Day 5 - Impromptu Harajuku trip

The day started off waking up at 7am again!  Shocker~  Then getting up at 8, because I'm trying to say screw you to the man, and sleep.  Look how well it's going.

So I got up, eventually, and decided to sit around on the computer.  Like every day.  I really shouldn't have to write it any more.  If I'm not doing something specific, I'm online.  

Anyways!  I got hungry, so I put on a facemask, pulled my hair back, and headed down to the Family Mart for some breakfast.  Every morning, I swear there's a new employee in there.  Maybe I should start keeping count...

So badass, right? lmao.

I pondered around to figure out what I wanted, and settled on two salmon musubi, an apple creme danish, and some cocoa.  Cold cocoa, yum.

So I sat at home, and ate, while considering what to do for the day.  My mess of make up on the desk was bothering me, so I decided a trip to the 100en shop for some baskets was in order.  Not a bad idea, in retrospect.  So I headed out.

This was where my stomach started hurting, so I suspect I might actually be lactose intolerant.  Since the cocoa, I haven't had anything to drink with milk in it just in case.  No stomach pains yet.  But it might just be a coincidence.

Nothing really extraordinary happened on the way.  There was a long line to the Shrine because of the holidays.  Golden Week does that to you.

So I went to the store and got two baskets, and a little deco pen for my mirror.  It was boring and bland, so I just wanted to add a little something to it.  It's less boring now, but still needs work.  Will photography later.

I headed back home, and sat around talking to Amanda a little more before finally deciding to just head out. I wanted to go to the Tower Records in Shibuya, and maybe make a trip to Harajuku (I hadn't decided).  So I grabbed my things and headed out the door, down to the train.

It didn't take long to arrive.  Just a few minutes.  But I snapped a shot or two of the platform.

She looks like she's walking out off the platform!

It wasn't too crowded so luckily I got a seat.  I really hate it when I'm tired and the train is crowded. It's happened more than once where I walked around all day in heels, then had to stand on the train.  Not so much fun.  Doable, but not fun.  

Once in Shibuya, I headed out the direction I thought the building might be and went for it.  And lucky me!  I went the right way!  I knew it would be big, but I didn't expect so many full levels of a genre.  The J-indies floor was like heaven.  I wandered around that one for a while.

And I got some pictures of the Ebichu display!  Ebichu is short for 私立恵比寿中学 or Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku.  They're a newer Idol group from the same company as Momoiro Clover Z.  Like the cute little sister group!  I happen to really like idol groups, and have a lot of friends who keep me up to date with the idol world, so when I saw the awesome Ebichu display I had to take pictures~

My favorite, Aiai!

There were even signed cutouts~  So cute!

Lucky for me I wasn't the only one taking photos of it, so I didn't feel like a weirdo!  Then I went to find Yohio!

If you didn't know, Yohio is a 16 year old Swedish rocker who recently got his solo career started in Japan.  He's originally from the band Seremedy.  So far I think he's had very good reception in Japan!  His mini album came out last month, and it's really great~  So I had to find it. 

And buy it!  Dvd version go!

Even with a little signed message in front of the CDs!

I wandered around a bit more and bought another CD or two (picture at the very bottom of the post!)

Afterwards I wandered around for a WHILE.  Not really sure what to do.  I only went into a few stores, as it was very crowded and I was alone.  Next time I'll have to bring someone.  Shopping solo isn't as fun as it sounds.

Like a P I M P.

The entrance to a little food area.

Before all the people...

After all the people...

When I headed back down to the train station, there were to guys playing music on the stage.  Very cute and pop.  They're called Alma Kaminiito!  Go look them up, they have good voices and are crazy cute.  Especially the guy on the right.  When they finished they were like "Okay.  You have to remember our name.  So say it.  Alma Kaminiito! And...say it! Alma Kaminiito!  Thank you!!"

Very cute.

So, deciding why not, I hopped the train to Meiji Jingumae Station (Harajuku).

It was one stop away, so not bad.  I just didn't want to walk and get lost.  Don't judge me.  When I got there, I knew I needed to find the Laforet h.Naoto store.  Just because I love his clothes, and wanted to see an actual store.  So I picked a direction and went it. 

It was getting pretty hot, so I decided to take a left into a shopping center to get out of the sun...and what do you know!  Laforet!

I was surprised how quickly I found it, honestly.  I thought it would take me ages.

It was pretty busy too.  Being Saturday in Golden Week.  So I wandered around.  The lower levels are where it's at when you go in there.  But I felt really awkward. Mostly because I was alone.  Alone and boring casual, really.  

Only at one of the shops did anyone try to talk to me.  An accessory shop, which I didn't get the name of.   Both employees walked up to me and asked in Japanese if Japanese was okay.  I told them a little, so they explained the sale and told me to look around.  The female employee complimented my tattoo, and showed me here.  It was cool, and she designed it herself.  I was impressed.  I don't think I could get my own art tattooed on me.  I always hate it shortly afterwards!

I looked at the h.Naoto shop a little, but couldn't really because there was a group of girls standing in the way gossiping and looking snobby.  The designer Mint showed up while I was there, which surprised me.  By then though I was leaving, so I didn't get to talk to him.

Around the corner was the Like an Edison shop, and a Yohio poster on the outside~  So cool!  So I had to go in.  And I found a little spot dedicated to him.

Cool signed things.  How many things in Tokyo have your signature, Yohio?!

Cool things I just wanted to take home.

Heading out of Laforet, I just wandered aimlessly.  Making sure I stayed on line with the station, of course.  I wandered down and got a snap of the Forever 21.  Exactly the same as America.   Almost good for me,  but just not.

I continued wandering til I came across a side street with a sign hanging over it saying "Harajuku St."  so I figured why not try it.  I was overall just trying to find Closet Child, and maybe it would be down there.  I forgot to map it out before I left.  Mostly because I didn't expect to really go to Harajuku.  Just Shibuya.

I ended up finding the Atelier Pierrot, so I had to go in.  The clothes are so cute~  But I don't really wear most of the style, so unfortunately it's sort of lost on me.  But the accessories!  Oh the accessories!  There was a matching ring set, and earring set that I could die for.  I may have to go back and get them.  It's two connected rings with a diamond card suit on one, and the white rabbit on the other.  The same with the earring.  Red diamond and white rabbit connected by a chain.

Ungh.

It was almost too painful for me.  I did end up buying the most perfect for me earring ever.  It's a two piece connected by a chain, with a spiderweb on one side, and a butterfly with a red rose on the center on the other, connected by a red beaded chain.

Photos in my next post.

After leaving the store I started to wander and think about heading home.  I walked about 10 feet before glancing to the side and thinking "Hey, h.naoto + Harajuku!  Maybe I'll--"

And my heart stopped.  My feet kept walking, but my heart stopped.

I don't know how!  I really don't!  But Naoto himself was in that store.  

The store I accidentally found had the designer in it.  

Yeah.  I couldn't go in.  I had to calm down.  So I walked over to the puppy store.

They were cute puppies.  That one in the pictures jumped up and down like crazy and yapped every time someone walked by.  Also:  Puppy clothes!!!!

Look!  Grafitti!

Yes, that was me stalling.  In real life, and in the post.  I wandered for about 2 minutes before I decided I needed to go in.

So I headed in, and Naoto was helping a girl near the dressing room, so I wandered around and looked at things.  I really was just looking at things, I promise.  Not being a creep.  There were some gorgeous pieces that I really just adored.  I ended up trying on two of them later.

I tried very deliberately to stay out of the way, and not to go too close.  For all I knew he would walk by and be all "irasshaimase~" and leave.  So Whatever right?  Yeah.

I looked at the clothes, and got sort of ignored.  People just assume you can't speak Japanese, I guess.  Most of the foreign customers who come in probably just look and gawk and leave.  Understandable.

Eventually, while I'm looking at clothes, I head footsteps and a "Ah!" from beside me.  To be honest, I can't remember the entirety of the conversation, or how the words went....but he was surprised.  And he remembered me!  I was still in shock, and couldn't really do Japanese.  So we spoke in english. 

I told him I was surprised he remembered me, and he was like "It was only...two weeks ago?"  I told him that it was a month.  He asked why I was in Japan, and if I was alone.  I told him I was, but I was visiting friends.  Though I came to Harajuku alone.  He seemed a bit surprised by that.  He also seemed to think it was odd I was staying in Nihombashi.  Well sorry it's weird!

We chatted about a few things, like the stores.  How many he had, and where, and that this one was decently big.  I didn't realize there was a second story, so he took me upstairs to see the other clothes up there. Sixh and Hangry & Angry.  Some more chatting. 

At one point, a large group of girls came upstairs, loudly chatting away, laughing and being a little crude.  The made it all the way up the stairs before any of them realized that Naoto was there.  To which they were all surprised. and a little mortified that they had just done that.  I couldn't help but laugh.  

Eventually one of the women working there came to help me, trying her best at english.  She was very good!  She kept denying it.  But she was.  And we were wearing the same shirt!  I had worn my Gramm shirt, just because I like it.  

She was very nice, and very sweet, and told me things about some of the clothes.  Or what matched what.  She even helped my to the dressing room to try on a few dresses.

I even ended up buying one.  (Stay tuned to a later post of shopping goodies.)

Naoto disappeared for a while, so I didn't bother trying to say good buy.  

I even got to buy the dress tax free for being a visitor.  Score!  The woman, who's name I never got, informed me that Z8, one of the designers for Gramm was there, and I could take a picture with her if I wanted.  So of course I did!

I was so surprised!

I thanked them, and headed out.  Still a little amazed.

Naoto had explained to me that it was the one day he was in the +Harajuku store, because it was Golden Week.  So he had been doing in store visits every day.  The other designers too.  

How was it even possible that I accidentally stumbled across the store he was going to be in, on the day I randomly decided to go to Harajuku?

Well, I decided to go home.  Mostly because it was getting on in hours, and I wasn't feeling well.

I hadn't eaten in about 8 or 9 hours, and when I had before it wasn't too much.  I also walked around a lot, in the sun.  I was feeling rather bad, by the time I headed home.  When I was in the shop too, but I was determined not to pass out or anything, so I survived.  But as the time went on...

Guard doing his duty!

The second I got back to Suitengumae I headed up to go to McDonalds, and ordered some food.  Again, the girl spoke to me in english.  By then I was over it.

And I did something I haven't done in around 8 years...

I ate pork...

Teriyaki burger.

Messy!

To prove I did eat some of it.

I haven't eaten pork of beef since the beginning of High school.  But I told Yoko that I would try a teriyaki burger, so I got one.  

It was actually pretty good.  But in retrospect I should have waited til a day when I was feeling well.  Because it only made me feel a little worse.

So ill feeling that I couldn't eat any more of it.

I headed back to my room, where my roommate Kim was on her computer. She asked how my day went, and what I did.  So I explained.  We had a long conversation about shopping, and piercings, and all of that cool stuff.  She asked when I was leaving, and I told her the end of the month.  So she said we had to go out to eat some time.  Of course I agreed.

I didn't feel really well, but on twitter I saw Miyavi post a picture of the Super Moon.  So I looked out thw window and....nothing.  

So I got shoes on, and a new shirt, and headed out to go capture it on camera!

Making faces by the elevator.

It took a while, and I couldn't see it from my side of the Sumidagawa Ohashi, so I walked to the other side!

There it is!  Not so Super looking though....

When I got back home, I dinked around for a little, then went to bed.  

I was exhausted.  

It did start me on making sure I didn't drink milk products for a little.  Just to make sure.  So we'll see how that goes.

MAD LM.C!!!! YOHIO!!! EBICHU!!!!

♥Myshappy

Teaser: .....tornado?

Day 2 - Rain Rain.

Yesterday morning I decided to just let myself get up when my body decided to.  Though I did set an alarm for 11am, just in case.  No need to waste the day away.  My body decided that 9am was a good time to get up, and who was I to disagree?

My room mate Kim had already gotten up for the day and left (at 4am!), so it was just me.  And being a weekday, and most of the people here at Sakura House students, the floor was pretty much empty.  So I got to go and come as I pleased, without disturbing people.  It was rather nice.

First thing was first (well, second after the restroom) I started to unpack my none clothes.  All of my make up, and a few books.  The basics.  

Honestly, I made a bit of a mess of my stuff.  Fearing that Kim would come home and think I was a slob, I cleaned up a bit, organized my things, and even hung up my h.Naoto dress and a few coats. 

So stylish, and colorful!

A little less messy.  Made the bed and all.

Then I got ready for the day myself.  Just picking a few easy to wear items, and pulling my hair back into a messy bun.  Unfortunate for me I had forgotten my hairbrush back in Washington.  So I couldn't rightly leave my rats nest down for the world to see.  I even put in a Kuromi clip!

Kim's stocking on the door! It's so cute!!

Then I set out to find something to eat.  I wandered around, into the TCAT center to see if the Mcdonalds was a good idea.  It was a little busy, so I decided against it.  Plus the Mcdonalds breakfast menu has always been difficult for me to get food from.  So I wandered some more.  Into the 711, out of the 711.  Up the street, down again.  Until I finally decided to just go get some bread, because it didn't matter what I ate my stomach wouldn't be happy.   I settled on some Melon Pan, some pretty looking Shiroi Choco Pan, and a Peach Gokuri I bought from a vendind machine.

Melon pan was huge!  And also the pretty swirly Shiroi Choco Pan.

Cute and delicious!

Then I came back to eat, and look up where to find a 100en store.  As well as where to find a power converter for my laptop cord.  I had forgotten the cords were different, and the outlets had no third prong!  Without one I'm pretty much screwed when it comes to keeping in contact with the world.  My ipod and zune are both just usb cords so I needed my laptop.

The closest place I could find to get one was 20minutes away in Shibuya.  And I didn't feel up to the trip just yet.  I'd make an exception, though.  Laptop is important.

I found a 100en shop on google maps and decided to go for it.  It couldn't be that hard to find.

As it turns out, google maps was wrong on it's location.  Or just backwards.  After a long walk, and a lot of wandering around, I finally found it!  Luckily for me, during the duration of the walk the sky was cloudy and it was humid but no rain.

I looked around in there for a little.  I was searching for slippers, a hair brush, and a pillow if I was lucky.  I found one of the above.  But I also found a nice hair clip, so that got added to my bill.

And!  A brilliant idea occurred to me when I saw the extension cords.  That my computer cord would fit, with the third prong sitting on the outside of the cord.  And if not...well, it was only 100en and I could live with that loss.  So into the bag!

I headed back, snapping a few more photos, then began to explore a little more.  I learned that I'm immediately next to the Sumida river, and that it's just plain gorgeous.  I wandered over the Sumidagawa Ohashi, and onto the other side, and walked along the river.  All the way to Kiyosubashi, and back around to my room.  

Then I realized I had no memory card in my camera, and all the pictures I took were stuck on the internal memory.  And I have no cord for it.  So those photos...well, it'll be a while before you get them.

I'm going to make the walk again, though.

I returned to my room, and blogged and fb chatted for about an hour.  Before heading back out.  There was a light rain by that point, but I didn't care.  I headed to the 711 and got a snack and drink, and decided to wander.

About 10 minutes later I stopped at a Lawson's and bought an umbrella.  Good thing I did, because the rain persisted, and the wind picked up.  But I kept walking. 

I walked for about 40 minutes, trying to remember where I took turns, before I finally decided to turn back around.  

My only outfit shot.  I changed twice during the day due to weather.

Denny's!!!!!!!

Have you ever noticed his little hat?  So cute.

Finally~  I headed back and, feeling a little hungry, decided to head to Mcdonalds.  If they weren't too busy.  Luckily, I beat the line and walked right in.  Unsure what I wanted, and a line forming behind me, I chose a simple #6...Chicken filet combo.  With some delicious Qoo of course!  Best part of Mcdonalds Japan, in my humble opinion.

It's been 7 years since I last ate at a Japanese Mcdonalds, and it is different.  But very good, and very fast.  So I took a random seat.

Qoo!!

Well cooked, and delicious.

It wasn't til a few minutes later when I realized, silly me, I'd sat in the smoking section.  It took looking over at the woman across from me til I realized it.  

How sheepish.

And...well, I took the opportunity to do something I've never done, and smoke in a Mcdonalds.  

Bad Myshappy!

While I was eating, I looked up to see some caucasian guy enter the food line, he noticed me too.  I almost thought he was going to come over, but he got his food to go, and left.  I wonder if he lives in this building...Who knows!  

So I finished my food, and returned home.  It was already 6pm, and Kim was home, so we chatted a tiny bit and I got back online.  Unfortunately it was past bedtime for most of my friends, so no chatting.  I googled to find a supermarket somewhere nearby, the website says there is one...but google didn't help me at all!!  Finally I decided to put on my coats, and a scarf, and head out.  

I told Kim I was leaving, and she was surprised cause of the rain and time.  Finally I asked her if she knew where the market was, and she was like "Oh!  The market?  it's back that way and to the left." In Japanese, of course.  So I thanked her, and headed out.  

Somehow, I made it straight there.  Thank you Kim!

While in the market, I proved how Gaijin I was, by not putting a basket in the cart like everyone else.  And not noticing the umbrella holder.  A mistake I won't make again.

I bought a few things.  A couple Qoo jelly drinks, two peach fruit cups, and a large bottled water.  Best to have handy in the room.  Then I headed back.

Once back in my room, I settled down and played a bit online, talked to my friend Aya about what our plans are for today.  And recieved a surprise e-mail from my friend Ryo!

I haven't seen him in 5 years, and he all but disappeared off the planet for me and my friends.  Imagine how excited I was!  I hope to get him to come to Tokyo, and to have him go to Disney with me and Aya.

That was yesterday.  And so far my plan for today is that Aya will meet me around 10am, and I will go help her and her uncle do something.  I don't know what.  But it's bound to be an exciting day!

♥Myshappy