I stumbled upon a rare sight whilst walking along the front of Starbucks at the Hachiko crossing. It was nothing unusual at first as I noticed a group of young, trendy girls having a quick cigarette by the roadside.

Soon, my view cleared up and I saw these girls standing by two baby strollers. It was my first experience seeing a “Shibuya Mummy” let alone a Shibuya "Gyaru” mother!

For those who are unfamiliar with the slangs of the j-folk, the word “Gyaru” is a katakanised version of the English word “girl” used to describe heavily made-up, brown haired, Japanese girls. These Shibuya mothers walk around with their strollers, a cigarette in hand constantly blowing smoke right in their children's faces. Shocking isn’t it? Well after living in Tokyo for a few ye... Read More

Many people of the world know what Harajuku is, but why is this part of Tokyo so well known? This part of Tokyo is unlike any other part of Japan. It has a style and a kind of class all of its own. It's known to most as a hang out spot and a place to have fun, but why is this one hang out spot of Japan so hot? Well, Harajuku was mostly made by the outcasts and the odd people, as most Japanese people see them. They make their own fashion and show it off. The streets of Harajuku are like a cat walk for the lolitas and the Japanese gothic crew. They spend hours everyday to come out and show the whole town what they got. Some believe that Harajuku was made to show all of Japan that they were done with the old fashion and ways of Japan. It was seen to some as a way to anger tho... Read More

I hurriedly left my Nihongo class after it was finished, I didn't even have a chat with my classmates because my husband sent me e-mail that he was already waiting for me outside the building. We would be meeting his former co-worker in Yokohama at 7pm. We took the train to Yokohama station and went inside Sogo Department Store. We were browsing the boutiques and shops and didn't notice the time so we had been late for a few minutes in meeting his former co-worker.

We got on the train again to go to Sakura-gicho station. We met them and had dinner at a restaurant in Landmark Plaza where different kinds of shops and restaurants can be found. After dinner we decided to climb Landmark Tower, the second highest tower in Japan (the highest is Tokyo Tower). Landmark T... Read More

Last January, my husband and I went to Tokyo Disneyland. First, we went to Westernland where we had Tom Sawyer Adventure. We got on a boat going to a small island where Indian Camps and villages were found. We crossed a hanging bridge and barrel bridge. We got on a train going around the forest and Mark Twain ship going around the island. Then, we got on Big Thunder Mountain, and had our lunch in a restaurant.

After lunch, we went to Adventure Land where we got on a boat for a jungle cruise. Because I was afraid, I refused to get on the Splash Mountain ride in Critter Country. Then, we went to Fantasy Land where I experienced things I haven't had when I was a kid. I enjoyed Toontown where I had the chance to take pictures with my favorite cartoon characters. I was a... Read More

We are staying in Asakusa-bashi for a few days and are only a few stations away from Akihabara, aka Electric Town. This was one of the few times I didn’t do my homework, so we arrive in Akihabara about 9:20am to find literally everything closed. That added to the drizzling rain made it look like a big mistake. In a small side alley we found a vendor setting up what was more like a stall than a shop, and he informed us that everything opens after 10:00am. Lucky for us, we found a 24-hour steak shop and passed the time eating a giant steak until the Electronic stores opened.

Back out on the main street of Akihabara, the place came to life, and the difficult decision was what to do first. There are tones of multi level stores with everything electronic you can think of. Then I... Read More

Leave it to a skyscraper to teach me a lesson in assumption. Just when I was wondering what was left for me to see in the city, the Shin Marunouchi building at Tokyo Station opened its doors.

Officially up and running on April the 27, 2007, the building is a sleek black giant, standing a formidable 38 floors tall. An office-retail complex; its shopping and restaurant section is open to the public and inhabits the basement to 7th floor.

I was a skeptic, (especially of the ‘office’ aspect of the place) until a Tokyo native explained to me that on weekends, when all of the business people are not around, it has become a major attraction for ‘regulars’.

The shopping area is nice, but the juiciest part of Shin Marunouchi can be found on the 5th, 6... Read More

I still cannot get over with writing about this very nice place in Yokohama, named Sakura-gicho! Know why? Cause it’s just absolutely beautiful and incomparable. I chanced by staying a night in Sakura-gicho in a very nice Washington Hotel. I cannot deny that Sakura-gicho has it’s hidden beauty especially in the evening. The beautiful lights in the building seduce you to glance at them once in a while and would claim “WOWWWW”. There are only few places I called very nice in Japan, Meiji Temple, Mt. Fuji, Hakone, and Sakura-gicho Yokohama. There are more good places though but for these spots are my favorites.

Simplicity is one of my criteria of making a place my favorite. Sakura-gicho has an enormous simplicity that you can’t describe. Maybe because it has no too mu... Read More

If you wanna spend some time for sightseeing, I would definitely recommend to visit Sakura-gicho.

The first time I visited Sakura-gicho by JR Negishi Line, I was so impressed at the wide, spacious, progressive town. It’s surrounded by nice and famous hotels like the Sakura-gicho Washington Hotel, Pacific Hotel, Marutani Hotel, Yokohama Mandarin Hotel, Breezebay Hotel and many more. Remind you that these hotels are not only famous but they have the best accommodations with reasonable prices inn whole Japan. Sakura-gicho is only a station away from Yokohama, 45 minutes away from Tokyo and is very easy to locate. Japanese trains and subways are very convenient though.

My experience in Sakura-gicho, Yokohama last summer was great! I enjoyed shopping ... Read More

Last night I went to Roppongi for the very first time in my life. It was like I’d arrived in Futureland, a sort of utopia where everything is sparkling, big, modern and all cultures live (and party hard) harmoniously. Walking along one city block, I saw various ethnicities mingling together and heard at least six different languages being spoken. Perhaps I am reeling in the novelty of it all, and it isn’t as glamorous as I’d like to believe. But I will relish in my delight whilst I can.

Hitting the 52nd floor Tokyo City View Observation Deck at Roppongi Hills, I continued to be shocked out of my element. Beneath me lay a never ending urban carpet, woven with a billion blinking lights and cream-colored Lego... Read More