2nd STREET Harajuku — Local services in Tokyo

Before I start, yes I’m foreign, but I’ve lived in Japan for over a year. I speak English and Japanese. I’ve shopped at several 2nd streets throughout Japan, but Harajuku is incomparable to the rest.

The jacket pictured above was off the rack, but looked to still be available, so while I was looking at it and literally had it in my hands, someone RIPPED it out of my hands. I assumed it was another customer and felt bad, as if they had already found the jacket, but it ended up being one of the 2 male workers? He didn’t ask if I was interested, wanted to try it on, or anything. No words, just took it. So I walked around and looked at other items, only to find the same jacket locked up back in the rack, crazy. So, being interested, I asked the Japanese associate in Japanese “sumimasen, Tetsudatte kureru?“ he looked at me like I was an alien and he replied “…..what?” As if I just ruined his day. So then in English I said “I want to try this jacket on that’s locked up, could you help?” He says no words, and walks away going back to the other male worker that took the jacket from me at the beginning. The boy I asked for help turns around minutes later glaring at me and says “do you need something?” (At this point I’m annoyed and didn’t even want to spend my money there), but I replied “yeah I asked to see a jacket, can you get it for me” he sees the jacket I’m talking about and says “are you actually going to buy it? Being witty and brutally honest I said “yeah, but generally people try things on before buying it, right? They wouldn’t let me hold it until it was my turn to try on, then waited right outside of the dressing room for me to finish where I was asked immediately “are you buying it or not” I laughed saying yes. They then took the jacket from me, walked me down the stairs, and handed it to the register girls. People acted like a ¥28,000 supreme jacket was life or death and the most valuable thing in the world let alone this particular 2nd street.

Thought about walking away multiple times and wish I didn’t give them my money, but I do love the jacket and I’ll have this jacket and the pathetic memory forever. If you’re in harajuku try shopping at RAGTAG, or BOOK OFF PLUS, but avoid this 2nd street. Workers don’t want to be there, and don’t want customers in the store either. What a great combo...

NOT FOREIGNER FRIENDLY. The selection is decent but prices are high. The workers are dismissive at best. We wanted to see items in a glass case that were obscured (tightly folded designer scarves where we couldn’t see the patterns, $150-400 each) and the worker let me choose one at a time, only 2 total before sighing and shutting the case. How can we make such a large purchase decision with no information? We took a walk around the block and came back because ultimately I wanted one. The employee tried again to say no but I stood my ground. It’s such a shame to have a store in a foreigner-heavy area with impatient staff. She and I discussed the matter face to face before I left, but other foreigners should be warned. Bad...

I’ve been here twice and i bought some stuff too. But the only reason i gave 2 stars is because the shopkeepers are RUDE! On my first visit, the shopkeeper (boy) didnt even answer my question, he was just shaking his head. On the second visit it was a girl with short hair. He was laughing and joking with her friend and when i asked abt the fitting room, she stopped smiling and looked at me as thou i was asking about some dirty stuff. And when i said i wanna pay for the clothes she said “downstairs” with a very rude tone. This place hands down has the worse service in Japan. I’ve stayed here for a month and i know the japanese service standard! Never going back to this...