Cosmetic Guide; Japanese women and beautiful skin

August 20, 2007 - 11:37 am by akko@hakata in Culture  

1. Rush into Matsukiyo , for common & reasonable comsmetics.

Matsukiyo is a drug chain store, popular among young girls.

There’re hundreds of Matsukiyos all over Japan, but those in downtown or large shopping malls puts special emphasis on beauty related products, especially in this season, sunscreens and whitening cosmetics (lotion, essence, emulsion, facial masks).

Each brand (Shiseido, [...]

Japan Matsuri 2007; Premier Collection of Japan’s Festivals

August 7, 2007 - 8:42 am by akko@hakata in Others  

In Shinjuku, you can experience, more than 20 Matsuri (Festivals) and Traditional Performing Arts of all over Japan, at the same time, in the same place!
(Please see `About Matsuri’ below)

*To get the image; promotion video is available here! (flash)

About Japan Matsuri 2007

Sessions: August 24(Fri) - 26(Sun), 2007
Place: Shinjuku Koma Theater
Organized by Japan Matsuri [...]

Sweets Theme Parks

- 6:34 am by akko@hakata in Culture, Food, Others, Travel  

For many women in Japan, Sweets Theme Parks are paradice! It’s like an amusement park of sweets, offering not only cakes and puddings, but also the place to relax and talk!
During summer season (-Aug.31), they offer special varieties to cool us. Each shop is competing very hard to attract customers, with beautiful looking, delicious sweets, [...]

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 [...]

Shibamata

August 4, 2007 - 10:16 pm by kiokitok in Travel  

Located in the northeast of Ueno, Shibamata still preserves the atmosphere of old Tokyo. Getting off the Keisei line at Shibamata station, you walk through Sando, a tiny street leading you to the major temple or shrine. A lot of old buildings, most of them from the 1950s, are preserved along the street. [...]

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 [...]

Sanya

July 28, 2007 - 5:58 pm by kiokitok in Others  

Sanya became popular among foreign tourists these days. There are a lot of cheap hotels with single rooms. However, it has been known as a synonym of slum with lots of working-class people hanging around.

History of Sanya is not so long. There were already people in poverty living here. However, the [...]

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 [...]