Tokyo with Ella - day two

After breakfast and a heart starter coffee at our local Byron Bay Cafe we set out for a wander around buzzy Harajuku today - originally the home of Tokyo's youth fashion culture, cosplay and vintage stores. However these days there are also lots of quirky attractions for the hordes of tourists who throng Takeshita Street, the main thoroughfare of this distinctive neighbourhood.

We avoided the miniature pig, cat and owl cafes on offer in Takeshita Street and found excellent vintage shopping outlets instead...... Ella actually found two Kinji outlets today - one in Takeshita Street and one on the intersection of Meiji Dori and Omote sando. She did some inspired shopping at both outlets, scoring a gorgeous Kenzo knit top, statement Adidas track pants and a few other treasures. It was fun for Rob and me too as I picked up a few treasures and we both enjoyed observing the very cool and hyper stylish young people in these outlets, definitely a facet of Tokyo youth culture we've never experienced before (Rob and I were certainly the oldest people in the vicinity today!).

We walked the full length of fashionable Omote sando with its high end designer shops, fashionable locals and avant-garde architecture, such a contrast to tacky Takeshita Street. By this time it was getting close to 3pm and we were much in need of a bite to eat and a bit of a refresh. We found Cafe Figaro a delightful light lunch spot - and somewhat of a novelty in the area being a classic French bistro with all its menu listed in Japanese. Luckily our French waiter was able to translate for us! 

We took Ella to see the beautiful Nezu Museum afterwards. We didn't make her spend hours here but enough time to enjoy an exquisite Edo period kimono exhibition (Ayanishiki) and the tea ceremony collection of objects, and have a wander around the museum's exquisite gardens.

It was dark by the time we got back to the hotel after a long and crowded train trip back from Omote-sando Station on the Tokyo Metro and Yamanote Lines.

We had another delicious meal tonight at a local restaurant - a bowl of udon noodles with a side of tempura turnips(?), wagyu sushi and a delicious anchovy starter. Rob and I had eaten at this restaurant during our 2024 visit and we were delighted to find it again close to our hotel.

Dessert was at our local doriyaki joint again - but this time Rob and Ella ordered doriyaki filled with red beans AND matcha ice cream - yummmm!

It was a particularly beautiful winter day in Tokyo today - 14oC max and blue sunny skies. We didn't wear our puffy jackets and still stayed warm even when the sun went down. We're having a great time and Ella isn't fazed at all by the crowds we're dealing with - particularly when travelling by train. She's a natural traveller!