One Day in Tokyo
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ONEDAY CREATIVE LIFE STORE A short walk, just ask any local, from JR Shibuya station will bring you to Tokyu Hands ‘Creative Life Store’, a six-level emporium of absolutely everything the Japanese household requires. It’s sort of like an art and craft supply meets an electronic hobby shop meets a hardware/homeware store and is more of an insight into Japanese domesticity than a one month stay in the country itself. Everything from cigarette papers to nautical hardware, tweezers to artificial lawn and kite strings can be found in its clearly marked sections of consumer paradise. It’s the place to go for disaster prevention supplies (Level B1C), record player needles (6A), and cheerleader supplies (1C). Great buys for souvenir hunters are subtle stationery and Japanese chiyogami and origami papers (4C), noren (doorway curtains- 3C), and Japanese lacquer goods (4C). Even the most avid anti-shopper will be dazzled. 12-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku Phone: + 81-3-5489 5111 INTOKYO by SM King HARAJUKU’S TAKESHITA-DORI. TOKYU HANDS ‘CREATIVE LIFE STORE’ JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE. JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE.
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CREATIVE LIFE STORE supplies (1C). Great buys for souvenir hunters are subtle stationery and Japanese chiyogami and origami papers (4C), noren (doorway curtains- 3C), and Japanese lacquer goods by SM King HARAJUKU’S TAKESHITA-DORI. TOKYU HANDS ‘CREATIVE LIFE STORE’ JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE. JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE.
Transcript of One Day in Tokyo
ONEDAY
CREAT IVE L I F E STORE
A short walk, just ask any local, from JRShibuya station will bring you to Tokyu Hands‘Creative Life Store’, a six-level emporium ofabsolutely everything the Japanese householdrequires. It’s sort of like an art and craft supplymeets an electronic hobby shop meets ahardware/homeware store and is more of aninsight into Japanese domesticity than a onemonth stay in the country itself.Everything from cigarette papers to nauticalhardware, tweezers to artificial lawn and kitestrings can be found in its clearly markedsections of consumer paradise. It’s the place togo for disaster prevention supplies (Level B1C),record player needles (6A), and cheerleader
supplies (1C). Great buys for souvenir huntersare subtle stationery and Japanese chiyogamiand origami papers (4C), noren (doorwaycurtains- 3C), and Japanese lacquer goods
(4C). Even the most avid anti-shopper will bedazzled.12-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku Phone: + 81-3-5489 5111
INTOKYOby SM King
HARAJUKU’S TAKESHITA-DORI.
TOKYU HANDS ‘CREATIVE LIFE STORE’
JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE.
JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE.
+ a d 55
EXAM I N E ANC I ENT ART WORKSAND MODERN I D EAS
From Tokyu Hands it’s a short walk to the nearbyTobacco & Salt Museum. Dedicated to two ofthe most celebrated commodities in Japan, thistastefully odd museum features delicate paintingsand intricate 3-D displays. Set out across fourlevels, the exhibits trace the history of Japanesetobacco use since its introduction in around1600, and the development of salt producingtechnology through the ages. Smoking articles and paraphernalia, old andcurrent cigarette packets from around the globe,and a display featuring the “Who’s Who amongJapanese smoking devotees” is testament to acountry that just won’t quit. The third level iscalled “Japanese Salt and Foreign Salt”, andoffers molecular models, dioramas, and adownright education on the importance of salt onthe evolution of commerce. It’s a sanctuary inbustling Shibuya-ku, and a quiet place to soak upsome history through centuries-old artworksdepicting the symbolism and importance of twosubstances so widely frowned upon in the west.Jinnan 1-16-8, Shibuya-ku Phone: + 81-3-3476-2041
SPEND A FEW DOLLARS ONCUTENESS
From Shibuya station, hop on the JR train toHarajuku Station. Directly opposite the station isthe main drag, Takeshita Dori, a pedestrian onlyavenue of boutiques, salons, and eateries. Rub
elbows with Tokyo’s young fad breakers toexplore the super cool fashions and accessoriesyou never knew you needed. The people-watching around these parts is some of the bestin the world with dolled-up teen cliques gatheringon weekends for the specific purpose of beingincomprehensible and observable. Around thecorner is Harajuku’s more sedate tree-linedavenue, Omotesando-dori, with haute coutureboutiques like Prada, Chanel and Fendi. There’splenty of stylish cafés along this famous strip inwhich to refuel and continue watching thesomewhat ridiculous yet simply brilliant pass youby.
A TASTE OF EDO ( O LD TOKYO )
A few minutes’ walk from Asakusa Station on thesubway Ginza Line and Asakusa Line is Sensojialso known as Asakusa Kannon Temple,Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. Enter by walkingthrough Nakamise, a centuries old shoppingarcade that forms a 250m corridor of shopsselling traditional Japanese attire, trinkets, snacksand handmade sweets and notable rice crackers.It’s a great place for quality souvenirs and a quickmeal. It starts at the Kaminarimon Gate and endsat the main inner gate to Sensoji, Hozomon gate.Inside the temple grounds you can have yourfortune told by drawing sticks or you can buy anEma, a small painted wooden tablet with spaceon the back for you to write your wish. You thenhang it on a special rack and your prayer is saidto be carried to heaven on the winds. Purifyyourself by setting alight some incense, waving itover yourself, and placing it in the massive burneroutside the great hall.
ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE.
TOBACCO AND SALT MUSEUM. HARAJUKU STREET FASHION.
JAPAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE.
