浴衣ー Yukata Shopping!
Today I went on a mission to find a yukata.  I started in Harajuku where I know a store that sells inexpensive yukatas. However when I was looking there I realized that most of their yukatas are the modern type which is easier for westerners to wear.  Their selection of the longer, more traditional type of yukatas consists of five color choices, but they are only about $50.  (They also have a floor where they sell antique yukata, kimono, etc but that was too expensive for me!)  Furthermore, they did not have hanhaba obi available, which is the type of obi that is worn with summer yukatas.

Harajuku Station

So I decided to go to Shibuya and check the department stores, this is yukata season so they are available in stores right now.  So I ran into my next problem, yukatas at department stores have prices ranging from $150-$375.  Hmm, だめ。But what they do have is a large selection of colors of obis and other accessories.
So I decided to go back to the first store in Harajuku, and buy one of the traditional yukatas from there.  Then I returned to Shibuya again and picked a pretty obi to go with my new yukata.  My obi ended up being twice as expensive as the yukata!  But its ok, because the outfit turned out really well, I can't wait to wear it out next weekend.
So after 6 hours of shopping, I returned home to play dress up!

I figured out how to fold the obi to make the belt and bow two-tone!

 Yes, I tied that bow all by myself.

Also, for lunch I ate at a Thai restaurant in Harajuku- I had chicken with green coconut curry, おいしい！