Jalan Jalan Japan: JR Nippori Station - Nippori Textile Town

Nippori Textile Town is a haven for designers and crafters! The shops here stock different kinds of fabrics and fabric related items beyond imagination. A lesser known part of this shopping spot is that they sell really cheap clothings - the cheapest top I saw was 290 Yen = S$4.50 and it can be found in this shop.

Most of the shops along textile town sell cloth, and the most popular shop is Tomato a fabric and accessories mega mart. There are a couple of specialized shops which differ from the norm and here are some of them:

1) Select Shop-Mix: http://www.selectshop-mix.com/

Mr Toshiyuki Shimoda is an owner of a ball python farm and has about 70 snakes. He uses their skin to make leather goods, such as wallets, journals and even tissue paper pocket holders and markets it under the name of Bp. Supply Japan. He has a huge collection of exotic fabrics – ostrich, frog, seal, shark etc. In addition he sells glass figurings from Chiba, leather soft toys & silver pieces from Tokyo & bags. But the favourite souvenir piece among foreigners is still the craft parts which can be made into a key chain.

Select Shop-Mix
http://www.selectshop-mix.com/
Address: 〒１１６－００１４
東京都荒川区東日暮里５－２４－１０　メゾン小林２０１
Opening Hours: 11:00AM - 6:00PM
Closed on Sundays
It is beside Pop Girl number 45 on the “Sen-I Gai” Map

2) Tansuya caught my fancy, as the shop sells second hand kimonos for just 1050 yen, which is almost the same price as what you will pay for a kimono in the flea markets around Japan. I was not eyeing the kimonos, but the Obijime which is a thin piece of rope that is tied on top of the Obisash. I like using it as an alternative to a sash or belt. Perhaps you can consider doing so too.

Click here to learn how tie an Obijime

Tansu-Ya（たんす屋 (Kimono Shop)
http://tansuya.jp/sh_toho.html
Address: 〒１１６－００１４
東京都荒川区東日暮里５－32－1 コ一ポオギノ 1F
Tel:0120-529-829

* Down the road from Select Shop Mix

3) L. musee LTD(Bead and Button Shop)
The Unique Buttons in the candy jars are a pretty sight. Even if you have no talent in sewing & crafting, you will be extremely tempted to buy them for someone you know. But trust me you will have difficulty choosing what to buy because the buttons come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Ms Kei Honma the owner mentioned that buttons made of traditional wood are a hit among the foreigners, so hopefully this will make your selection easier :) All the buttons are imported from Europe, Italy and France. She also sells her own jewellery line and imports buckles too.

L . muse LTD (Bead and Button Shop)
http://www.l-musee.com/
Address:
東京都荒川区東日暮里５－34－1 Tel:03-5858-6722
Opening Hours: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
Closed on Sundays

Getting to the Textile Town from Nippori Station

At the Station, exit from the South Exit, and head towards the cross roads of Ogubashi-Dori and Nippori Chuo- Dori. After crossing the Momiji Hashi (もみじはし) which means maple leaves bridge you will see this arch.

On the ground, you will spot this sign. Cross the zebra crossing, turn left and follow the road.

When you see this sign you will know you are at Textile Town. Have a wonderful time exploring Nippori Chuo Dori.

You may like to pick up this map at the station.
Select Shop-Mix and Tansu-Ya is near number 45 and L . muse LTD is at number 30

Jalan Jalan Japan : JR Nippori Station - Dagashi Shop

Most of us have heard of Wagashi but have you heard of Dagashi? I read that this area used to be a famous wholesale area for Dagashi. This is one term that is familiar among Japanese children, as many of them have fond memories of visits to neighbourhood Dagashi stores to pick up candies to satisfy their sweet tooth! Now I know how Charlie felt in the chocolate factory as I shared the same sentiments when I visited Ooyashoten. There are over 100 varieties of Dagashi in the shop, with an assortment of flavours. For foreigners, this shop holds the answer to the question of what kind of sweets do Japanese children grow up with? So do drop by this shop for a taste of a Japanese child’s childhood experience and don’t forget to take some home!

Directions to the Dagashi Shop

Retrace your steps to JR Nippori Station and there is a Bus Terminal to the right of the East Exit. Look diagonally across the station and you will spot this building, with Tully’s Coffee on the ground floor. The Dagashi Shop is located on the second floor of this building. Therefore just take the escalator seen in this picture up to the second floor.

大屋商店 Ooyashoten (Dagashi Shop)
Address:
〒１１６－００１3
東京都荒川区西日暮里2－25－1－203
ステ一ションガ一デンタワ一
Tel:03-3801-2530
Opening Hours: 09:00AM - 5:00PM
Closed on Mondays

Jalan Jalan Japan - 3 Days Shopping Tokyo

It has already been 3 months, however I can still remember the excitement when I received a phone call telling me that I was one of the winners of the Jalan Jalan Japan competition 2011 - I had won a three days’ shopping trip to Tokyo. I have always joked with my friends that I am a “sales” girl, reason being that I love to sniff out good bargains! So stick on to learn more about the hidden gems in this cosmopolitan city!

* I would like to thank Japan National Tourism Board Singapore and ANA for making this trip possible.

Greetings from Tokyo!

I started my shopping journey with an early breakfast at Café Veloce in Ikebukuro. How many of you have tried this chain? For a reasonable price of slightly above 200 yen, this chain serves cups of aromatic coffee without a lingering unpleasant aftertaste. This is a “must try experience” for all coffee lovers! However today I had the matcha latte topped with soft vanilla ice cream(a summer speciality)! Not exactly a healthy breakfast but I count it as my sugar boost for the day!

Ho Say - Iphone App - Singlish & Slangs

Ho Say, is a crash course on slangs, singlish and terms which are found in Singapore. The app has definitions and "teachers" to teach you the correct way to pronounce the terms. As this app increases in popularity it will probably cause the Speak Good English Campaign Committee Members and English Teachers a huge headache. But I am sure it will bring great joy to our forefathers that those Singlish terms that they have created, will not be lost in our society!

Cambodia: Siem Reap - Street Food

One advice, skip the fanciful restaurants along pub street & skip the roadside stalls opposite Molly Malone. Instead go for street food loaded with salt, msg, germs and dirt sold by vendors with pushcarts along the road side. Yummy! However don't expect the food to come cheap, we paid $0.75 usd for this plate of noodles!

Cambodia: Siem Reap - Quad Bike Riding

Here is a highly recommended activity, even if you are on a shoe string budget - Quad Bike Riding! Being Quad Bike amateurs we opted for the easiest route - a 17km stretch. The route consisted of dirt tracks which was fairly smooth aside from the occasional pot holes! With our bikes we travelled through the country side, past padi fields and even sped down the highway. It was an Adrenaline Rushing affair speeding down the highway, with the roaring of the engine and the wind sweeping our skin! Do try it if you have the time. If you do not want to be sun burnt and resemble a "lobster", please try to wear jeans and a shirt with sleeves.

Cambodia: Siem Reap - Bak Heng Mountain

Watching the sunset is equally beautiful as watching the sunrise and the perfect spot to catch the sunset is on the top of Bak Heng mountain. One piece of advice: Bak Heng mountain is not just a spot to catch the sunset but also a spot for perverts! So ladies do not wear short skirts or dresses to climb the structure.