“Where do we go now?” “How shall we end the day?” – these are just two of the questions that you will be asking yourself if you spend a day in Tokyo. Tokyo station is both the first and last stop of numerous journeys and is connected to every corner of Japan. Many enter Tokyo to begin their adventure, and many leave to embark on a new adventure. Today, we’ll be looking at the enjoyment that awaits us before and after Shinkansen and normal trains depart on their journeys. Today, Hikari Shibata will be recommending you just some of the best spots in Yurakucho!
A direct connection to KITTE!
From Tokyo Station Marunouchi south exit, you will immediately be faced with “KITTE”. From fashion and miscellaneous to gourmet to souvenirs – a wide range of wonderful items have been gathered in one spot.
A specialist hankerchief shop gleaming with style
First up on Hikari’s list of recommendations is the handkerchief specialist store “H TOKYO”, which is located on the 3rd floor. From illustrators to novelists, these handkerchiefs are the result of many artist collaborations. The handkerchiefs line the shop, filling up the display areas.
Whether you’re looking for a beautiful handkerchief to brighten your spirit, or whether you are looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, you can take your time browsing here to your heart’s content.
Patterns and traditional Japanese designs such as these can only be found in Tokyo. You can also purchase badges and uchiwa fans, small items made from the fabric of the handkerchiefs and many KITTE limited items that cannot be obtained anywhere else.
You can also purchase personalized handkerchiefs with initials, messages and even embroidery. Many foreign visitors and other tourists who are staying in Tokyo for a while choose to order their designs and then collect them before returning home.
■Information
H TOKYO Marunouchi store
Address：3rd floor KITTE, 2-7-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Access： Approx. 1 min walk from JR/Marunouchi line (Tokyo Station), approx. 2 min walk from Chiyoda line (Nijubashimae Station)
Opening hours 11:00-21:00 (Open until 20.00 on national holidays)
Fixed holidays：Decided by KITTE
Telephone number：03-6256-0811
A museum too?!
Did you know that KITTE doesn’t just sell goods; it also has its own museum? This highly attention-grabbing museum is a big hit with the public and not only displays art, but is also a highly attractive academic spot.
© INTERMEDIATHEQUE
Room and display design ©UMUT works 2013-
INTERMEDIATHEQUE is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Here, the museum space merges academic pursuits with culture. The heritage of the arts collected from Tokyo University over 140 years has been gathered here. Therefore, this is a very special spot. Specimens, samples, stuffed animals and much more – this part of the museum contains precious findings in academic pursuit and teaches the generations of the future all kinds of history.
© INTERMEDIATHEQUE
Room and display design ©UMUT works 2013-
This has been the storage area of academic specimens. A viewing of these specimens fills us with wonder about our present world. The exhibition provokes us to wonder where these discoveries can lead us and what impression they make. Visitors can enjoy the vast collection of historical items and their hidden messages.
© INTERMEDIATHEQUE
Room and display design ©UMUT works 2013-
■Information
JP Tower Gakujutsu Bunka Sogo Museum「Intermediatheque」
Address：2nd – 3rd floor KITTE, 2-7-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda
Access: Approx. 1 min walk from JR/Marunouchi line (Tokyo Station), approx. 2 min walk from Chiyoda line (Nijubashimae Station)
Opening hours：11:00 – 18:00 (Fri. and Sat. until 20:00)
Entrance fee: free
- Last entries accepted 30 mins before closing time.
Fixed holidays：Mondays and during the New Year period. The institution decides on any further closing days. The museum is closed for both Monday and Tuesday if the Monday is a national holiday.
Telephone number：03-5777-8600
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Pick up a souvenir before leaving!
Located in the subway of Tokyo station is a goldmine of souvenir shops – “GRANSTA”. “Nihonbashi Nishiki Hourin” is Hikari’s next stop. The “karinto” (deep-fried brown sugar snack) specialty store “Nihonbashi nishiki sosogi” has a wide lineup of all kinds of “karinto,” from the standard sweet “karinto” to “karinto” which are good snacks with alcoholic drinks.
The person you are giving your gift to – does he or she have a “sweet tooth” or a “spicy tooth?” As a specialty store they have a wide lineup of items, from the limited time offer – “yuzu & salt” flavor to “coconut & almond,” and the most popular “kinpira goboh” (fried burdock root and carrot) flavor. The perfect treat can be found right here!
■Information
Nihonbashi Nishiki Horin, GRANSTA store
Address：GRANSA, 1st floor basement, JR Higashi-nihon Tokyo Station, 1-9-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda
Access：JR Tokyo Station basement floor 1 GRANSA, before the “Gin no Suzu” (The big silver bell)
Opening hours： 8:00 – 22:00 (Monday ～ Saturday & national holidays)
8:00 – 21:00 (Sundays)
In the case of consecutive holidays, Sunday will be the final holiday
Fixed holidays：None
Telephone number：03-3287-8010
Walk just a little further and you’ll reach Yurakucho!
Feeling peckish? Located in Yurakucho, “Hamanoya Parlor” is the perfect rest stop. This café is over 50 years old. The art of cuisine has been passed down throughout the generations, ensuring that the original taste doesn’t change over the years. This old café has maintained its retro atmosphere – the perfect place to chill out. Records are played in the shop and customers are welcome to take their time and relax here.
Hamanoya Parlor’s specialties consist of their fruit sandwich and tomato sandwich mix (￥620), and their cream soda (￥650). The cream soda is a light pink colour. You cannot taste a peach soda quite like this one anywhere else!
This order consist of a hearty egg and crispy-lettuce sandwich with a fresh peach- flavored cream soda. The tongue-tantalizing original flavours of this café will provide a good memory for you to keep.
■Information
Hamanoya Parlor
Address：Basement floor 1, Shinyurakucho Building, 1-12-1, Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Access：1 minute walk from JR Yurakucho station
Opening hours：9:00 – 18:00 (Sundays 10:00 – 17:00)
Fixed holidays：National holidays and during the New Year’s period
Telephone number：03-3212-7447
Model：Hikari Shibata
Hikari Shibata is a model for numerous popular fashion magazines. She gives a fresh and eloquent impression with her fashion sense that goes hand in hand with her unique style. She also posts lifestyle content across her social media, including on her Instagram and Twitter accounts, which receives huge support and attention from her female readers of the same generation. As well as working as a model, she is also active in the field of photography, and has even held photo exhibitions inside and outside Tokyo. Hikari also maintains her very own portfolio website which features her photography work.
Instagram：@_sbthkr
Writer：Miiki Sugita
Photograph ：Haruka Yamamoto
Editor：Sayuri Mizuno (ASOBISYSTEM)
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RELATED ENTRIES
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Model, DJ, and photographer Hikari Shibata will hold her first photo exhibition in five years, THROUGH THE WINDOW, at the FLOAT Gallery in Tokyo for four days starting September 8, 2023.
The exhibition’s title was inspired by Shibata’s shyness, which has always led her to photograph landscapes rather than people. Many photos were taken through windows, and both the view and reflections are meaningful and personal to Shibata herself.
This year’s exhibition features photos of daily life taken in Copenhagen, Denmark’s largest city, where Shibata stayed for a total of three weeks in March 2023. It will also feature photographs snapped in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York City.
Shibata will visit the gallery in person to present her creations. In addition to the sale of exhibited photographs, guests will also be able to purchase T-shirts, hats, and Shibata’s first photobook, the latter of which is available in limited quantities. The self-published 112-page hardcover book was entirely designed by Shibata herself. T-shirts will be available in two colors and feature the title of the exhibition, while hats will come in three colors with an embroidered graphic image of the sun reflected in a window.
Information
THROUGH THE WINDOW (Hikari Shibata Photo Exhibition)
Running: September 8-11, 2023 / 13:00-20:00
Venue: FLOAT (3-1-9 Megurohoncho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo)
*Please be aware that admission may be restricted in the event of crowding.[Profile]
Hikari Shibata
Born in Kanagawa in 1997, Shibata is a model, DJ, and fashion director, known for sharing her life and unique fashion sense on social media. Her interest in photography dates to her high school days, and along with her work in Japan and abroad, she’s handled visuals for apparel brands and CD jackets. This will be her fourth photo exhibition.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@peepinsidehead5862
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shibatahikari/
PEEP INSIDE HEAD: https://peepinsidehead.com/ -
From July 29 to August 11, over 320,000 people from around Japan voted for their favorite lesser-known local souvenir. Sponsored by Japanese e-commerce site Mercari, the contest highlighted 47 unique goods from around the country, one for each prefecture. The winners have been announced, and the White Rabbit of Inaba from Tottori Prefecture has won first place, receiving more than 60,000 votes. A music video-style web commercial featuring the winning product is now being produced to support the shop and particular region of Tottori. The music will be performed by electro-pop group Frasco.
In Japan, the rabbit is known for bringing good fortune, and has been a beloved symbol since ancient times. The white rabbit in particular, featured in the local Izumo myth ‘The White Rabbit of Inaba,’ plays a major role in connecting the characters Onamuchi-no-kami and Princess Yakami. In 1968, the famous confectionery ‘White Rabbit of Inaba’ was created in the hopes of bringing good luck to those visiting the area. Much like how an indie music group has a small group of hardcore fans but may not be well-known outside of small circles, these indie souvenirs are popular with locals, but may not be known to those outside the community. On the official website, fans can see their favorite treats displayed on what looks like album covers as an homage to this fitting comparison. On social media, there was incredible support for the project from all kinds of people: those who made the souvenirs in the first place, those who love their local area, and those who were seeing these treats for the first time and dying to try them. Which of the 47 souvenirs would you be most happy to receive? Information
Japan’s Indie Souvenir Contest
Official Site: https://jp-news.mercari.com/localmitsukete/miyage/
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Disney SWEETS COLLECTION by Tokyo Banana, a joint confectionery shop between GRAPESTONE and Tokyo Banana, released its new Mickey & Friends collection on Thursday.
Tokyo Banana Mickey & Friends Collection | ¥1,300 (Tax Included)
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto join hands in a heart-warming new collection of Tokyo Banana, a cream-filled sponge cake and the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo's official souvenir sweet: Tokyo Banana.Mickey & Friends arrive in all the colours of the rainbow
The colourful packaging features the Disney group of best friends including Mickey, who loves his friends, his girlfriend Minnie, the anger-prone Donald, stylish Daisy, silly Goofy, and trusty Pluto.Six cute patterns decorate the sponge cakes
There are six super cute Mickey & Friends designs you could get in your Tokyo Banana, and each one is random. They are filled with chocolate banana-flavoured custard cream. Collect all the postcards
All boxes of these treats come with two of eight possible postcard designs which you can use for sending to someone or even as room decoration. © Disney Information
Mickey & Friends Tokyo Banana
Released: June 3, 2021
Where: Tokyo Banana stores
Tokyo Banana Official Website: https://www.tokyobanana.jp/disney/index.html
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The Pokémon Tokyo Banana confection series launched its first two products that it ever released at Yume Town, Yume City, LEC, and Yume Mart branches in the South-west most part of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu on May 14.
Pikachu Tokyo Banana (Banana Flavour) | Includes 2 | ¥292 (Tax Included)
Eevee Tokyo Banana (Caramel) | Includes 2 | ¥292 (Tax Included)
Heart-shaped tail ends
Six different packaging designs each for Pikachu and Eevee
Tokyo Banana are popular cream-filled cakes and are the official souvenir sweet of Tokyo. The Pokémon series turns these fluffy treats into cute confections for you to enjoy with your favourite Pokémon during snack time. Pikachu was the first to enter the Pokémon Tokyo Banana series who was turned into a banana custard cream-filled sponge cake. The second was Eevee with the fluffy sponge a delicious caramel macchiato flavour and filled with sweet banana custard cream The confections are both branded with adorable heart-shaped tails, and each comes with one of six possible packaging designs. ©2021 Pokémon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. ポケットモンスター・ポケモン・Pokémonは任天堂・クリーチャーズ・ゲームフリークの登録商標です。Information
Pikachu & Eevee Tokyo Banana
Released: May 14, 2021 (Available while supplies last)
Locations: Yume Town / Yume City / LEC / Yume Mart (Select branches not participating)
Official Website: https://www.tokyobanana.jp/products/banana_pokemon.html -
Japanese glasses brand Zoff has announced the release of a Summer Collection in its popular Zoff CLASSIC series which will hit Zoff stores across Japan on April 30, 2021.
The Line-Up
ZA191010_13A1 | ¥5,500 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZA191019_50A1 Light Yellow/ZA191019_21A1 Pink | ¥8,800 Each (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZA201011_21A2 Pink | ¥5,500 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZA201012_60A1 Light Green | ¥5,500 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZC191009_64A1 Olive/ZC191009_11A1 Light Grey | ¥8,800 Each (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZC191010_40A1 Ivory/ZC191010_00A1 Clear | ¥8,800 Each (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZH211001_50A1 Light Yellow/ZH211001_49B1 Tortoiseshell/ZH211001_42A1 Light Brown/ZH211001_14E1 Black | ¥8,800 Each (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZH211002_72A1 Navy/ZH211002_49A1 Tortoiseshell/ZH211002_23A1 Dark Pink/ZH211002_00A1 Clear | ¥8,800 Each (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZH211003_72A1 Navy/ZH211003_64E1 Olive/ZH211003_50A1 Light Yellow/ZH211003_18E1 White & Black/ZH211003_12A1 Grey | ¥5,500 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZN211006_50A1 Light Yellow/ZN211006_48A1 Brown Gradation/ZN211006_20A1 Light Pink/ZN211006_12A1 Grey/ZN211006_00A1 Clear | ¥8,800 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZY212001_57F1 Antique Gold/ZY212001_14F1 Black | ¥8,800 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZY212002_43E1 Brown/ZY212002_21E1 Pink | ¥8,800 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZY212010_57F1 Antique Gold/ZY212010_56E1 Gold/ZY212010_21E1 Pink/ZY212010_14E1 Black | ¥8,800 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZF213005_14E1 Black/ZF213005_48E1 Brown Gradation/ZF213005_68F1 Green Gradation | ¥13,300 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZF213006_14E1 Black/ZF213006_21E1 Pink/ZF213006_43E1 Brown | ¥13,300 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
ZF213007_14F1 Black/ZF213007_24E1 Dark Red/ZF213007_41F1 Beige | ¥13,300 (Tax Included/Includes Lens Set)
Zoff CLASSIC is a popular series with a line-up of around 150 different glasses options at any given time, with designs ranging from detailed and authentic vintage looks to more seasonal and trendy modern takes. Also as part of the bigger series is the Zoff SMART CLASSIC range. This one has 44 models made from a fusion of high-functioning titanium and ultem which make each pair a comfortable wear. With glasses and face masks being a common combination today, Zoff's Summer Collection this year is a fresh line-up that doesn't weigh heavily on the eye area, allowing them to stand out above face masks. Donning the looks for Zoff's summer promo shoot is all four members of the Fukuoka-based Japanese band yonawo as well as model and camerawoman Hikari Shibata. This marks the first time the yonawo members have come together to feature in a promotion like this and is a chance for fans to see them all in glasses. Zoff is hosting a campaign for 10 lucky people to win a wear of glasses from the Zoff CLASSIC Summer Collection. Check the link below.Information
Zoff CLASSIC Summer Collection
Release Date: April 30, 2021
Where: Zoff stores in Japan
Zoff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoff_eyewear/ （＠zoff_eyewear）
Campaign Details: https://www.zoff.co.jp/shop/t/t1812/
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Kyoto makeup brand Yojiya is now selling its own collection of snacks and drinks which it released via its website last week.
Yojiya Matcha Sandwich Cookies | ¥1,400 (Tax Included)
Yojiya Cafe Latte Chocolate Cookies | ¥1,350 (Tax Included)
Yojiya Matcha Milk | ¥950 (Tax Included)
Yojiya's snack line-up is made with the idea of being able to enjoy high-quality food products at home. Their collection includes crunchy matcha and cafe latte cookies along with matcha milk, the latter of which is made with famous Uji matcha from Uji, Kyoto. Perfect for a tea/coffee break or as a souvenir.