Laforet Harajuku's "LAFORET GRAND BAZAR," known as "Japan's latest opening and best value bargain," will be held again this summer from July 25th to 29th. Starting two to three weeks later than regular bargain sales, this short five-day event attracts shoppers from all over Japan, including locals and even international visitors, who line up before the store even opens. How can you beat everyone else in this sale? We asked Kyohei Fukuda, Laforet Harajuku's PR manager, to share his insights, from special offers to routes to popular shops. [Must-Know Trivia] First, check out the special offers only available at Laforet Harajuku. ■Get an additional 10% off with the most popular "Morning Ticket." All stores will participate in the "Explosion Time" on the final day. The most popular offer is the "Morning Ticket." Line up before the store opens and receive a ticket, which gives you an additional 10% off the sale price. Approximately 90 shops in the building are participating, so be sure to check the list of participating stores on the back of your ticket.

By the way, the store opens at 9:00 on the first day of the sale and 11:00 on the second and subsequent days. Approximately 1,000 people line up on weekdays, and 1,500 on weekends. The earliest arrivals are said to arrive on the first train and start lining up around 5:00. Opening hours are until 9:00 PM every day.

■Get real-time deals on Twitter!

Laforet Harajuku constantly posts sale information on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter is especially recommended. Laforet Harajuku staff roam the building all day, tweeting information they've gathered on foot, with an astounding 100 tweets a day. They share real-time information with photos, such as "Get an additional 10% off the price tag for just 15 minutes!" The account is @Laforet_SALE.

■The first day is the busiest, but is the second day the best day?! The first day sees the most customers, with approximately 70,000 people visiting last year. The line before opening was also the longest on the first day. The second day is a good time to visit, as it offers the best shopping environment of the five days. Incidentally, approximately 300,000 people visited the store during those five days last year. ■Time sales are held at 5 PM on weekdays and 3 and 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, with "Explosion Time" on the final day. This annual time sale is held every day. It is held only at 5 PM on weekdays, and twice on Saturdays and Sundays, at 3 and 5 PM. This year, three new events are planned: "Celebrating Our 35th Anniversary" (starting at 5 PM on the 26th), where all items will be priced at ¥35, ¥350, ¥3,500, and ¥35,000; "Color Festival" (starting at 5 PM on the 27th), where items in neon colors and other colorful styles will be discounted this year; and "Student Discount" (starting at 7 PM on the 27th and 28th), where you can get an additional 10% off with your student ID. Starting at 3:00 PM on the final day, the customary "Explosion Time" begins. All stores in the building participate.

■Check out the "Bottom Price" sign!

This sale offers discounts up to 90% off. Some people apparently come every day to check the prices, hoping for a sequential price drop. But even if you can only go once, don't worry. The "Bottom Price" sign will let you know that there will be no further price drops during the sale period.


[What's the fastest route to your desired shop?]
Now, let's study the number of seconds it takes to use stairs or escalators, and the shortest route to popular brand shops on each floor.

Laforet Harajuku has a total of 12 floors, with each floor being 0.5 floors from B1.5 to the 5th floor.

■Stairs on Every Floor

There is a staircase in the center of each floor, with each staircase divided in the middle into a right and left corridor. From the main entrance on the first floor, walk straight ahead and it's a 20-second walk to the stairs. This route will take you to the stairs on the left. To go up half a floor, it takes 8 seconds to walk, 3.5 seconds if you skip steps, and 11 seconds to use the escalator.

■There are 4 elevators in total.

Three elevators stop at the integer floors of B1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and one elevator stops at B1.5, B0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. From the first floor entrance, walk left and it's a 12-second walk to the elevator. It takes 10 seconds to go up one floor. Incidentally, it takes 17 seconds to go from the first floor to the fifth floor in one go.

■Escalators go up only.

The escalators are up only, and they're all on the right-hand side as you face the stairs. Therefore, if you try to go up using the escalators alone, you'll need to walk from one end of the stairs to the other end at the landing.

■ Directions from the main entrance to the popular shops?

The general goods shop "Swimmer" on the B1.5 floor is just three floors down the stairs. You can take the stairs on either the left or right side; if you take the left side, it will be on your right, and if you take the right, it will be on your left. "Snidel" on the B0.5 floor is one floor down the stairs on the left side of the first floor, and it's ahead on your left. "See by Chloe" on the first floor is just to the right of the first floor entrance. It's across from "Topshop/Topman." You'll easily find it as you can see the sign on your right as you enter. "Merci Beaucoup" on the second floor is two floors up the stairs on the left side of the first floor, and then follow the passage on the right until you reach the end. "Joyrich" on the third floor is four floors up the stairs, and it's immediately to the left. "Emily Temple Cute" on the fourth floor is six floors up the stairs, and then follow the passage on the left or right; it's in the center at the back. The corridor is roughly the same distance whether you go to the right or left. To get to Lowrys Farm on the 5th floor, go up the stairs 8 floors, follow the left-hand corridor, and you'll find it at the back on your left.

It's exciting, but the rule is no running inside the building. You'll probably be using the stairs a lot, so please be careful not to fall.

By the way, after you've done your shopping, there's a Sagawa Express booth waiting for you on the first floor, so you can go home empty-handed. So, enjoy the final bargain sale of the summer to your heart's content!