I need some Harajuku help. . . ?

Question

So, my grandfather and I have made the trip official. We're going to Japan November 2! I'M SO EXCITED I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF!! Being a teenager, I'm so excited to go to Akihabara and Harajuku. Since I'm a freak I plan on taking tons of pictures of people I've never met before. Are you allowed to just go up to anyone dressed up in Harajuku and ask for a photo? Is that pretty much a normal happening for them? If I did would they give me the "What are you on?" look and ignore me? What's it like there?! Thanks for letting me express what a complete freak gaijin I am! :D

Oh. One more thing. What are some good stores that sell reasonably priced clothes for girls? I'm not a brand baby, so anything that looks good with no brand label is fine with me. My friend went last year and she said something about department stores. . .

Answer 1

In Harajuku its typical for one to ask for a photo. So they won't care, actually I think they like it because that means their look that they worked so hard on is worthy of photo taking. I will say however if you run into a Hime-Gyaru, they might be snooty and be like "no" only because to further prove they have a "princess" attitude. But you can always paparazzi snapshot one if you like (i totally did that once, with my 10x zoom camera. haha).

I was in Tokyo for 3 months studying Japanese (going back in 4 weeks for round two!), and went to Harajuku on a normal basis (since it was th e next station away from school). The prices are very reasonable. More reasonable than the mall! And it seemed that every day we went we found a new store to go into. It is a bit hard to get into every store on one go because of all the people and you may have looked over a store. Not to mention that there are many stores that have another shop on the 2nd-3rd level. So its one big adventure over there. Also we wandered upon Harajuku Dori (street) and there was even more things! (most when talking of Harajuku think of Takeshita Dori (street). So you will have an awesome time over there in that area. Don't forget to get a crepe!

Answer 2

you can dress up if you want and you can take a picture with anyone there if they'll let you.there's one district that sells clothes mainly for teens .if you look up Japanese culture you'll probably find it

Answer 3

People in Japan are very polite. Usually, just ask and they'll take pics with you. Also, they might want to take a pic with you, just because you're American. I'm not sure about the stores though. Also, I just opened a new group about travel in Japan like 2 seconds ago, if you want to be my first member! thanks

Answer 4

OMG!  I am soooo glad to find another girl who loves Harajuku and Japan!!  Yes, it is typical for people to ask them for pictures.  You may see some people who are cosplaying (dressing up like anime characters) in Harajuku, and they may ask you to pay them for a picture.

Answer 5

Congrats! I think you will really enjoy your trip!

I think Harajuku girls are pretty used to tourists asking for photos, so they might not be a real issue. If you want a picture of ganguro, they might be a little more hesitant (at least from my experience, one member of my Japanese class that traveled to Japan with me tried to take her picture and she just walked away).

Let me tell you, Harajuku is absolutely incredible. I was there last summer, and I don't nearly have as good of a memory of the place as the answerer above me does, but its essentially a long alleyway that is CRAMMED with people (it looks like schools of fish, it must be seen to be believed) and with lots of very trendy stores. It is home to the "ganguros," girls who tan themselves until they are very dark and wear crazy clothes (most also color/style their hair very wildly, I think its really cool). You will also see 'harajuku dolls," girls like ganguros, but with normal skin, and most harajuku dolls wear make up and cute dresses to make themself look like a real doll.

The crepes there are legendary, so make sure you get one if you go! Some see it as very trendy, and others see it as just ridiculous fashions. You can find stores to suit the most hardcore death metal type, but also ones that carry the latest Japanese street fashions. You can tell what the store's general "feel" is by looking at the shopkeeper, because most of them dress in the shop's clothes and they all spend lots of time on their dress and their hair (like most asian boys).

In addition, you will find the most black people in harajuku than you will in any other part of the country (no joke, over a three week trip me and my friends counted seeing 67 black people, and half of them were at harajuku!) Nothing big, just a cool fact I guess. :D

If you are very trendy and willing to think outside the box for some new fashions (like I am), you will absolutely love the place. If not, you may think it is too edgy or just too wierd.

Answer 6

November is a great time to go to Japan. The heat will have died down and the costumed kids will be out in full force. You'll probably see some fall colors too.

I don't think they will mind your asking to take their photos. That's one of the reasons they DO dress up -- they want to be noticed! I think I read somewhere that Sunday was the big day to have your photo made; I think that's when photographers for the different magazines come out. So there  will be even more kids out than usual. But you'll probably see people on every day of the week.

In Harajuku there is one point where all the costumed people gather. It is on a bridge that connects the Meiji Shrine to Harajuku. This location is right next to Harajuku Station. You'll see lots of people standing around, others will be sitting on the ground. They also take pictures of each other, and may ask to take a picture with you.

As far as shopping, there ARE lots of shops in Harajuku, but this area has become QUITE high-end, not unlike Rodeo Drive in LA. Of course there are cool stores, but you might end up just window shopping there. You are more likely to find better prices in a (any) dept store, as your friend said. Uniqlo has good prices, but style-wise it is similar to the Gap. That might not be what you want. Still, it's worth a look.

Learn how to say, Excuse me, can I please take your picture? in Japanese. It's "Sumimasen, shashin o totte mo ii desu ka?"