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Ginza has been the leader of culture since the late 19th century.  Mainly in fashion, and also in food culture.  Many Western foods were first introduced in Ginza, and some Western-Japanese fusion foods were born.

You may have seen the store in the photo above, near Mitsukoshi and Matsuya.  This is the flagship store of Kimuraya (木村家, the sign in the photo reads 家村木, for Japanese was read from right to left in the past), a famous bread company.
Kimuraya, first named Buneido (文英堂), was founded in 1871.  The famous Anpan was invented here, as the harmony of Japanese and Western food culture.  Anpan is bread with sweet bean paste inside, and a salted cherry blossom on top.

What occured afterwards in Ginza?
In 1895, the first Western-food resraurant, Rengatei (煉瓦亭) opened.
In 1897, Ginza Sembikiya (銀座千疋屋) opened as a fruit store selling imported fruits, and also started the first soda fountain in Japan.
In 1902, Shiseido, the now famous cosmetic brand, opened a soda fountain (currently named Shiseido Parlor) in its shop, and started selling soda and ice cream.
In 1911, Cafe Printemps, a cafe mocking a cafe in Paris opened, and became the watering hole for cultural figures.
After WW2, many luxurious restaurants from all over the world opened in Ginza.  With Lecrin and Maxim’s de Paris, and many exclusive clubs, Ginza came to be concerned as the area of luxury.

Soda fountain machine, displayed in Ginza Shiseido Building.

Though the appearance has changed a lot, there are many old stores and restaurants still open in Ginza.  While walking around Ginza, look for the trace of history, and you sure will find a lot!

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Merry Christmas!
…and the next thing to think about is the coming year

In Japanese, New Year’s Eve is called Ohmisoka (大晦日).
Misoka (晦日) means ‘last day of the month’, and New Year’ Eve is the most important month-end, so it is called Oh(大, big)-misoka.

People tend to be very busy on Ohmisoka, because they have much to do to prepare for the new year, and New Year’s Day in particular.
Through cleaning is usually done in spring in the West, as there is a term ’spring cleaning’, but in Japan, it is often done on the last few days of the year.  In Japanese style houses, this cleaning involves changing the paper on Shoji (障子) doors and setting Tatami (畳) mats out to air in the sun.  The purpose doing this in the cold winter is to get ready to welcome in the new year with everything—including people’s minds and bodies—in a fresh, clean state.

After cleaning and all, it is time for supper.
Around 23:00 on Ohmisoka, people often gather at home to have a bowl of Soba.  This Soba eaten in Ohmisoka is called Toshikoshi Soba (年越しそば, year-crossing noodles).  This tradition has the meaning of a wish to be able to live a very long (like Soba) life.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

It’s the season of Christmas preparation!
Many ornaments are seen at discount stores etc.  If you are missing Christmas goods from the US or Europe, there is a shop where you can find them.

Daikanyama Chiristmas Company is a full-year Christmas shop in Daikanyama, Tokyo.  They have many ornaments, snowdomes, and more, from the West.  Also, there are original goods which the shop ordered to European craftmen, are only available at this shop.

Many of the goods sold here are hand-maid, with no same product in the world.  The warmth of hand-maid goods shall bring you a nice Christmas.

Shop early, and have a merry, well-prepared Christmas!

Daikanyama Christmas Company
Website: http://www.christmas-company.com/index.html (Jap)

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Pacific Residence Daikanyama Sarugakucho 【Finished/終了】

Agent Commission 50% off!

Address:  9, Sarugakucho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 6 minutes walk to Daikanyama Station / Toyoko Line
10 minutes walk to Shibuya Station / Yamanote Line, Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, etc.
11 minutes walk to Ebisu Station / Yamanote Line, Hibiya Line
Completion: Jun. 2006
Structure: Steel-reinforced Concrete

Key Money: 1 month
Deposit: 2 months (when keeping pets, 3 months)
Contract: 2 years
Parking: JPY54,600 / month
Pets: OK

One accent of Pacific Residence Daikanyama Sarugakucho is this cortile.  Look upon the sky, and enjoy the wide open space

The design of this building fits in Daikanyama, a town of fashion and luxury.

Elevator hall and mail boxes.

Corridor of the 6th floor.

#603 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 2 + service room
Floor Area: 111.54 sqm / 1200.65 sqft
Rent: JPY506,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY14,000/month

Room entrance.

Shoes closet.  No need to squeeze your shoes in small spaces in this room!

Corridor.

Bedroom1, with a walkin closet.

View from bedroom1.

Service Room.

Balcony.

Rest room, wash room, and bath room.

Living dining room.

Bed room 2 and the living dining room is divided with a sliding door.

Kitchen and storage.

To the balcony, from the living dining room.

View from the balcony.

#506 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 2
Floor Area: 75.88 sqm / 816.79 sqft
Rent: JPY367,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY8,000/month

Corridor.

Bath and toilet.

Living dining room.

Bed room 1.

Bed room 2, parted from the living dining room with slide doors.

Balcony.

Kitchen.

#505 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 1
Floor Area: 52.63 sqm / 566.52 sqft
Rent: JPY262,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY8,000/month

#404 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 1
Floor Area: 45.13 sqm / 485.79 sqft
Rent: JPY235,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY8,000/month

#312 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 2
Floor Area: 97.10 sqm / 1045.21 sqft
Rent: JPY438,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY12,000/month

Living dining room.

#217 【Finished/終了】

Studio type
Floor Area: 100.27 sqm / 1079.33 sqft
Rent: JPY490,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY0

Kitchen and living dining room.

#216 【Finished/終了】

Studio type
Floor Area: 61.11 sqm / 657.80 sqft
Rent: JPY385,000/month
Common-area Charge: JPY0

物件名：パシフィックレジデンス代官山猿楽町
賃料：216号室385,000円、217号室490,000円、312号室438,000円、
404号室235,000円、505号室262,000円、506号室367,000円、
603号室506,000円
敷／礼　：2/1
仲介手数料50％Off

Thank you for checking Pacific Residence Daikanyama Sarugakucho.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

One remarkable characteristic of the traditional Japanese living is that paper is used for various purposes.
For example, to keep out sunlight from the house, Japanese housings use Shoji(障子), which is made of wooden frame and paper, instead of using curtains made of cloth.  Shoji is also used as room dividers and doors.

Shoji is made of Japanese paper, Washi (和紙).
Compared to western paper, the fiber used to make Washi is much longer.  This makes Washi tough, and makes its life span long.
Washi was also used as Fusuma (襖, sliding door which divide rooms), Byobu (屏風, folding screen), etc.

Fusuma. Byobu.

Wonder why Washi was used so heavily?
For the Japanese climate is hot and humid, it was important to build houses in which people can enjoy comfortable lives since ancient times.
Washi was used for housing because it modulates humidity, and the material was plentiful.

Washi is not only used for housing.
Surprisingly, it was even used to make umbrellas!  The surface is coated with Kakishibu (柿渋, fermented juice of date plum) and oil, which repels water.

Today, Washi is not only used in the traditional way, but also used as modern art.  Various goods such as light shades are made, to fit modern houses as well as traditional Japanese houses.

Would you like to live with Washi too?
You can buy Washi at some craft shops, and interior accessory shops.

I recommend Haibara (榛原) for Washi goods.
Haibara is a long established shop, which has been in Nihombashi since 1806.  It was the first store to export Washi.  Washi from Haibara is housed in museums in Europe, such as the Louvre.

Haibara (榛原)
Location: Nihombashi, Chuo-ku
1 minute walk from Nihombashi station (Ginza line, Tozai line, Asakusa line)
Website: http://www.haibara.co.jp/index.html (Japanese)

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Comforia Mishuku 【Finished/終了】

Agent commission free!
Free rent for 1 month!
No keymoney!

Comforia Mishuku is the perfect apartment for cat lovers!
Below are the reasons why.

1. There are room doors with wicket gates for cats.
2. Floors and walls are made with material which are resistant to dirt and scratches.
3. There is room to place your cat’s toilet.
4. Balcony handrails do not have interspace, to prevent your cat from falling accidentaly.
5. Air conditioning is running 24 hours, keeping the air in the room fresh.
6. There is an indicator in the elevator, that tells others whether there is a cat on the elevator or not.

So, Comforia Mishuku is a great place to live comfortably with your beloved cat

For those who are not so interested in living with cats, the merit for you to live here is that Comforia Mishuku is located in Ikejiri-ohashi, which is only one station from Shibuya.

Another thing you should note is that Comforia Mishuku faces the National Route 246, so the environment might not be so quiet.

Address: 3, Ikejiri, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 6 minutes walk to Ikejiri-ohashi Station / Denen-toshi Line
13 minutes walk to Sangen-chaya Station / Denen-toshi Line
Completion: Mar. 2004
Structure: Steel-reinforced Concrete

Key Money: JPY0
Deposit: 2 months (if keeping cats, 3 months)
Contract: 2 years
Parking: Available
Pets: OK up to 3 cats

Convenience store on the ground floor of the apartment, and a shop for cats next door.

Comforia Mishuku　#903 【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 1
Floor Area: 44.30 sqm / 312.92 sqft
Rent: JPY124,000/month
Management Fee: JPY6,000

Comforia Mishuku #1304  【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 1
Floor Area: 45.48 sqm / 489.56 sqft
Rent: JPY166,000/month
Management Fee: JPY10,000

Large shoes box at the entrance.

Bath, with a drying machine.

Living dining kitchen.

Bedroom with cat steps

Comforia Mishuku　#1303  【Finished/終了】

Bedrooms: 1
Floor Area: 44.30 sqm / 476.86 sqft
Rent: JPY175,000/month
Management Fee: JPY10,000

物件名：コンフォリア三宿
賃料：1304号室166,000円、1303号室175,000円、903号室124,000円
敷／礼　：2(猫を飼う場合は3)/0
仲介手数料無料！

Thank you for checking Comforia Mishuku.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Park Court Akasaka The Tower #702 【Finished/終了】

Agent Commission 50% off!
No keymoney!

Bedrooms: 2
Floor Area: 92.92sqm / 1000.22sqft

Address: 4-14-14, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 8 minutes walk to Akasaka Station / Chiyoda Line,
9 minutes walk to Akasaka-mitsuke Station / Ginza Line & Marunouchi Line,
9 minutes walk to Aoyama-icchome Station / Ginza Line & Hanzomon Line
Completion: Jul. 2009
Structure: Steel-reinforced Concrete

Rent: JPY430,000/month
Management Fee: JPY0
Key Money: JPY0
Deposit: 4 months
Contract: Fixed Term Lease Contract 3 years
Parking: JPY35,000-66,000/month
Pets: Negotiable

Park Court Akasaka The Tower is a building that overlooks the Akasaka Imperial Grounds.
Great access to fashion complexes, cultural facilities, and offices such as Tokyo Midtown and Akasaka Sacas.

Before entering the room, some photos of the common areas.

The garden.

Open lounge.

Hall.

Elevator hall.

And to the room!

Entrance.

Master’s bedroom.

Wide walk-in closet, 4.78sqm.

Restroom, with a stylish washbowl.

Bath.

Kitchen.

The kitchen faces the living dining room.

Living dining room.

View from the living dining room.

物件名：パークコート赤坂ザ・タワー
賃料：430,000円/月
敷／礼　：4/0
仲介手数料50％Off

Thank you for checking Park Court Akasaka The Tower.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

The Towers Daiba 33F 【Finished/終了】

Agent Comission 50% off!

Bedrooms: 4
Floor Area: 226.71sqm / 2240.37sqft

Address: 2, Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2 minutes walk to Odaiba-kaihin-koen Station / Yurikamome
Completion: Aug. 2006
Structure: Steel-reinforced Concrete

Rent: JPY900,000/month
Management Fee: JPY0
Key Money: JPY0
Deposit: 3 months
Contract: Fixed Term Lease Contract 2 years
Parking: JPY16,000-/month
Pets: Negotiable

Penthouse with great view, 4 bedrooms and 2 living rooms!

Entrance.

Master’s bedroom and the walk-in closet.

From the bathroom, the view of the ocean and a Ferris wheel.

Washroom.

Restroom.

Kitchen and the counter.

Family room.

Living Dining Room.

物件名：ザ・タワーズ台場
賃料：900,000円/月
敷／礼　：3/0
仲介手数料50％Off

Thank you for checking The Towers Daiba.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/