The One about Marion Crepes in Nikko

It was way back in 1976 when Marion Crepes opened a crepe shop in Harajuku. The location is known for the original Japanese-style crepe and the most famous with over 80 locations throughout Japan. Marion Crepes is known for their secret original dough (uses 10 Read More …

The one about kiki Japanese Chocolate in Shirokanedai, Minato

In Japan, you’ll find many gourmet chocolate shops.  Many people who have trained overseas and starting their own shops is quite common. Located in Shirokanedai, Minato is a Japanese chocolate shop known as kiki Japanese Chocolate and one of the major highlights of this shop Read More …

The One about the A Bathing Ape (BAPE) store in Ura-Harajuku

Back in 1993, Tomoaki “NIGO” Nagao founded A Bathing Ape (BAPE) in Ura-Harajuku. With nearly two dozen stores in Japan which include BAPE, BAPE Pirate, BAPE Kids, BAPexclusive Aoyama and BAPexclusive Kyoto. But before he founded BAPE, he was an editor and stylist for “Popeye” Read More …

The “Fear in Painting” exhibit at the Ueno Royal Museum (and why one should go VERY EARLY to major art exhibits in Tokyo!)

You live, you learn.  That is how I felt when I visited Ueno Royal Museum at Ueno Park in December to see the “Fear in Painting” exhibit. For me, I wanted to see Paul Delaroche’s renown painting, “The Execution of Lady Jane Grey,” one of Read More …

The One about the ORIX Buffaloes Part 2 & B-WAVE, the ORIX BUFFALOES Official Team Store Part 1

Continuing from yesterday’s post about the teams that made up the ORIX Buffaloes, I will now discuss B-WAVE, the ORIX Buffaloes Official Team Store. Typically when you visit a baseball team store in Japan, the official store is in near proximity to the home stadium. Read More …

The One about the ORIX Buffaloes Part 1

For tomorrow’s post, I will talk about the B-Wave – The ORIX Buffaloes Official Team Store in Kobe. But for toda’s post, to segue into the store, I have to discuss the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) Pacific League ORIX Buffaloes first. To know this current Read More …

The One about the Nude Statues Inside Ueno Station

For those who are interested in sculptures, Ueno Park is known to have a few. But it’s not limited to just the park, they have sculptures inside Ueno Station, but surprising to travelers, these sculptures are nude. This goes to show the difference in culture Read More …

The One about Toki Wasureji no To (Time Forgotten Tower) at Ueno Park

Located at Ueno Park is the “Toki Wasureji no To” (best known as the “Time Forgotten Tower”). Over 50-years ago, the Tokyo Air Raid led to many bomb strikes and two atomic bombs were dropped in Japan and many people lost their lives. The following Read More …

The One about the Long Fries and the Halal food vendors at Ameya-Yokocho in Ueno

Ameya-Yokocho (also known as “Ameyoko”) is an open-air market in Taito ward right next to Ueno Station. And one of the things people will notice of how it has an international flair, reminding me of Shinuku’s Okubu-dori (or Shin-Okubo) and a mix of clothing shops, Read More …