Shopping in Tokyo | Living Tokyo

02/27/2011
02/27/2021

Kappabashi Street Kitchen Town

Kappabashi is a street between Ueno and Asakusa, populated with shops supplying the?restaurant trade.? At the entrance of Kappabashi street by?Asakusa street is a giant cook mascot. The shops sell everything from tableware, restaurant furniture, decorations, and stoves, most of them mass-produced. The street’s name is believed to come from either the Kappa?(???臂?, raincoats) of nearby residents which were hang out to dry on the bridge, or from a merchant named Kihachi Kappaya?(???臂遵????????)?who funded the project to build Shinhorikawa River (??医??綏?, doesn’t exist today) for water management. However, due to the homophone with the popular mythical creature, Kappa (羃括?), the group of shops along the street officially adopted the creature Kappa as its mascot.? Images of the Kappa shown on the left?appear on shops along the street and web pages. One of the most popular and entertaining shops is Sample Shop Maizuru.? This is a shop of?plastic display food (sample foods),?found outside Japanese restaurants.? There are many real size sample foods, such as Sushi and cakes, and also miniature samples made into cell phone straps and magnets.? There are also unique interior goods like Sushi clocks! — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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02/25/2011
02/25/2021

Ameyoko, Shop Street in Ueno

Ameyoko (??≪?≧┴) is a?shop street along the Yamanote line rails between Ueno and Okachimachi Station.? The 400m long street?consist of more than 400 stores. Ameyoko is short for Ameya Yokocho (??≪?＜?ゆ┴筝?).? There are several explanations?regarding this name.? One possible origin is that, because this street was a black market selling items disposed of by the US Army gathered here after WW2, this street came to be called Ame (short for America) – Ya (絮?, shop).? Another is that Ameya means Ame (蕋?, candy) – Ya (shop), and the street was named this because many candy stores are gathered here. Any way, Ameya Yokocho is?usually called by its short term Ameyoko?today, and the sign of the streets also reads Ameyoko, as is in the photo above. Today, various goods, such as food (mainly sea food and dried goods), clothings, and fashin items?are dealt in Ameyoko.??The number of sports equipment stores for youths increased in recent years.? On the basement floor of Ameyoko Center Building is a market of ethnic goods, where many of both the clerks and customers are Chinese. In the photo above is the feature of Ameyoko, ‘Tatakiuri (????紕蚊??)’.? Tatakiuri is a?limited-time sale at a highly discounted price.? In […]

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02/22/2011
02/27/2021

Outlets around Tokyo

There are few outlets?near the city heart, but most of them have large parking lots, and if you don’t drive, there are shuttle buses from the nearest stations. The excitement of shopping with big discounts is worth everything! Venus Outlet Outlet in Venus Fort.? The first outlet mall in Tokyo’s 23 wards.? There are many shops of brands popular among the youths. Location: Odaiba Website: http://www.venusfort.co.jp/multi/index_e.html (Eng) Grandberry Mall Almighty shopping mall.? Not only outlet shops, but there are grocery stores, pet goods, hair salons are in the site. Location: Tsuruma, Machida Website: http://www.grandberrymall.com/ (Jap) Gotemba Premium Outlet Outlet in Shizuoka prefecture, about 90 minutes drive from Shinjuku.? There are many outlet stores of high class brands. Location: Gotemba, Shizuoka Website: http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/ (Eng) Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minamiosawa Outlet in western Tokyo.? Many products of the season, samples, and foreign models are purchasable. Location: Tama Website: http://www.31op.com/english/index.html#tama (Eng) — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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02/16/2011
02/25/2021

Shopping Antique / Used Kimono

Kimono is very expensive to buy.? Some are very cheap, but those are inferior in quality…But there is a way to purchase high-quality Kimono at a relatively low price: visiting an used Kimono shop. Of course, these Kimono are not brand new, some of them have stain, but there are many chances to encounter Kimono from the 20th, 19th century, or from an even older period.? Just taking a look at the old Kimono with traditional patterns and retro coloring is exciting! Below are a list some of the used Kimono shops in Tokyo. Jidainuno Ikeda (???篁ｅ?????羆????) Location: 5-22-11, Shiroganedai, Minato-ku Website: http://www.ikedashigeko-collection.co.jp/pages/english/collection/c_index.htm (Eng) Yumezo (紊∵??) Location: 1-17-2, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku Tansuya (?????????絮?) Location: 10-11-3, Roppongi, Minato-ku Antique Mall Ginza (??≪?潟????ｃ?若???≪?若????綺?) Location: 1-13-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku Website: http://www.antiques-jp.com/e.html (Eng) Used Kimono are sold at some antique flea markets too. I hope you will find your favorite only-one Kimono! — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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01/04/2011
02/27/2021

Shopping Food at Department Stores – Depachika

There is a relatively easy, and fun way to?experience?various food culture – visiting Depachika (????????遺??). Depachika?is short for “depaato-chika shokuhin uriba (????????若????遺??蕋????紕蚊?????, department store basement food-selling place)” These are a major attraction bringing customers to the store. Some big department stores have two depachika floors, one for packaged goods, the other for fresh foods. There are various?groceries and products?in Depachika.? vegetable, wine,?bakery, juice, sweets…and there are other attractions. If you walk by the sushi corner, you will hear workers shouting?’Irasshai!’? This means welcome, and is often called out at sushi restaurants. Also, whenever you come, you will see someone?making something — rolling out dough for soba?noodles, grilling taiyaki (????????若??, fish-shaped buns filled with sweet-bean paste), and Western-style decorated cakes.? It is very entertaining, as watching the dough flying high at a pizzaria. Visit your nearby department store for easy entertainment, and don’t forget to buy yourself a delicious souvenir 🙂 — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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01/02/2011
02/27/2021

Big Winter Sale in Japan – Fukubukuro

Sadly, there?is no boxing day in Japan.? But that doesn’t mean there is no sale! The probable largest sale season is the few days after New Year’s Day.? There are big sales of course, and another delight – Fukubukuro. Fukubukuro (胼頮?) is translated ‘lucky bag’ or ‘mystery bag’.? The former?gets the literal meaning better, but the latter is a good one too. Fukurukuro is a bag filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within.? The low prices are usually done to attract customers to shop at that store during the new year.? ?Fukubukuro usually are snapped up quickly by eager customers.??Some stores have long lines hours (or even days!) before the store opens. Traditionally, Fukubukuro?meant a bag with luck and happiness inside.??Representitively, Daikokuten (紊ч??紊?), the God of fortune, toted a Fukubukuro, Lucky Mallet (there is another story about this item), and rice bale.? This can be seen in the drawing above. Fukubukuro in the commercial world?was invented by Ginza Matsuya, a department store, in the late Meiji period.??It was?an easy way for stores to unload excess and unwanted merchandise from the previous year, […]

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12/23/2010
02/27/2021

Book Town Jimbocho

Jimbocho (腑?篆????) is a district in the Chiyoda ward, known as Tokyo’s center of used-book stores and publishing?houses. Jinbocho is an old town named after a samurai, Nagaharu Jinbo (腑?篆???傑音), who lived in the area at the end of the 17th century. After a large fire destroyed most of the area in 1913, a university professor named?Shigeo Iwanami (絏?晦??????)?opened a bookstore in Jinbocho.??This eventually grew into today’s? Iwatani Shoten (絏?晦??後??), a famous publishing company. Over time, the area became popular with university students and intellectuals, and many small bookstores.??There are many cheap restaurants, too. Not only Japanese books, but many foreign books are sold at Jimbocho.? Sometimes, books that were lost in their mother country are found in Jimbocho! If you are interested in books and pictures, just walking around this town will give you excitement 🙂 — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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12/18/2010
02/27/2021

Unique Architecture in Aoyama

Not only the old architectures are interesting in Japan.? Many modern architectures are amusing people, too.? These days, many foreign travelers visit Tokyo to see the distinguish modern buildings. Below are some boutiques, in Aoyama and Ginza.? No need for explanation, you will get a feeling for yourself when you face the buildings (and of course, you can enjoy shopping inside!) Prada Boutique Aoyama Designed by Herzog & de Meuron from Switzerland. Dior Omotesando Designed by SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates). Louis Vuitton Ginza Designed by Jun Aoki Lanvin Ginza Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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12/05/2010
02/27/2021

Coredo Muromachi, Department Store in Nihonbashi

October 28, a brand new department store opened in Nihonbashi.? The name is Coredo Muromachi. Coredo Muromachi focuses on gourmet.??There are many restaurants, and shops concerning food. The highlight of Coredo Muromachi must be Ninben (???????鴻??).? This is a store which sells Dashi (?????? ,Japanese soup stock), and its ingredients, mainly dried bonito fish.??There are various instant bouillons, but Ninben offers you the true taste of Dashi.? In the shop is a Dashi Bar, where you can try Dashi. Another interesting shop is Hakuza Nihombashi (膊?綺ф?ユ????). This is a shop of Haku (膊?, foil), especially leaf gold.? There are food, accessories, cosmetics, etc.? You can even get body arts made of leaf gold! The design of the shop itself is interesting, too.? The wall of the entrance is covered with gold and platinum foil.? It is a rare experience to be surrounded with real gold, isn’t it? Coredo Muromachi Location: Nihonbashi Open Hours: Differ by tenants Website: http://mi-mo.jp/pc/coredo/muromachi/ (Jap) — Higherground Co.,Ltd. 2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan TEL:03-6459-2230 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/

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11/27/2010
02/27/2021

Christmas Shopping in Tokyo

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 HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/ TOP PAGE:?https://livingtokyo.net/