Japan Guide Omiyage
So you're going to travel Japan on a tour soon. Besides the basics, what else should you pack in your suitcase? Did you make a list of Japan souvenir items you wanted to buy there and bring home? How about a few inexpensive items you might want to bring with you to give to the tour conductor and travel coordinator in Japan? The term that I am referring to is "omiyage", the Japanese word for gift given in appreciation.
So what do you bring from home? Something small and inexpensive, but something that represents something made in your hometown. My personal favorites are small packets of Ka'u and Keaau grown Mauna Loa brand macadamia nuts, and small packages of Hawaiian Hula Hands ground coffee grown on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Ka'u, Hawaii. They are a great expression of appreciation at the end of your tour, and of great service in your hotels-Japan Guide Omiyage recommendation.
Try to make a list of what you want to buy while in Japan, and sometimes, when you are traveling in the different areas in Japan and are wondering if you should buy something you saw on the spur of the moment in a souvenir or gift shop-I say from experience, buy it if you like it. Many a time I have hesitated to buy something I've seen, and told myself that I would buy it when back in Tokyo or Kyoto before I left Japan- and found that it was not available. Many of the unusual things you may run across in your travels are regional items not always available in other areas. A Japan Guide Omiyage bit of advice.
For further information on this and other Japan subjects, please click here: http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Japanese Konbini
Japanese Konbini-Convenience Stores with an Attitude:
So you think shopping in Japan is expensive? Think again. It can be quite reasonable, depending on where you do your Japan shopping. A curious phenomenon in Japan is the Konbini, or convenience store. These stores offer you a wide variety of goods, including ready to eat meals. Popular names like Lawson, Family Mart, AM PM, Sun R Us, and 7 Eleven are literally EVERYWHERE. On every street corner, even in the countryside.
On every trip to Japan, as soon as we arrive and check in to the hotel, my wife and I look for those familiar signs, almost as if they were comforting, and as if they were calling us to go in. Konbinis are mini superettes, but with attitude. Beside over the counter medications, soft drinks, film, tooth paste, hair products, and snacks, they come with packaged croissants, rice balls, prepared bento(boxed lunches), hot Japanese stew(oden), sushi sets, all the beer, wine, Japanese cold sake and shochu you can drink, candy, Japanese snacks, underwear, neckties, dress shirts, make up, copy machines, fax machines, mail service(allows you to mail packages, and accepts packages for delivery services(takkyubin-Yamato black cat, Pelican-san), and Western-style bathrooms.
Our standard buys are bottled water, an occasional beer or Japanese sake, the Japanese equivalent of Febreze, Shiseido aluminum ion foot spray, Japanese snacks, including Japanese green tea flavored Kit Kat bars, and Meiji Look chocolate-covered candy and Lotte chocolate-covered almonds.
Leaving early the next day for a side trip on the Shinansen, on the Tokyo subway, can’t wait for the restaurant in the Hotel to open-go down to that konbini and buy a Starbucks iced coffee, or hot coffee and pick up that hot croissant. Need a lunch to go? Try one of those bento lunches-they’re great! Japanese Konbinis are "konbinient" and not to be missed on your trip as you travel Japan.
For further information on this subject, please click here to go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.
So you think shopping in Japan is expensive? Think again. It can be quite reasonable, depending on where you do your Japan shopping. A curious phenomenon in Japan is the Konbini, or convenience store. These stores offer you a wide variety of goods, including ready to eat meals. Popular names like Lawson, Family Mart, AM PM, Sun R Us, and 7 Eleven are literally EVERYWHERE. On every street corner, even in the countryside.
On every trip to Japan, as soon as we arrive and check in to the hotel, my wife and I look for those familiar signs, almost as if they were comforting, and as if they were calling us to go in. Konbinis are mini superettes, but with attitude. Beside over the counter medications, soft drinks, film, tooth paste, hair products, and snacks, they come with packaged croissants, rice balls, prepared bento(boxed lunches), hot Japanese stew(oden), sushi sets, all the beer, wine, Japanese cold sake and shochu you can drink, candy, Japanese snacks, underwear, neckties, dress shirts, make up, copy machines, fax machines, mail service(allows you to mail packages, and accepts packages for delivery services(takkyubin-Yamato black cat, Pelican-san), and Western-style bathrooms.
Our standard buys are bottled water, an occasional beer or Japanese sake, the Japanese equivalent of Febreze, Shiseido aluminum ion foot spray, Japanese snacks, including Japanese green tea flavored Kit Kat bars, and Meiji Look chocolate-covered candy and Lotte chocolate-covered almonds.
Leaving early the next day for a side trip on the Shinansen, on the Tokyo subway, can’t wait for the restaurant in the Hotel to open-go down to that konbini and buy a Starbucks iced coffee, or hot coffee and pick up that hot croissant. Need a lunch to go? Try one of those bento lunches-they’re great! Japanese Konbinis are "konbinient" and not to be missed on your trip as you travel Japan.
For further information on this subject, please click here to go to http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.
100 Yen Shops
100 Yen Budget Shopping:
So you think shopping in Japan is expensive? Think again. It can be quite reasonable, depending on where you do your shopping in Japan. A curious phenomenon in Japan is the 100 Yen Shop. Actually 105 Yen, to be exact, 100 Yen and a 5 yen consumption tax, or a little more than a US dollar, buys you a wide variety of goods. From a smaller one-story shop to a mega, 5-story department store, 100 Yen shops in Japan are the ultimate in budget shopping. At one dollar each, you can almost buy your neighbors and friends all a souvenir from your trip.
100 Yen Shops
Daiso, just a short walk from the Harajuku station, down the Takeshita-dori street and to the left is a large 100 Yen shop, and one of this writer’s favorite stops. Walk into the store and you will see shelves stuffed with a myriad of items to buy. There appears to be no order to the placement of items on the shelves, but that makes it more interesting and forces you to really look and discover interesting items. Items I have purchased include small chopstick rests, ceramic tea cups, sake pouring bottles(tokkuri) and sake sets, salt and pepper shakers, soup bowls, stationary, pens, strapping tape, reading glasses, men’s underwear, toed socks, cute aprons, house slippers, dress shirts, plastic containers, kitchenware, tools, laundry items, unusual Japanese signs, and much more.
Other Daiso shops in Tokyo include a Giga Machida store with 5-stories of items and 71,000 square feet and is located across the Machida station. There are over 2,500 100 Yen shops throughout Japan, with 660 in the Kanto area, 420 in the Kinki area, 210 in the Tohoku area, 220 in the Chugoku area, 150 in Hokkaido, 280 in Kyushu, 170 in the Hokuriku area, 210 in the Tokai area, 130 in the Shikoku area, and 50 in Okinawa. 100 Yen shops are a must see! Besides, you save money too! Be sure to visit a few as you travel Japan.
For further information on this and other Japan subject, please click here: http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.
So you think shopping in Japan is expensive? Think again. It can be quite reasonable, depending on where you do your shopping in Japan. A curious phenomenon in Japan is the 100 Yen Shop. Actually 105 Yen, to be exact, 100 Yen and a 5 yen consumption tax, or a little more than a US dollar, buys you a wide variety of goods. From a smaller one-story shop to a mega, 5-story department store, 100 Yen shops in Japan are the ultimate in budget shopping. At one dollar each, you can almost buy your neighbors and friends all a souvenir from your trip.
100 Yen Shops
Daiso, just a short walk from the Harajuku station, down the Takeshita-dori street and to the left is a large 100 Yen shop, and one of this writer’s favorite stops. Walk into the store and you will see shelves stuffed with a myriad of items to buy. There appears to be no order to the placement of items on the shelves, but that makes it more interesting and forces you to really look and discover interesting items. Items I have purchased include small chopstick rests, ceramic tea cups, sake pouring bottles(tokkuri) and sake sets, salt and pepper shakers, soup bowls, stationary, pens, strapping tape, reading glasses, men’s underwear, toed socks, cute aprons, house slippers, dress shirts, plastic containers, kitchenware, tools, laundry items, unusual Japanese signs, and much more.
Other Daiso shops in Tokyo include a Giga Machida store with 5-stories of items and 71,000 square feet and is located across the Machida station. There are over 2,500 100 Yen shops throughout Japan, with 660 in the Kanto area, 420 in the Kinki area, 210 in the Tohoku area, 220 in the Chugoku area, 150 in Hokkaido, 280 in Kyushu, 170 in the Hokuriku area, 210 in the Tokai area, 130 in the Shikoku area, and 50 in Okinawa. 100 Yen shops are a must see! Besides, you save money too! Be sure to visit a few as you travel Japan.
For further information on this and other Japan subject, please click here: http://www.traveljapan-us.com/.
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