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Tokyu Hands, Here I Come!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006


I am feeling better today, thank you. Though I (accidentally!) got Mike sick. Whoops.

It doesn't hurt that we also finally confirmed our Tokyo trip for early next month. I'm already scouring the web for lots of shopping, design and other must-do suggestions (and we are so going to the Hello! Kitty theme park. Can I get an ohhhh yeaahhh?) I remembered that Design*Sponge had asked for Tokyo shopping suggestions a few months back (and then I remembered that I had suggested the Lucky's Tokyo shopping guide in her comments), so I'm off to a good start. Anyone else have any tips or tidbits?

I'm also already planning to purchase some adorable Kogepan paraphernalia. (He's a small loaf of burnt bread! What could be cuter?) I think he'll make the perfect addition to our current brood of Ugly Dolls.

14 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I live in Tokyo, but haven't been to Sanrioland (what have I been thinking?). I read the recommendations on the other blog and most people have covered the big locales and stores. I love Harajuku, especially Ura-Hara. Check out Hanjiro in Harajuku - it's an awesome 2nd hand/DIY clothes store. The interior is amazing. Definitely the LaForet building although I get completely worn out every time I go in. Wandering around Harajuku for an afternoon is a must. I just picked up the most adorable Little Red Riding Hood tights for winter. I can't wait to wear them. Other possible areas to check out would be Shimokitazawa (cool little town five minutes from Shibuya by train) - lots of vintage shops. If you are crafty I would recommend my own hood - Kichijoji. There you can check out Yuzawaya (Japan's largest craft store), Cottonfield (fabric, beads and buttons), La Musee (vintage bead and button store), etc. Another place I've been meaning to check out is Mannen-ya in Shinjuku - it's a shop for Japanese workmen, but you can pick up some really original stuff there like split toed shoes for really cheap. You can email me anytime, if you need any other advice. cheers, kat pinkurocks (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Hey! Pinkurocks - I read your knitting blog!

I don't have any good shopping suggestions because I was a frugal backpacker when I was visiting Japan... but I have to say Sanrioland is one of my all time favourite memories. Surreal is the best way to describe it. I went at a not-so busy time - and I got a private tour of Hello Kitty's house - from Hello Kitty herself! I'm going to be buried with the photo of me sitting on her bed with her, holding hands. And all of the entertainment is craziness. So awesome.

JellyGirl said...

I loved La Foret in Harajuku. :)

Anonymous said...

oh man, i am so jealous. as usual!

Funky Finds said...

omg! a hello kitty theme park? my best friend would be in heaven. she loves all things hk!

Ms. Spinach said...

Oh my goodness, I hope Mike is prepared to handle so much crafty, pink awesomeness.

Thanks!

Ms. Spinach said...

Oh! And! I coerced my favorite former-Tokyo-living friend for ideas as well, and though I'd post her highlights in case details on Kiddyland was of interest to anyone else:

Okay, so for toys, you HAVE TO go to Kiddyland in Harajuku/Omotesando. It's on the main Omotesando strip. If you get off at Harajuku on the weekend, you'll see the kids all dressed up in their crazy goth gear. Kiddyland is 5 stories of toys and I went there almost every weekend.

For fabric, go to Nezu/Nippori. It's a little far (northeast), but you can combine it with a historic walk of old Tokyo --there's a sculptor's museum/house there (he liked to sculpt cats). There's a whole street full of fabric where the design kids go to get their stuff. Anyhow, ask someone and they'll be able to tell you.

I also heard that Daikanyama is also the happening place for cool little boutiques. Check it out and let me know! Also, If you're on Omotesando, be sure to wander off the main strip because there are tons of little boutiques to be explored.

Anonymous said...

wow - you have some great suggestions there. Nippori is a good one. I would also recommend Kappabashi - the place well-known for its plastic food. It's a great place to find unique presents and both boys and girls like this place. It's more of a wholesale area for restauranteurs/shop owners but you can get the most amazing original stuff for really cheap. You can also pick up some rocking Japanese knives.

Another couple of shop recommendations for unique gifts and just fun shopping are:
Bunkaya Zakka ten in Harajuku
http://www.bunkaya.co.jp/index.html
Village Vanguard (this place has a few locations)
http://www.village-v.co.jp/

Another recommendation is Venus Fort in Odaiba - um, this place is like Las Vegas for shopping

And I completely recommend visiting and soaking in a Japanese rotenburo (outdoor hot springs) - it will completely revitalize you after a day of hard shopping :)

It's fun thinking of recommendations. I should write all of these down and use them for future guests!!

Anonymous said...

Say hi to hello kitty when you see her!Have fun

Anonymous said...

Oh you are so lucky to go to Tokyo, I am seriously jealous! Japan is one of those places that's on everyone's list of places to visit. Have fun and do share lots of photos from your trip!

IMEDAGOZE said...

Oh dear, I think I have to print this comment page of yours. I can always rely on your blog to get new shopping haunts, local and abroad.

Anonymous said...

The place you mean is Puroland in Tama Center ?? It is great fun very cool been twice once when I knew only a little Japanese and then again a year later - it made a lot more sense then.
I am always made so sad by the lack of Kitty goodies in one place - Sanrio stores have point cards for free gifts (pointo card kudasai - will get you one) great free kitty stuff ........buuuttt each and every store has to have a different one thus making it really tough to buy the things you can in different stores and still get a good point prize. The better Sanrio stores are within Isetan in Shinjuku and Sogo in Yokohama - yet you will often find really cool items at smaller Sanrio's based internal to a department store or at the stand alone Gift Gates. You also find loads of kitty stuff never avaliable in a Sanrio store in other shops Don Quixote (cute penguin with wolly hat - looks like your taking your life in your hands entering) is a great kitty gold mine I have bought amazing Kitty things here I have mever seen in the Sanrio store but just on Sanrios Japanese people only website (no Japanese Credit Card no buying for you. There is a mamoth Donki in Shinjuku and decent ones in Yokohama and Machida.
The Hakyuen 100yen store is great for Kitty good the massive 5 floor Dasio in Machida has a lot of Kitty stuff all just 105yen each. Have fun its kitty lickin fun here in Japan

Anonymous said...

I usually buy the dofus kamas.
I hope i can get kamas in low price.
Ibuy dofus kamas for you.
dofus gold is present for you.
Do you like cheap kamas?

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