throat (oh nos).  I better not be getting sick.  I just need to take it easy today and not overexert myself (hah, like I'm going to listen to myself).

When we arrive at 7-Eleven, I point out to Scott this person in the picture.  My comment to Scott was:  "Only in Japan."  Only in Japan you can pass out in such a heavily traffic area like 7-Eleven and no will bother you or try to steal your wallet.

After we stock up on our "supplies," we it's time to see a デパ地下 (depachika).  Depachika literally means "underground of a department store."  So basically it means "department store basement."

Here you can find a wide assortment of foods.  There is so many to choose from.  It's making me hungry.  I wish I got to take more pictures but we just breezed through this area.

I guess I am lucky that I was able to see something like this during the first Tokyo trip and the Kansai trip.  I wish the rest of the group could have enjoyed this more.

It's amazing how many people are in here.  It seems like the department store just opened and everyone is lined up at this one station.  It must be something good to have all these customers.  Plus, I notice that it's mainly older people.  See, all the older folks know the secret to saving money.  The food here is so cheap and you get so much food!

We just make one round around the depachika.  Aw...  In just that short period of time, I'm hungry!  So much good food!  Time to head to Marui (0101).

The last time in Tokyo, I did not have the chance to go into Marui.  I know there are a lot of trendy fashions to buy in this building.  A lot of goth-loli clothing to buy.  Must control myself.  It reminds me of Mango in Body Line.  She had a stack of outfits that probably added up to $2,000 before putting majority of them back.  Plus we ended staying there for over 2 hours.  I don't think we have that much time to spend here.

We are still early.  The doors haven't opened yet.  It's amazing there are a quite a few girls waiting for the doors to open.  They are dressed in their usual goth-loli clothing.  Some people in the group ask to take their picture.  I was distracted to see JTB in the same building.  I would not have guessed that Marui would share its building with another company.  Makes sense.  You can charge rental fees for that spaced used.

As we make our way to the goth-loli floor, the escalator is so compact.  Only one person can fit on each step.  The Japanese are so clever in using each space efficiently.  Why would you waste space with the escalator?

Like the shops in Harajuku, no pictures allowed.  But, of course, I see some people take pictures.  I guess they forgot the rule of: "No meiwaku!"

We don't even have time to browse around.  It's time to head back down the escalator.  Oh well, maybe next time.

Time to get to on the train so we can get our haircut!  We head to the busiest station in Tokyo, Shinjuku Station.  The first year, we only went through a small portion of the station.  I don't remember much because we were in such a rush to get to Kabukicho.  I also think that Jayson was stressing we would get separated from each other and not be able to get back to Ikebukuro.

This time it is the morning and it's passed rush hour, yet there is still a lot of people walking around.  As we make our way to the subway, I notice Kamen Rider posters on some of the pillars.  I realize that it's around the time when they have the roadshow for Kamen Rider.  This year it is Kamen Rider Decade DCD.  I think Scott is excited seeing all the posters and asks what it is.  I tell him and as I tell him, we see the table with people passing things out.  I wish I had the chance to go and run to the table and get whatever they were handing out.

I can't believe how far underground we are.  This is something new to me.  I don't remember this area of Shinjuku Station.  Yoko said it's new to her to.  It's amazing how much Tokyo evolves each year.

This is where we separate from each other.  Those not going to get their haircut, they can wherever they want to as long as they meet us at Harajuku.

Time to walk to the salon!  I can't wait.  It's the second year for me to get a Japanese haircut.  I am so excited.  Last year's haircut was such a wonderful experience.  I really wish I could get a Japanese haircut every year.

We arrive at Earth.  I had not idea that they won "Best Hairstyle in Japan."  It was amazing that they reserved the upstairs area just for us.  I felt like VIP.  I felt bad that Scott had to sit on the side and wait as we all got our haircut.  He didn't seem to mind since Yoko was there to keep him company.  Plus he brought his Nintendo DS with him.

Getting a Japanese haircut is a whole different experience than those back in America.  First off, you are greeted by the receptionists (actually every business in Japan, you are greeted/acknowledged once you step through the doors).  There is no waiting for a "Hello" or "How my I help you."  Usually back at home, you have to wait by the receptionist area until a stylist has some free time to greet you and check you in.

Next we are escorted to the 2nd floor.  It is completely empty, but just enough seats for all of us.  How VIP!  Of course I get a stylist that cannot speak or understand English.  I don't mind.  It's a good thing I can describe the exact type of haircut I want.  I had to find a style that was very similar to what I wanted in the magazine the stylist gave me.  From there, I could tell her how much shorter or longer I wanted each area.

Even though I washed my hair this morning, I had to get my hair washed again.  It is a very different feeling than when they do it back home.  Instead of those uncomfortable sinks where you have to rest your neck, the chair reclines and your neck rests on a cushion so there is no strain on your neck as they wash.  As the stylist washes my hair she always asks politely before doing anything like if the water is the right temperature, if she is washing too harshly, etc.  It makes the experience more comfortable when everything is asked before it is done.

As the stylist is cutting my hair, I decide that this time I would talk with the stylist.  Last year, I just sat there.  Once I started talking and asking questions, she started talking and we talked the whole time during my haircut.  I found out that she studied/practiced for 2 years to become a stylist.  She really wants to visit Hawaii, because she surfs.  Before I know it, my haircut is done.  I am the first one done!  The stylist gives me a short massage.  This is something different from the salon in Namba.  I'm not complaining.  It made the experience that much more enjoyable as I waited for everyone else finish.

At this salon, everyone has a job.  If you're not with your own client, you are helping your fellow stylists.  There was a stylist that kept sweeping up our hair and putting it in one of the closets.  I wonder how much hair they collected between the 6 of us?

We're all done!  It's time to pay for our cuts.  3,500¥ for everything.  No tipping needed.  I can't believe an hour and a half has passed by.  Time to meet the others that have gone to Harajuku.  This year I am excited since it's sunny.  That means there will be the goth-loli and coplayers at the bridge.

This is year it is very different.  It is so crowded once we get out of Harajuku Station.  I was getting excited to get to the bridge.  We get to the bridge and....there is no one?!  I don't believe it, twice I miss out on the cosplayers and goth-lolis.  This is how the bridge looked, only pedestrians. (T_T)

Everywhere we went was crowded.  What's going on?  I realized that everyone is out because it's a big sale day in Tokyo.  We try to head to Takeshita Douri, but it's so crowded to even get there.  Instead we try to find a place to eat.  We are unsuccessful.  Everywhere we go is crowded.  I make the suggestion to get something from the convenience store right by the station since we have to meet everyone else there.

After getting my fill of onigiri and waiting for a couple of late arrivals, it's time to get back on the train and head toward Shibuya.  Only hour in Harajuku and didn't get to see much.  Hopefully I have time to get back here.  Shibuya here we come!

Right outside of Shibuya Station is the statue of Hachiko.  Even one of the exits of Shibuya Station is called the Hachiko Exit.

Even though Japan is constantly evolving, there are things that stay forever the same.  The Hachiko statue is the same as the first time I saw it in 2007.  There is still the crowd of people trying to take a picture of the statue or with the statue.  I still can't believe they are making an American movie inspired by Hachiko.  I wonder how it will be.

As I look at the statue while waiting for the rest of the group to take their pictures, I wonder why my dogs be that loyal.  Maybe they are too spoiled.

There is a lot of people here too.  We head to the famous Shibuya crossing.  Can you believe that 1,500 people cross during each light.  That's a lot of people.  Makes Maui seems so insignificant.

As we wait for the next crossing, I watch the advertisements play on the big screen.  I wonder how much companies pay to have their commercial aired on that large screen.  The Japanese as very clever in using up space efficiently.

The light is about to change.  Jayson is telling everyone to keep an eye out for the person in front of you, don't get lost from the group.

It's like it was the first time, just maybe twice as many people since there was no typhoon this year.  I cannot believe that as each second passes by, there is someone different around you.  The two pictures below are an example of this.

We finally made it to Shibuya 109.  For some reason I don't remember it being so far from the crossing.  I think the first year we got to 109 from the NHK Studios.  I cannot believe the amount of people going into 109.  There is a banner above the entrance saying "Summer Sale."  I keep on forgetting that during the summer Japan has huge summer sales.

Class is over.  We must all tell Jayson where we are headed before we can leave.  Our plan is to go to Tokyo Sea Disney.  I really want to see the Bon Fire Dance (Japanese play on words).  It's back to the hotel for me and Scott.  Time to get some rest before heading to Tokyo Sea Disney.

At first, it was supposed to be a short nap but I kept on saying I wanted to sleep more.  Soon it was after 5:30 P.M.  I guess I was more sick than I thought.  No Tokyo Sea Disney tonight.

Tomorrow is a long day.  It's shrine hopping in Kamakura.  I hope I get better by then.