Kaleidoscopic Mirrored Escalator - Tokyo Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
Uuuuup…dowwwnnn…uuuuuup…dowwwnnnnn!
The kaleidoscopic entrance in Harajuku’s Tokyo Plaza, designed by Hiroshi Nakamura, is brilliant fun. Dozens of tilted polygon mirrors come together to create an unforgettable experience, reminiscent of entering a dazzling geode.
I enjoyed watching the animated reflections of riders darting from mirror to mirror, as technology smoothly carried me up. The pop of color from advertisements, articles of clothing, and the yellow line highlighting the escalator’s edge stood out on this gray day, drawing attention to the moving patterns above.
Tokyo wasn’t a shopping trip so I skipped the mall, but did meander to the peaceful rooftop garden to view the floating trees.
I encourage you to ride the escalators a few times: once to savor the beauty of this entrance, once to absorb the chaos, and twice more to take photos.
Make it a date - with yourself, a friend, or lover!
Enjoy delicious ramen from Afuri Harajuku, a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Plaza. This ramen is totally worth the 45-minute queue to the ordering machine, then 15 minutes more to be seated and served.
I passed the time by getting to know Michael and Michael visiting from Sweden. We must have acted like old friends because they sat us together. To my delight, I also had the pleasure of seeing the Mario Go-Karts speed by.
For my vegan and vegetarian readers (like myself), this is the place to go, as they have one very colorful and fresh vegan ramen on the menu (pictured here). Super delicious!
How to get to Afuri Harajuku
Once you arrive in Harajuku Station via the JR Yamanote Line, find Takeshita Exit and turn left. Walk a few minutes to Nescafe Harajuku, turn right, and you’ll see it across the street on your left, a 2-3 minute walk.
Have an Art Adventure!
Ramen, streets of Harajuku, Escalator at Tokyo Plaza, Shibuya Crossing, Purikura photo booths
This art adventure starts at Harajuku Station, Takeshita Exit (JR Yamanote Line).
First, enjoy a bowl of steaming hot ramen at Afuri Harajuku.
Next, ride the escalator (and check out the rooftop garden) at Tokyo Plaza, the highlight of this article.
After, walk through Harajuku to see quirky and cutting-edge fashion, and cotton candy bigger than your head (Totti Candy Factory). Explore the side streets too, fewer people and lots of hidden gems to be discovered! I was there on a rainy day and captured this fantastic image of umbrellas standing at the start of Takeshita Street.
Then, walk 20-minutes to the famous Shibuya Crossing to marvel at people scrambling across the street. I tried to watch from the rooftop at Mag’s Park, having read it had the best views, but due to rain the rooftop was closed. So I went to the second floor of Starbucks and patiently waited for a front-row seat. I watched for an hour, loving each scramble and waiting enthusiastically for it to start all over again.
Don’t forget to join the 2,500 scramblers in the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing at least once! If you’re still excited about it (I was, I couldn’t get enough), the oversized glass windows between Shibuya Station and Mark City Complex offers an alternative vantage point (the big windows on the right, next to the tree, in the video below).
Finally, visit the all-important Purikura photo booth, a four-minute walk from Shibuya Crossing. Dozens of entertaining photo booths await you, plus giggling girls doing their hair and makeup while trying on different costumes and wigs.
It’s simple, just add money to a machine, enter the booth, pose (the screen gives you a pose idea before each photo), go to the connected booth to edit and decorate, wait for your photos, enjoy!
