After taking more than 300 pictures in a week of being here, I am off to another trip to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Okinawa!
I decided not to bring my laptop since it’ll add more weights on my already-heavy-luggage and so I’ll be gone for a week on this blog again… but will be back with more pictures and I still have so much to post from this previous week so I’m gonna be posting more stuff after I come back!
Here’s a Rice Ball Stand I saw in Tokyo – how cool!
These Japanese graphics are cool. It’s printed on pouches and coin cases and caught my eye.
Posted under Inspiration, Japanese
Saw these pretty Japanese stamps and wished I could use it in US…
Posted under Inspiration, Japanese
I bought a Japan Rail Pass this time and so I can ride any JR trains/buses including Shinkansen for 7 days – I highly recommend buying this pass if you are thinking of traveling to Japan, you can pretty much go anywhere with this pass.
After seeing too many things and lots of friends in Tokyo (I can’t post everything so I’m moving on to next, but I had a blast! in just 2 days!) I went back to my home, Takamatsu, Kagawa with Shinkansen.
Tokyo Station Shikansen platform:
Inside – so clean and seats are big and spacey!
It was a bit cloudy so it’s hard to see, but in the background, you can see the great Mt. Fuji. HUGE!!!
So amazing. I would have to visit Mt. Fuji again soon… next time for sure!
I got to stay in Roppongi/Akasaka area with my millage on my 2nd day in Tokyo and so I went to cruise around the area. I have been to Roppongi Hills before and I heard that there is a new area called “Tokyo Midtown” so I chose to go explore the new thing.
It was very sophisticated, very refined and everything was so pretty there.
Roppongi Kosaten (intersection):
Ichimizaka:
“Tokyo Midtown” entrance area:
Inside the building. There is a fashion floor and interior design floor and both floors are filled with very sophisticated shops (I couldn’t even take pictures). Interior design floor is very innovating, too.
Bridge to gardenside:
There was this exhibition directed by Issey Miyake that I wanted to see…
and the museum was closed on Tuesday! grr
but this museum is stunning. Very unique looking. I really wished it was open!
Tenugui has been around in Japan forever, very traditional textiles and I find its designs/patterns are so cute and inspiring.
These are called “Furoshiki” — another traditional textile:
Posted under Inspiration
I made a short trip to Akihabara – the Electric Town.
Around the station:
A map of Akihabara – packed with stores!
From the street:
Yodobashi Camera – HUGE electric department store.
There are so many small stores that sell small parts:
One of many arcades:
Lots of Anime stores and figure stores there, too:
From Laputa: Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki
From Dragon Ball:
and… I have heard about them from friends, but never seen the real scene… but there they were, the maids! Everywhere! There are so many “Maid Cafe” in Akihabara where all these girls dressed up as maids and serve you food and drink as you are the master. I heard that now they do a tour around Akihabara and show you around town as maid service. Yes, very bizarre. Only in Japan.
These girls were promoting the cafe outside with flyers on their hands.
This was my first stop to meet up with my friends – IKSPIARI the shopping area in Tokyo Disney Resort. I love shopping in Japan, it’s always so much fun!! Here are some pictures of the things I saw. (Each is from different stores.)
Banana cases!
I think this is the longest flight I’ve ever taken. From NYC to Tokyo, it takes 14 hours and I can’t sleep when I’m on the airplane by myself even though I was up all night getting ready. Thankfully, Continental had a nice selection of entertainment right in front of my seat, it was like having my own “On Demand” cable.
I love watching the flight map and see where I’m flying on earth right now. I love watching outside of the window, too, it’s always amazing. I couldn’t see much this time because I had to close the window the whole time…
The picture is from north side of Canada.
I also started a new crochet project for this trip and they had a power outlet, too, for my laptop!
and… Here I am! In Japan!
I am off to my annual Japan trip. Last year when we were there on February, we did a traditional wedding ceremony and that was such an experience. Randy couldn’t come this time — I am so bumped and I will miss him so badly. I will miss Maia, too… and Mallow and Milo the chinchillas… but my mom is turning 60, my friend is getting married and we have a big girls trip to Okinawa for 2 of my engaged best friends so I have to go home. I will be taking lots of pictures and I will try to post my inspirations, Japanese things, places I visit etc. whenever I can!
