boundaries

boundaries

Check in at Cerulean Tower セルリアンタワー complete, a brief stop in the room to refresh and soak in the view of the city, then back down to the train station to ride the Yamanote Line 山手線 around to Harajuku 原宿 and its busy little Edwardian station. There are plans for the station's redevelopment which do away with the original wooden building, replacing it with an aggressive glass and metal façade, so I hope they consider alternative designs to retain its current charm.

The adjacent bridge and park are known as Sunday gathering spots for alternative fashion and more, but the earlier rain had driven most aficionados away. A kind of cosplay コスプレ, people dress in oft elaborate costumes and make-up, performing for passers-by or just hanging out. They can, here, as Gibson described it best, dream in public.

But my aim was exploring the entrapped evergreen forest complex of Meiji Jingū 明治神宮, a famous Shintō 神道 shrine. Above, the enormous entrance torii 鳥居.

hello city

hello city

Approaching 3 PM, quirky stores at the lower end of Center Gai センター街 as I made my way back to the hotel to escape the rain and check in.