Today I went to another “geeky” shopping center. Nakano broadway in Nakano.
I made my way to Nakano by subway, when you exit the station towards the mall you first have to pass trough a shopping street filled with food bars and the traditional (tourist) shops.
Once past the street you arrive at a 4 story mall, with some supermarket style shops in the basement, ‘normal’ stores on the 1st floor and then it begins. the remaining three floors are filled with Geek-related stores, it really is mini-akihabara out here. Although I do have to say, most of the shops are either Mandarake or Lashinban that specialise in certain items. On the fourth floor there are supposed to be some art galleries, but it looks like those were closed today.
It also was here that I realised what ‘felt wrong’ in Akihabara. Going from store to store. The time I spend there was in 1-2 stores, as they are huge. Here it was a collection of small stores and I liked going from one to the other.
For lunch I went back towards the shopping street and found a little restaurant where I had some gyoza and rice.
After that I made my way to Shinjuku, as it was one of the districts I hadn’t seen yet and I had an appointment there later in the evening. Next to strolling around I got some more souvenirs and a few boardgames.
After that it was time for dinner. I met up with an old friend living in Japan and we went to an Izakaya. Ordered some yakisoba and skewers to munch on. After this she was so kind to show me around some more ‘hidden’ parts of Shinjuku and we eventually ended up in a karaoke room for 90 minutes of trying to read the kana fast enough to sing along (for me that was the case).
For Lunch I had some Osaka Yakisoba with a Gundam Taiyaki and some kind of strawberry drink. After that I watched the Gundam transform and went back to Akihabara for some more shopping!
I had dinner in some kind of peppered-beef restaurant.
Slept in a bit so left pretty late. An hour on public transport later I arrived in Asakusa and the first thing I saw was the Asahi “cloud”. With the Tokyo Skytree to the left.
That one would be my destination later on in the day, but first some more traditional stuff in the middle of this city.
After walking trough the neighbourhood I arrived at the Tokyo Skytree. Where I went to visit the Pokémon Center. This center has a huge Rayquaza displayed. I found that one pretty cool!
Got my culture take for the day, now it was time to travel to Akihabara, the Geek heaven in Japan. And honestly? I wasn’t that amazed by it, probably dulled by my previous experiences in the country. Had I gone here first, then Dotonbori would’ve been a “meeh” so yeah. Take this with a grain of salt.
I did some more shopping and decided on dinner in a place close to the station. Afterwards I went back to Ikebukuro to play some more Mahjong.
All I can say about Ikebukuro station, it’s a maze. When I finally got out, I was greeted by these owls. The owl has a special connection to Ikebukuro as I see them everywhere including owl café’s.
On my way to Sunshine City, the mall that has the Pokémon store in it. I walked past a small anime event. It was apparently the Animate Girls Festival -Animate is one of the biggest anime and manga chains-. So cosplayers everywhere in the park and surrounding stores.
Arrived in the mall I got to the Pokémon center and bought the stuff I wanted and got also got a Yokohama Pikachu card as a gift there.
For lunch I took the elevator up to the 59th floor to enjoy a nice view over the city while eating this hamburger.
I then walked to a Buddhist temple around 15 minutes away. It’s really crazy to see how big this domain is, in the middle of a city like this, surrounded by skyscrapers.
Then I went to do some more shopping and eventually went back to that Mahjong School. Played two full games there, lost the first one. But won the second one with a 200 point difference! I’ll definitely be going back here. Automated tables are a bliss.
For dinner I went for some chicken again.
In Odawara station I had lunch, some quick Katsu Kare before stepping onto the Shinkansen towards Tokyo.
There I immediately went to my Air BnB place near Ikebukuro and went shopping for tomorrow’s breakfast and my dinner as it was raining again.
Breakfast was almost the same as yesterday, the fruit bagel was replaced by a ham & cheese one. Which I could only applaud! After breakfast it was time for a shower and check-out.
Arriving in Osaka I quickly noticed it was a lot cooler than in Tokyo. Walking around in my T-shirt was quickly out of the question. I went to my hostel to check-in and returned to Osaka Station as it is home to the Osaka Pokémon Center. Found there this weird Mahjong-looking game. But it’s more off a 20-games-in-one-box thing, using tiles.
After a brief visit it was time for my usual stroll around the area. Found some nice viewing spots. With gardens on buildings, really crazy stuff. Back on the ground I found this pathway dedicated to Billiken filled with restaurants and an arcade hall. the poor fellow can’t touch the soul of his foot, so if you scratch it for him, he’ll bless you with good luck.
Dinner time! This time a combination of my last 2 real meals, Udon noodles with curry sauce. I’m not really a foody, but this was just fine. Nothing special to write about actually. Except that these buggers are slippy as hell.
Last night I found out the adapter I got to plug in my appliances didn’t work for my laptop. So I had to go and get a second one. Which I didn’t find, but I did find a plug changer for my charger. And it was even cheaper than all USB-plugs I could find. But if I could charge my laptop then I could charge my phone trough it in emergency situations. Also bought myself an external battery-pack. As I didn’t need it in Tokyo, but I’m expecting to use my phone a lot more in the other cities. So better be safe than sorry!
Shopping trip done, time to head back and get lost in Shibuya station. At one moment you have the Exit sign. And after that only line numbers, but nowhere a mention of the exit. Found another way out and took the crossing. Yes the famous one, where there is a diagonal crossing. Or at the moment I was there, 2 diagonals. People were just going everywhere, taking up the whole intersection.
I was getting hungry by now, so I entered a random restaurant and got me some Katsu Kare. It is so different from the one I’m used to at Wagamama. More ingredients in the curry sauce. It filled so well I couldn’t finish my miso soup.
It was already past nine, so time to head back to the hostel but not before I finished this bowl of Ramen.
