Nowa Restaurant Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo

Many people coming to Japan find it difficult to find restaurant. Foreigners tend to look for restaurants on street levels were they would find them at home. Here restaurants are located in any part of a building. You can always find good restaurants on the top floor of department building or in the cellars (B1 Floor) or in special buildings that are made just for restaurants. As an example of this you have the Nowa Building in Shinjuku were you can find one restaurant on each floor of the building. So do as these people do. Look at the menu for each floors restaurant and then take the elevator up to the restaurant you have selected. At the Nowa Building at Shinjuku Station they are all very good.
Shinjuku East Exit

109 in Shibuya, Tokyo

If you like to see the place were fashion is created in Japan 109 is the place to go. It is a kind of department store full of small shops with local designers. The clientele is "Shibuya Girls" and it is just wild. The music is loud, the shopping is hard core, one size fits all, buy it now because next week it might be out of fashion.
Here sometimes you also see Western ladies in the 40th with small suitcases shopping. They are all from different clothing companies buying things that they can copy back in Europe or in the USA.
Go here on any day in the late afternoon and just look at the people and you know that fashion is something that constantly changes.
It is so easy to find this place in Shibuya. Everyone knows it!

Were to buy Global knives in Tokyo?

Many people going to Japan wants to buy a Japanese knife. Most people don't want to buy the traditional knifes because they are difficult to take care of. In Sweden the Japanese knives from Global are very popular and the price in Sweden are almost double that of Japan.
You usually find them in the household section at department store. If you happen to be in Shibuya were most visitors to Tokyo go, you just go to the eight floor of the Tokyu Department Store at the big square. You find the knives next to the elevators there.
 Remember to put them in your suitcase as you fly home and remember that if you give a knife as a gift you have to put a stone ( harder then the knife ) in the box so that the friendship will not be broken!

Guide Michelin guide at Shibuya Station in Tokyo

The guide Michelin shocked the world when it published its first guide to the food heaven of Tokyo a few years ago. It gave more stars to the restaurants in Tokyo then to their main restaurant in Paris. Some small sushi restaurants now have to hire staff just to take reservations or to answer the phone and say that the restaurant is fully booked. It has been for both bad and good. People from all over the world now know that Tokyo is the city in the world with more Guide Michelin star restaurants then any other city in the world. And that this city is a food heaven!  If you want to visit one of them you can buy the book or if you happen to be at Shibuya station you can check out the Guide Michelin guide machine on the Yamanote line platform, direction Shinjuku.

Tokyo Tourist Information Center at Tokyo Station

When you are in Tokyo and need to have more information about Tokyo or the rest of Japan the Tokyo Station Tourist Information can be of great help. Of course they speak good English and have huge knowledge of Japan.
You can find the Center at the main entrance at the Marunouchi Trust Tower North 1st Floor. in the old recently renovated station building.
http://www.tictokyo.jp/en/

Tower Records in Shibuya, Tokyo

Today when most people stream their music it is really cool to find a real music store were the people that work there really love music. You can ask the staff about everything and they will do their best to find what you are looking forward. In this huge building in Shibuya, Tokyo the many floors are filled with records, suggestions (in Japanese) and if you happen to be here on a Saturday afternoon there is always some promotions going on with Japanese stars there. This is also a good place if you want to go to a concert while in Tokyo.
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If you need a new hat in Japan, Bossio in Shibuya is the place to go!

I just love to walk around Shibuya in Tokyo and find small stores that sell things that you can not find in other places. This small store in 2 floors sell any kind of hat or cap any man can need. Bossio has it all and for very reasonable prices. You might just think that you need a new hat for this spring! I did!
More info on www.bossio-shibuya.com

Karaoke at Shidax

Of course there is no problem to find a place to sing Karaoke in Japan, but there are many places and of different standards. One of the best chains to go to is Shidax. You find them all over Japan. This one is in Shibuya and is a bit more used to foreign guests. Here you rent a room for 2 to 30 guest per hour. You then order food and drinks if you want and just start the party. There are of course English songs as well. The most difficult thing can be to learn how the Japanese remote control works. Have fun and sing out loud! Open 24/7

ABC-MART the low cost shoe store in Japan

The ABC-MART shoe store is a big chain in Japan. They have stores all over and is hugely popular. Here you can pick up regular shoes but they are most famous for selling sneakers of all kinds. If it is ok for you to buy a model of a sneaker that is a few months old you can get them for great prices here. They also have Converse that are made for Japan only. Don't miss picking up shoelaces of all kinds for nothing to pimp your shoes back home!
There is an ABC-MART at any place were you find young people. This one is in Shibuya of course!

Yamanote Line - The best way to move around in Tokyo

I think that Yamanote Line is the best way to move around in Tokyo. This JR Line takes you to most of the main attractions of Tokyo like Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Ueno, Akihabara, Tokyo, Ginza ( Yurakucho) and the train station Shinagawa.
This circle line takes almost 1 hour to go all the way around so it is important that you go in the right direction.
Prices for a 20 minute ride or about 8 stations is 190 Yen only. ( 2 US or 13 Swedish Kronor)
This line also have all information in English, Chinese and Korean.

3 Coin shops in Japan

10 years ago during the financial crisis in Japan a lot of 100 Yen shops opened in Japan. There are less and less of them now but suddenly you have many new 3 coins shops were everything is sold for the same price.
3 coins means that everything is sold for 300 Yen but then you add tax to that and the price is 315 Yen. That price is not possible to pay with 3 coins but in Japan everyone understands that.
This shop is in front of the big Tokyu Hands store in Shibuya.
Get ready for some bargain shopping!
300 Yen is 21 Swedish Krona or 3 US dollars or 2.3 Euro.

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Palace Hotel, Tokyo

Since a few years back Tokyo had finally gotten some new hotels that have the Asian Luxury. The service in Japan is always top notch, but for many years the interiors of the hotels were a memory of the 1980th.
Since a few years back the Japanese capital has gotten new hotels and one of the best of them is The Palace Hotel. It has close to 300 rooms and many of them have the wonderful view over the Imperial Palace Gardens. The location is great for business men and women that wants to stay right downtown Maranouchi area were all the banks are and next to Tokyo Station.  The rooms are  very big for Tokyo and starts at 45 m2.  The lobby lounge with the outside terrace is a rare thing to find in Japan.
The only downside is that the area is rather dead after office hours, but then you have your room and balcony to enjoy! Not to forget all the excellent restaurants!
PALACE HOTEL TOKYO 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 Japan TEL +81-3-3211-5211

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Matakoiya - The smallest restaurant in the world? Tsukiji, Tokyo

Is this the smallest restaurant in the world?
At the outer Tsukiji Fishmarket in Tokyo you find a long row of standing restaurants. Most of them serve great noodles or tempura udon. It's a place for the people that work in the fishmarket and need to grab something to eat before they go home around lunchtime after many hours of work.
The sushi restaurant Matakoiya is a standing sushi counter open to the street with no walls or door. The sushi chef serves 3 guests at a time. The sushi is served on a long green leaf and he is specialized in tunafish.
It's a fun place to grab something quickly if you are in the area. Open from early morning to late afternoon.

For more information on Japan just use the search engine on the left. Type Japan and you find all the blogs posted about Japan.

K-Pop & J-Pop store in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo, Japan

As you might now not only J-Pop but also K-Pop in Japan is really big and spreading around the world. Shin-Okubo on the Yamanote Line one stop from Shinjuku-station is Tokyo's Korea Town. Here you can find great Korean Food but many young people from all over come here to pick up the latest in gadgets from the K-Pop stars! It's a great place to take part of this culture and to look at all the young people go crazy over a coffee cup or a key ring with a special singer on! Or why not buy a new pillow with your favorite star that you can cuddle with a home.
This places can be found just outside the station of Shin-Okubo.

Mandarake - Manga superstore in Shibuya - Tokyo

If you are into Japanese Manga this is one of the must visit places to visit and if you are not into manga this is a must place to visit to!
The Mandarake store in Shibuya Tokyo is the biggest manga store in Japan. It is located in the basement of the Beam Building close to the Policebox not far from Tokyu Hands. This place not only has more the 100.000 manga books in their store but also have all gadgets you can just imagine. They also have a stage for cosplay shows and if you purchase for over 1.000 yen you can sometimes take part in the show on the stage. Here you find people dressed out as their favorite manga character if you are lucky and this is the place to get a good view into Japanese pop culture.
Shibuya Beam B2 31-2, Udagawacho. Tokyo,
 03-3477-0777

Gold's Gym - Japan

Most hotels in Japan does not have a gym and if they happen to have one they are tiny. As in most places you have to be a member to go to a gym to work out. However at Gold's Gym in Harajuku on Omotesando Avenue they accept visitors without a membership and paying for one entry only. The cost is 3000 Yen and it includes access so two big floors of training with with classical machines and free weights. There is also group classes, sauna and an onsen bath.
When running on the treadmill on the top floor you have a great view of Tokyo outside the window.
Remember to bring a passport if you don't live in Japan as you have to register.
You find the gym on Omotesando 100 meters from the Harajuku station on Yamanote Line.
2-3F, 4-3-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo
03-5786 1818
They also have a branch in Kyoto if you need to work out there too!

Spagetti at Pronto café in Japan

When I want to have something quick and simple, European but still with a Japanese touch to it I like to have some pasta at the coffee chain Pronto. You would not think of having pasta at a coffee shop but Pronto serves excellent pasta! Some are classics like Carbonara, but you can also have linguini with tomato cream sauce with crab (favourite) or pasta Mentaiko with cod roe and seaweed. ( Yes, it tastes a bit like Swedish Kalles Kaviar!)
You have all this for about 600-900 Yen that is about 5-7 Euros! Great coffee also and cheaper the Starbucks!
Pronto is a chain and is found all over Japan!

Suica card payment now in Tokyo taxis!!!

Japan is the country were "Cash is King" Creditcards are not used that much and it can be specially difficult with a card that is not issued in Japan. If you do not want to carry cash you can buy a Suica Card for 2000 Yen at any JR train station. That includes a deposit for the card of 500 Yen. You can then recharge this card and use it for all Subway and train transportation all over Japan. You can also use it on most busses, all convenience stores, places like Starbucks and now you can even use it in most taxis. As an bonus is also makes you feel as you live in Japan and you are not only a tourist!

Rush Hour in Tokyo!

The question as a tourist in Tokyo is if you should avoid the Rush Hour or try the Rush Hour!
I think that you have to join in at least once during your stay in Tokyo. Rush hours are early morning, early evening and midnight.
Buy your ticket to the JR Yamanonte Line that goes as a loop around central Tokyo. It does take 60 minutes if you would like to go all the way around. Follow the system and line up on the platform as locals do and you will be amazed how well everything works and how disciplined people are in Tokyo! After the fun experience you will be happy that you don't have to do this every day!

Maidreamin - Maid Café Akihabara

When you visit Japan you should really visit a Maid Café. This one in Akihabara is really a good example of the Otaku thing. Here you will be served you drinks or light meals by waitresses dressed as French Maids. They will treat the guests as masters or mistresses. It's a great roleplay for Anime or Manga lovers  that can now even be found outside Japan. This all started 2001 in Akihabara. It's open during the day and early evening. Try it, laugh and have fun! Have a cappuccino with Helly Kitty drawn on top of it!
Maidreamin 3-16-17, Sotokanda, Chiyoda, tokyo 101-0021, Japan
Phone: 03-6905-7735