Sanrio Puroland is a small, indoor amusement park located in Tama, which is about 1 hour from central Tokyo. If you love Sanrio, you may want to consider visiting this park. It is the perfect size for toddlers and small children.
Japan Travel & Eats
Here are some kawaii things for you to do in Japan!
Character Cafes in Tokyo
Kawaii food is popular in Japan, as seen in the Kawaii bento boxes that parents lovingly made for their kids each morning. Following this trend, Japan has developed an amazing array of character cafes. Some of these cafes are permanent installations, but look out for seasonal pop up cafes. Before you visit Japan, google pop up cafes in Tokyo, to see what is new. However, be prepared for long lines and wait times for pop up cafes, and try to go on weekdays if possible.
My Kawaii Guide to Tokyo Disney Resort
TOKYO DISNEY RESORT
If you are a kawaii-lover, then chances are you are a Disney fan as well. Tokyo Disney resort is an enormous property located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. It houses Tokyo Disney Sea, Tokyo Disneyland, Ikspiari, a shopping center, and 9 different hotels. Tokyo Disney Resort is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. If your time is limited, I recommend visiting Tokyo Disney Sea, because it is a park that you will be unable to find anywhere else in the world.
Totoro No Mori and Kurosuke’s House in Real Life!
Totoro no Mori is a wildlife preserve located in the Sayama Hills, about 25 miles from Tokyo.
This area of forests and wildlife served as the inspiration behind the movie, “My Neighbor Totoro.” Because it was in danger of being destroyed due to urbanization, deforestation, and illegal dumping, in April 1990, the National Trust of Totoro no Furosato was founded to protect the Sayama Hills.
Film director Hayao Miyazaki, among others, donated a large sum of money to purchase and preserve this land. In this forest, you will find hiking trails, (map here: http://www.totoro.or.jp/intro/stroll_guide/index.html) as well as a traditional Japanese house that is over 100 years old, called Kurosuke’s house.
Inside of Kurosuke’s house, you can find a giant Totoro seated out in the front, as well as soot sprites scattered throughout the corners of the home. You can also purchase Totoro themed goods, whose proceeds go towards protecting the Sayama Hills. Some of these items are only available at the shop or can be purchased online through the website of Totoro no Mori. The nice thing about this house is that you are free to take photos and videos, unlike at the Studio Ghibli museum in Mitaka. The downside is that it will take about 2 hours to get here from Central Tokyo. For true Totoro fans, this place is not to be missed! Plan for an entire day and make sure to check and double check hours of operation. It’s easy to get lost, but that’s part of the fun 🙂
If you plan on visiting Kurosuke’s house, make sure to check the opening hours and days on the website. While there is no official parking lot for Kurosuke’s house, you can find an unaffiliated free parking lot along the main street which leads to Kurosuke’s house.
I visited with my family. We ended up driving to the site, and parked nearby. Afterwards, we went on a hike to find this Totoro bush (turns out it was just a bush shaped like Totoro in someone’s front yard!) It is quite near the Sayama Lake. The maps for the hiking trails were only available in Japanese, and since we had our kids with us, we decided to take the easy route and hang out near the lake, which has a paved walkway. We found some picnic tables to eat the Totoro bento that I had prepared for our family. There are not a lot of restaurants in the area, although I do believe there is a cafe next to Kurosuke’s House.
Kurosuke’s House
3 Chome-1169-1 Mikajima,
Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama-ken 359-1164
http://www.totoro.or.jp/kurosuke (Japanese only)
Top 5 Japanese Skin Care Products
Top 5 Japanese Skin Care Products
Hi guys! I’m going to share with you my top 5 Japanese skincare products. I lived in Japan for 3 years and did some experimentation here and there. Here are my recommendations if you are wondering what to buy in the way of skin care products when you go to Japan.
1. Hello kitty Apple Gommage
This is a dupe for the cure aqua gel which is really popular but a quarter of the price. It also has a nice apple scent. Gommage means eraser in french, and thats kind of how this product works. you apply this clear gel to your skin while its dry, and rub it all over your face without water. The enzymes in the paste digest the dead skin cells on the surface of your face and ball up into little grayish white pieces that look like those little pieces of eraser that are left on the paper.
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2. Oshima Tsubaki Camellia Hair Oil
Cameilla oil or tsubaki oil a non-comedogenic oil that was used by geishas to remove their stage makeup. Oshimatsubaki Camellia Hair Care Oil is one of the bestselling camellia oil brands in Japan which I started using when I became pregnant… at the time I was trying to use only natural skincare products. I used it as a face oil. It doesn’t have a fragrance and a little bit goes a long way. You can also use it to condition your hair by rubbing a drop on your palms and distributing it on the tips of your hair. Use it VERY sparingly though bc it will make your hair look oily and stringy if you use too much. You can also use it on your scalp if you have dandruff. you would want to massage it and then wash it out.
3. SANA NamerakaHonpo Soy Milk Isoflavone Moisturizing Lotion Toner
I like this toner because it’s inexpensive, and it’s also very gentle and unscented. After I use this, it makes my skin feel very hydrated. The peach colored like is a moisturizing line and the white one is the regular line. What I like to do with this is soak a Muji sheet mask in this toner and just let it sit on my face for 10-15 minutes. This brings me to my 4th favorite Japanese skincare product…
4. Muji sheet masks
You can customize your own sheet mask using different toners and essences. You can also use some of the leftover essence that’s in the package of other sheet masks you have used to soak the mask up. Also theres something so satisfying about watching these tiny compressed masks open up. Don’t forget to check out the under eye patches placed right next to the sheet masks. They are good for coming up with your own under eye treatment.
5. Pure Smile Sheet Masks
I like the snail version in particular. I also like the bee propolis one. In terms of scent, the peach and strawberry are heavenly! These are not the best quality but they are cheap and ultra hydrating and effective. When I was in Japan I started to get really dry flaky skin after daily use of these sheet masks, my skin returned to normal. The Lululun masks are popular but I found that they made my skin itch like crazy. These were gentle and effective. Note that the Pure Smile masks are manufactured in Korea. I thought that they were Korean masks but was unable to find them anywhere in Korea!
Honorable Mention
Honorable mention goes to the DHC cleansing oil. This is really popular in Japan and I used this while living there. But I have now graduated to sherbet cleansers like banila co balm for removing makeup – I feel like it does a better job of removing everything.
Some other remarks on Japanese skin care products:
-There are some other products that are popular like Hada Labo toners and cleansers. I didn’t like this because it made me break out. but a lot of people rave about this brand.
-Japanese skincare philosophy is congruent with the overall philosophy on life in Japan: less is more – having a few simple, natural but effective products and time tested ingredients such as rice, green tea, black pearl, etc. This differs from the Korean skincare philosophy which is all about cutting edge, new technology and ingredients.
-One of the best places to shop for Japanese skincare and beauty products is Don Quixote so make sure you check it out if you’re in Japan.
-Check out the @cosme awards for the highest rated beauty and skin care products in Japan. However be aware that this includes foreign products as well as Japanese products. You will see the cosme sticker or sign on beauty products when you shop at places like Don Quixote or Japanese drugstores indicating that the products have won an award.
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My Kawaii Harajuku Guide
HARAJUKU (原宿)
Harajuku is the epicenter of all things cute and bright in Tokyo. Takeshita Dori is the main drag in Harajuku, and here you will find all kinds of unique things to eat, kawaii shops, and more. The street entrance is marked by seasonal kawaii decor, so don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the street entrance! Takeshita Dori is a great place to shop for over the top cute things, like sneakers with fuzzy bunnies on them, alpacasso plushies, and lolita style clothing.
Kawaii Eats in Harajuku
While in Harajuku, you cannot miss Totti Candy Factory, which serves giant rainbow cotton candy bigger than your head. If you have room for more sweets, a popular street food in Harajuku is crepes, which are super sweet and delicious. You can choose between the two competitors, Angels Heart and Marion Crepes, located across the street from one another. Angels Heart claims to be the “oldest crepe shop in Harajuku,” having opened in 1977. However Marion Crepes claims to have been in business since 1976. If you’re more of a salty snacker, stop by Calbee + for freshly deep fried potato chips (with the option of adding cheese, chocolate sauce or soft serve ice cream on top). My favorite kawaii place to have lunch on Takeshita Dori is Pompompurin Cafe, located on the 3rd floor of Cute Cube, a complex also housing a Sanrio store. The taco rice at Pompompurin Cafe is not just cute, but also delicious.
Kawaii Shopping in Harajuku
Harajuku is not the fashion mecca it once was back in the 1990’s, but it is still a fun place to shop, especially for kawaii lovers. I recommend DAISO for cute and inexpensive souvenirs, the Sanrio store at Cute Cube, the LINE Friends Store (take a photo with the gigantic brown bear!), and Harajuku Alta for all things kawaii, including Disney Japan merchandise.
Purikura (short for Print Club) is a sticker photo booth which allows you to perform digital plastic surgery on your face, by enlarging your eyes and narrowing your jaw to achieve a kawaii look. It makes for an interesting souvenir from Japan. You can find Purikura machines at Purikura Land NOA and Eggnam on Takeshita Dori, among other places.
Getting There
Takeshita Dori is located at Harajuku Station, which is between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote line. Near Harajuku, you can also find Meiji Jingu Shrine. While it is not necessarily a kawaii part of Tokyo, this calm and peaceful oasis provides a respite amongst the crowded streets of Harajuku, and is definitely worth visiting.
Kawaii Eats:
Totti Candy Factory
2F, 1-16-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.totticandy.com
Calbee +
1-16-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.calbee.co.jp
Pompompurin Cafe
Cute Cube Harajuku, 3F
1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://pompom.createrestaurants.com
Angels Heart
1-20-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.cafe-crepe.co.jp
Marion Crepes
1-6-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.marion-crepes.com/
Kawaii Shops:
DAISO
1-19-24 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/
Purikura Land NOA
B1F, 1-17-5 Jingumae, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.printclub.jp/
Sanrio Vivitix
1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://sanrio.co.jp/english
Harajuku Alta
1-16-4 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://altastyle.com/harajuku
LINE Friends Store
4-32-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
http://www.linefriends.jp
Eggnam Harajuku
1-19-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku , Tokyo 150-0001 Tokyo
http://www.namco.co.jp/others/eggnam
Japanese Gatchapon | Gacha Shop
Japanese Gatchapon
Gashapon or gatchapon (ガチャポン) refer to vending machines that dispense toys in a small capsule. These toy vending machines can be found in the front of grocery stores and diner waiting areas in the US, but Japan takes these toy vending machines to the next level. Japanese capsule toys differ from their American counterparts, in that they offer more expensive, but higher quality toys. American toy machines typically cost $1 USD or less, while Japanese gatchapon cost anywhere from ¥200 to 300 JPY ($1–4 USD) and are normally a much higher-quality product. For instance, popular Japanese gatchapon include collectible, licensed Disney, Sanrio, San-X, Pokemon and various anime characters.
The word “gatchapon” comes from two onomatopoeic Japanese words. The first is “gatcha”, which refers to the cranking sound that the toy machine makes when you turn the knob. The second sound is “pon”, the sound the capsule makes when it falls down into the tray. Gatchapon refers to both the machines themselves and the toys obtained from them.
Gatchapon are typically released in series. Some gatchapon are considered collectors items that cannot be purchased elsewhere, and can be sold for double their value or more on e-Bay. By their nature, gatchapon are blind purchase items, meaning that you don’t know which specific design you will receive from the series. These little capsule toys are not just for kids. Many gatchapon toys are made for adults.
In Japan, you will find gatchapon in your local shopping malls, arcades, supermarkets, and restaurants.
Ryuzo Shigeta, also known as “gatcha-gatcha ojisan” or “grandpa” set up the first capsule toy machine at his shop, Penny Shokai in Tokyo, selling them for 10 yen a piece. The toys were cheaply made from scrap plastic. In 1977, however, Bandai revolutionized the industry by making higher quality toys which sold for 100 yen each.
Japanese Gatchapon Manufacturers
Japanese Gatchapon are not manufactured by a single company. There are a variety of companies that manufacture gatchapons. You can see the new gatcahpon toys that have been released on the manufacturer’s websites.
Bandai is the company that made gatchapon what it is today. Bandai makes a variety of capsule toys, including Disney, Doraemon,Pokémon, Dragon Ball and One Piece, as well as other Japanese character capsule toys such as Anpanman and Crayon Shin Chan. Bandai has trademarked the term “gashapon.”
Takara Tomy Arts is probably the biggest toy producer in Japan and also one of the well known gatchapon manufacturers. Takara Tomy Arts produces a lot of character gatchapon, including Disney, Sanrio,Pokémon, San-x Star Wars, Marvel, Sakura Cardcopter, Doraemon, Thomas the Train, and more. Takara Tomy uses the trademark “Gacha.”
Epoch is a Japanese company that is known for making Doraemon video games as well as Sylvanian Family toys. Epoch specializes in cat themed gatchapon, and they also make miniature Sylvanian family gatchapon.
Kaiyodo makes a variety of tiny, but very realistic animals including insects, dinosaurs, birds. It also manufactures anime characters.
Kitan Club is known for making the famous Fuchico on the cup gatchapon. Fuchiko is an office worker who poses in strange positions on the edge of a cup, designed by manga artist Katsuki Tanaka. He noticed that many people were taking boring pictures of food on social media, so he created this character to make the pictures more interesting.
Gacha Shop Korea
In Korea, the first gatchapon were installed in 2002 by Tiat Korea. Today, you can find them in shopping malls and sometimes in subway stations. There is a special franchise dedicated to selling Japanese gatchapon in Korea, called “Gatcha Shop.” (Website: gachashop.co.kr)
Totoro Lovers!
Here are some of my off-the-beaten-path recommendations for Totoro lovers visiting Japan.
Kurosuke’s House
Go to the house from the movie My Neighbor Totoro! Totoro is an animation so the house isn’t REAL, but you can visit a 100 year old Japanese home that served as the inspiration for the house in Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbor Totoro. You can also visit the surrounding Sayama Hills, and see many real-life scenes from the movie, My Neighbor Totoro.
Kurosuke refers to the black soot sprites in the movie My Neighbor Totoro, and if you look carefully, you can find a few in this house!
More info on visiting Kurosuke’s house and Totoro Forest:
http://www.totoro.or.jp/english.html
http://www.bring-you.info/totoro-forest#.WD2GfaJ96Rs
In Japanese: http://www.totoro.or.jp
Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory
At the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, you may be disappointed that they don’t serve Totoro-themed desserts. Fear not! If you go to Shiro-hige’s Cream Puff Factory in Setagayadaita, you can eat this adorable and tasty Totora-Themed dessert!
Website: http://www.shiro-hige.com