Tokyo's new urban spaces want you to spend time, not just money
Harakado, a commercial complex that opened in Tokyo's fashionable Harajuku district in April, features a remarkable number of non- or low-profit spaces. (Courtesy of Tokyu Land Corp.)
TOKYO -- Harajuku, once known as Tokyo's fashion hub but now more synonymous with tourist hordes, is having a bit of an identity crisis. It is a struggle that is emblematic of a challenge facing many central urban neighborhoods -- how to appeal to consumers when almost everything is available on the internet.
The latest bid to give Harajuku a makeover is Harakado, a large commercial development by Tokyu Land Corp. (TLC) that opened its doors in April. Sitting at the intersection with Meiji-dori Avenue, the structure is a striking landmark, its glass panels and rooftop garden mirroring TLC's renamed Omokado development opposite.
