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Tomsung&Co: Outstanding Tailor in Yokohama Chinatown
If you are looking for a high-quality tailor in Japan, you should definitely check out Tomsung&Co. in Yokohama Chinatown. This Chinese tailor has been operating in Yokohama since the end of the Meiji era. They have a living heritage of the history!The port of Yokohama was officially opened in 1…(371 words)
Suetsumuhana
How to Negotiate Cheaper Prices for Japanese Products?
Well, to be honest, I've been in Japan some 25 years and never negotiated a price. Well, maybe okay, at the electronics store in Akihabara or when buying real estate. I've noticed a big hint that negotiating is possible is when the clerk pulls out a calculator. So, if you sort of hesitate in front …(179 words)
Hakuhinkan ginza shop, vstone robot shop are good places to collect souvenirs for kids
Hakuhinkan Ginza - http://www.hakuhinkan.co.jp/guide_en.html is a place to visit for sure. Here you can find lots of toys, puzzles, gadgets from Japan that will surely be liked by kids from any country. Its an awesome place. Vstone - kids robots building place - http://www.vstone.co.jp/english/…(121 words)
suku
Cheap, Used Books at Japanese Store Book Off
I used to be an avid manga reader and I would always buy my manga at bookoff. Buying a manga brand new will cost you about 400 yen while one at bookoff will only be 105yen. The books are usually in good condition and buying second hand is more ecological. Bookoff has other things you can buy. The b…(84 words)
GenS
The World's Largest Uniqlo Store in Japan
The world's largest Uniqlo (Japan's largest and most popular clothing brand) store opened recently in Ginza on the main shopping street. I happened to pass by the other day and could not stop myself from stepping in, stupefied by the sheer size. The store has 12 floors and sells pretty much every p…(196 words)
GenS
What does the kiosk on the train platform offer?
A convenience store on the train platform where you can buy very basic stuffs! Kiosk offers best possible basic needs with a minimum space on the train platform. We had Kiosk even before all the convenience stores did not exist. As each Kiosk store has only one staff, they use a lot of full…(221 words)
totowatanabe
A Few International Supermarkets and other places to shop
There are a few international supermarkets located around Tokyo. Some of the better known markets are:1. National Azabu, located close to Hiroo subway station (Hibiya Line). See the website: http://www.national-azabu.com/e_index2.php2. Meiji-ya (Meida-ya) has a few locations around Tokyo an…(393 words)
Joe Peters
Bunbogu Cafe has the Best Japanese Stationery to Make a Travel Journal
Bunbougu （文房具） is the Japanese word for stationery and it includes all kinds of items that you might use for writing, drawing, or paper crafts. In Tokyo Omotesando, you can find a selection of the best stationery from Japan at the Bunbougu Cafe. It is a stationery store and cafe combined. Pi…(251 words)
David
Buying movie tickets are easy as pie!
In Japan, buying movie tickets is easy, as it can be done at the movie theater. Unless it is a new movie, the process of purchasing tickets is smooth. You simply have to go to the movie theater and tell the person at the cash register/desk the title of the movie and the time. Sometimes, they have m…(110 words)
RieS
Hand-made Camping Knife and where to buy and sharpen knives.
Snow Peak is a famous camping equipment manufacturer from the Tsubame Sanjo area of Niigata Prefecture. It was started by the father of the current president as a manufacturer of carpentry and work tools. But Yukio Yamai, the founder, was an experienced mountaineer, so he decided that he should m…(431 words)
mikekato
Top Five Most Purchased OTC Drugs by Visitors in Japan
HealthyTokyo surveyed three drugstores at the bustling Tokyo International Airport*, also known as Haneda Airport, to discover the consumer purchasing preferences of foreign visitors to Japan.We assumed that visitors from Asian countries would have different preferences from those from the West…(128 words)
HealthyTokyo.com
Japanese sweets : “Yatsuhashi”
When you visit one of Japanese historic city, Kyoto, I would like to recommend its famous sweets “Yatsuhashi” for souvenir. It’s hard baked cracker having a cinnamon flavor. The name comes from Kengyo Yatsuhashi, a good “koto”(a long Japanese zither) player. Therefore Yatsuhashi cracker looks like …(57 words)
Hideki Tazawa
How about making your own original wagashi at this warm-hearted Japanese confectionery?
The sweet-maker “Japanese Confectionery Mirakuan”, famous for their “Mikan Monaka” sweets, offers visitors the chance to experience making wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets.The company founder and chairman Noboru Murofushi came to greet me (photo 1). In his smart, cool white confectioner’s apr…(1109 words)
Kanagawa P.G.T.D.
Must Have Japanese Souvenirs: Tenugui
If you're looking for a souvenir that is truly Japanese, look no further than "tenugui" - a thin hand towel made of cotton. Although the idea of a hand towel as a gift sounds simple, and it well may be, tenugui also happen to be one of the most popular souvenirs you can buy in Japan - popular even …(280 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Where to Gyaru
The area between Shibuya and Harajuku is Mecca for Japanese "Gyaru," cool young girls. The two places where these girls converge in each location is at 109 in Shibuya and Takeshita Street in Harajuku. 109 is a department store, where many of the most popular Gyaru brands have their prestige shops…(190 words)
mikekato
Toys "R" Us in Japan isn't just any other Toys "R" US
Toys "R" Us is a children's toy store that can be found around the world. However, the Toys "R" Us store in Japan is different from any of the Toys "R" Us I have seen. Japanese toys nowadays are very high-tech. I used to love going to the arts and crafts section to get the toys that make badges, wa…(123 words)
RieS
Makuhari Garden Walk
Makuhari Garden Walk is right next to Kaihin Makuhari station. This is a great outlet mall with numerous shops from brand name fashion for handbags to sporting goods. Also, Costco is nearby as well, although visiting Costco is best by car. Two stations before Kaihin Makuhari is Minami Funabashi s…(64 words)
Kevin
Japanese Rock and Roll, Buy Tickets at a Convenience Store
The easiest way to purchase concert tickets, or pretty much any ticket, is at your nearest convenient store. Any of the major "combinis" (seven-eleven, lawson, sankus, and family mart) will have a ticket machine with English guidance. The key is to find the machine (usually next to the printer and …(102 words)
GenS
Crazy Colorful Nails: A very unique Japanese souvenir
For people who are interested in fashion and playing with their look, getting gel nails done in Japan is a must-try experience.Unlike a regular manicure, gel nails and art can last for up to 6 weeks. You can get any design imaginable, from a basic lame' gradation (where the tips of your nails a…(198 words)
Chiara
Japan's Expanded "Tax Free" system for tourists
If you are coming to Japan on a tourist visa (or if the stamp in your passport says "temporary visitor") and in Japan less than six months, you can take advantage of Japan’s tax free system. Save 8% on Everything from electronics, alcohol, clothes, and more. Just for tourists.Currently, Japan h…(490 words)
Peter
100 Yen Shop Shopping Sense
I've yet to meet anyone who doesn't think that 100 yen shops aren't great. There's just so much of everything that you can find for a mere few coins. If you can find it at a convenience store or local market, you can bet your nearby 100 yen store probably will, too.It used to be one might hide …(252 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Enjoy shopping Japanese products everywhere !
Have you ever experienced the following situations about Japanese products? “After I visited Japan and bought some Japanese products, I want to buy them again in your country… “ “I wanted to buy Japanese product but you could not find in your country…” “I got Japanese souvenir…(636 words)
R2C8
Shopping in Sogo!
My favorite department store is Sogo, which can be found near major stations and city areas. I go to Sogo for different errands. The second floor of the basement (B2) is a great place to buy food on the go, go grocery shopping and purchase Japanese sweets and cakes as souvenirs for your family. I l…(262 words)
RieS
Local Shops Have Great Prices Too
Daiso is actually a Hiroshima company that is now in Australia and other countries around Asia as well. However, none of the products are actually made in Japan. Of course it is fun to walk around and see all the cheap Chinese made products, but you can actually find most of the good things they ha…(387 words)
jjwalsh
Weird Japanese Devices: Vegetabrella
I found this site Japan Ichiban that is an online shop for cool things from Japan. I particularly like this vegetable umbrella and will probably by this for my mom to take back to her for Christmas this year. It is fun to browse through the different items since they have sourced them from around t…(102 words)
Japanese candy will offer great packaging and unique flavors
You can't go wrong buying Japanese candy. You will see some of the most creative packaging that will make the person receiving the candy wonder whether to open the candy or display it. It can look traditional or futuristic. But you are probably wondering what does it taste like and that is the mo…(169 words)
JudithMikami
Tourist Tip #1: Invest in a Suica or Pasmo IC Card
The Suica and Pasmo IC cards are e-money cards that can be used in a variety of ways. The two most practical: riding public transportation and shopping. The cards are accepted at an impressive number of locations, including convenience stores, coffee shops, coin lockers, vending machines, and many …(226 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Shoes Fit for a King
I like shoes. Not enough to have 3000 pairs, like the wife of a former Asian dictator, but I think good shoes are a very important thing. A good pair of shoes keeps our feet on the ground, after all.Atsushi Inoue is a Shoe Creator. Not just any shoemaker. His shoes are, no doubt, a mixture …(294 words)
mikekato
Japanese lottery
If parimutuel, think of them as a Japanese version of Lotto (in fact there is something called Lotto on sale here as well); usually these tickets can be bought at booths located near Mizuho Bank, in addition to standalone booths found on street corners... there are also "Takarakuji" tickets from st…(86 words)
Mike's
Try discount ticket shops
If there's a discount ticket shop, called kinken shop, in your neighborhood or near places you go to, try find movie tickets there because they're cheaper. A movie ticket for an adult is 1800 yen, but usually at kinken shop, it's around 1,300 to 1,500 yen. It's a good deal if you're not going to se…(87 words)
Natchan
medal games for adults purely for fun
one can enjoy or kill time at game centers. There are many type of gaming machines for all kind of age. you have to purchase some medals to play the machines, and it is not exchangable for cash, but you create an account and keep it, valid for 2-3 months in the game center until your next visit. On…(65 words)
lucaslim
The Glory that is Onigiri
Often translated as a Japanese rice ball, they tend to come in two distinct shapes: disc and triangle. Onigiri is packed rice with some kind of filling inside then usually (but not always) wrapped in nori or seaweed paper. Imagine a kind maki sushi hamburger. They're easy to eat on the go and they'…(200 words)
Nate
Step into Old Tokyo
I recommend taking a stroll through Edogawabashi, on the Yuurakucho line. It is not exactly gorgeous like the shopping streets of Ginza in Tokyo, or Kannai in Yokohama, but it has an unmistakable old Tokyo feel to it. "Shoppy" Japanese tunes play over the tall speaker posts lining the street, and s…(147 words)
KurtisW
Where to Buy Tickets in Japan?
Purchasing a ticket for a sporting event is easy in Japan. Unlike in the states, you cannot print out your ticket at home. Everything is usually done at a convenience store. You can either buy a ticket online and then visit a convenience store to print your ticket and make the payment or you can ju…(148 words)
GenS
Underground Shopping
Shinjuku station is absolutely massive, and can provide hours of entertainment, if you are a shopper that is.One place that I got repeatedly dragged to by my girlfriend when I was a student here in Tokyo is the underground shopping avenue that runs from the Marunouchi line area to the ground le…(117 words)
KurtisW
Aritsugu - famous "Hocho" (cooking knives) brand
"Aritsugu" is one of the famous Hocho brand in Japan. They have shops at two locations - Kyoto and Tsukiji(Tokyo). Tsukiji's one is set up by Kyoto Aritsugu. I found the below video clip from YouTube which can tell you the atmosphere of the Kyoto Aritsugu shop. They are located in Nishiki Marke…(110 words)
EmiOnishi
Ame Yoko Cho
Ame Yoko Cho is the name of a shopping district located between Ueno and Okachimachi Stations. It's name is a Japanese acronym which has two meanings. The original name is said to mean Candy Store Alley, because the area had many candy and snack stores. The area still has some stores that sell c…(269 words)
mikekato
"Furoshiki" can be a great gift!
Furoshiki is known as traditional culture representing Japanese Culture and it can be a great souvenir. Furoshiki can be used not only as a cloth wrapper for special presents but also as a part of your fashion. It's very neat to have your own favorite Furoshiki pattern and/or size. If you are inter…(80 words)
Hideki Tazawa
Umbrella and Japan: a love affair
Japanese people have a gift to feel when it is going to rain. As soon as the first rain drop drops, they all get their umbrella open. I come from Belgium. In Belgium, it rains a lot, and often. Rain has many feelings: cold, big drops, small drops, a wall of rain, ... Nevertheless, nobody has um…(405 words)
Claire
Tokuyama Shoes
Tokuyama Shoes has its home in Kawanehoncho, tucked away in the northwestern side of Shizuoka Prefecture, inland from Shizuoka City and away from the more famous parts of the prefecture, which is home to half of the sacred Mt. Fuji and also the Izu Peninsula, with its world-class onsen and sightsee…(444 words)
mikekato