Day 2 June 19

Despite how tired I was last night I'm still awake at 6 am in the morning. So I walk down to the kitchen and use this strange kid of coffee teabag thingy which is really good. Better than the real coffee we have later. Everyone else is sleeping soundly.
First up is Remi so around 9 we decide to go for a walk around the neighbourhood. Nothing is open but we walk down Takeshita Dori. Shipowners are getting ready and shutters are coming up. It looks pretty wild already but we keep moving until we come to a small garden oasis around the corner. There's a fish pond with these what I would call giant goldfish swimming about. And turtles. When we come out of the park we're lost in Japan. But with the help of pocket wifi and google maps we find our way home. Pick up some bread at 7-11 on the way home . A six pack. Six slices only. So I have to buy 2.
At home everyone is ready to leave so it's back to Takeshita Dori. Now it's packed. People viewing is pretty high here. Girls dressed up to come to the street. Some guys dress up but in strange costumes. However the rock and roll/punk look is pretty big too. It's all a bit gaudy. And move through there, round the corner to the nicer shops and then to the Yoyogi Park to see the Meiji Jingu temple. I grabbed a snack to eat on the way and as I put it my mouth at the entrance to the park a security guard told me off. We walked up to the temple there which was beautiful and not too crowded. We were planning to see more of the park but we took a wrong turn and ended up at the railway station. Not wanting to turn back we hopped on the train to Shibuya.

From there we made our way to Shibuya Crossing. Which was just amazing. All the lights go red and hundreds of people cross at the same time.
Everyone else is hungry so they go looking for food while I look for a record shop. Google maps don't help and though I'm only 1 minute away from Disc Union i just walk around in circles. Luckily they have volunteers on the street that are there to help. I think I must be the first to ask because they all cheer when I approach them and a girl starts filming. The guy I'm talking to decides to actually walk me there. His friend comes too. And the girl filming. I then do an interview as we walk and at the end film a testimonial. Brilliant.
I've taken so long to get here that only spend a short time looking and will come back on my own in a few day.
Meet up with the others and after a look around head back to Harajuku to rest.
Back at the house we crash for a few hours before heading out for dinner. We're back on Takeshita Street though it's all a bit commercial so we try to go out the way. Settle on a place next to the station. Very small and packed with Japanese. Always a good sign. Liz and I have noodles which are fabulous. Our vegetarian Ruby's okay with hers. (It took a long time to explain no meat to the waiter! ) but Remi's not so big on his dumplings.
It's time to go back to Shibuya to see it at night. Standing on the corner watching the world pass by at Shibuya Crossing is quite magical. Is this what they refer to as an influence on Bladerunner's set design? We go for another walk around the neighbourhood. We see a Deadpool themed restaurant and Remi is very excited. It's 10.30pm and Tower records is still home. 6 floors of music. Great to wander around and we get caught at the J-Indie section listening to this great CD from a Japanese band called Never Young Beach.
But it's getting late and the rain is tarting to come down so we make our way back home. Trains are still packed and first up we catch the wrong train. Because all announcements are in English we soon realise our mistake and get back on the right train in minutes
Back at Harajuku the rain is really coming down now but we make it home a little wet and with tired bones just after midnight.