Shopping

April 30, 2008

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.

shibu-kasa




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.



(14:59)

June 27, 2007

SPECIAL NEWS!!

Summer Sale is on at Tokyo Lease Corporation Showroom!

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

Italsofa_logo

Italsofa_redItalsofa_black












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

Tokyo Lease







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



(14:58)

May 22, 2007

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.


UT STORE







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!

bottled T-shirt displayUT Store_display









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.



(16:01)

March 26, 2007


         English    Japanese
 Rice  Kome
 White bread  Shoku-pan
 Spaghetti  Supagetti
 Wheat flour  Komugiko
 Canned tuna fish  Tsuna Kanzume
 Ham  Hamu
 Sausages  So-se-ji
 Bacon  Be-kon
 Fresh Milk  Gyu-nyu
 Powdered milk  Kona-miruku
 Butter  Batah
 Cheese  Chi-zu
 Yogurt  Yo-guruto
 Hen eggs  Tamago
 Bean curd (Tofu)  Tofu
 Fermented soybeans  Natto 
 Edible oil  Sarada-oiru
 Salt  Shio
 Soy sauce  Sho-yu
 Sugar  Satou
 Vinegar  Su
 Worcester sauce  So-su
 Mayonnaise  Mayone-zu
 Jam  Jamu
 Biscuits  Bisuketto
 Chocolate  Chokore-to
 Ice cream  Aisukuri-mu
 Potato chips  Potetochippusu
 Black tea   ko-cha
 Instant coffee  Insutanto
 ko-hi-
 Coffee beans  ko-hi-mame
 Vegetable juice  Yasai jusu
 Mineral water  Mineraru
 uwo-ta-
 Beer (domestics)   Bi-ru (kokusan)
 Beer (imported)   Bi-ru (yunyu)
 Whisky  Uisuki-
 Wine   Wain



(16:30)

March 22, 2007

SHOPPING - SUPERMARKET -PART 1-

When you go shopping to the local supermarket,
it may be difficult for you to find things
all written in Japanese.

Here is the list of some major food and drink you may
purchase at supermarket quite often.

            English      Japanese
 Tuna fish  Maguro
 Sardines  Iwashi
 Salmon  Shake
 Cuttlefish  Ika
 Prowns (imported)   Ebi 
 Beef (loin)  Gyu-niku,
 Sa-roin
 Beef (shoulder)  Gyu-niku,
 Kataniku
 Beef (imported)  Yunyu
 Gyu-niku
 Pork (loin)  Buta-niku,
 Sa-roin
 Pork (shoulder)  Buta Kataniku
 Chicken  Tori-niku
 Cabbage  Kyabetsu
 Spinach  Horenso
 Welsh Onions  Negi
 Broccoli  Burokkori
 Asparagus  Asuparagasu
 White potatoes  Jagaimo
 Carrots  Ninjin
 Onions  Tamanegi
 Pumpkins  Kabocha
 Cucumbers  Kyuri
 Eggplants  Nasu
 Tomatoes  Tomato
 Green peppers  Pi-man
 Apples (Jona-gold)  Ringo
 Lemons  Remon
 Grapefruits  Gure-pu
 furutsu
 Oranges  Orenji
 Bananas  Banana


Where is ~~~?
   ~~~ wa doko desuka?

I'm looking for ~~~~.
   ~~~~ wo sagashite imasu.

How much is ~~~~?
   ~~~~ wa ikura desuka?

Why don't you try to ask one of the shop assistants in
Japanese today


(17:29)

February 23, 2007

IKEA








World famous furniture and interior accessory store
from Sweden.

Now, there are 2 IKEA chain stores near Tokyo.

You will find a great variety of furnitures, kitchenwares,
beddings, lightings, goods for pets, and much much more.
tent for pets








The first store was opened in April 2006 in Funabashi City of
Chiba Prefecture, then 5 months after that Kohoku Store
in Kanagawa Prefecture was opened in September.

From central Tokyo, you can either catch trains or drive there,
it takes about 30 minutes from Tokyo station by train,
and it won't take over one hour by a car. 
(Driving time depends on traffic.)


IKEA Funabashi
Address: 2-3-30, Hama-cho, Funabashi City, Chiba
Tel: 047-436-1111
Open Hours: 10:00 - 20:00 (Mon.- Fri.)
                       9:30 - 21:00 'Sat., Sun. & National Holidays)


IKEA Kohoku
Address: 201-1 Orimoto-cho, Tsuzuki-ku, 
               Yokohama City, Kanagawa
Tel: 045-470-7500
Open Hours: 10:00 - 21:00 (7 days a week)
 
Please visit their official web-site for more information about
their products or checking their locations:
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_JP/


If you have no plans for this weekend,
why don't you visit IKEA, it's fun just to be there,
but you might find something special too
kids toys

(17:03)

January 23, 2007

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.

daiso cosmetics







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.

can do cups







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.



(16:58)

December 21, 2006

gargle dog





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.
humidifier










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!



(16:35)

December 12, 2006

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!
  






(17:45)

December 11, 2006

 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!



(16:47)