Blog Post #3 (2/3)

One of the things that I loved about Japan was the mixing of traditional and high tech consumer culture. Even in Tokyo, there were many places that remained very traditional, where old ladies walked around in yukata. Even advertising reflected this:

There was even a very traditional temple in the heart of Harajuku. Harajuku is a big shopping district where many young people come to hang out. With the mixture of new and traditional, a lot of young people dress up in incredible costumes and hang out in the space right in front of the temple.


Inside the temple area is green, leafy and beautiful.

There is a wall where people write their wishes on a wooden board and then hang these wishes up, hoping that they will come true.

While I was there we even got to see a traditional Japanese wedding. It was an amazing sight to see the wedding procession.

While outside the gates of the temple the youth subculture is one of the most well known in Tokyo. Here Japanese youth get dressed up in crazy costumes, sometimes as their favorite rock stars. Many foreigners come here and the young people are treated like stars, with many people asking to take their pictures.

This blend of modern and traditional was one of the most interesting parts of my stay in Tokyo.