SHIBU-KASA name stands for 'Shibuya - Kasa (=umbrella)'.

Shibu-Kasa is a new eco-project started in December, 2007.
Aoyama Gakuin University students volunteer group established
a 'Shibu-Kasa' project.

When people are caught in a sudden shower,
they often run into a convenience store close by and
purchase a plastic umbrella which costs around 500 yen.

And after a shower, at convenience stores and Izakaya bars, 
people often leave their umbrellas behind.
Most of them just forget about picking it up later.

Those 'left-behind' umbrellas were used to be collected from
the metropolitan government collector as a large waste and
convenience stores had to call them and pay collection fee.

Students from Aoyama Gakuin Univ., located in Shibuya-ku,
found out about this situation and decided to recycle those
plastic umbrellas as 'ECO' (ecology).

They picked up left-behind umbrellas from convenience stores
and bars in Shibuya with no fee, and put a 'Shibu-Kasa' sticker 
on each umbrella.
They asked shops such as bookstores and cafes in Shibuya
to give them a small space for 'Shibu-Kasa'.

Anybody can use 'Shibu-Kasa' for free and if they return to
any shops have a space for 'Shibu-Kasa' in Shibuya,
they receive a ticket called 'Earth Day Money'.
Every time they return an unbrella receive '50r' ticket which is
50 yen discount ticket can be used at any 'Shibu-Kasa'
project support stores.

At the moment there are over 70 stores in Shibuya have a space for
'Shibu-Kasa'.

Please look for a logo like below for 'Shibu-Kasa'
when you are shopping in Shibuya and get caught in a shower,
it will help you and help environment as well.






You can find shops with Shibu-Kasa here: (sorry, only in Japanese)


For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

SPECIAL NEWS!!

Summer Sale is on at Tokyo Lease Corporation Showroom!

Italsofa, beautiful Italian style sofa sets are now 20% - 30% off.
















Please check their web-site to find other great items too!!
http://www.furniture-rental-tokyo.com/


Tokyo Lease Corporation / Azabu Interior
1-9-7, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Map)
Tel: 03-3585-5801
Hours:  9am - 6pm (Mon. - Fri.)
            10am - 6pm (Sat. & Holidays)
                   *Closed on Sundays









For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Japanese popular general merchandising store
'UNIQLO' opened a new unique shop in Harajuku.
It is called 'UT STORE HARAJUKU.'.  (UT = Uniqlo T-shirt)

What is so unique about?

All T-shirts are sold in individual plastic bottles.
The way they display them is very interesting too.
They just look like bottles in a fridge of convenience store.
When you pull 1 bottle out, next one comes to the front.
There are about 500 different designs.

First you go inside of the shop, you will find 
sample T-shirts displayed in the middle of the floor.










When you find your favorite design and size,
the sample T-shirt has a tag of rack number to tell you
where you can find the shirt in a bottle.

It has 4 levels, shops are from 1st - 3rd floors,
and the 4th floor is a gallery.  On the 3rd floor, you will find 
computers which you can use to search your favorite T-shirt.
You can search by color and style, and it tells you
which floor you should go and find it!

It's fun just going inside and browse, so when you go to
Harajuku area, look for UT STORE!











UT STORE HARAJUKU.
Address: 6-10-8, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5468-7313
Open: 11:00 - 21:00 (everyday)
Access: 2-minute walk from Meiji-Jingumae Station on Chiyoda Line.
             5-minute walk from Harajuku Station on JR Yamanote Line.

100 yen shop / 99 yen shop

100 yen shop (Hyaku yen shop)
is now everywhere and it's very popular.

Most of their goods are quite good in quality and
they don't look like it's only 100 yen.

The Daiso, the largest chain store in Japan,
has over 2,400 shops in Japan and 350 shops
in other countries.

You can find almost everything there, from a pen to
pasta sauce.  

The other major 100 yen shop 'Can Do', some of the
stores are located upstairs of the supermarckets or 
inside of big shopping malls.

There are now some competitors around as well.
They are 'Shop 99', and 'Down Town 99'.
Yes, their price is 99 yen!
But not everything.  They do sell Obento lunch box for
around 300 yen.  So please check the price before
you pick up things.

It's fun just going inside and have a look, you might
end up coming out the shop with bags full of goodies!!

Find your nearest 100 yen or 99 yen shop.

The Daiso
http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/english/index.html (English)
Everything is 100 yen.  Price doesn't include 5% tax.









Can Do Shop
http://www.cando-web.co.jp/index.htm (Japanese)
Most of the goods are 100 yen.
Some goods cost more than 100 yen.
Price doesn't include 5 % tax.









Shop 99
http://www.shop99.co.jp/product/index.html (Japanese)
99 yen shop.  But not everything is 99 yen.
Some goods cost more.
Price doesn't include 5% tax.

Down Town 99
99 yen shop.  But not everything is 99 yen.
Some goods cost more.
Price doesn't include 5 % tax.

Winter in Tokyo is very dry, it's easy to catch cold.
Flu season is just about to start too so when you come home
from outside please wash your hands with soap and
gargle that will help preventing from a nasty cold or flu.

For dry air, humidifier is very handy to add humidity at home.











It is available at most electrical appliance shops and
the price starts from around 2,000 yen for a compact size one.

Some of the new models have a special water you can even
put a drop of aromatic oil in water so you can enjoy your
favorite aroma with comfortable warm steams.

And in summer time, because it gets so humid in  Tokyo,
we have dehumidifier to ease uncomfortable dampness.

If you go to Akihabara, well-known place as the
'Electric Town' in Tokyo, check at lease 4~5 shops
to compare the price, you'll be able to find a cheaper one
than others even it's exactly the same model, or you can
ask the shop to give you a discount.  It's quite common to
ask for a discount in Akihabara so don't be shy

Wash hands, gargle and enjoy winter!

SHOPS FOR KIDS

Baby Items
Aka-chan Honpo
(Aka-chan = baby)
http://www.akachan.co.jp/top.cfm (Japanese)
Address: Gotanda TOC Bldg. 5F., 22-17
               Nishi-Gotanda, 7-chome, Shinagawa-ku
Tel: 03-3779-0365
Station: Gontanda Stn. on JR Yamanote Line
Open Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Mon. - Fri.)
                     10:00 - 19:00 (Sat., Sun.)


Toys & Fancy Goods
KIDDY LAND
http://www.kiddyland.co.jp/en/arrivals.html
Address: 1-9, Jingumae 6-chome, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-3409-3431
Station: Meijijingumae Stn. on Chiyoda Line,
            Omotesando Stn. on Chiyoda/Ginza Line
Open Hours: 10:00 - 21:00

HAKUHINKAN TOY PARK
http://www.hakuhinkan.co.jp/
Address: 8-11, Ginza 8-chome, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3571-8008
Station: Ginza Stn. on Ginza Line
Open Hours: 11:00 - 20:00


Still much more shop information to come!  

 It is fun to go shopping, but it's a little bit hard
     to find right shops if you are in the country
     or city you've never lived before.

Here's the list of shops in / near Tokyo we recommend:

Outlet
Grandberry Mall
http://www.grandberrymall.com/top.php (Japanese)
Address: 4-1, Tsuruma 3-chome, Machida-City, Tokyo
Tel: 042-795-0109
Station: Minami-Machida Stn. on Tokyu-Denentoshi Line
Open Hours: 10:00 - 20:00

OUTLETPARK GARDEN WALK MAKUHARI
http://www.gardenwalk-outlet.com/english/index.html
Address: 6-1, Hibino 2-chome, Mihama-ku, Chiba-City, Chiba Pref.
Tel: 043-212-8200
Station: Kaihin Makuhari Stn. on JR Keiyo Line
Open Hours: 10:00 - 20:00

Discount Dpartment Store
Don Quijote
http://www.donki.com/index_en.php?lang=en
[Roppongi]
Address: 3-14-10, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5786-0811
Station: Roppongi Stn. on Hibiya/Oedo Line
Open Hours: 11:00am - 7:00am
[Shibuya]
Address: 2-25-8, Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5428-0211
Station: Shibuya Stn. on JR Yamanote Line
Open Hours: 10:00am - 4:30am
[Heiwajima - Big Fun]
Address: 1-1-1, Heiwajima, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5753-1811
Station: Heiwajima Stn. on Keihin-kyuko Line
Open Hours: 24 Hours
[Ginza]
Address: Ginza Nine #3, 8-10, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-6215-9688
Open Hours: 10:00am - 5:00am

Clothes
UNIQLO
http://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ (Japanese)
[Kiosk Tokyo-Minami]
Address: Inside the Yaesu-South wicket, JR Tokyo Station
[Ginza New Mersa]
Address: Ginza New Mersa 5F., 7-10, Ginza 5-chome, Chuo-ku
[Akihaara Department Store]
Address: Akihabara Department Store 3F., 17-6,
               Soto-kanda 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku
[Shinjuku 3-chome]
Address: 13-3, Shinjuku 3-chome, Shinjuku-ku
[Gotanda TOC]
Address: Gotanda TOC 1F., 22-17, Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku
[Atre Oimachi]
Address: Atre Oimachi 3F., 2-1, Oi 1-chome, Shinagawa-ku
[Yakumo Megurodori]
Address: 25-14, Yakumo 3-chome, Meguro-ku
[Harajuku]
Address: 10-8, Jingumae 6-chome, Shibuya-ku
[Kiosk Shibuya Chuo]
Address: Inside the Central wicket, JR Shibuya Station

MUJI Store
http://ryohin-keikaku.jp/eng/
*Muji Brand - Being particular about material and
  high quality, Muji Stores provides goods at
  cheaper prices without unnecessary wrappings.
  Various goods such as clothes, general merchandise,
  furniture, electric apparatus and foods are available
  with simple designs in abundant stock.

[Yurakucho]
Address: 8-3, Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku
[Aoyama 3-chome]
Address: 12-28, Kita-Aoyama 2-chome, Minato-ku
[Aoyama]
Address: 50-6, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku
[Harajuku]
Address: 12-7, Jingumae 1-chome, Shibuya-ku
[Atre Ebisu]
Address: Atre Ebisu 4F., 5-5, Emisu-Minami 1-chome, Shibuya-ku
[Shibuya Parco]
Address: ShibuyaParco Part 3, 5/6F., 14-5, Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku
[Shibuya SEIBU]
Address: SEIBU B1F., 21-1, Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku
[Shimokitazawa]
Address: Fine Court Shimokitazawa 1F., 30-13,
              Kitazawa 2-chome, Setagaya-ku
[Jiyugaoka]
Address: 26-9, Okusawa 5-chome, Setagaya-ku

SHOPPING - Part 2 coming soon!