Harajuku Ikea and Uniqlo? Visiting the Grand Opening of Harajuku Station Shopping Facility 「With Harajuku」

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The world’s first city-center Ikea and a futuristic new Uniqlo together in Harajuku, Tokyo – of course the Japankuru team had to check out this new shopping mall connecting Takeshita Street and Omotesando!

With Harajuku



With Harajuku is a brand new shopping mall directly across from Harajuku Station and wedged between the famous Takeshita Street and Omotesando, and we just recently wrote about why the people of Tokyo have been waiting for With Harajuku's opening with some excitement. The Friday, June 5th opening of With Harajuku's sleek new Uniqlo marks the return of the major Japanese clothing brand to the Harajuku neighborhood after a conspicuous 8-year absence, and Uniqlo is back in a big way. Plus, on Monday (June 8th) the world's first-ever city-center Ikea opened its doors from within the With Harajuku complex, showing people what might just be the partially-digital, experience-focused future of the brand.

In the coming days more and more stores are going to start welcoming customers all around the shopping facility, but the Japankuru team wanted to catch the excitement of With Harajuku's most hyped grand openings.

Things have calmed down somewhat in Japan, but the COVID-19 outbreak hasn't completely died out in Tokyo, so on Monday afternoon we slipped on our masks and took the train over to Harajuku.



Of course, since we've spent most of the past few months in lockdown, or at least doing our best to avoid crowds, this was our first time in Harajuku since the opening of the new train station. We didn't spend much time exploring the new building, but from what we saw it's a pretty simple addition. We can appreciate the added space built, though, for the massive Harajuku crowds that will inevitably return to the neighborhood in the coming months.



With Harajuku is literally just across the street from Harajuku Station, and the various entrances are spread along the block between the station's two exits. The new Ikea and Uniqlo are right next to each other, and when we first arrived we were a little terrified by the crowd milling around on the sidewalk. Would we ever make it into either shop!?



Fortunately, it wasn't too bad. Since it was the very first day of business for Ikea, it was extremely popular, and in order to prevent overcrowding (which would increase COVID-19 infection risk) they instituted a numbered ticket system for the day. Around With Harajuku there were also quite a few signs explaining all the measures in place to keep the facility as safe as possible, while there's still risk of coronavirus infection. As we went to take our number for Ikea, and throughout the rest of our trip, we were constantly taking advantage of the many bottles of hand sanitizer set aside for public use, and our temperature was checked as we went into both of the stores.

Uniqlo Harajuku



Uniqlo has a nice big entrance at street level, but it's a huge complex of different rooms spread out over a pretty large area, and during the grand opening they were asking us to enter via the basement level entrance. This made it so our first stop was… the Uniqlo Harajuku flower shop?? I'm still not entirely sure what their goal is, here, but it seems like you can buy custom Uniqlo bouquets, if that suits your fancy. The flowers were lovely and all, but we had no real use for bouqets that we'd be hanging on to for the rest of the night.



Aside from the main Harajuku Uniqlo space (and the flower shop set up in the hallway area outside), there's another little annex in a separate room on the basement floor, centered around the Style Hint app. We'll have to see where things go in the future, but for the grand opening Uniqlo had given people a chance to submit their own Uniqlo-centric outfits for style inspiration, and made up this wall of fashion. Using the many touch screens, you could not only vote for your favorite outfits, but also look up the items used in the outfit and find out where in the store they were being sold. If you like what you see, not only will a little map of the store pop up on the screen with a map showing you where to buy the item, but you can use a QR code to open the same map on your phone while you search for the product. It's a cool system!



We took our maps and headed into the main area, greeted first thing by hundreds of different Uniqlo UT t-shirts. Uniqlo is clearly emphasizing their UT line in Harajuku, considering this is far from the last time we saw UT products.



Just around the corner was a UTme! booth, where you could customize (to a certain extent) t-shirts and tote bags. Similar to standard UT t-shirts, it seems like the custom ones use imagery and designs from a variety of temporary brand collaborations. I would be lying if I said we didn't seriously consider getting some items plastered with the adorable bear illustrations from local Harajuku donut shop Higuma Doughnuts.



The UTme! counter was far from the only special set up in the main store, though, marking its difference from your standard Uniqlo―as we ventured further into the shop we saw quite a few. One area concentrated on the brand's recycling efforts, with information panels teaching readers about the recycled materials used in Uniqlo clothing and bins where shoppers can actually drop off clothes they want to donate. On the other side of a nearby wall was a display showing some "recycled" Uniqlo outfits created by Japanese designers. Since UT Goods (tote bags, stationery, stickers, and ceramic plates decorated with UT designs) are sort of a new line of items, they also had a few different shelves and racks devoted to the new novelties.

Perhaps the most interesting construction, possibly because it was the most unrelated to Uniqlo's products, was the "Spotify SPECIAL BOOTH," only there for a limited time. Three stations with tablets and headphones were set up with big posters of three different bands or musical artists, who had each put together their own Spotify playlists just for the Harajuku Uniqlo opening. The music was a fairly eclectic mix for Japan―not bad!



Heading back up to the ground floor was like emerging into another world. While much of the basement floor was designed and arranged like any other Uniqlo, the street-level space was there to make an impression. Lots of screens, and lots of reflections.



Also, lots more UT merchandise. The opening of the store coincides with a big collaboration Uniqlo has going on with Billie Eilish, so they had some of the original illustrations that are now being printed on the products on display. If you're a big fan of everything Billie Eilish, it's a cool look behind the scenes.





Good night, Billie.

Ikea Harajuku



It took about an hour and a half for Ikea to call our number, which turned out to be the perfect amount of time to thoroughly explore Uniqlo, so when it was our turn we were ready to go. When we took the ticket we put in a phone number, so I actually got an automatic phone call telling me I could go over to Ikea. But I'd also been keeping an eye on our place in line by scanning the ticket's QR code and checking on purpose-built website. When I got the call, it did still say there were 700 in front of me in line, though. Mysterious. Either way, we headed over to the crowd of shop staff at the entrance, had our temperature checked, and headed in.



Wondering what a city-center Ikea is like? Well, altogether it's not all that different from a normal Ikea, although it is a little smaller. Much of the space is taken up by what Ikea generally calls the "marketplace," where they sell the kinds of home goods and small items that you can toss in a shopping bag and carry home.



It's not totally furniture-free, though. An average Ikea might have dozens of model rooms set up and spaces for beds, carpets, chairs, and everything else you might want to furnish your home. The Ikea in Harajuku had a handful of model rooms made intentionally small, just like your average Tokyo apartment, showing off how the furniture works in a smaller space. Plus, portions of the wall and sections of floor are dedicated to some of Ikea's most popular furniture. If something draws your eye, though, you can't just go to the warehouse area and bring your new furniture home with you. It's a digital worldーif you want something, you can order it online from the store and they'll deliver it right to your house.



This wouldn't be Japan if there weren't special photo-op spots! Unlike many stores in Japan, photography was clearly allowed throughout With Harajuku, so people were posing all over the place.



Sure, you could pick out some new cups for your kitchen or a storage box or two to organize your closet. But really, it was clear what Ikea was looking to capitalize on in Harajuku: food. The "Swedish Cafe" and "Swedish Convenience Store" inside the shop are big selling points for Ikea Harajuku, but there were shelves of food spread throughout both floors, like this coffee strategically placed next to coffee cups.



By this point our stomachs were rumbling, and we knew it was time to head to the cafe and try some of the special Harajuku-limited Ikea food.



You'll find none of Ikea's standard Swedish meatballs here. The Swedish cafe's specialty is "tunnbröd," a Swedish flatbread. We lined up to order on the flashy touch screens, and our mouths were watering.

The middle screens seemed to be turned off to avoid crowding, but it wasn't particularly effective.



Not only is the Harajuku Ikea cafe special because of the brand new tunnbröd, but they are clearly working to make it an eating destination for vegetarians in Harajuku, similar to Mos Burger's recent attempts with the Green Burger. Most of the savory tunnbröd fillings used "vegetarian sausage," and many were clearly vegan as well. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, there was only one savory dish available, and it did not use the vegetarian sausage.



It would have been frustrating if anyone on the Japankuru team had been vegetarian, but fortunately we were all happy to eat salmon. And then we were even happier when we were eating the salmon. For 500 yen, the smoked salmon tunnbröd had a reasonable amount of fish and a satisfying portion of veggies, making it a pretty tasty, healthy option for Harajuku. Of course, to balance that out I had to go all out with my sweet dessert tunnbröd and get it stuffed with berries, whipped cream, and a little slice of fudgy chocolate cake. Would recommend.



Stomachs full and smiles on our faces, we headed back downstairs to take a better look at the Swedish convenience store. When you compare the space to the amazing variety of products at a Japanese 7/11, the name "convenience store" might be a bit of an exaggeration, but they did have an interesting selection of items. Our eyes were immediately drawn to these new Ikea cup noodles.



They're "plant ramen" because, as far as we can tell, they're vegetarian. And for vegetarian cup noodles, they weren't bad! For that price, though, I don't know if "not bad" is quite enough. Vegetarians in Japan, who have few options when it comes to this kind of packaged product, might be happy to indulge of course!



Ikea's low-alcohol (0.3%) flavored beer from the convenience store fridge is, according to one Taiwanese Japankuru writer, "…not very good."



Like so many Japanese convenience stores, the Swedish Ikea version served up some prepared snacks as well. Ignoring a small bakery area selling cinnamon rolls and other pastries, at the counter we ordered "plant-based" soft-serve (which we assume is vegan) and an "Ikea latte," using oat milk. The texture of the ice cream was undeniably good for a product we believe has no dairy inside, for sure, but opinions were split when it came to flavor. I hate to say it, but to me it tasted like a fluoride treatment. At least the latte was good!



Our stomachs full to the bursting with flatbread and sweets, and a little low-alcohol beer, we headed out to say goodbye to With Harajuku. On a Monday night in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak, the outdoor seating area looking out over Harajuku was romantically empty, but we can imagine that the wooden deck will become a popular gathering spot for Harajuku explorers in the coming years. We'll be interested to see just what With Harajuku looks like once all the stores are open, and people are once again out and about in full force!

Details

NAME:With Harajuku

ACCESS:Harajuku Station

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

https://withharajuku.jp/

Between collaboration items and special-edition limited-time-only goods, Japan has some pretty interesting products, and if you're anything like me... well, you can't help but be interested!

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    • SHIZUOKA

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      Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.

    • Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.

    • Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.

    • Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.

    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

    • CHUGOKU

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

    • HIROSHIMA

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      Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.

    • SHIKOKU

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!

    • FUKUOKA

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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