Japanese Style, Tokyo

Most of the prefectural governments in Japan have shops in Tokyo, selling mostly food items from their area, but also for a little bit of tourist promotion.

In this case, the Kagawa and Ehime prefectural governments have combined to create this shop, with a restaurant upstairs.

It mostly sells specialist food items from the two prefectures as well as sake.

Even if you don't visit this shop, if you are interested in a particular regional specialty, you'll be able to find it in Tokyo at a shop similar to this one.

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I didn't plan on buying anyone in my family any gifts on my most recent trip to Tokyo, but then I stumbled into Adachi-ya, on Nakamise-dori, which is the shopping street inside Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. After all, Adachi-ya had the best selection of traditional Japanese doggie clothes that I had ever seen, and my dogs were completely lacking in that fashion department. I HAD to buy something.
Unfortunately, I had no idea how the sizes would translate onto my dogs' bodies (whippets and an Italian greyhound), so I only bought one happi with a tiger on the back of it, hoping that it would fit Angus. For about Y2500, I wasn't about to risk bringing home three non-fitting items. As it turned out, the happi -- a traditional fetive garment -- fit Zoe perfectly. So now I have to go back to get Carmen a checkered samaurai shirt and Angus a baseball jersey with the Hanshin Tigers' logo on it so that all the puppies are happy.
By the way, I realize this is a male garment and Zoe is a femal whippet, but she is a tom-boy, so there's no problem as far as she's concerned.

What to pay: The cool, uniuely Japanese merchandise ran from Y2500-Y3500.

What to buy: Many people like to bring back kimonos from Tokyo, but find that they are very expensive in the souvenir stores. However, most locals who need kimonos for ceremonial or festive occassions buy their's at local department stores, where they don't pay for-tourist prices. I was staying in a suburb whose local Starbuck's was attached to a department store where I walked by these (caucasian) mannequins dressed in kimonos every day, and the prices were all better than what I saw in souvenir stores.

Some of the tourist may ask where is the Hard Rock Cafe is located in Tokyo...?
Yes, is located in Roppongi.
Picture shown was taken beside the boutique. The Cafe is just right behind with a big trademark 'guitar'.

What to buy: Get some so called City T-shirt for Tokyo. The latest version on my visit on July04 is a picture of a sumo in white.

What to pay: 2000-3000yen for a T-Shirt

A ***aMachi Area for the Edoko and Sumo Wrestling hall.

You can clearly feel the Japanese style environment especially when you see the wooden houses built, and the people walking on the street with Yukata and Kimono.

What to buy: Yukata, Kimono, Japanese paper made umbrella

What to pay: Cash only

The Kappabashi dori is a street full of shops where you can buy things for your restaurant. From pots and pans, saucers and chopsticks to plastic food models or stoves.

What to buy: Buy a few chopsticks or some nice dishes. The plastic food models are great, but a bit expensive to buy as a souvenir.

What to pay: Plastic food from 800 yen for one piece of sushi to 7000 yen for a small dish.

Just how japan sell goods,

You will see on the pic there hundreds of mobile phones left for customers to try on as they go past the front of the shops.

Customer do not have to pay for the phone only for the phone call.
These are the cutting edge phones with latest 3rd generation phones.
You can listen to radio watch news send your pic to your friends or family check your credit card balance. bank accounts and many more funtions. We in the west pay hundreds of pounds to just to buy the phone.

What to buy: Any thing you like.

What to pay: As little or no money on some products like phones.
Then some you just can't imagine the price if it is true or not,
Just an example, Traditional Japanese Tea bowl , 1.5 million dollers

It is a recreation of early 20th Century Tokyo selling local merchandise. It sells Japanese clothes and snacks.