Do you happen to visit a lot of shrines? And often spend time plotting your route and figured, I’m going to this location, there is a shrine nearby, I’ll make sure to visit it. Will sometimes it’s best to do the additional resource because if Read More …
Ikebukuro is an interesting district in Toshima ward. Misunderstood by people due to its past, similar to ’70s New York, what people hear of the past, think a location is the same in the present. East Ikebukuro (Higashi-Ikebukuro) is where people go to shop and Read More …
As I walked around Ikebukuro, often do I see this bus going around playing a catchy song. So catchy that you can’t help sing it! The Vanilla Bus is what I call it: So, what is this Vanilla Bus in Ikebukuro? Apparently, the business recruits Read More …
In Japan, Kazuo Yamagishi is a man who was known as “The God of Ramen” and also the man responsible for creating tsukemen, a ramen dish in which noodles are eaten after being dipped in a separate bowl of soup or broth. Getting the idea Read More …
For those visiting the Sunshine City shopping center in Ikebukuro may come upon this large artwork titled “The One about the Four Seasons of Edo” by Kataoka Tamako (1905-2008). The ceramic artwork was created back in 1978 for the opening of Sunshine City and was Read More …
Right next to Minami-Ikebukuro Park and Ramen Jiro is a restaurant known as Brooklyn Mills. The restaurant was created with a concept of having an authentic New York atmosphere where people can come and eat and relax. One can eat in the terrace and with Read More …
I wrote about my experience at Moriva Coffee back in January 2017 but there are times that I get there and start working on posting photos on Facebook or answering messages that I forget to take photos of the interior or the food. So, I Read More …
When I first went to Japan in 1999, I was first introduced to “Pokemon” by a friend who operated an import business. While music and anime merchandise was the big thing at the time, he began to import stuffed animals and merchandise of “Pokemon”. While Read More …
When I am heading out to Ichiran Ramen, often I pass by an area of Ikebukuro that I usually don’t visit. There is a shrine in the location known as Ikebukuro Suitengu and for those who enjoy exploring small shrines, this one is a little Read More …
In Tokyo, there are numerous observatories that really give people or photographers and videographers a great look of the city skyline. While the World Trade Center tops my list for best observatory for photographers and videographers, primarily because it gives you a look of all Read More …
Located in Ikebukuro is the Ikebukuro West Gate Park. While most people tend to head to the station or the massive shopping mall at Metropolitan Plaza, which is 22 floors and 4 stories down in the underground (the plaza is connected to the LUMINE department Read More …
As I have written about the indoor theme park, J-World, located at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, one of the things I am often asked about is the store. What items are sold? Is it a great place for souvenirs? Yada yada yada. And for the Read More …
At Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City is an indoor theme park called “J-WORLD” for fans of the “Shonen Jump” manga and anime which is a collaboration between Shonen Jump. Price is about Y800 for admission for adults and Y600 for children, while Y2,600 gives you unlimited access Read More …
One of the questions I’m often asked about Japan, especially from anime fans, which areas should they visit. While there are shops everywhere, Akihabara is a location where one should visit especially for the guys. For the female anime/manga fan, Ikebukuro is a location that Read More …
Are you a person who wants variety when you go to a Japanese restaurant? Are you in Tokyo with your family and you have children who are not so open to different types of food? Fortunately, there is Bistro Tigre Bon Bon, a restaurant inside Read More …