First-time visitors to Tokyo who have just finished dinner are often surprised and disappointed to find shops and malls closing as early as 8pm to 8.30pm. Now feeling re-energized after dinner and you are ready for 1 more activity/place to visit before calling it a day. If you are a late owl yet a non-clubber, where can you go? I'm happy to recommend a few places which close at 10pm or beyond in Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro - the three popular tourist destinations.
Source: http://tokyostory.net
Spanning over 9 floors with a wide collection of up-market music albums, soundtracks, books (English book collection is available too!) and magazines, the Tower Records building is one of my favourite hunts whenever I visit Shibuya. The Tower Records Cafe on level 2 frequently collaborate with popular anime, comic, cartoon characters, and transform into a theme cafe, and I can safely vouch that Japanese are very serious with their theme cafe decorations. Their snoopy theme and Rilakkuma theme cafes, which I had visited on separate occasions simply amazed me. You will be greeted by a cute and lovely interior, completed with beautiful center piece and soft toys of different sizes on every single table!
Rilakkuma Cafe
Overview of Rilakkuma Cafe:
Snoopy Cafe
Overview of Snoopy Cafe:
Address: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya 神宮前6丁目3-9 井門原宿ビル2階
Website: http://tower.jp/restaurants/cafe/shibuya
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tower.shibuyacafe
JR Vacation says: Highly recommended to visit their website and Facebook page for updated information on the featured theme prior to your visit as some of their themes are based on popular Japanese characters and anime among the Japanese, which Singaporeans may not be able to associate with.
The blue signage: BOOK 1ST
Located opposite Forever 21, on the left side of Bunkamura-dori street.
Not all bookstores in Japan carry English books! If you are craving for a good read, and yet do not wish to walk all the way to Tower Records building, you may like to visit this bookstore located just at the heart of Bunkamura-dori street, near Shibuya Station. They have a peaceful and cozy environment with a small decent collection of English books.
Address: 宇田川町23-3, 渋谷区, 東京都, 150-0042, Japan
Website: http://www.book1st.net/shops/tok_b01.html
JR Vacation says: The task of finding English books in Shibuya is much more difficult than I had imagined and I'm so glad to finally find them in Book 1st! ?
Listen to latest song releases in the market. My favourite Ken Hirai.
People-watching of Shibuya Scramble Crossing. The massive crowd-crossing:
Tsutaya Shibuya, which houses a Starbucks at ground level located in QFront Building opposite JR Shibuya Station (Hachiko Exit), is a prominent landmark of Shibuya. It is somehow similar to Tower Records (or maybe a competitor) but Tsutaya does not carry any English book collection. Nevertheless, you can always browse through their wide selection of Japanese magazines, CDs and videos. If you are lucky to obtain a window seat on the second floor, it can be quite therapeutic to browse through a Japanese fashion magazine while sipping your Starbucks, and occasionally watch the bustling of the infamous Shibuya scramble crossing in front of the building.
Address: 〒150-0042, 東京都 渋谷区宇田川町21-6
Website: http://tsutaya.tsite.jp/?sc_ext=store_tsutaya_header
JR Vacation says: This Starbucks is very busy and forever with a long-queue! Unless you are with a friend, it will be challenging for solo travellers to try and "chop" a seat on level 2 while queuing for drinks on level 1.
Source: http://www.tamthyme.com
Don Quijote (aka "Donki" or even "Penguin") is my all-time favourite shopping store in Japan, with outlets in almost every city. You can easily recognise this discount chain store by its signature blue penguin mascot, and what sets them apart from a typical shopping mall is their operation hours. Most Donki outlets either operate 24 hours or close after 2am. The merchandise they carry is OMG - think along the line of a mega "NTUC + Diaso + Mustafa + Guardian Pharmacy + Watsons". They sell anything and everything! From toys, anime figurines, food, stationary, household products, cosmetics, skin-care, over counter medication, clothes, bags, luggage, souvenirs, phone accessories, electrical appliances to even furniture! Tax-free counters are available to the convenience of tourists. I love to slowly browse through all these fascinating products Donki carries and often make multiple returns! Sometimes, I wonder how much I have spent in Donki over the years! ?
Address: 〒150-0043 東京都渋谷区道玄坂2-25-8
Website: http://www.donki.com/
JR Vacation says: Do feel free to ask for Mandarin-speaking staff if you need any assistance in the store as they have at least a Taiwanese/PRC staff on duty at all times to assist tourists who can't speak/understand Japanese. Oh! I need to warn you of Donkijote's very addictive theme song...that you will find yourself humming back at home... ??? ?
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