Uniqlo is one of Japan's best known chains. A wildly colorful and affordable assortment of casual clothes. Their 12 story flagship store is well designed with excellent views from the top floor. The 11th floor has an amazing collection of T-shirts by some of Japan's best known anime and manga artists and tie in to recent films as well like the new Evangelion movie (giant robots and the end of the world) that happens to be opening this week.
Unfortunately I can't even get what passes for the largest size in Japan (XL) onto my arms let alone over my head so no dice here. They do however have excellent socks and I picked up more than a few pairs over the course of this trip.
I then wandered through the Ginza version of Abercrombie and Fitch which was bizarre. Everything was darkly lit and almost all surfaces were Onyx black except for the lit floor. Heavy perfume wafted through the air and there was heavy pulsing club music. Apparently all of their stores are like this but I just can't believe that they're all this insane.
After Ginza I headed over to revisit the Meiji Jingu shrine near Harajuku. This is one of the most important shrines in all of Japan. It's a magnificent structure hidden in the middle of a heavily forested park. It can only be accessed by walking about 1 KM down a wide tree covered path through the forest. Along the way passing through a number of towering wooden gates (tori as they are known here). The longer journey makes it feel like a solemn pilgrimage. When you approach the Buddha you traditionally throw a coin, bow your head and clap twice (at least that what most people are doing).
After leaving the shrine and park I make my way down Takeshita Dori the famous pedestrian street through the hip and trendy Harajuku district. This is where all the cool kids come to hang out and set fashion trends. It's a little too young for my taste but it's always fun to walk around.
No comments:
Post a Comment