Furusato Antenna Shops (Satelite food shops) in Tokyo; you can get local, healthy, unique food of all over Japan!

August 6, 2007 - 5:58 pm by akko@hakata in Others  

What is Furusato Antenna Shops?

Furusato Antenna Shops (Chiho Bussan Kan in Japanese) are a Satelite food shops, of distant prefectures, mainly dealing with unique local food.
Today they attract many Japanese people, by offering the mood of food culture experience, or even trip, by making very local mood.
To understand this, let me note that [...]

Antenna Shops of Hakata; foods, cup-sake, Glico @ Canal City Hakata

August 4, 2007 - 12:43 pm by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

Here’s another Antenna Shop. It’s in Canal City Hakata, the largest and fashionable shopping mall in Fukuoka, Kyushu.
It deals with, of course, Hakata local foods,

Not only that.

Glico sweets, and variety of Japanese specialities are also available,

including fashionably bottled sake.

We call the transparent ones especially `cup-sake‘.
It used to remind us of tired businessmen, for [...]

Shopping in Ginza 2; Toys, Hellokitty…find coolest Japanese souvenir

August 3, 2007 - 12:32 pm by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

Experience Japanese latest culture with cute characters!

1. Japanese Toys and Games

Not only Michel Jackson, but many celebrities secretly have visited this special toy shop in Ginza, Hakuhinkan.

They sell;

-Latest Character goods (like KiddyLand) (1F)
-Dolls, stuffed dolls, music boxes (2F)
-Childrens’ toy, including railway minitures (3F)
-Video games, card games, Rubik’s, others (4F)
-Rika-chan, Japanese Barbie Dolls (B1F)

*open [...]

Shopping in Ginza 1; find finest Japanese souvenir @ Kyukyo-do (fan, paper, incense), Kimuraya bakery, and Mitsukoshi (sweets and more)…

- 11:24 am by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

1. Writing material and Incense

Kyukyodo is the traditional (since 1663) and most popular shop.

They sell;
-traditional Japanese writing material, ink, brush, inkstone, special paper.
-Japanese caligraphy (Shodo) material
-letter set, postcards
-little envelope (Noshi-bukuro), to give money for celebration, such as giving New Years’ pocket money to children.
-Beautiful Japanese papers for craftwork (or for wrapping, book-cover)
-Japanese seasonal [...]

Flea Market 2007 Summer@Yahoo Dome (Fukuoka)

July 25, 2007 - 12:31 pm by akko@hakata in Others  

Aug.18.Sat (10:00-18:00)
Aug.19.Sun(10:00-17:00)

Entrance Fee: 700 yen
(*advance tickets is available for 500 yen in `Loppi’, LAWSON’s machine)

Parking is available for 17,000 cars (300yen/hour, usually).

Place: Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome, 5th gate
*From Tenjin, you can take a bus at 1A bus station, get on a bus with the number 44, 151, 152, 200, 201, 204, 300, 301, 303. or [...]

Foreign Credit Card is now acceptable @ 12,000 Seven Eleven Banks

July 24, 2007 - 7:31 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

On July 11(Seven Eleven!), the ATM machines of Seven Eleven Banks started to deal with foreign credit cards, master, visa, American Express, JCB. Now you can draw Japanese Yen with your credit cards anytime at nearest Seven Eleven.

Throughout Japan there’re more than 12,000 Seven Eleven Banks in each Seven Eleven Shops, the most popular convinience [...]

Men Chanko, the hottest and healthest noodle of Hakata

- 4:00 pm by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

When I ask people what they like to eat in Hakata (Fukuoka), most of them say Tonkotsu Ramen(noodle with pork bone soup), especially of Ichiran, which is the most popular Tonkotsu Ramen restaurant).

But there’s another one local people love, Men Chanko!

So, this is it!
Can you believe this is only 567 yen?
(Hakata food is delicious and [...]

Foreign Money Exchage in Akihabara

July 22, 2007 - 11:24 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Japan has a bad reputation for not having enough money exchange machine, but situation is changing.

Akihabara, the mecca of cult culture (maid kissa, manga, and of course electrics), has a Foreign Money Exchange center in front of Yodobashi Camera Shop, attached to Akihabara Station.

Beside this, you can try Daikokuya’s money exchange servicea discount ticket shop. [...]

Furusato Antenna Shops; you can find Local Food of all over Japan in Tokyo !

July 21, 2007 - 1:25 am by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

Furusato antenna shop (furusato means hometown) is where you can find variety of local products, mainly food and drinks, in one particular shop.
The mecca of antenna shops is Kotsu Kaikan Building in front of Yurakucho station, (near Ginza), Tokyo.

Out of 15 Antenna Shops in this area, I especially recommend `Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza’.

(Hokkaido is the [...]

Try Best and Freshest Ikesu squid ? Visit koga @ Hakata

- 1:12 am by akko@hakata in Food, Travel  

Among gourmet businessmen in Japan, Hakata has a good reputation as the best place for business trip.
Out of many Hakata food, the most dynamic one should be ikesu squid!

Ikesu is alive seafood, and in Hakata Ikesu restaurant, squid are directly sent from Yobuko port nearby.

This is the shop I was recommended by Hakata locals, and [...]