Monday, March 25, 2019

Something sweet

I used to think I didn't really like Harajuku.  It is crowded and filled with stores that just don't interest me.  To me, it always seemed overrated.  The days of Harajuku girls dressed up in cute doll-like outfits has passed and now it is just a tourist destination.

Since we go to Yoyogi Park frequently, and Harajuku is across the street, over time I have explored the area more and more.  When I leave the main street of Harajuku, I have found several treasures.   Most of my favorites have been around an area called Harajuku Cat Street. 

During my most recent visit, we just happened past a fantastic candy store, Candy Show Time, while they were making candy.  I have only ever seen how they make hard candies with beautiful designs in the center on television, so I stopped to take a look.  There were three people behind the counter working together to join the various color candies into a large log.  One of the workers wore a headset and was explaining what they were doing in Japanese. 


We arrived just in time to see the final layers be put onto the outer edge of the candy log.  Up next was pulling the candy into a thin rope.  I know these people are professionals, but it was amazing to see them working the very hot candy with such ease. 


I loved to see them whack the candy into small chunks, ready to be consumed.  They took some of the freshly made candies and passed them out to the people in the shop.  It was delicious and still a bit warm.


As they finished pulling the candy into long rods, I perused the small shop.  There was an impressive array of candies with fun centers, including famous Japanese animation characters, words in English and Japanese, and animals.  There were also fun candy rings and lollypops.


It turns out that Candy Show Time has 9 locations around Japan (5 are in Tokyo).  Not all of them have the candy production viewing counters.  The shops are very cute, but it is the candy making that is so enticing for me. 

Slowly, but surely, Harajuku is finding its way into my heart. 

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