Category Archives: Arts

Tokyo, Japan: Five Spots Recommended by a local, Dan Ushikubo

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : FOOD / SHOPPING / CULTURE

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurants-Shops-Museum-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

You asked me addresses of a local: here are some hot spots recommended by Dan Ushikubo. Who’s Dan?

Few years ago, he was the originator of the “Tokyo by Tokyo” city guide edited by Claska (the design hotel): “I started asking fifteen friends about their hot spots. The city is too large, with too many people”. It wasn’t another city guide. Dan’s been a High Tech Consultant at Sony and wanted to bring some geek flav. The result was fun and really useful in a city where before moving, you often check the adress on Goole Maps. Even the Tokyo native do it!

Dan’s fav for few days in Tokyo:

1.Check out Book Off, an old second hand bookshops with a polisher to clean books: “really Japanese”!  

2. A museum: Japan Folk Craft Museum. Plus a gallery: “NADiff, near Shibuya: an art gallery and bookshop”.

3. Shopping in Aoyama. Course! The hypest fashion area with amazing shops like the Prada‘s building (on the picture above). 

4. Dinner in Omoide Alley, an alley with yakitori (grilled chicken) in Shinjuku: 1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023. Near train stations: JR / Tokyo Subway / Odakyu Line / Keio Line Shinjuku Station west exit.

5. “I also recommend you a very small alley near the main exit of the JR Shibuya station, where salary men drink sake and have dinner after work. Less famous, but very local” (pictures above). I had a dinner in a tiny restaurant there: great experience!

Domo arigato gosaimasu Dan!

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

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Tokyo, Japon: Cinq lieux recommendés par un insider, Dan Ushikubo

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : DINER / SHOPPING / CULTURE

Tokyo-Japan-Restaurants-Shops-Museum-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Vous m’aviez demandé des adresses d’insiders et voici quelques endroits dans Tokyo, recommandés par Dan Ushikubo. Mais qui est Dan?

Il y a quelques années, il a a eu l’idée du city guide Tokyo by Tokyo édité par le design hotel, Claska : « Je me suis dit, je devrais demander à une quinzaine d’amis leurs adresses dans Tokyo. La ville est bien trop grande, avec beaucoup de monde ». Un city guide de plus? Pas exactement, Dan qui a été consultant dans la Haute Technologie chez Sony, voulait apporter quelque chose de geek en plus. Ludique et surtout utile, dans une ville où avant chaque déplacement, on vérifie sur Google map.

Les endroits favoris de Dan pour un court séjour dans Tokyo : 

1. Chez Book Off, des bouquins, vieux magasins, ou livres d’occasion qui « sont encore nettoyés par une machine à lustrer, très japonais » !  

2. Un musée : Japan Folk Craft Museum. Plus une galerie: « NADiff, près de Shibuya, à la fois galerie d’art et librairie ». 

3. Shopping à Aoyama. Ultra chic et tendance, avec des boutiques aux architectures et décorations fantasques, comme le magasin Prada (en photo ci-dessus). 

4. Dîner dans l’Omoide Alley à Shinjuku, pour un yakitori : 1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, 160-0023. Près des gares : JR / Tokyo Subway / Odakyu Line / Keio Line Shinjuku Station west exit. 

5. « Je vous recommande aussi une toute petite allée à Shibuya près de la sortie principale du JR, où les salary men vont boire leur saké et dîner en sortant du boulot (cliquez ici pour les photos). C’est moins connu et très authentique! » (photos ci-dessus). J’y ai dîné dans un minuscule restaurant : expérience authentique garantie! Domo arigato gosaimasu Dan! 

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

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Zagreb, Croatia: Museum of Broken Relationships

Croatia-Zagreb-Museum of Broken Relationships-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

One day in Zagreb

and I don’t have time for several museums, if I want to take the pulse of the city! I want to visit one truly unique museum, the confidential brand new Museum of Broken Relashionships. Let’s talk about heartbrokens, lol! So if you also have a very limited time in the city, it’s THE museum that everyone should experience!

A gem of humor (sometimes ironic) about a disappointed romantic relationships. Who can pretend having never been disillusioned with an ex? You can even see the wedding album of an happy ex, donated to the museum (wow!). The concept is fantastic and  “Get lucky” (ie. Daft Punk). First, you send an object that “represents” your broken relationship. The object must be accompanied by an explanatory legend. Then the objects and stories that passed the selection, are exposed. The exhibition spaces are stunning in a renovated historic building.

Croatia-Zagreb-Museum of Broken Relationships-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Zagreb-Museum of Broken Relationships-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

Some objects detonate and surprise

(pictures 5 and 6). Reading some stories, lots of fun. Most protagonists whose purpose is breaking presentation, has a lot of humor (pictures 4 and 7)! Between another contemporary art museum showing very pretentious works (often disappointing, if not confusing) and this fresh intimate museum full of self-mockery: do not hesitate! 

And I am not sponsored by the museum, it’s just a real nice surprise as I enjoy them! I had a tremendous moment there. And to extend the stealth and pleasurable moment of the “revenge“, check the small museum boutique. Picture 1: an irresistible chocolate to offer to the one who deserve it, LOL! Lucky you!                        

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2013, tous droits réservés. 

Informations  

Zagreb Tourist Board www.visitcroatia.be

Discover my whole trip in the CROATIA page and follow my TWITTER. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and all my opinions are mine.

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