My "When in Tokyo" series begin! Click here to see the map! 

Let's start with Daikanyama (代官山), 

Daikanyama to me is a high class, fashion forward,  hipster town.  
If you want to check out the famous "Shibuya", I recommend for you to check Daikanyama along with it! It's a nice walk - especially if you're interested in exploring (~25 minutes).

When in Daikanyama, I usually check out: 

• All the little shops in all the various alley ways. You'll find fancy shops & cafes.
• The Tsutaya book store & Starbucks

Don't forget to check out  my OOTD for this day here!

Japan *loves* Christmas.

Though Christianity is not a popular religion,
Japanese people (including myself) celebrate this holiday.

In America, I believe Christmas is more of a family holiday.
In Japan, it's more of a romantic holiday which you may spend with your friends or significant others. (this is the case for the young generation)

Due to the popularity of this holiday, businesses go above and beyond in decorating the city with illuminations! The illuminations I've seen in Tokyo are much more intense than the ones I've seen in San Francisco, Boston and NYC. Additionally, the illumination themes change every year; so you'll see a new design every year.

Check out the list below for the illuminations I want to visit for the year 2015! 

Another post by my jpinsider correspondent: My little sister, Fuyuka! 

This time, she went to visit the famous Owl Cafe in Tokyo, Tsukishima. 
For 2000 yen (20 USD) you get 1 hour with the owls and a tiny refreshment! 

She said it was more of like a petting zoo than a cafe. Who could relax with a cup of tea with all these owls staring at you in the first place?!

The more I look at these photographs, the more alien they start to look. 

One Japanese lesson before you head off - "Fukurou" ("ふくろう") is owl in Japanese. 

Now it's your turn to visit!


Links:
Owl Cafe in Tsukishima: Fukurou-no-mise 
Google maps: Map

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月島にある「ふくろうの店」のリポート
なんだか宇宙人に見えてきた....😅
#ふくろうカフェ

Japanese convenience stores, a.k.a "Conbinis" are famous to have *anything* you can think of.

It's nothing like the Seven-Elevens here in the US. Employees are highly trained, the stores are lit, clean and well made making the stores more accessible and safe for all customers, even very young children. 

Products are very fresh as they are constantly stocked and replaced with incoming food. Some conbinis make fresh dishes on the spot.

So what are my 5 reasons to love Japanese conbinis?

I still carry around my purse, but no joke. You can find anything you need at the Japanese convenience store.

I told you - it's nothing like the Seven-Elevens in the US.

The famous "Yamazaki" whiskey for $9 USD.

I usually pack 5 packaged breads the day I fly to Japan to have the following morning. They are fresh - so they only last 1-2 days.

So there it is!

Why do you love Japanese conbinis?

People, people and more people. My personal definition of Shibuya, a ward in Tokyo.


Known to be filled with lots of young people, Shibuya is a very crowded city from morning to night. Also popular for the "Hachi-ko" dog by the station, and the "Scramble crossing" (in the pic above). Both of these iconic locations are right by Shibuya station exits.

If you like to shop or want to take a look at the young trendy clothes in Tokyo, you might want to stop at 109, a popular shopping mall full of different types of styles & wardrobes. You'll experience a very different mall atmosphere there.

There are lots and lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and fast foods in Shibuya, like any other ward in Tokyo. Quite dense though. I highly recommend the standing sushi bar in the "Center-gai", a.k.a  Center Street. Super casual, affordable but delicious & worthy.

Another recommendation is LoFT, a shop spanning 7 floors with anything from beauty goods, travel goods to pens and paper. If you are looking for gifts and good quality goodies, you must visit!

If you go to Shibuya, be prepared to walk! Through the alleys, through the streets....You'll forget the time passing by since there is so much to experience and look at! If you want to see all the lights, young vibe and be surrounded by lots and lots of people, this is a place you must visit :)

Let me know if you have any recommendations in Shibuya!