11/26/2015

Odaiba


     Odaiba is a popular shopping and entertainment district on a man made island in Tokyo Bay. It originated as a set of small man made fort islands , which were built towards the end of the Edo Period to protect Tokyo against possible attacks from the sea and specifically in response to the gunboat diplomacy of Commodore Perry.
     More than a century later, the small islands were joined into larger islands by massive landfills, and Tokyo began a spectacular development project aimed to turn the islands into a futuristic residential and business district during the extravagant 1980s. But development was critically slowed after the burst of the "bubble economy" in the early 1990s, leaving Odaiba nearly vacant.


Rainbow Bridge


     The Rainbow Bridge connects Odaiba to the rest of Tokyo. The two story bridge is an iconic symbol of the bay and is especially beautiful during its nightly illumination. The bridge supports an expressway, a regular road, the Yurikamome train line and pedestrian walkways along both sides.

Palette Town


     Palette Town is a large shopping and entertainment complex consisting of the Venus Fort shopping mall, Toyota Mega Web, a Ferris Wheel, the Zepp Tokyo music venue and Tokyo Leisureland.

Tokyo Big Sight


     Also known as Tokyo International Exhibition Center, Tokyo Big Sight is Japan's largest exhibition and convention center and one of the bay islands' boldest architectural creations. A wide array of events are held at the Big Sight throughout the year including theTokyo International Anime Fair, the Comiket comic fair and theTokyo Motor Show.

Oedo Onsen Monogatari


     Opened in 2003, Oedo Onsen is a hot spring theme park which reproduces the atmosphere of the Edo Period. Here you can enjoy various types of indoor and outdoor baths which are fed by hot spring water pumped from a depth of 1400 meters. Restaurants, massage, games and other entertainment, as well as overnight stays are available.

DiverCity Tokyo Plaza


     This shopping, dining and entertainment complex opened in 2012. Its most unique attraction is the Gundam Front Tokyo with various attractions and a shop centered around the anime series' robots. A "life sized" Gundam statue stands in front of the building.

My opinion:
     Odaiba offers too many nice places to visit and discover new experiences. Easy to access by both train and ferries. For me is worth visiting. It has many interesting attractions within it and great for shopping ! There's a massive arcade as well if you enjoy those types of things. Gundam was really cool to see also.

Shibuya 

     Shibuya is one of the twenty-three city wards of Tokyo, but often refers to just the popular shopping and entertainment area found around Shibuya Station. In this regard, Shibuya is one of Tokyo's most colorful and busy districts, packed with shopping, dining and nightclubs serving swarms of visitors that come to the district everyday.
     Shibuya is a center for youth fashion and culture, and its streets are the birthplace to many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. Over a dozen major department store branches can be found around the area catering to all types of shoppers. Most of the area's large department and fashion stores belong to either Tokyu or Seibu, two competing corporations.

Hachiko Statue


     A statue of a loyal dog named Hachiko. According to a famous story, the dog waited for his master every day in front of Shibuya Station, and continued to do so for years even after his master had passed away. It is one of Tokyo's most popular meeting points.

Center Gai


     The birthplace of many Japanese fashion trends, Center Gai is a busy pedestrian zone in the heart of Shibuya lined by stores, boutiques and game centers. In the evenings the street is crowded with young people heading to night clubs, restaurants and bars, or just loitering around.

Shibuya Hikarie


     Shibuya Hikarie is a new high rise complex with cultural space just east of Shibuya Station. Besides a theater and exhibition floors, it offers office space on its upper floors and shopping and dining on its lower floors.

My opinion:    

     When you are in Shibuya first feeling is an astonishing sight, hypnotizing if you watched too long. Best viewed from starbucks. At times, makes you feel like you are looking at ants running around! And shinjuku is the most entertaining places for the young locals and tourist, the Center Gai its the epicenter of japanese young brands and accessories. An interesting place to visit, you will see just a glimpse of the japanese new generation culture. You should find Hachiko because of landmark of shibuya. Don,t miss Shinjuku, If you are going to Japan.

11/19/2015

Harajuku 

     
     Harajuku is the common name given to a geographic area spreading from Harajuku Station to Omotesando n popular reference Harajuku also encompasses many smaller backstreets such as Takeshita Street and Cat Street spreading between Sendagaya in the north to Shibuya in the south.


Takeshita Dori


     The symbol of Harajuku and birthplace of many of Japan's fashion trends, Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is a narrow, roughly 400 meter long street lined by shops, boutiques, cafes and fast food outlets targeting Tokyo's teenagers. Because of the street's popularity, it becomes extremely busy and crowded on the weekends. Interesting shops and restaurants can also be found along some of the side streets.

Omotesando


     Referred to as Tokyo's Champs-Elysees, Omotesando is a one kilometer long, tree lined avenue, serving as the main approach to Meiji Shrine. Numerous stores, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, including several leading fashion brand shops, stand along the avenue. This area generally caters to an older and wealthier clientele than Takeshita Dori.

Kiddy Land
 

     One of Tokyo's most famous and popular toy stores, Kiddy Land has a fantastic selection of toys and other products to amuse kids, including a Snoopy Town and Hello Kitty Shop on a total of five floors. The Omotesando store was reopened in July 2012 after being reconstructed and redesigned.

My opinion:
     Takeshita Dori is lined with boutiqies selling all sorts of things. Clothing, shoes, accessories, candy, costume and even crepes! You will find some funky clothes, some people do wear. And you will find lots of "fashion-forward" shoppers with rainbow hair, lots of facial piercing and other funky accessories. Kiddy Land is good too. Because Several floors packed with toys. If you're looking for gifts for the little ones, or if you just want to feel like a kid again! Definitely the place to go.

Shinjuku 2




Takashimaya


     Opened in 1996, the Shinjuku branch of Takashimaya consists of 15 floors, including a food department in the basement and three restaurant floors. It is the main store of the "Takashimaya Times Square" complex that also houses a Tokyu Hands branch and Kinokuniya book store with a large foreign language section.


Keio


     Keio Department Store consists of 11 floors, including a food department in the basement and several restaurants on the restaurant floor. The department store belongs to the Keio Group, which also operates a suburban railway line from Shinjuku to western Tokyo.


Yodobashi Camera



     Yodobashi Camera is one of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers, and especially strong on camera equipment. Yodobashi's main store is divided up between half a dozen buildings near the west exit of Shinjuku Station, while a smaller branch is located near the station's east exit.


Bic Camera


     Bic Camera is another of Japan's leading discount electronics retailers. It has two large stores in Shinjuku: one in the Odakyu Halc Building near the station's west exit and one east of the station near the Isetan department store.


Yamada Denki


     Yamada Denki is one of Japan's most successful electronics chains, and has opened two large branches in Shinjuku: one northeast of Shinjuku Station near the entrance to Kabukicho, and one near Yodobashi Camera's main store on the station's west side.

My opinion:
     For me shinjuku is the best shopping area in Japan. It has many department store. This post is show you a lot of it. I don't have any idea about shinjuku. If you have a chance, you should try it.

Shinjuku 

     Shinjuku is a special ward located in Tokyo MetropolisJapan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration centre for the government of Tokyo






Odakyu     

     The Odakyu Department Store in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward is the most imposing sight on the western side of Shinjuku Station, with its 14 stories and sporting a soaring tower-like feature in attractive adobe-colored gradations. 
     Odakyu Shinjuku has 14 floors above ground and two below, all but five of them stocking merchandise. Most of the department store is for women, but there are international boutiques on the first (ground) floor, restaurants on the 12th, 13th, and 14th floors, a men’s department on the 7th floor, a department for “babies, kids and teens” (the “teens” bit being largely wishful thinking!) on the 9th floor, books, stationery and fine art on the 10th floor, and – best till last – food galore on the B2 floor.


Isetan Department Store Shinjuku


     With a history of over 100 years Isetan is a veteran among Shinjuku's department stores. The Shinjuku store is Isetan's flagship and consists of ten floors, including restaurants on the top floors and a food department in the basement.

My opinion:
     Isetan department store is reminiscent of the early days of department stores where you were sucked in by the beauty of every thing. When you go early December at the start of the shopping season so the decorations were gorgeous. Every section was inspiring and inviting. 




11/12/2015

Tokyo

     Tokyo is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. It is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. 

Tokyo Imperial Palace
     
     The current Imperial Palace is located on the former site of Edo Castle, a large park area surrounded by moats and massive stone walls in the center of Tokyo, a short walk fromTokyo Station. It is the residence of Japan's Imperial Family.


Yurakucho

 


     The Yurakucho (有楽町, Yūrakuchō) district lies one stop south of Tokyo Station along the JR Yamanote Line. Yurakucho offers a wealth of shopping and dining opportunities. Yet at the same time, Yurakucho has a more approachable, relaxed atmosphere than its upscale neighbor, and parts of it maintain a charming, old neighborhood feel.
     One of Yurakucho's most interesting draws is the lively restaurant district built up under the brick arches beneath the elevated train tracks of the JR Yamanote Line. Known in Japanese as Gado-shita, from "below the girder", these favored watering holes of Tokyo businessmen occupy virtually all of the free space under nearly 700 meters of track on both sides of Yurakucho Station.

Marunouchi
 

     Located between the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, Marunouchi is one of Japan's most prestigious business districts. During the Edo Period, Marunouchi (literally "within the enclosure") was located within the outer moats of Edo Castle and contained the residences of some of Japan's most powerful feudal lords. Together with neighboring Otemachi, Marunouchi is now home to the headquarters of many of Japan's most powerful companies, particularly from the financial sector.

My opinion:
     Tokyo is an amazingly large place and always crowded, but it can be a lot of fun. And it’s have many place that you can go.
     First is Imperial Palace. It is very serious place where you can look but not really touch. The Emperor of Japan and his family live here and they are considered to be the direct descendants of the Japanese sun-goddess     
     Second is Yurakucho. It is surrounded by a huge number of restaurants, both international as well as local food. Many of the restaurants are very small and many do not have English menus. However, you can eat like locals here.
     The last one is Marunouchi. It is the walls Street in Japan. Most of the Big company and International Bank may have their head office here. If you find hotel It has a lot for of you.