Harajuku For Dessert....That's How We Roll

This blog post is a continuation of the Kappabashi-Dori post - well, maybe not really a continuation, but it's basically a recap of what we did post-shopping in Kappabashi.  When we were done shopping, it was only around 1 or 2 in the afternoon and since we were already in Tokyo, we decided to do something else while we were there.  Someone suggested that we go to Harajuku since it was Sunday (and Sunday is generally when the "interesting" people can be found roaming Takeshita Street), so we made our way back to the subway station and headed toward Harajuku.  The subway line that we were on didn't stop at the Harajuku Station so we got off at Omotesando Station and walked up Omotesando Street (actually I think it's an avenue but to be honest, I am not sure what the difference is so I'll just stick with Street).

As we were walking along Omotesando Street, we passed a shop/restaurant called Peltier Chocolatier.  They really draw you in with their bright yellow sign and these amazing donuts that are conspicuously placed on a table in front of the window.  They also have a sign with the price of the donuts to make you think that their prices are reasonable (which of course they are not, with the exception of the donuts).  As usual, we were suckers and were drawn in by their clever marketing...and it was also starting to drizzle and we wanted to get out of the rain while we waited for our friend to meet up with us...and it had also been several hours since we ate lunch so we were a little hungry.  What started out as us just taking a casual look at all the chocolates and sweets they had in their glass display cabinets turned into us grabbing a table and sitting down.

It was actually quite crowded inside so we had to wait a few minutes while they cleaned a table (clearly by the look of all the fancy shopping bags at the tables, these people had worked up a quite an appetite shopping) which was totally fine because it gave us time to look at the menu and the desserts in the display cases to decide what we wanted.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this in any of my previous blog posts, but the Japanese are all about the "sets" when it comes to menu offerings (you can order stuff ala carte, but for just a little bit more you can get a set which usually comes with a drink, rice, salad, soup, etc.).  Here, there were a couple different dessert sets which all included your choice of drink.  The most expensive set on the menu, the "combination set," included a combination of different desserts.





Before we ordered, someone brought up the idea of sharing the combination set, but that idea was quickly shot down as no one really wanted to share.  So it ended up that each of us (there were 5 of us) got our own combination set.  The set came with a piece of chocolate, a macaroon and this chocolate mousse /cake thing.  Each of us got a different type of chocolate and a different flavor macaroon - my chocolate had a yummy caramel filling and the macaroon was lemon flavored.  Needless to say, it was all very good BUT there were definitely some pangs of regret by the group since everything was very sweet and rich and the combination set was just a bit much (I'm sure that won't stop us from doing the same thing at the next place).

After Peltier, we made our way back to the main entrance of Takeshita Street to do some people watching.  By the time we got there, it was really starting to rain and we were all feeling a little sick off of the sweets we just ate and none of us really wanted to deal with that mess of people, so we walked across the street to Harajuku Station and headed home.

A Day In Tokyo: Harajuku and Meiji Shrine

After my friend and I were done in Odaiba, we got back on the train and made our way to Harajuku Station.  Our plan was to make our way down Takeshita Street, check out Omotesando Hills and finish with Meiji Shrine which is basically right next to the station (also on the list was to find somewhere to eat along the way).  I had been to Takeshita Street once a few weeks prior but I didn't have time to walk down the whole thing. That last time had been in the afternoon on a Friday so the street was aleady packed, but this time it was slightly before noon on a Tuesday which allowed for a more leisurely stroll down this Harajuku hot spot.  For a second we considered getting crepes at the infamous Marion Crepes since there was no line (which is a rare event) but we had just had soft serve ice cream back at Odaiba and also we were a little overwhelmed by all the choices at Marion Crepes. 

We continued down Takeshita Street and we also hit Cat Street where we found some really cool shops (one of them had tons of hats).  Then we went into Omotesando Hills where I thought perhaps we could find a place to have lunch. At the time, I didn't know that Omotesando Hills was a super upscale mall, but I soon found out.  Architecturally, it's really cool but shopping-wise, I can't really say....I mean, I don't think I could even afford to buy truffles from the French chocolate store. We took a quick stroll around the top floor where all the restaurants were located but as we didn't feel like spending a small fortune on lunch, we decided to walk around the area and find someplace else.  I think it was fate that as we happened to be crossing a street, I turned my head and recognized the sign for Ichiran Ramen. There were no ifs ands or buts about it, we headed straight there.  My friend loved the "cubicle eating" experience and this time around, since I knew what to expect, I was a bit more adventurous with the customization of my ramen.  In any case, it totally hit the spot.

The great thing about ramen is that even though you're full, it's a pleasant full (not a disgusting I want to vomit kind of full).  It was already late in the afternoon so we made our way to Meiji Shrine which was just a short ways up the road.  Meiji Jingu is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It was originally established in 1920 but the original shrine buildings burnt down in 1945.  The buildings that exist today were built in approximately 1958 (see their website for more info on the shrine at Meiji Jingu Website).  The shrine is located in a forest that covers approximately 175 acres and includes over 120,000 trees which were donated by people from all over Japan when the shrine was first established.  It is also consistently listed as one of the top spots to visit in Tokyo, so there is generally always a good amount of foot traffic in and out of the shrine grounds.

Literally as soon as we passed through the Torii gate (the main entrance) of the shrine, there was this really loud rumbling sound which turned out to be thunder.  We looked up and the skies had really darkened so we figured we should probably hurry it up.  Usually visitors come here to take a leisurely stroll through the grounds but the skies were dark and depressing and we didn't want to get caught in the rain so we did a quick tour of the grounds.  I had taken Japanese History in college which was, needless to say, a long time ago, but my memory was definitely refreshed as I read the information they had posted around the grounds on Emperor Meiji and the path the country took during his time as emperor (i.e., the Meiji Restoration).  We also got to see a wedding party right after they finished their ceremony, so that was pretty cool.  I ended my trip to Meiji Jingu by purchasing some charms and then practically sprinting back toward the exit (and Harajuku Station) just as the rain started coming down.