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I’m back from my little “vacation” (as if I needed one) and I figure it is time to get posting again. Today, I bring you 2 rather interesting areas in the prefecture of Tokyo. I’m actually doing a post on Shimokitazawa in particular because I just found out a friend who was once in Toronto on working holiday is now living in Shimokitazawa. The other is an area of Ueno which sells the display foods for restaurants, which is also a really interesting place to walk around.

First up is this place in Ueno, of which I forgot the name and the location! So sorry if you wanted to visit, cause all you are getting today is pictures! We were actually guided through the area (and Shimokita) by a close friend of my girlfriend’s mother. She had some business to take care of in the area, so we just decided to browse around.

I can assure you everything in that case is fake as Hamasaki Ayumi’s face, and probably just about as expensive. Each food item cost probably 4-8 times the price of the actual food.


The selection of 40 dollar beers. Although it is sort of obvious because it is all wrapped up in plastic, the image of it all on sight was quite deceiving. The beer glasses even had such details as condensation and the beer had air bubbles.


My point is made more obvious by this picture. Price of the beer in the middle 5,000 Yen or roughly 50 dollars Canadian.

Just a few more pics…

This one was my favourite! Also check out Xorsyst.com for some more info on these non-edible goodies.

Even the souvenirs were a little too expensive to constitute buying. I suppose this is the way it is for restaurant businesses in Japan though, as almost every restaurant has their food choices displayed outside their shops. This is also something I really enjoy about Japan, is that you can use your eyes and really make a good choice, and being quick about ordering when you sit down as well.

On to Shimokitazawa which is a real mouthful in english font but only 3 characters in Japanese: 下北沢。The area of Shimokitazawa located in Setagaya, Tokyo is one of the nicer areas of Tokyo with some good night life. When I first arrived in Shimokita, it gave me the feeling of a more relaxed, less hyped-up Harajuku. The people, shops and overall atmosphere was a lot more calm and not overly concerned with latest trends or expensive foreign goods.

One of the nicer looking shops which sold earrings and other accessories. The entrance was very creative.


The streets are smaller and more condensed with shops and restaurants than compared to the wider and longer streets of Harajuku. I got a more comfortable feeling from Shimokita. Everywhere seemed more homey and relaxed (not that the people at A BOMBER in Harajuku aren’t the nicest people I’ve met in Japan).


While being unable to decide where to eat, “Wendy” (our guide) had the idea of sitting down for a beer (on empty stomachs) in order to decide. Can’t say I dislike her thinking…


Not that this bar had no business, but the majority of the customers were sitting to the other side of me, on the tables which were outside of this open-concept bar. What I mean by that is, like many shops in area’s like these, there is no front door, but rather the entire wall is gone and the patio blends into the bar. It was a nice evening if I remember correctly.


Sitting down to a nice meal at the local yakitori-ya. “Wendy” took care of the order. Yakitori is various types of chicken/bird on skewers, all cooked/bbq’ed and smeared in different yummy sauces. They also have many other tasty dishes, and not to mention….


Nice icy cold ones.


First time trying cold stone ice cream. So good! Don’t know where it originated from though.


You are always better at picking the good ones. Chunky Monkey Mix. Not to say my Mango Mango wasn’t amazing either.

I definitely can’t wait to head back here when I return to Japan. Anyone else think they might like it here?

There are some more pictures in the picture gallery section!