Harajuku Style

Harajuku fashion gets its name from the Harajuku district of Tokyo. All the switched-on harajuku kids go there to explore the many clothes shops and gather Yoyogi Park, the cafes in Omotesando Street or on the way to the Meiji shrine to display their latest harajuku creations for tourists as well as for their friends.

Harajuku style has been so popular since Gwen Stefani released her single Harajuku Girl, but of course Harajuku style is not Gwen Stefani’s idea and she is the one who started it. Harajuku style originated among teenagers style in Harajuku district, Tokyo. As many teenagers street fashion style, it is so hard to make a clear definition of this style because of its dynamic and many manifestations. There is no main pattern of this style, but if you want to dress Harajuku style, just read this article until finished.

Harajuku became famous in the 1980s due to the street performers and wildly-dressed teens who gathered there on Sundays when Omotesando was closed to traffic. Omotesando is a very long street with cafes and upscale fashion boutiques popular with residents and tourists alike. Once it became pedestrianised on sundays it was the perfect place to meet, play music and show off! Having a regular meeting place for art, conversation and performance gave rise to the vibrant Hokoten band scene. This was stopped at the end of the 1990s and the number of performers, Visual Kei fans, rockabilly dancers and punks has steadily decreased since. Today on Sundays one can see many Gothic Lolita as well as many foreign tourists taking pictures of them on the way to Meiji Shrine. Some tourists are surprised to see such a large exhibition of Japanese youth dressed up in often shocking outfits.

First of all, you should quit your loyalty of any brand. If you are some brands freak as Gucci or Calvin, it is so obvious that Harajuku style is not for you, but it’s still ok if you want to mix those brands product with a style of your own, since Harajuku is all about creating your own style. If you keep maintaining the original style of those brands or trying to look like a fashion model in magazine fashion, surely you will look so stylish, but you are not Harajuku. Secondhand clothing and do-it-yourself styles are popular ingredients in a Harajuku clothes.

Then you need to mix and (mis)match different fashions. Sure, you like matching those solid blue jeans with your favorite shirt, but try layer tees under 1 sleeve shirt with lots of different colors. What is now known as Harajuku style started as teens in the district began to integrate traditional Japanese attire, especially kimonos and get a sandal, into their dress. Before, they wore primarily clothes that were influenced by the West, but by mixing the traditional with the modern they created a new style. Other examples of mixing and matching including the punk look with the schoolgirl uniform or a gothic look with designer clothes. In Harajuku, mixing different styles and mismatching colors and patterns is encouraged--you can do anything you want!

Exploring costumes is also a must. It is not all Harajuku style is theatrical, but certain costumes, such as schoolgirl and maid costumes are popular. Costume elements are typically worn in combination with other styles. After that, you need to wear whatever looks good to you. It's been said that the Harajuku style is not really a protest against mainstream fashion and commercialism (as punk was), but rather a way of dressing in whatever looks good to you. If you think mismatched rainbow and polka-dot leggings look good with a plaid dress, go for it.

Customizing your clothes is a very good option to choose. Like that flowered skirt, but think it would look cuter with a ribbon pinned on it or with a more uneven, angular hemline? Get out the scissors and glue and make your store-bought clothes uniquely yours. Or, go even further and make your own skirt. Cutting the fabric to create bold angles and lines can make even a plain black dress appear remarkable and fun. Dressing in layers is the best addition and the role pattern. One of the hallmarks of Harajuku is layering. Sweaters, vests, or jackets over blouses over t-shirts; dresses worn with leggings: layering clothes (or giving the appearance of layering, by wearing ruffled dresses, for example) allows you to mix and match more different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit.

Using accessories is needed. Legwarmers, leggings, lots of pearls, layered hats, arm warmers, stripy stockings, polka dotted pantyhose, ties, large necklaces, ear warmers and so much more. Make it shnazzy. Add any wild accessories you have, such as belts, earrings, hair clips, jewelry, and handbags. Remember, accessories can be colorful and loud," and they don't have to match your clothes. Speaking of loud, in decora, a particular Harajuku style, accessories embellish an outfit from head to toe, and objects such as bells are sometimes used to add an aural dimension to the wardrobe.

You have to do doll-like makeup, but again, don't overdo it. No really bright lipcolor, but bold eyeliner (liquid, on top of eyelids) works well. Prep up your hair. Those cute Asian girlies from Harajuku usually wear bangs, high, short pigtails, and short bobs. Go for colored hair. A light pink is hot, and bold. Or rainbowish, whatever, Hair clips do the job. 5 or six! Wear platforms. The clunkier, the better. Japanese street style is about individuality -- not just piling on tons of layers, colored hair and makeup. Japan's street style changes as quickly as the days. Look to style mags: Fruits, Street and Tune, for inspiration, or check other fashion magazines at your local Asian neighborhood. Kinokuniya bookstore has a great selection, and many locations.

You should understand that Harajuku has many forms and is constantly changing. Gothic Lolita, decora, and wamono are a few of the styles that originated or developed in Harajuku, and many Harajuku girls (and boys) integrate one or more of these somewhat more defined styles into their outfits. It's impossible to pinpoint one "Harajuku style." Also, like all fashions, Harajuku style changes very quickly. It's easy to say that Harajuku is just bright colors, stripes, and leggings, but that's never really been accurate, and next week it may be even less so.

To keep yourself up to date with the style you need to keep up with the evolution of the style by reading publications like FRUiTS and Style-Arena.jp. These publications and others like them offer a wealth of pictures of Harajuku outfits and are updated weekly or monthly. If you want to dress in Harajuku style, looking at pictures is a good way to get inspired. Don't forget your hair and makeup. The wild Harajuku style doesn't have to stop with your clothes. Pigtails and other "cute" hairstyles are particularly popular, as is dying your hair. Creative, even theatrical makeup can be a fun addition.

Try not to shop at "prep" places or shops that tend to be more popular. The colors are likely to be muted, as well as the shoes. The best places to shop would be small stores, or stores that sell other Japanese things. Remember that there are specific types of street styles in Japan, like Ganguro, and Harajuku-like. There is no certain way to dress this way, you need to see Japan to believe it, and be unique at it. So the conclusion how to dress Harajuku style is be creative, be theatrical, mix and match, look cute, have a sense of humor, be confident wearing clothes that mix genres and influences, be confident wearing clothes that have weird shapes, if you go for bright colors, make sure you have unusual, fun contrasts, if you wear make-up, wear it black, be confident in your chosen look, above all, be stylish!

Nothing really compares to, or prepares you for, this scene. Every weekend, usually on Sunday, the freaks and the attention seekers gather in front of Meiji shrine in Harajuku to... well nobody really knows why they gather, not even, it would seem, these 'trend setters'. When asked 'why', the answers are ambiguous, 'it's cool' or 'my friends are here' are what you're likely to hear. Seen in small groups, or (shudder) alone, the effect is almost painfully embarrasing. But in a large group like they've gathered here, somehow you feel like you are the one out of place, that somehow the bars at the zoo have been reversed, and you are the one in the cage. One thing is for sure though, this fad isn't dying out like most fads in Japan do. They've managed to create their own sub culture. You'll always see amateur photographers milling around taking pictures, normal people posing with the groups for a laugh, and most of the time the kids let them, but you get the feeling they'd just rather be left alone so they can be freaks in peace. Japan is a place where everyone is individual - but in groups. If you go to the park on a certain hour every Saturday, you'll see hundreds of boys dressed as rock and rollers, dancing to rock and roll music... very seriously. So it's no surprise that when girls want to display groundbreaking fashions that no-one has ever seen before, they want to do it in the same place, at the same time. And that place is the Harajuku district in Tokyo.

Japan is still very good at consuming trends from the West, so if you walk down the boutiques of Takeshita Street in Harajuku you'll probably see a lot of teenagers wearing mod clothes. Harajuku is a mecca for artists, independent spirits, and burgeoning fashion trends that provide a space of free expression in what is ordinarily a rather conservative Japanese culture. But Japanese fashion isn't afraid to take it one step further... dressing-up in costume is seen as a major element of fashions, so no-one will bat an eyelid at a pretty girl wearing a plastic fried egg round her neck as a fashion statement. The nice thing about Japanese - and Harajuku fashion - is that it's not a case of shops and brands (like Gap) dictating what people wear, but teenagers dictating what the shops will start selling. There are now many clothes and websites that sell Harajuku fashion and lolita fashion, but the spirit of this Japanese style has arisen from teenagers not being afraid to customize and accessorize their own clothes, and to wear crazy outfits with a sense of humor to retaliate against social expectations of straight clothes, straight jobs, straight attitudes.

Harajuku is now very big internationally, so anyone wearing Harajuku style is photographed as much as the London punks who hang out in Trafalgar Square in tartan trousers and mohicans, waiting for tourists to pay them to pose for photos. And why not? When you're a punk you have fewer job options because of the extremity of your dress code, and need to make money somehow. If you're into Harajuku style your dedication to it is only as serious as you want it to be. You may choose not to have a regular job or attend school and be fully into the band scene, but essentially the look of Harajuku style is based on clothes and make-up which can be removed as desired, so if you want to be a part-time Harajuku girl, that's perfectly okay. Punks with mohicans and piercings have to be punk (to some degree) all the time, but Harajuku girls and boys can wear normal clothes then dress up Harajuku-style at the weekend. Pure pop fashion, but so much fun!

Anyone who makes it to Harajuku is in for a treat because the fashions are unbelievable. Like Camden in London, but a lot more weird. In 2001, believe it or not, the look was like the Amish folk in the Harrison Ford film 'Witness'. In 2002, the look was grunge for the boys and Lolita Goth (also known as Goth Lolita, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth) for the girls. Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan. Lolita is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include gothic style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.

Harajuku style isn't the only Japanese subculture fashion out there. Some girls are honing down their style to become Classic Lolita or Lolita Goths, who carry gothic teddies and look like stylish Victorian dolls. Lolita fashion is a style of dress that originated in Japan and has deep links with Harajuku fashion, which came out of performers and fashionable teenagers collecting to meet in Tokyo's Harajuku district. Lolita fashion is inspired by the clothing of Victorian women and children. It often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls. Other influences include gothic style, horror movies, the punk subculture and anime characters.

Skirts are typically knee length and are worn with a pannier or petticoat to add volume. As in mainstream Japanese fashion, over-knee socks, knee socks or stockings are extremely popular. Frills and other charms are often added to the top of the sock. And white and black tights are also common. Footwear is typically shoes or boots with high heels, though not usually stiletto heels. Platforms with little-girl straps are also worn. Frilly, ruffled, or lace-trimmed Victorian blouses are popular for this style. These blouses often have Peter-Pan collars or sailor collars.

Although westerners might view 'Lolita' fashion as something that tries to be sexual in a weird underage way ("Lolita" is, after all, a reference to Vladimir Nabokov's famous novel), most Lolita Goths and followers of Lolita fashion don't consider it sexual or at least overtly sexual, even if a lot of the girls into Lolita fashion are teens. Lolita followers present themselves as Victorian children or baby dolls and prefer to look cute, beautiful or elegant rather than sexy.

Gothic Lolita, also known as Lolita Goth, GothLoli, Gosurori and Loli-Goth, is a street fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women, although boys and western girls are also getting involved. Lolita Goth is a subcategory of Lolita fashion that emphasizes Victorian-style and Edwardian clothing and often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls, but is sometimes more into the idea of elegance than looking cute and girly, and always has a Goth twist. The typical Lolita Goth or "Gothloli" style originated sometime around 1998 and became more widely available in various boutiques and some major department stores by around 2001.

The popularity of Lolita Goth style peaked around 2004/5 in the Harajuku district of Tokyo, but now it has settled down as one of many 'alternative' youth fashions, although its popularity is still slowly growing. Gothic Lolita was influenced and popularized by the imagery of more feminine Visual Kei (or "visual rock") bands. Visual Kei is a Japanese form of rock music defined by bands featuring performers in elaborate costumes but whose musical style varies.

Mana, the cross dressing former leader and guitarist of the Visual Kei band Malice Mizer is widely credited for having helped popularize Gothic Lolita. He coined the terms "Elegant Gothic Lolita" (EGL) and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat" (EGA) to describe the style of his own fashion label Moi-même-Moitié, which was founded in 1999 and quickly established itself as one of the most coveted brands of the Gothic Lolita scene. Another popular figure was the singer Kana; who often modeled for Goth Lolita - related fashion magazines.

Gothic Lolita may favor long skirts and jackets to emulate Victorian women rather than overtly child-like designs. They still aim for elegance, but Lolita Goths aren't trying to like children or little victorian dolls. Some Lolita Goth accessories are Lace-trimmed headdresses, Mini-top hats worn to the side, gothic Lolita Intricate old-fashioned jewelery.

Pale complexion, make-up optional but dark eyeliner and lips preferred, Black, blue or red hair is necessary, Ribbon and lace are some good additions, Crinolines and petticoats obviously, Fishnet tights can perfect your style.

Gothloli style is usually a combination of black and white, often black with white lace and typically decorated with ribbons and lace trims. Skirts are knee length and may have a crinoline or petticoat to add volume. As in mainstream Japanese fashion, over-knee socks or stockings are extremely popular. Black fishnet stockings and white or black tights are also common. Shoes or boots with high heels - think platforms rather than stilettos - complete the look. Frilly, ruffled or lace-trimmed Victorian blouses are also popular especially with Elegant Goth Lolita, who may also favor long skirts and jackets rather than the overtly 'childish' designs of the typical Gothloli. Apart from occasionally short skirts, Lolita Goth designs are usually modest, sometimes with long lace-capped sleeves and/or high-necked blouses.

And there's more! Gothic Lolita is ALL about the accessories and the details! Yes, to move on, some additions to your LoliGoth outfit may include an Alice in Wonderland-style apron, tiny top hats, parasols, lace gloves, and lace headpieces. Mostly black or white, headgear might consist of a headband with ruffles, ribbons, lace or bows. Sometimes even bonnets are worn. Hair may be curled to complete the porcelain doll look. The naturally dark Japanese hair color may be lightened to blonde or kept black. Some may choose to wear wigs as well.

Makeup is used sparingly and used more often by Elegant Lolita Goths than with other Gothloli styles. Black eyeliner is typical. A pale complexion is preferred, so white foundation might be used. Red or black lipstick is seen but lighter makeup is the rule.

Gothic Lolita outfits may be accessorized with other props like conspicuous pocketbooks, hatboxes, handbags and other bags, sometimes in the shape of bats, coffins, and crucifixes. Teddy bears and other stuffed animals are also common, and some brands make special gothic teddy bears out of black leather or PVC. Also, many Gothic Lolita own Super Dollfies and carry them around. A Super Dollfie is a ball-jointed doll first manufactured by Volks, a Japanese doll company, and is popular with many subcultural trendsetters, not just Lolita Goths, for its expressive eyes and distinct personality.

Lolita Fashion's crossover with Goth. Gothloli as a fashion is not as strongly associated with a particular style of music or outside interests as Goth, and individual followers of Gothloli fashion may listen to a wide variety of music including regular Japanese pop and Visual Kei. In Japan, Goth is a minor subculture with few followers, partly because the emphasis upon visual identity in Japanese youth culture makes other factors such as music and literature less important signifiers and perhaps partly because Christianity and Germanic culture are not integral parts of society. In Japan, people who have heard the term Goth usually assume that it is simply a contraction of Gothic Lolita, except for the Goths themselves, who strongly emphasize the differences. Likewise, some western observers assume that Gothloli is the Japanese version of Goth, purely on the similarities in fashion. Previously in Tokyo, the largest Goth club events, such as Tokyo Dark Castle, would also attract a noticeable proportion of Lolita Goths. However, since 2005 their numbers have dwindled and such events now primarily attract more typical Goth, industrial and metal music fans. Visual kei concerts are often attended by many Gothloli, but conversely, few Goths.

Gwen Stefani said it, and that settles it, right men? No? What is this Harajuku, and why do its girls have wicked style? Simply put, Harajuku is a neighborhood around Tokyo's Harajuku Station. Because of its innumerable clothing stores, boutiques, and shops catering to the young and super-trendy, Harajuku has for years served as a thriving hangout for teenagers, trendoids, fashion mavens, and cultural fringe-dwellers. The wide Omotesando Avenue used to be closed to auto traffic on the weekends, making it a locus for street performers and other ne'er-do-wells. Though the edge quotient might have dropped once cars came back and the performers thinned out (though they never vanish), the throngs of super-cute teens have, if anything, increased dramatically. Harajuku has in fact developed its own style, ranging from barely restrained Urban Outfitters chic to nutty pastiches of clashing colors and materials. Beyond that, it's even been appropriated as a Stefani-spawned fashion brand unto itself by the product line Harajuku Lovers. And far from getting burned out by the constant turnover, the Harajuku scene feeds on constant reinvention and re-creation, with new shops (and new departments or sub-stores in existing shops) announced most every week. It's nearly impossible to keep up with what's new and hot versus what's already old and busted, but the thrill is all in the pursuit of cute.

Gwen Stefani's recent status as a formidable pop starlet has undeniably been hugely aided by her unorthodox image. Despite the fact that her album is actually quite pleasant, her look is significantly more entertaining. Her attention-grabbing attire and the bizarre entourage that she features in every video and performance have established the Stefani product, and the eccentric approach to fashion she takes has helped mould her music. According to the singer, her individual style supposedly heralds from the Tokyo streets, specifically the Harajuku district of the city. Indeed, throughout her album she repeatedly references the 'Harajuku girls’, from whom she claims to draw inspiration. Honoring them with a ditty on her L.P., Stefani evidently perceives them as unparalleled style champions in the fast-paced world of street fashion.

However, her relish for 'Harajuku' style is somewhat overdue. 'FRUiTS', a subculture magazine in Japan, has been publishing images of Tokyo street style (principally from Harajuku), for just under a decade. Following on from the overwhelming success of the original 'Fruits' collection, Phaidon have just released the second compilation volume of the most outstanding and jaw-dropping images from their library, entitled ‘FRESH FRUiTS’.

Harajuku is an area of Tokyo where the younger generation flood the streets adorned in the most outrageous, unconventional and flamboyant getups. Drawing inspiration from both Eastern and Western designers, they attempt to fuse oriental and Western culture with their own individual style, creating a unique and personal look that challenges classic dress codes and relishes in anything distinct or quirky.

The beautiful thing about Harajuku style is the volume of different inspirations from which the ‘fruits’ image is created, meaning that there exists a massive number of contrasting styles to absorb when considering the ‘fruits’. Although all the Harajuku kids possess a similar group mentality in their anti-establishment approach to clothing, the individual subsets embraced by the ‘fruits’ slogan are often wholly in conflict with one another in terms of style.

I’ve heard people discussing Japanese street style in the past and commenting that the Harajuku fashionista ‘just throw anything on to look different’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In almost all the images in ‘Fresh Fruits’, there is a significant amount of thought channelled into their attire.

Firstly, it is usually paramount for the ‘fruits’ to have allegiance to one of the strands of the Harajuku dress code before adding their own individual twist to a certain look. These are especially varied and incorporate several distinct elements, ranging from the darker rudiments of punk and Goth, to the charismatic and upbeat colours characterized by cyber and manga imagery. There are several looks unique to the ‘fruits’ style but evidently customized from existing imagery.

The most obvious is the Elegant Gothic Lolita movement. This is perhaps the darkest and most sinister presentation of the ‘fruits’. The EGL’s adorn themselves in the most gothic garb imaginable, including bonnets, lace gloves and heavily lace-trimmed skirts and cardigans. Teetering on up to ten-inch, super-elevated black platforms, the look is often completed by some brooding makeup – heavy eyeliner and purple lips create a formidable and ominous image. Conversely, some attempt to lift their persona to a more childish level by making their faces as white as possible, save for deep, red, blusher and rouge lipstick. Hair is kept neat and tidy, usually in a shoulder-length bob or sometimes in clipped Victorian curls to complete the prim and proper look. The EGL’s accessorize carefully, picking handbags and clutches that will complement their image. Black Vivienne Westwood, Emily Temple or Jane Marple bags and jewellery are usually favoured, in a formal, sensible style to mirror the rest of the outfit (often purchased from EGL favourite Milk). The overall impression is somewhat surreal when this approach has been taken – the finished EGL looks akin to a living Victorian doll. Creep shit.

Working hand-in-hand with this darker subset of Harajuku style are the Japanese punks – inspired by the 70’s movement that savaged London several decades ago. A vision of badges, rips, and leather, these new age oriental rebels are packing serious attitude. In contrast to the delicate elegance of the EGL’s hairstyles, they magnify punk to an extreme level, growing enormous Mohicans dyed vibrant, in-your-face colors, ranging from electric blue to flaming auburn. Dog collars, spiky black cuffs and homemade patches are applied as accessories, along with several chunky, black, studded belts. For most of their garments, they favor non-uniform designers like Sex Pot Revenge. However, Westwood’s bondage trousers and parachute shirt designs are staple pieces in many a Harajuku wardrobe. For the girl-punks, ripped tartan or black skirts are teamed with stripy Marylyn Manson-inspired tights. Chunky Doc Martins are the preferred footwear for both sexes, and with regards to body-adornment, Harajuku punks rarely shirk from multiple facial piercing to amplify that coveted rebellious persona. Despite being closer to the EGL’s than any other Harajuku fashion, they don’t possess any of the dainty chic of the aforementioned group.

Cosplay (costume play) and Decora (one who is decorated) are two styles from the opposite end of the ‘fruits’ fashion spectrum. Furiously colorful, these Harajuku kids are awash in gloriously bright neon. Those choosing the Cosplay style dress up as their favorite cartoon or computer game character, usually donning furry boots, bizarre looking skirts and crazy, out of control spiked hair complete with cyber hairclips and bobbles. The look is principally unisex and the general consensus is the brighter the better. A childish element is once again employed to give the image character. Power Rangers T-shirts, Teletubbies bum-bags and Pokemon rucksacks are all perfect accessories for the Cosplayers, although these can also be used for the Decora style, which is similar in many ways. Think mid-nineties ’Crasha cyber-kid raver and you’re halfway there. They’re the most outrageously flamboyant collection Harajuku have to offer. Head to toe in fluorescent brilliance, they prefer vivacious labels like Cyberdog, Super Lovers and Hysteric Glamour. Accessorizing heavily, the Decora followers add plastic jewelery and toys to their outfits to create noise when they move. This is certainly an interesting concept, despite sounding fiendishly irritating.

Although the diffusion lines of Harajuku style all seem excessively abnormal, they are merely a reaction to the ultra-strict upbringings many of these colorful characters have had in their youth. Dressing up has always been used as a response to establishment conventions and rules – what better way to express discontent than through something as openly accessible as image? Despite falling into separate categories, ‘fruits’ style is still powerfully individual, with each Harajuku kid projecting their own personality into their getup by customizing their look in a particular way.

In our current climate of ‘chav-chic’, bowing out to consumer power houses like Nike has become commonplace for the majority of the nation. Fewer people today think about what they wear and are happy to dress in anything without considering the label they are actually endorsing. ‘Fresh Fruits’ is like fashion medicine, a breath of fresh air for a country burdened by stagnant, lifeless street style. No two pictures are the same and the publication oozes fun and attitude. I find myself wishing we had our own Harajuku. But I have a feeling the streets of England aren’t ready for the Elegant Gothic Lolita invasion just yet. Fresh Fruits is published by Phaidon and is out now.

Harajuku Style, Cosplayers behind the Mask 2006-05-03

Many people go to Harajuku to take photos of cosplayers. It's kind of embarassing to join the crowd all maneuvering for photos of very young girls many of whom resemble various flavors of candy. But the results are so colorful and emblemmatic of this society. I think cosplay mimics the hidden masks that people wear all the time. The cosplayers are not being themselves, but perhaps they come closer to admitting it than others.

If you watch a group of cosplayers in Harajuku, they are relating with each other -- laughing, talking, perhaps crying, discussing life, etc. Being together is a place where they find belonging. But when a photographer comes, they pose. Their faces change. Commonly they assume a dead expression and stare off to stage left (or become super cute and twinkly, evil and leering, and so on). This time I resolved to try and take a few photos that would show the human side of the people that I met. One girl frankly told me that taking a photo of her "unposed" would be "dame" (out of bounds). But generally cosplayers are hanging out waiting to be photographed. So I stood around for awhile and took a few photos like this one. You can see this girl posed in the next image.

By the way, I left the cosplayers and went into Yoyogi Park. I love Yoyogi Park! You'll see why as I post more photos in the coming days. When I was coming back, it occured to me that many tourists and others stop at the bridge and spend all their time gawking at cosplayers, and they never go further. That's a tragedy, because Yoyogi Park beats cosplayers hands down in every category. It's a visual feast, an incredible display of the life and energy of Tokyo, and a musical extravaganza.

Information about Harajuku.