It's Time For Golden Week!

A long waiting holiday bonus, Golden Week starts from tomorrow!

It's a series of combined holidays.

April 29 (Day of Showa)

May 3   (Constitution Memorial Day)

May 4   (Greenery Day)

May 5   (Children's Day)

The holidays start from the end of April (usually April 29) through the first week of May (usually May 5).  The length of holidays may differ depending on calendar.  If holidays fall on weekend, substitute holidays are added.

This year is scattered holidays, but some people can get longer Golden Week.  Because of economic downturn, some companies give extra days off.

During Golden Week, many people travel around.  Therefore, airport and train station are crowded with people.

Easy Great Pizza

Itoham's new ready-made pizza "La Pizza" is easy and tasty!  

Price: around 400 yen  (624 kcal)

You can make a great pizza (like a pizza parlor taste) at home without complex process.  The secret is the pizza dough!  It is prepared with the long low-temperature ripening process.

Try it!

Japanese Brand: UNIQLO

Japanese clothing company, UNIQLO is opening a new store in Shinjuku this Friday.

UNIQLO MEGA STORE will be opened on April 24 at 9:00 am.

The store is located near Odakyu department store and Odakyu HALC (BICCAMERA).

UNIQLO MEGA STORE (Shinjuku Nishiguchi Store)

1-1-1 Shinjuku PaLeTTe B1F - 4F, Nishi-Shinjuku

Shinjuku-ku Tokyo

Open hours:  10:00 - 22:00

*From April 24 through April 26, the opening hour will be 9:00 am.

There will be opening specials!

For women, the bra top (price range 1990 to 1500 yen) will be sold at 990 yen!

For first 1,000 customers, T-shirts (regular prices 990 to 1000 yen) will be sold at 490 yen.  But it is limited one item each four categories, up to total of three items.

First 500 people can get free gift.  UNIQLO original reusable shopping bag!

Part of UNIQLO's new campaign, UT MEGA CULTURE is a lot of collaboration between other famous brands!

[UNIQLO]

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

Japanese Sake Fair 2009

Japanese Sake Fair will be held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City on June 17 2009.

At this event, you can sample about 500 different labels of sake from all over Japan, including the prize winning sake.  The ticket price is 3,500 yen (advance ticket is 3,000 yen).

[Event Information]

Date:  June 17 2009

Place: Ikebukuro Sunshine City

          3-1-1 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku Tokyo

          (Sake sampling)

          World import mart 4th Floor, Exhibition hall A2&A3

          (National Sake Fair/exhibition and market)

          Culture hall 4th Floor, Exhibition hall B

The first part:

          10:00 - 13:00(enter by 12:00)

          3,500 yen (advance ticket/3,000 yen)

The second part:

          16:00 - 20:00(enter by 19:30)

          3,500 yen (advance ticket/3,000 yen)

*You can purchase an advance ticket through the web ticketing service, e-plus.

  http://eplus.jp/sake (Japanese only)

*The event is organized by Japan Sake Brewers Association.

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day Tokyo 2009 

April 18 & 19  at Yoyogi Park

http://earthday-tokyo.org/

The earth day event was took place in this weekend at Yoyogi Park.  This year's theme was "Go! Ethical".  There were organic foods, eco-friendly goods, live music and events.

The Earth Day Tokyo was started in 2001.  Approximately 120,000 people are visiting the event every year. 

Discount Stores in Tokyo

Donki (Don Quijote) is one of the major discount stores in Tokyo.  It's very famous among young Japanese because the stores are located in near train stations such as Shibuya and Shinjuku.  Even Japanese entertainers love to shop there.

Donki provides a wide range of products from grocery to high end brand bags at a very low price.  They also provide tax-free service.

[Donki Shibuya]

2-25-8 Dogenzaka Shibuya-ku

Tokyo 150-0043

open: 10:00 am - 4:30 am

[Donki Roppongi]

3-14-10 Roppongi Minato-ku

Tokyo 106-0032

open: 24 hours

[Donki Shinjuku Higashi-guchi]

1-16-5 Kabukicho Shinjuku-ku

Tokyo 160-0021

open: 24 hours

Designing Ecology

I found this interesting ads for TOSHIBA eco bulb.

1890- Matsuda lamp

          The Japan's first commercial lamp by TOSHIBA.

1980- Neo-Ball Z Real PRIDE

          The fluorescent light bulb that cut power consumption 

          by 1/5 of regular 60 watts bulb.

2009- E-CORE/LED bulb 4.3W

          The LED bulb that gives the same brightness of the 40 watts 

          light bulb at the power consumption of 4.3 watts.

          The life duration of E-CORE is 40,000 hours.

How to get to Meiji Shrine

One of the most popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo, Meiji Shrine is worth visiting.

It was built in 1920 and the shrine is dedicated to the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and his consort Empress Shoken.  About 100,000 trees from all over Japan and from overseas were donated to create this place.

To get to the Meiji Shrine, JR Harajuku and Yoyogi are the closest stations.

It is easier to find the direction to Meiji Shrine from JR Harajuku station.  But JR Yoyogi station might be shorter walking distance to the shrine.

The direction from JR Yoyogi station.

Leave the Yoyogi station by the west exit.

You can see the crossing outside of the station.

Turn left (or cross and make a left turn).

There is Yoshinoya (beef bowl chains) along to street.
Now it changed to a noodle shop.

And, you can see the sign says "Meiji Shrine North approach".

Walk down the street.

Keep going straight.

You can see the Nippon Rent-A-Car on left and the LOREAL office on right.

Turn right at this intersection.

You see this street leading to the shrine.

It's almost there!

Here you are.

This is the gate for Meiji Shrine.

It opens at 5:30 a.m. and closes at 5:50 p.m.

(It might be changed seasonally.)

UPDATE:  Winter hour is from 6:40 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Big Size for Guys

Young Japanese guys love sweets!

Especially, the custard puddings are very popular among them.  There are a wide range of puddings in the convenience stores.  And, the big size puddings were also introduced few years ago to satisfy their sweet-tooth cravings.

My favorite is the Milk Pudding by Meiji.  The combination of the milk pudding and maple syrup is so nice!

Grab A Dessert Pocky

Dessert Pocky (Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd)

The dessert pocky is a premier brand of pocky.  Pocky is one of the bestselling chocolate confectioneries in Japan since 1966.  There are many similar chocolate products, but Pocky is the true original.

In Europe, it is sold under name of Mikado.  In Malaysia, it is sold as Rocky.

The dessert pocky is rich in flavor!  It's almost like a cake. 

And, Glico is introducing new flavors each season.

Each pack (which contains three) has 97 kilocalories.

It's not too sweet and tastes good!

Mac Is A Hot Spot!

Maybe, it sounds strange but the McDonald's (the Japanese calls it Mac) is a really comfortable place in Japan.

The eating space is well organized and clean.  (It's not like a food court.)

Foods are cheaper than other fast food chains.

The staff are well-trained.

Nice promotions and discounts. (Classic hand-out coupons, mobile coupons or the promotion at the counter.)

The Mac outlets are like; high school students are studying, business persons are working with a laptop, and college students are staying overnight after clubbing. 

Yeah, they just love McDonald's!

Japanese Cell Phones Are Cool

Japanese cell phone company, au (KDDI) introduced a new brand line called "iida".  It stands for innovation, imagination, design and art.  

The design conscious products are so unique and creative.

Solar Phone

Solar Phone

This solar phone reminds me of the movie, 2001:A Space Odyssey, some how.  

Music instrument x cell phone

Yes, the cell phones can be fun!  It's already part of our lives, and this interesting concept would bring us more emotional attachment.

Mobile pico projector

Limited number of 3000.

With this portable projector, you can watch the mobile TV or private videos on bigger screen.  

Hello Kitty Promotion at Seven-Eleven

　

Seven-Eleven is accepting order for the Hello Kitty and LIZ LISA (Shibuya 109 brand) collaboration lunch box!  It comes with two types of mini-bowl meals, eco-bag and apron.  

The price is 2,200 yen.

You need to make a reservation by May 4 when you want to receive it on May 8.  Fill in the form and hand in a Seven-Eleven outlet near you.

Reservation deadline:

  May 4  (when you want to receive on May 8)

  May 5  (when you want to receive on May 9)

  May 6  (when you want to receive on May 10)

The form:

  (You need to provide the information below.)

  Name

  Address

  Telephone number

  Receipt (Yes/No)

  Date you receive the product (date/time)

This promotion is offered in a limited quantity!

The cherry Trees are In Full Bloom

It was a nice weather today.  A bit windy but the cherry blossoms are full bloom.  It was a nice view that the dirty blossoms were fluttering like snow.

It was a perfect day for those who celebrated a school entrance ceremony. (In Japan, new semester starts from April.) 

Spiritual beauty is a floral language of Sakura.

The beauty of cherry blossoms is fragile.  Like the cherry blossoms, graciousness was practiced in BUSHIDO (the samurai spirit).

Tokyo Museum Expedition

It's time for the museum lovers!  

Grutt Pass 2009 is on sale now.

(April 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010)

This is a value-priced ticket booklet which provides admission or discounts to the 66 facilities in Tokyo.

The price is only 2,000 yen.

Also, Grutt Pass plus two one-day-metro pass costs 2,800 yen.  You can save a lot of money!

(Usual cost for one-day-metro pass is 700 yen.)

Grutt Pass is valid for two months from the date of your first admission.  And, final expiration date will be March 31, 2010.

The participating facilities are:

• Calligraphy Museum
• The Ueno Royal Museum
• Shitamachi Museum
• The National Museum of Western Art
• Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
• Sogakudo of Former Tokyo Music School
• Ichiyo Memorial Hall
• Ueno Zoo
• Tokyo National Museum
• Tokyo University of the Arts The University Art Museum
• National Museum of Nature and Science
• Idemitsu Museum of Arts
• Mitsuo Aida Museum
• Showa-Kan
• Crafts Gallery The National Museum Art, Tokyo
• Science Museum
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• New Otani Art Museum
• Musee Hamaguchi Yozo: Yamasa Collection
• Mitsui Memorial Museum
• Bridgestone Museum of Art
• National Film Center, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• Okura Museum of Art
• Musee Tomo
• Sen-Oku Hakuko Kan, Tokyo
• Mori Art Museum/Tokyo City View
• The National Art Center, Tokyo
• Suntory Museum of Art
• Hatakeyama Memorial Museum of Fine Art
• Matsuoka Museum of Art
• Insitute for Nature Study, National Museum of Nature and Science
• Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
• Meguro Museum of Art, Tokyo
• Koga Masao Museum of Music
• Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum
• Setagaya Literary Museum
• Setagaya Art Museum
• The Gotoh Museum
• Shinjuku Historical Museum
• Prince Chichibu Memorial Sports Museum
• Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Museum of Art
• Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
• NTT InterCommunication Center (ICC)
• Ancient Orient Museum
• Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum
• Basho Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
• Nakagawa Funabansho Museum
• Metro Museum
• Tokyo Sea Life Park
• RiSuPia
• National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
• Museum of Maritime Science
• Chihiro Art Museum Tokyo
• Kichijoji Art Museum
• Inokashira Shizen Bunkaen Gardens
• Mitaka City Gallery of Art
• The Museum of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan
• Mushakoji Saneatsu Memorial Museum
• Fuchu Art Museum
• Kyodo No Mori Fuchu City Museum
• Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
• Tamarokuto Science Center
• Tama Zoo
• Hachioji Yume Art Museum

A Taste of Japanese Cherry

Eating cherry blossoms may sound funny, but those SAKURA (Japanese cherry) SWEETS are the seasonal delights!

I had a cheese cake with a pickled cherry blossom on top.  

The taste of cheery blossoms is like between strawberry and cherry.

"Oukazuke (pickled cherry blossoms)" 

price:  410yen

[How to make pickled cherry blossoms]

   YAE Sakura (double-flowered cherry blossoms)

     - should be half bloom

   Salt

   Plum vinegar

1) Wash flowers.

2) Add salt and plum vinegar.  Rub them well.

    (The amount of those seasonings are 20% of the flowers.)

3) Leave it for one week.  

    If that is not enough, add more salt and leave it for another week.

Cherry Blossoms

One of the ways to enjoy spring in Japan is HANAMI (viewing of the blossoms).  

You can share the joy of spring with aroma of Sakura (cherry trees).  The blossoming lasts only one or two weeks, so a week from today is the best time to visit hanami spots in Tokyo.

Tokyo's best hanami spots:

- Shinjuku Gyoen

- Sumida Park 

  (near Asakusa, along the Sumida 

   River)

- Ueno Park

- Inokashira-Onshi Park (near Kichijoji)

and many more...