Tag Archives: Leisure

Tokyo, Japan: Shopping and Architecture in Roppongi

Posted on February 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

TOKYO CITY GUIDE: DISTRICT / ROPPONGI

The refined Tokyo Midtown

Incredible blue sky! I get in one of the six buildings of Tokyo Midtown, hosting the Suntory Museum of Art.

A luxury mall. Tasteful minimalist decoration, with staright light wooden and picture windows with a view to the small park. Zen feeling in the cosy atmosphere.

Comfortable leather sofas to relax between two shops (exhausting shopping, lol!). Check out the high end multibrands Restir and The Cover Nippon for refined arts and crafts: beautiful fabrics for home, ceramics and traditional bags.

For ceramics, I also recommend Asakusa small shops (a traditional district of Tokyo).

At the food level, stop at Toraya for the incredible look of the Japanese pastries (on the picture above)! I was so happy to find “my” Dean & Deluca too, soulful Soho! Could you believe it?

Then I sat in the small park under the sun. Lazy, lazy. Maybe tomorrow I’ll visit the Issey Miyake and Tadeo Ando‘s 21_21 Design Sight: “The first center in Japan dedicated to Design, where the creation process will be exhibited” (Issey Miyake).

The National Art Center Tokyo

Now I head to this amazing Museum with a glass wave front designed by the famous architect Kisho Kurukawa, located five minutes walk from Tokyo Midtown.

Relaxing bright inside, thanks to the wooden in this all glass and concrete architecture. And big surprise: the two huge concrete cones in the hall! Finally I’ve more enjoyed these cones than the beautiful front!

At the Museum shop, I found an eclectic selection of art books and various items. My fav: some sushi USB keys and traditional bags of a young fashion designer.

After four hours in the big exhibitions halls, I need fresh air, greenery and blue sky (again!), let’s move back to Tokyo Midtown. Yes, the sky is so blue!

Informations

Metro station: Roppongi

Tokyo, Japan: A walk and coffee in Omotesando

My Selection of Hermès Petit h Accessories

DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

Tokyo, Japan: A walk and Shopping in Harajuku

Posted on February 11, 2014 | Leave a comment

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : DISTRICT / HARAJUKU

Takeshi-Dori,

the pedestrianized famous street of Harajuku, I‘m not a big fan for shopping. Cheap bazaar for teenagers and teens alduts. Each tribe has its own shop.

There are also H&M and cie… near the super famous La Forêt building: metro station, Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku. Let’s go “crazy” and jump in this streets maze, to discover some interesting shops.

I liked Jack‘s Vintage Clothing

for some 50-60’s Rock‘n Roll vintage outfits, accessories and shoes for women and men. Really cool owner , also the leader of a Punk Rock band.

Have you ever tried a Japanese Punk Rock Karaoke? I DID! Kind of a blaze for my ears! But it was really fun too, Lol! For the complete adress of the shop: heatwave@mbm.ocn.ne.jp.

Stop at the next door in the very inspiring Nihon Manga Fetichist Shop: so what do you do after school or job? (pictures below).

Myself and I become a Manga babe.

A trashy suga babe inspired by Japanse cartoons, with fluorescent pink and green lens. It started here in Tokyo years ago, as a Pokemon acid princess. “Oups!” : metallic eyelash fluttering, I stood on my 50 cm lemon platform shoes.

When I got in the shop, they were shooting a flyer. Domo arigato gosaimasu to Aya, Coco and all the team. And if you are really sweet, maybe I will post a picture of me dressed up like a Manga doll, surrounded by all my supa supa cool Pokemon friends : )

Then let’s cross Meji Street

to reach the underground fashion designers side and head at my Beams favourite concept store (which is more a gallery and bookshop): TOKYO CULTuART by BEAMS.

Thank you Katsuhiro for the Beams shops guided tour! The toys for willing grown-up are extremely tempting!

I’m still a huge fan of the Transformer “Cyubu 01″ of Moderhythm (picture below) and colourful plastic mini bike monsters (pictures above), so great!

Informations

This post is not a shopping list, it is more to give you the different vibes of Harajuku. Metro sations: Meiji-Jingumae or Harajuku.

Tokyo, Japan: Exciting Shinjuku!

Chloé: The Show Spring-Summer 2011

DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

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

Posted on February 9, 2014 | Leave a comment

TOKYO CITY GUIDE : FOOD / SHOPPING / CULTURE

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!

Japan: Learning Japanese in Tokyo Subway

3 Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal

DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE