The only things you can count on in Japan are surprises. Ellie had her 12th birthday party a couple Saturdays ago at Yoyogi Park. It wasn’t a surprise party. Ellie invited 8 friends (from 6 different countries), and the party went off as planned.

Near the end a Japanese guy came up to the group and asked me if I spoke Japanese. He explained that he runs a website, n-a-u.jp, which is sort of like itunes, and would like to know if the girls would be willing to have their photos on the website for free t-shirts. Of course the aspiring models were willing.

Posted on May 2nd, 2010 under Japan. Tags: ellie, harajuku, people. Comments: 1

Two weeks ago we set off for Togo Shrine (東郷神社) in Harajuku to check out the flea market. This Tokyo flea market was supposed to take place on the first and fourth Sundays of every month. As we approached we knew something was wrong as the place was nearly empty. A small sign (in Japanese) said the flea market had been discontinued as of the beginning of 2010.

As we were leaving, though, we spotted this wedding party.

Mom, or perhaps mother-in-law, had some last pieces of advice for the bride.

They made their way up the stairs and into Togo Jinja…

…where their wedding took place moments later.

Posted on February 21st, 2010 under Japan. Tags: harajuku, shinto, Temizuya (手水舎), wedding. Comments: 5

Meiji Jingu is to the right. Yoyogi Park is just past the trees. I don’t think this shot would have come out as well with my TZ7. I used my LX3 for this one.

Posted on December 27th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: clouds, harajuku, night photography, skywatch, sunset, Tokyo. Comments Off on Sunset behind Yoyogi National Gymnasium (国立代々木競技場)

Omotesando in Harajuku was quite beautiful in the morning on the last week of November. Few people were around, which is quite different from the norm. The trees were full of autumn color, and everything was generally “picture perfect.” However, I didn’t have my camera with me.

The next evening we visited again, this time with camera in hand. Lights were on the trees but they wouldn’t be turned on until the first Monday in December. Kiddy Land was tripped out for Christmas.

I spotted these two foreigners pretending to shop at Louis Vuitton.

And a wedding took place on Omotesando on this evening as well… You never know exactly what you will see on this street.

Posted on December 10th, 2009 under Japan. Tags: buildings, harajuku, night photography, people. Comments Off on Omotesando evening sightings

While most Japanese don’t really dress up for Halloween or go trick-or-treating like people do in the states, some dress up whenever they go to Harajuku. Today’s photos were not taken on Halloween or at Halloween parties. These pictures are of typical Harajuku wear (cosplay or costume play).

Posted on October 31st, 2009 under Japan. Tags: halloween, harajuku, people, Tokyo. Comments: 3