Harajuku is a great place to visit to see the counter-culture of Tokyo's young people. Chicago is smack-dab in the center of the sights and sounds of Harajuku. Chicago is a thrift store that sells both traditional Japanese kimonos and obis, and Western clothes as well. When you walk down the stairs to enter the store, you quickly learn that the bread and butter of this store are the Western clothes. I found a beautifully tattered Shell gas-attendant shirt with the embroidered name of Billy for $120!!! Talk about sticker shock... Luckily, the kimonos and obis (a sash worn around the waist) are not so expensive.

To find the Kimono section, head to the very back of the store and turn to the right to find the greatest selection of moderately prices kimonos you will ever see. Beautiful textiles in a plethora of patterns will be afforded to you. Stacks of yukata and obis will be on shelves directly in front of the kimono racks. The two that I purchased to take back home to my classroom totaled $85, an incredible bargain considering that the price for a new kimono in a retail location starts in the hundreds.

Try Chicago out for a great deal in a great location, and don't forget to talk to some of the kids in the neighborhood!!