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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
Best Tourist Souvenir-- Samurai Umbrella!
Purchasing a real samurai sword in Japan is very difficult, especially after they enforced the laws against the possession of knives a couple years ago. I also assume that taking a samurai sword out of Japan will definitely be a hassle at the airport. A better option might be purchasing the samurai…(112 words)
GenS
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)
OKAKI-sun
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
Japanese Souvenirs @ Can Do, Meguro Tokyo
Tokyu Store Super Market is located on the first floor of our multi-tenant building, and on the 2nd floor, there is a 100 Yen Shop, Can Do. So it is very convenient for us to buy anything. Can Do now has many kinds of Japanese souvenirs for foreign travelers, and I found good ones.Sushi magnets…(257 words)
skymaho
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
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)
Mandarake
Buying manga and anime anywhere in Japan is easy. It is available pretty much anywhere. After all, nearly every convenience store and station kiosk has a pretty broad selection of manga, for children and adults. And since there are Tsutaya and Geo shops all over Japan, you can almost as easily f…(487 words)
mikekato
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
Must Have Japanese Souvenirs: Kendama
Japan is a veritable treasure trove of souvenirs and gifts; there's absolutely something in this country for anyone you can think of - and it's usually unbelievably cool. In this "Must Have Japanese Souvenirs" series, Deep Japan senpai will share with you the coolest of the cool, the strangest of t…(279 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
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
Buying a Used or New Car in Tokyo japan
When arriving in Tokyo or other areas of japan you may be wanting to buy a used car. Be ready for the advertised price not to be the final price. Depending on the length of registration, taxes, dealer fees etc there could be as much as 400,000 yen extra on top of the listed price to get the car …(246 words)
Mick Lay
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
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
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
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
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
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
See if You Like Shochu
Of the varieties of alcohol in Japan, Shochu is the most common hard liquor that is often drank on its own and is mixed in a variety of drinks. It's strength is typically in the 15-20% range and comes has a wide variety of brands to try. It tastes like sour plums. Even if you don't like it on its o…(87 words)
KurtisW
When Shopping in Japan Live as the Japanese Do
Shopping in Japan can be a dream. The stores are beautiful and the shopkeepers are very civilized and unaggressive. One thing to remember is that when the staff say "Irashaimase" it basically means welcome and is a set phrase at every establishment. They are just welcoming you and not being pushy i…(113 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
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
Japan’s Farmers Markets
Since the onset of the notion of people bringing their consumable goods together in one area for others to sample, enjoy, and obtain, they were unknowingly creating the concept of markets as we know them today. What might come to mind when I say the word market are smartly lined shelves, refrigerat…(321 words)
Alex
2k540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN: shopping under the Yamanote line
There is a hidden street under the Yamanote line tracks near Ueno's Ameyoko Shotengai between Okachimachi and Akihabara. Follow the elevated JR train tracks to 2k540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN and you will find a quiet place filled with the best handcrafted Japanese goods.There are about 50 small stores and w…(155 words)
David
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
Bringing Japanese Tabi to the World
Japanese people typically wear tabi when they dress up in Japanese clothes, such as kimono.These resemble socks apart from the fact that the big toe is separated out from the other toes. These days most people wear western clothes and few Japanese wear tabi on a daily basis.Musashino Uniform Co…(346 words)
HiraganaTimes
Souvenirs from Japan
Gachapon capsule toys make ideal souvenirs"Gachapon, coin operated vending machines, are ubiquitous in Japan. Unlike their downscale cousins in the US, which usually dispense stale candy or cheap plastic gadgets, gachapon figurines can be collectors items. The variety is endless, and changes co…(387 words)
DeepJapan
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
Great department in Japan.
I would like to suggest some good departments in Japan. Isetan, Marui and Sogo, these 3 partments are my favorite ones which sell agreat food in the basement floor and sell clothing.(31 words)
PatY
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)
Bouncy Skirts the Newest Tokyo Fashion Trend
And, as for fashion, how about these new bouncy-wouncy skirts I spotted in the display window at Issey Miyake in Omotesando?!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCPRlwQeYQ&feature=youtu.beIt is as if your skirt or blouse was on a trampoline! We understand that Issey Miyake is all about the move…(185 words)
Kong
What Japan is proud of - Craftsmanship! : Japanese Watches II
Part 1 - Evolution of the "Timepieces"1st Floor mainly focuses on the evolution of the timepieces.(1) The Start of Time MeasurementEquatorial Sundial made in Qing Dynasty, China (see photo)Chomon points the Polaris, and it casts the shadow on the dial parallel to the equator. Hour ma…(527 words)
KIH
Tourist Tip #3 (Revisited): Stay Away from Souvenir Shops
In one of my previous "Tourist Tip" posts, I suggested staying away from conventional tourist-trap omiyageya (souvenir shops) and visiting instead some of the cooler places where there's more to shop for at better deals:http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3317There are many such places to visit. Som…(171 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Quality Jewlery- Nozomi Project
If you are looking for beautiful gifts that can also help in the rebuilding of a broken community in Japan, the Nozomi project is a great place to shop.The Nozomi project is based in Ishinomaki, Tohoku. Nozomi means "Hope" which is perfect for this company as it helps rebuild the lives of peopl…(273 words)
jjwalsh
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
ISETAN Department Store with an abundant line-up of products and unparalleled customer service
There are a number of major department stores in Shinjuku area, Tokyo, offering a wide variety of shopping locales for international visitors. Located next to Shinjuku 3-Chome subway Station, ISETAN is a veteran among Shinjuku's department stores and they focus on high-quality, unique items especia…(578 words)
Aom