Tokyo Shopping Tips by AusPinay

*Shopping Area > Odaiba: CULINARY TRIP W/O GETTING OUT OF SHINJUKU STA. Odaiba Review

It is at the basement of huge ODAKYO Department Store inside the SHINJUKU STATION complex!

You don't have to get out of Shinjuku Station building as the department store is right there- just follow the signs.

In another of our family misadventures, I got separated from my family and got to Shinjuku on my own (will talk about this separately). I tried getting out but was quickly overwhelmed as SHINJUKU is enormous! So I decided to stick around Odakyu Department store as it has everything-rows of little boutiques selling clothes, bags, accessories, jewelries, etc.

Anyway, after sulking for a few minutes, my growling tummy led me to the basement of Odakyu which is filled with the most amazing array of food- freshly cooked fast food like sushi, tempura chicken and meat products, baked goods from simple breads to pastries and sweets, fresh fruits and vegetables, the list goes on!

It is both a visual and artistic experience just checking out all those yummy looking food! Why fret that you are lost in Tokyo without your family? THESE ARE COMFORT FOOD of he highest level!

Ironically, I ended up buying just a bag of assorted giant round rice crackers as I was still a bit worried how to find my family! (When in doubt, go to the info desk of the train station, they gave me our hotel's number and from there I contacted my hubby who as I suspected went back to our rooms with my boys!)

What to buy: Lots of food items so the sky is the limit! Anything really depending on your taste buds!(Of course there are also clothes, shoes, and practically any item you like to check out in a department store.)

What to pay: From 200 yen for a bag of rice crackers and less for a steamed bun,etc...The price depends on what food item you like. Seafood products are always a bit dearer. But you will never go wrong choosing any item as they all look very fresh and clean!

Address: Minato-ku

Directions: Yurikamome DAIBA

Theme: Department Store

Little Parasol Shop, GINZA: GINZA FOR CHEAP PARASOLS and STOCKINGS Ginza Review

The little parasol shop in front of a huge department store in GINZA made quite a business for our family as it was raining cats and dogs when we got there from the train station. We were off to the SONY building first but then the boys poncho were no match for the TOKYO drizzle we were experiencing.

Luckily we found this little parasol shop just in front of a big department store a few minutes' walk from the SONY Building. It is right at the entrance of the building so it is easily visible to anyone passing by the huge intersection called the GINZA 4-chrome intersection, which has become GINZA shopping districts familiar landmark!

The male Japanese shopkeeper was really friendly. At first hubby and I got one for each of us worth around 524 yen. Then my youngest got jealous and found some nice ones with animal shaped handles. The shopkeeper said they cost "many many money" and suggested something cheaper (he saw we had raincoats already and probably thought getting expensive umbrellas were too much,LOL!). Anyway, it turned out to be really nice also with an animal handle and only cost 500 yen. That did it for my son and he happily chose a yellow kids' umbrella with an elephant handle.

(My boys got inspired to buy them as most Japanese seem to carry one - rain or shine! Japanese of all ages, men and women have an umbrella as part of their daily trek to work, school, shopping, etc.)

I also got three nicely designed stockings (all made in Japan) and pure cotton black long socks for 1,050 yen for three pairs! Bargain!

WHO SAYS GINZA is EXPENSIVE? ( Well, we are not really label conscious so...)

What to buy: parasols/umbrellas of various sizes

What to pay: around 500 yen for the average umbrella

Address: start from Chuo Dori St. and Hanumi-Dori St. GINZA

Directions: JR YURAKUCHO / Tokyo Metro GINZA

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.ginza.jp/

POKEMON CENTRE: CRAZY FOR POKEMON Anime and Characters Review

As usual, we chanced upon this shop while looking for the water bus from Hammatsucho Station. The tourism guide said it was just an 8 minute walk. However, walking in the rains, we got sidetracked and found the Pokemon Centre which thrilled my boys!

As you can imagine, being fanatics of these famous Japanese animation character and its other products, the cold and the rains have been forgotten and the water bus ride we were supposed to take to Odaiba!

From the seemingly endless supply of Pokemon memorabilia and other amusingly products most of which are not readily available in Australia, being shopaholics, my boys knew what to get! They quickly snapped up a couple of
Nintendo DS styluses of course for their Nintendo DS lite consoles! They had designs showing the different Pokemon characters. They also got a few for their best mates! A pair of them costs around AUD 8.

A couple of 100 yen coins also went inside a machine which dishes out little Pokemon figurines. My youngest was ecstatic to get one of his fave characters PALKIA! (You see you never know what you will get when you push the button!)

What to buy: The list of special items abound. It depends on your needs/preferences.

What to pay: Prices start from as low as 200 yen for little figures you get from the machines around the shop.

Other Contact: go to the pokemon website for jp

Theme: Toys and Games