Mom and Dad, day 2

On Sunday we visited the Meiji Shrine, pausing to gawk at the Harajuku girls and assorted other costumed individuals (known as Cos-play-zoku, or Costume Play Gang) who hang out on and around the bridge that takes you over the JR train tracks and into Yoyogi Park. The examples pictured here are quite tame compared to some others I've seen, but you get the idea.


My husband and child seemed unfazed by the scene.

Now, onto the Meiji Shrine. Apparently this was a serious visit, so we had to take a serious look at the park map before walking through the main gate. (Why does everybody look so grim?)

Check out the guy with the doggie bag...


There were two weddings going on outside the shrine while we were there. (Getting married here is like getting married at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan; it's doable, as long as you don't mind the tourists in the audience.) We saw one bride being prepped, which included a complicated and ornate hairdo with big sweeps and a high bun and combs. Then we observed a wedding procession, the bride and groom with family trailing behind, Shinto priest leading the way and another official person holding a red parasol over the couple. It was quite something.
The little children looked especially cute in their traditional formal wear.

We had brunch at Fujimamas, a restaurant just off Omotesando Street that's popular with ex-pats for the location and the Western-inspired menu printed in English (the Eggs Benedict with crab cakes killed). After that we went to Kiddyland, the toy and novelty store that my boys love almost as much as Disney World, all because of the bizarre Pokemon arcade games you can play downstairs. As usual, the place was packed and noisy and crazy with shoppers snapping up cell phone charms, robotic bugs, Nintendo DS games, purses shaped like Japanese manga characters and other kitsch. I then took my parents to Oriental Bazaar, a souvenir shop on the same street; my parents bought some lacquered trays and bowls for family back home.

Next we walked through Jingumae, admiring the little shops and houses with their carefully tended flowerpots, and caught the bus home from Shibuya station. And now, only now, is the sun out!

Here's a shot of the four of us outside Fujimamas. D's new thing is to be as grumpy as possible, whenever possible.