Harajuku & Akihabara

Meiji Shrine
Located adjacent to the Harajuku station after about a mile stroll through a wide gravel path in a wooded area.  It feels like a flat hike outside
the city and you may see a man sweeping the gravel of small leaves which may seem like a futile effort in the wind and as more leaves fall, but
that is the rigor of Japan.  The Shrine is a popular place for weddings so you may see an entourage bustling about and may even catch the bride
and groom.  Also attending the weddings are men in suits and women in kimonos.  Mika, our friend from Boston and currently living in Japan, pointed out that the long sleeves on kimonos on the women mean they are still single.  At the Shrine, a popular thing to do is to buy a wooden prayer block, (¥500) write your hopes and prayers and
hang them on the wall outside the Shrine.  There must be thousands of them hanging for all to read some in English some in Japanese.  They
will later be burnt and committed to the powers that be.  All types of hopes and prayers hang on the wall, "I wish for a dog", "health for my
family" and some look like extensive stories.

Takeshita Street
Just down the hill from Harajuku station is a right turn into Takeshita street.  It looks like a parade in both directions of people and younger
folks shopping and eating churros and crepes.  Costume stores, masquerade jewelry and picture shops that you can make group or single
picture cards that each photo is thumbnail size for ¥500.  You can spot folks dressed up as dolls, maids, punk rockers and some that look
like they threw on old curtains, rope and their late grandfather's hat.  The costume shop employees dressed up holding signs do not take
pictures but dressed up folks on the street will gladly show off their hard work.

Akihabara
At first Akihabara seems like a Shibuya or Shinjuku but a closer look shows you electronics, dvd shops, security, radio and everything electronics.
Look a layer deeper and it is mostly guys, a good majority of them playing a handheld game on store corners with anyone in bluetooth range.
These guys tend to be true geeks and nerds seeking electronics, anime or fantasy game nirvana.  This leads to the next thing you will see on
each corner..."maids!" or girls dressed as dolls or cocktail waitresses.  They are handing our hand bills to come to their cafe.  Cafe? not a bar
or nightclub?  It seems this maid cafe scene is very innocent by red-light district standards. So we went off to check one out.  About a block
and a half away off the main track and on the third floor of a older building, we found a semi-smoke filled room with a dart board and simple
tables some with fish aquariums on it to denote the name "Mermaid Cafe."  A menu with over priced drinks - sodas, coffee, shakes and even champagne.  The menu is in Japanese
but some of them have ♥ symbols next to them.  These drinks or snacks come with a song or game by the doll dressed maids.  We soon
figured out that this cottage industry exists for the sole reason that the majority of the guys in Akihabara are not socially adept with girls.  They
offer a safe place for drinks, company and entertainment, including one hour of a maid's company on the menu for ¥500 -- not including food & drinks you might buy for them while they keep you company.  Two guys at the next table dropped ¥20,000 or about $220 by the time they left with their anime filled shopping bags.