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I’ve been getting fat on cupcakes recently. Near Meidaimae station, along the train tracks there’s a small cupcake shop that makes some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. The shop is called N.Y. Cupcakes because the owners actually went to the U.S. and learned how to bake cupcakes from some cupcake guru, apparently. There’s a whole story about it on the website how they quit they’re jobs just to make cupcakes. On some podcast, I remember hearing about some rich investment bankers in the U.S. who also quit their day jobs to open up a cupcake shop in Beverly Hills, “Sprinkles” was the name I think? Anyways, these cupcakes are good. Not as moist and sweet as your typical american one, but altered to be more palatable for the Japanese. They’re small and cost about ¥200-250 each. I like the chocolate cream filled ones, 2nd and 4th on the bottom row.
Category: Shops & Buildings
The building in Omotesando that used be J-Crew has turned into the biggest keitai shop I’ve ever seen. And of course it’s a Softbank shop. Personally, I think they should save their money to improve their service rather than waste it on trying to look flashy. That’s what Vodafone did and they didn’t last 2 years in Japan.
To make things worse they have this huge poster of Cameron Diaz staring at you. It kind of freaks me out. I heard they paid her a million dollars to be in one of the TV commercials. Vodafone spent a lot of money paying foreign celebrities like David Beckham to be in their ads and look what happened. I think Softbank should learn from that lesson and stick with the local talent. I predict the shop will be gone in less than a year. I guess you can tell that I’m not a big fan of J-Phone > Vodafone > Softbank. It’s still the same mediocre service with a different name.
IT’S RIDICULOUS! There are tons of people lining up for 2 hours to eat a whopper meal. Silly silly waste of time…OK, I admit it. I went to Shinjuku after work today and lined up at the first Burger King in Japan with all these other silly silly people. You see, this afternoon Brad emails me and says let’s go to BK. Well, how can I say no? I mean what better way to spend a Friday night than to line up for 2 hours to eat fast food? Right? Ends up he gets stuck in traffic while I wait in line by myself behind stinky otaku guy. The line moves quicker than I expect and I’m already inside but Brad hasn’t arrived yet. There’s goes my plan to eat inside Burger King. Darn! I order take out and a Whopper Cheese+Bacon for Brad. Get outside, AND THEN he shows up. Very convenient.
The line went all the way up the stairs! When we left, the line was twice the size and reached almost as far as the intersection. Crazy! Of course, I was there to report about it for the blog so I had no choice but to line up and get the story. I would have provided a photo of the Whopper Meal but you know they look like so…
Anyways, as you know Burger King lost the fast food wars to McDonalds years ago and pulled out of Japan. But now they are back with a newer strategy and high-class look. Or so they say, to me the place looks like the old BKs they had in Japan (I went to the one in Takadanobaba) and everywhere else in the world. If you’re thinking of lining up to get a whopper, DO NOT!! There is absolutely nothing special or better about these burgers.
Oh happy days!!! A Natural Lawson just opened up near my house! Lawson is one of the few originally Japanese convenience store chains and Natural Lawson is an offspring of Lawson, to appeal to the LOHAS is all of us. While most Natural Lawsons seem to be only different in name and design, this one is exceptional in the items which it carries. They sell herb tea, organic cosmetics and cleaning products, stationary from recycled paper, fresh organic coffee from a pot and there’s also a small bakery with some natural looking cinammon rolls. The bread products on the shelf look a bit healthier than what you usually would find in a normal convenience store. Maybe it’s that natural, eco-friendly looking packaging that they use, the items themselves still seem kind of suspect.
And of course we all have to have our cookies and snacks. Natural Lawson is careful to select only items that have nutritional messages on the packaging so we don’t feel as guilty. I’m convinced that “organic” or “natural” is a marketing trend and not a dietary one. The chocolate covered sunflower seeds (right) are delicious, by the way.
Convenience stores are a mega industry in Japan. It’s estimated that in Tokyo the average person visits a combini at least 3 times a day and spends an average of ¥900 daily. OK, I just made that up because I couldn’t find any real numbers but I think you’d agree that’s a pretty good guess.
In Japan, the roof of department stores are pretty cool places with pet shops, beer gardens and retro kiddy rides. These are a few photos from the roof of Tamagawa Takashimaya Department store. It’s a very nice peaceful spot and not run down and dirty like the ones in Shinjuku.
Nobu Tokyo opened up a restaurant behind the Okura Hotel and just up the street from where I work. This seems to be the only one listed on their completely useless website so I wonder if the other one in Minami Aoyama is still there. I’ve never had an inclination to eat at Nobu’s because I’d rather spend my money on other things rather than over priced food. I’m not a gourmet. But I might see what lunch is like there. When shops open in Japan people send flower displays like the one in the second photo. This one is from Miyazawa Rie. It doesn’t mean she actually visited the shop, she could have just sent the flowers. I bumped into her once while crossing the street in Omotesando but I didn’t realize it was her until my other friend pointed it out.
Yet another Yakult Secret Base has been discovered. The mystery is unfolding. It seems that Yakult lures unsuspecting housewives to become Yakult Obasans by enticing them with free daycare for their babies at centres like this one. Actually, if you were a single mom, this would be one way to get free daycare and earn some cash, although I can’t imagine it would be enough to live off of. Well, I’m assuming it’s free daycare anyways.
Krispykreme has arrived in Japan. The first shop opened on the south side of Shinjuku and there were long lines as expected. Not as long as for the Wii or PS3 though. I tried a Krispykreme doughnut in Hong Kong but failed to see what the big deal was. I was told that they taste best when they’re fresh off the fryer and with so many people buying them I figured I would be able to get a fresh one, so we lined up for about 40 minutes. On the pamphlet, the doughnuts are advertised as アツアツ or “piping hot.” However, the original glazed I got was friggin’ cold. It was like they put it in the freezer before giving it to me. Even though they had the machine on the first floor pumping out doughnuts, I saw a couple guys bringing carts full of them from another location down the street. It seems like they were packaging up the fresh ones for people who were taking out and giving cold ones to people eating there. What gives!? Completely illogical. I wonder how long they will last in Japan? More coverage of the opening here.
An interesting looking building which is actually an ice-cream stand. I took this last year in Chichibu.
The cool weather is great and I like the fact that the average temperature in my house is around 12 degrees. Yes, very cold I know. But it seems like the wireless network has gotten weaker. Does anyway know if temperature affects the integrity of wireless connectivity?
A very traditional Japanese tea shop. They sell tea leaves and stuff. When people say “tea shop” it means a shop that sells tea leaves, like this one, but when you say “coffee shop” it means a place where you can sit down and drink coffee, smoke, read a manga. However, they don’t say “Let’s have a cup of coffee” in Japanese, they say “Let’s have tea” ちょっとお茶しよう even though it usually means going to a coffee shop and drinking coffee cause let’s face it, nobody wants to pay ¥500 for a cup of hot water and a tea bag. ;-)
I tinted the photo green to give it that green tea feel. Get it?
Check it out. I finally found the place where all those Yakult ladies come from. There’s actually a base where they load up their bicycles before delivering Yakult products to companies and homes. In case you’ve never noticed those Yakult links on the right of my top page, I’m a big believer in the power of Yakult.
And so I had one from the vending machine on the train platform. Yakult 300V is the new one designed for adults.
Years ago when I was a little kid, I used to think Tokyo was a giant robot chogokin heaven and that there were anime shops and toy stores everywhere. I thought I could just get off the plane and buy as many toys as I wanted. To me, Japan was simply an anime and comic toyland. The reality was that there were not as many toy shops as one would expect in a country that produces and exports some of the coolest toys around. In recent years, with more adult otaku refusing to grow up and still playing with gundams (you know who you are) there seem to be more and more toy shops around that target these adult “hobbists.” Before that, the only places you could find “toys” were at the local toy shop like the one in this photo or at a department store (1) This shop is your typical mom & pop toy shop. It had a very carefully chosen and balanced selection of toys and gunpla. The owner made sure there would be something of interest to anybody from age 4 to 40 (2) Japanese Twister!! Placed just at the right height to catch the eye of adults ’cause everyone knows Twister ain’t just for kids ;-)
I’m sure everyone has seen that new building they’re building on the west side of Shinjuku. In case you didn’t know, that’s the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower. Mode Gakuen モード学園 is a school for design. What kind of design I’m not sure exactly but from the looks of it they must have a lot of money to be able to build such a building in the middle of Shinjuku. No doubt they’re probably like other trade schools in Japan (called 専門学校 senmon gakko) where the school acts like a quasi-sweatshop, work gets outsourced to the schools which the students do for little to zero pay. The school reaps the profits from the work the students are doing AND also collects tuition from them which is usually some ridiculous amount on par with private universities. The students gain experience working on “real work” which can help them get started professional once they graduate. So it’s kind of a win-win situation. As for the building, well I think on paper these kinds of designs seem kind of cool but design tastes change quickly and this building already looks dated to me.
By the looks of what’s left of the inside I estimate this house to be about 35 yrs old or more. That’s about as long as a full mortgage. Many Japanese houses are not meant to last forever and 35 yrs seems to be the benchmark. In other words, by the time you’ve paid off your mortgage the house will be ripe for demolition. That is, if you’re still alive after 35 yrs. As you can see the outer walls are pretty flimsy thus living up to the stereotype of Japanese houses being made of paper. Even some modern houses are built with thin walls like this although the materials and interior structures are more contemporary. The walls of my house are pretty thin and I’m sure I can kick a hole through it if I tried hard enough. A strong wind will shake my house to the point where stuff on my shelf fall over. I’m not kidding. The foundation of my house is made of concrete which is the norm these days. The house in this photo appears to be completely wood. Double brick walls like the kind you see in houses in Canada are rare in Tokyo but I’m told that this is standard in colder parts like in Hokkaido. Some of the more expensive houses seemed to have thicker walls but these houses tend to be custom built and cost more than a couple million dollars. Truth is, the thin walls make the structure more flexible during an earthquake and supposedly safer. We’ll see about that. But some people still prefer to buy a modern condominium because they just feel more solid. Condos (called “Mansions” in Japan) are usually made of steel and concrete rather than wood and paper.
This little shop just north of the Setagaya line entrance in Sangenjaya is called Tsuribori which roughly translates to “Fish Pond.” And it IS literally a fish pond. Inside there’s a big hole filled with water and fish, supposedly. You pay ¥1000 and they give you a pole, some bait and you sit around the pond in the dimly lit room and fish. I didn’t try it but I poked my head in to take a look. It was very smoky. I can’t imagine why anyone would pay to do this and if they caught a fish what would they do with it?
Lately, I’ve been reading on a number of Japan blogs that many people have caught colds and are taking a long time getting over it. It seems so coincidental because I’ve been in the same situation since Golden Week. I caught a stubborn cold that just wouldn’t go away and I think I’ve finally over it now. Must be one of those Tokyo things.
Anyway, this past weekend I found my new favorite cafe in Shimokita just a few metres from where I used to live in Ichibangai. Cafe Use is a small, privately owned cafe where you can’t smoke, use your cell phone or bring a pet. Good coffee shops generally are non-smoking so you can enjoy the aroma. Also they don’t allow junior high school students, not sure why the owner would put up a sign like that since I think junior high school students are generally more well behaved than high school students, who knows. But the coffee is REALLY GOOD. I ordered an ice coffee and it took 20 minutes to prepare. They cool it slowly without using ice so the coffee remains thick and tasty and not diluted. The cheesecake and chocolate cake were also very good.
Anybody in Tokyo who has a car or is remotely interested in cars should get over to Super Autobacs in Shinonome (near Odaiba). This store has just about anything you need for your automobile and provides the full range of services from changing oil to audio installation to alignment to dyno etc. They have a huge pit area with about 30 stations and a whole other building just for motorcycles. It’s like Yodobashi Akiba for cars!! The only thing they don’t do is body work. There are many Autobacs and Super Autobacs around Japan but this one is the biggest one I’ve ever been to. The regular Autobacs only perform a limited set of services and just sell the essentials, while at Super Autobacs you can get every kind of interior amenity or accessory imaginable to completely pimp out your ride. On more than one occasion I’ve seen a busload of tourists visiting the store just to buy stuff. If you’ve never driven anywhere in Tokyo you’ve probably never even seen an Autobacs because they’re generally not located near any train station. Although this one is quite near the Shinonome station, it’s still out of the way.
The best shops are not always in the best locations. Sakura Bakery is located in Wakabayashi on the Setagaya line. If you know the area you’ll know that there’s absolutely no reason to get off at Wakabayashi station unless you live there. It’s one of those station stops stuck between more important stops. I was in the area to visit my barber and we got to talking about the bakery. Apparently, it’s quite a famous shop and is ranked as one of the best pastry shops in Tokyo. A quick search on google returned 800+ results. So on the way home I bought some danish rolls and donuts. And all I can say is WOW these were the best I have ever eaten in Japan. Forget about Krispykreme, these homemade pastries are incredible. I bought 4 danishes (one of each kind) and 2 donuts and couldn’t help but eat them all while walking home. It’s a tiny shop with a small selection but it’s worth the trip. There’s another shop in Gotokuji too but this one’s the original.
Here in the heart of residential Tokyo, you can still find some far out places to stimulate yourself. The sign at the top of this shop says “Coin Laundry” but on the door it says “Books, DVDs, Videos” hmm…a hybrid business? Something definitely strange going on here. Not to mention the suspicious looking vending machine out front. “King of Treasure Box” requires you to put in ¥1000 to “find your dream.” Of course, I went into the place, although very cautiously and making sure no one was watching.
And lo and behold, no washing machines. But instead a row of vending machines selling porn. Books, DVDs, Videos. Just as advertised. What if someone actually came here to do their laundry? Can you imagine the look on that person’s face? The vending machines had mirrored glass but as I walked in some sensor was triggered and everything lit up thus revealing the porn. And check out the steal cage on this machine, you’d think they were selling gold bars. I would like to know if this place actually makes any money. I mean you can download porn all you want off the Internet. And in Japan, you can basically buy all sorts of porn anywhere, and it’s not like people are embarrassed about it either. But I supposed some people need to go get a DVD in the middle of the night and these joints provide that service for them. Not that I would know anything about it.
AGLOCO Update: As of this moment, I have 39 people in my network and am in the top 5.90%. Many thanks to those who joined. However, it’s still a far cry from 1000 people I have set as my target so if you haven’t signed up yet, click here to join up. More information about AGLOCO here.
There are thousands of shops and restaurants in Tokyo. Trendy shops open up and before you can get a chance to go there again, they’ve already gone out of business. Surprisingly, the older, bland and unassuming shops last forever. If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you can probably guess that these are the ones I’m fond of. I like the simplicity and I like to feel that a place has a history. I used to live across the street from this tiny Chinese restaurant and during those 3 years I never saw a single customer. I also never ate there because it was pretty expensive and I didn’t want to take the chance! Maybe next time.
This isn’t a photo from Hong Kong, this bar is in Ginza. I’ve been fairly busy today with work and haven’t had time to take photos of HK. Also, I don’t think it would be appropriate to pull out my GR and take photos of the buildings and stuff while I’m with work people. I’ll do that this weekend. But so far I love the place. Lots of things to see and tall buildings. And so many tasty things to eat! I’m wondering why I didn’t come here sooner. I saw some egg tarts beckoning me. Mmmmm..
Found another Yakult base station while walking around the neighborhood. This one was a lot bigger than the the other one with lots of scooters parked in front and not just bicycles. It even has a daycare centre on the second floor where they probably feed yakult to kids.
Yer typical Futon shop. And our favorite characters from Anpanman. I see Thomas and Tweety in there too.
The hand drawn menu for this sushi shop was kind of neat. Although, I didn’t understand why they had those odd prices. The shop is located at the south side of Shimokitazawa station across the street from that ¥1000 all-you-can-eat Shabu Shabu place.
