Vacant: Not empty of ideas or possibilities

Ever since Forever 21 and H&M landed, Harajuku has become even more of a mosh pit than it used to be. Those brave enough to cut their way through the crowds down to Takeshita-guchi, however, can find one of the best new venues in Tokyo tucked into a side street. 

'Vacant defies easy categorization. Opened last year, Vacant is on one hand a focal point for the zine renaissance happening in the city at the moment, but is also an event space, a café and bar, and even a live house. 

The interior is a warm, alpine space that belies its glass and concrete façade and the slightly untamed greenery out in front. Entering, you find a wide but somewhat homely room selectively cluttered with retro Americana -- a jukebox, shop signs -- and wooden furniture.

During the day things at Vacant are usually pretty quiet, so what exactly is going on? Upstairs is an attic room hosting performance, film screenings and installations. Downstairs regularly has photography exhibits, but is also a café great for veggie-packed lunches and a bar stocking foreign beers. Finding a decent place to eat in Japan is usually not an issue, but finding a calm one in Harajuku is hard. Vacant can always be relied on for peace, quiet and down-to-earth charm. 

Since starting with the comeback show for art collective Chim Pom, Vacant's schedule has been packed: Zine’s Mate book fair, gigs, talk events and currently, co-hosting the Postmainstream Performing Arts Festival.

Manager Takashi Ogami's attitude is as laid back as his agenda is broad, but that doesn't mean Vacant falls between two (or three or four) stools. Amidst a wash of tacky shops, crowded boutiques and pop-hungry tourists, Vacant is a hive of possibilities.

Vacant: Jingumae 3-20-13, Shibuya-ku, tel. 03 6459 2962, openly daily.