Shibuya246 » shopping

Tsutaya Rental

shibuya246 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:22:29 +0000

Nice open area to sit and relax at the front of this Roppongi Tsutaya store

Tsutaya is the largest rental DVD, CD, Game and book store in Japan. With over 1,000 stores and 20 million customers, they have established themselves as leaders in their field. Recently, Tsutaya, Culture Convenience Club (CCC), have been opening new stores in niche areas which occupy about 10% of the size of traditional stores. Whilst being small in size they are still able to stock thousands of titles and locate themselves nearer to their customers work place or communing station.

I met with the staff from Tsutaya’s Ebisu office the other day and was discussing with them ways to make their stores more friendly and enjoyable for the large amount of foreigners who visit them daily, particularly in the Ropppongi and Ebisu stores.

Tsutaya Store Tokyo MidTown, Roppongi

Tsutaya is currently looking for ways they can improve the service at some key locations for their foreign as well as Japanese customers. In particular they are hoping to hear from foreigners who use their stores as to ways service and products can be changed to meet new market demands.

If you are a regular or maybe just occasional user of Tsutaya, it would be great to hear some ideas. I suggested to the staff that they make it easier to search in English and other languages for movies and that they establish some form of online Tsutaya community for foreigners using their stores.

I thought it would also be interesting to automatically tweet out your rented movie title when they swiped your card at the register (if you have opted in of course). I am not sure you will see that in operation soon, but in a few years who knows. I came across this site, blippy.com, recently and was surprised how open people were to share information. Maybe I could auto-tweet my conbini purchases as well!

Customers enjoying a coffee at Tsutaya

You can follow Tsutaya on Twitter (in Japanese) if you want to learn more about in store promotions and latest releases.

Don’t forget to let me know in the comments what things you want changed/ improved. Tsutaya is ready to listen to your requests.

Kanji Quiz Toilet Paper

kimonobox — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:09:34 +0000

Do you have have a passion to learn kanji on the toilet? What a strange question – but this item from Amazon makes me wonder if people do have this interest!

The mind boggles!!

Perhaps the quiz works and those studying Japanese find this a top class way of excelling in their language development. Who knows – but what a cool product!

Japan Supermarket Dinner

shibuya246 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:53:45 +0000

Nice bento selection here with 30% off. You can see a few other stickers under the 30% one. It probably started at 10% off then 20% and now 30%. Should I stick it out for another 10 mins and go for 40%?

I am running late for my dinner and just made it to the supermarket before they shut. If you get here at this time there is not much selection, but what is still left on the shelves is being discounted. The discount stickers change as the clock approaches closing time, and the discounts get better and better.

Here is a selection of some discounted food tonight.

Hamburger at 30% discount.

Some sushi going here for a 40% discount. Starting price is Yen 1,080. You can see there is not much left, just these 2 boxes.

Lots of different small packs on offer here. No discount, but good enough to buy some anyway. Any favorites?

Many Japanese like bibinba. This is a bibinba calbee don meal. What a bargain at 50% off from the starting price of YEN 450. This must be the bargain of the night.

Do you get special discounts at your supermarket as they approach closing time?

Okaimono Japan

JR Convenience Stores

shibuya246 — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:45:07 +0000

NEWDAYS convenience store at Osaki Station, Tokyo.

Looks like 7-Eleven have realized that NEWDAYS, the Japan Railway in-station convenience stores that grew out of small kiosk shops, have been gaining ground in the competitive convenience store market. NEWDAYS have been popping up everywhere at stations in central Tokyo. I have also seen a few stores outside of the main station building in a sign they may go mainstream on the streets as well.

7-Eleven has recently started to open stores teaming up with the Keikyu Railway. If you take a trip out to Haneda you can see one of the new stores at the station there.

7-ELEVEN convenience store on platform of Keikyu Railways at Shinagawa, Tokyo.

New 7-ELEVEN store opening soon near ticket gate for Keikyu Railways at Haneda Airport, Tokyo.

Seven Eleven and Keikyu combining to provide you with convenience stores.

7 Eleven and Keikyu means more convenience stores inside the station concourses.

Have you used a NEWDAYS convenience store? How do you feel they compare to Lawson, 7-Eleven or Family Mart? Do they have convenience stores like Lawson inside stations in your part of the world?

Maxell Crystal Earphones

shibuya246 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:42:36 +0000

Crystal earphones could be a big fashion trend this year.

These crystal earphones look like the ideal fashion accessory. If you are still stuck for a valentine present this Feb then I suggest you take a look at these.

Stylish and effective. The Maxell line of crystal earphones.

What is on your wish list for this valentines day present?

Mini Butter Roll Towel ? for Valentines Day

Shibuya LEVI’S Store

shibuya246 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:09:23 +0000

As part of the promotion for the store, people were hired to walk around Center-gai with a LEVI'S blanket on their backs. This was a good idea for a promotion, as the red LEVI'S blanket really stood out on the streets.

LEVI Jeans has opened a new store in Shibuya on Friday. There were lots of people out taking a look at the store today and following the “promotion blanket models” around Center-gai with their red balloons.

The official opening day was Friday 18th Dec, 2009. Were you there?

In front of the LEVI'S store in Shibuya.

The LEVI'S new store in Shibuya just behind Center-gai, close to Seibu and Parco.

To the left of the LEVI'S store further down this street is Tokyu Hands.

Father Christmas? or LEVI'S Christmas? Not sure why he is in black with red balloons.

It was fairly cold today. Not sure that the blanket alone would keep you warm.

You can't have a store opening without having some Shibuya Gals stop buy. These 2 scored a balloon each.

LEVI'S now on sale in Shibuya.

The balloons were popular with many people having one. They stood out as well.

Almost felt like Disneyland with the crowds and red balloons.

Looking back towards the station area with balloons bobbing up above the crowded heads.

The Shibuya station entrance was crowded as usual on a weekend. The balloons guide the way.

This shopper must have got the balloon off someone or be heading back for more action. Waiting at the crossing to head over towards Center-gai and LEVI'S store.

Promotion trucks keep the streets of Shibuya busy.

The Yamanote Line gets a close up view of 2 runaway LEVI'S balloons.

One of the balloons scales the 109 building.

A LEVI'S balloon escaping a customers grip, takes a quick break for some free advertising in front of the glico electronic billboard.

Two of the balloons take off and go into orbit. How high can LEVI'S fly?

Tokyo Outlet Mall

shibuya246 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:54:06 +0000

I took this in the Yamanote line train advertising the Venus Fort outlet malls.

Venus Fort, located at Odaiba, Tokyo, has just opened what is said to be the first outlet mall in Tokyo. A lot of people may know about the outlet malls at Gotenba and other places. I have been to a few, but always wondered why you had to travel so far to get to them. While now there in close distance, accessible by train.

The new look Venus Fort website showing outlet stores.

For the train to Odaiba you can have a read of this.

Shibuya shops
Today in Shibuya it was a busy day with many shoppers around. I keep hearing about the economic downturn and how people aren’t buying products anymore, but going in a few stores and seeing the long queues at cash registers, it appears that not all retail outlets are suffering equally. Admittedly, Shibuya is not representative of the whole of Japan and this is just one economic microcosm. It is nice to see people out though helping to circulate cash in the system.

I just took a few photos today. With so many people out it was difficult to actually see much.

Amuro Namie takes out the no.1 advertising position in Shibuya for her new album

X Madonna lighting up the Shibuya 109 tower

The weather was good after the rain yesterday. Perfect for shoppers to hit the streets.

NTT DoCoMo working its ads on Shibuya Station building. Who is your favorite from this set of 4?

So many people out today, it was difficult to walk across the crossing.

Despite so many vehicles on the road, the intersections never seem to get blocked too badly with traffic when the lights change.

Do you prefer to shop in the city or visit an outlet mall? What are your favorite brands to find at the outlet mall?

Akihabara Shopping

shibuya246 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:12:21 +0000

I was in Akihabara the other day to pick up a few items and took some quick shots on the street. It was a week day so there was not that many people out. It was mainly interesting to see which stores had changed recently and take a look at the advertising boards.

There were plenty of girls from the Maid Cafe's out looking for customers. Quite a few of them asked me to stop buy for a drink.

Final Fantasy XIII due out on Dec. 17, 2009

An amusing look at the Taito Game Center reflected in the building across the street. Taito has about 8 floors of this building for their Game Center.

You can see from the next few photos the Autumn colors in the trees. The photos were taken in the late afternoon with the sun starting to set.

The main road running through Akihabara.

Looking back on the road towards the station area.

Plenty of taxis without customers at the moment. The red sign in the front of the taxi says "空車quot; or empty car.

Watch out you don't catch a cold as autumn turns into winter.

A number of years ago, the Akihabara area used to be all computer and electronic stores. It was hard to find somewhere good to eat. I don’t remember seeing Ramen on the main street back then.

Hakata Ramen store serving Tonkotsu Ramen

Hakata Ramen, pull up a seat.

This looks like the place for a quick snack. Sweets Paradise, poweder by PC MAX.

There are plenty of coffee shops and bread shops around the station recently. Years ago, I remember it difficult to find anything decent to eat. Now there is choice.

Recently, instead of saying Akihabara, most people are just calling this area, Akiba. The kanji is written 秋葉原, which used to be read Akiba no hara, similar to Yamanote 山手, the “no” is not seen but still read. The popular reading changed from Akiba no hara to Akihabara, and now people seem content to just say Akiba.

For a number of years the Yamanote Line was referred to as the Yamate Line, until new signs in English and Japanese made the reading to be consistently Yamanote Line.

The "Cool Old Dude", being of course Asa Taro, former Prime Minister of Japan.

Most of the girls from the maid cafes don't like their photo being taken. That's cool.

Don Ki Hote ドンキホーテ and a mixture of pachinko and games in this amusement store building.

The Christmas feel in Akihabara.

Lots of advertising on the sides and windows of buildings in Akihabara. At night the neon shines bright as well.

Checking out a few mobile phone straps in Yodobashi Camera. Anyone for fried rice?

Back at the station area. The station is still under reconstruction. There used to be an old department store above the station. Not sure what this will all look like when finished, but should be interesting.

Almost forgot, this is what I bought. A small sushi set from Kotobukiya store.

Tiny sushi set

Are you an Akihabara fan? What is your favorite thing to go shopping for?

Family Mart on Twitter

shibuya246 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:52:56 +0000

Family Mart starting to use Twitter from today

Family Mart announced last night that they are starting a Twitter account to promote their chain of convenience stores. They are the first convenience in Japan to begin using Twitter as a form of communication with their customers.

Their username on Twitter is @famima_now. They already have over 2,000 followers on their first day so you can expect this to become a popular account.

famima_now on Twitter

To begin with, the @famima_now account will be talking about their fried chicken product, Fami-chiki.

Family Mart website

Family Mart also have an online store which has its own separate Twitter account @famima_com.

Family Mart's online shop

famima_com on Twitter

Looks like Family Mart are getting a head start in an area where many Japanese companies are looking to get involved. Usage of Twitter is growing in Japan, and its use by companies as well as individuals is an exciting prospect for those who want to see more business transacted or promoted via digital platforms.

Are your stores starting to use Twitter to promote their services, brands?

Shibuya Center-gai

shibuya246 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:00:55 +0000

Loose socks and school girls. You know you are in Center-gai now.

Center-gai in Shibuya is a popular place for many to walk through, with no cars passing, as they pass through to shop at Tokyu Hands, HMV, Seibu Loft, Parco and the many other stores around.

The Center-gai has its own Shoppers Association. Music is played down the street like a local shouten-gai (商店街). Passing by in Center-gai you will young school kids, teenage girls to the more mature aged groups as well. The face of Center-gai is constantly changing. Recently, convenience stores (Family Mart) have appeared and some jewelery brand stores as well. The general feel is still young though.

Entry to Shibuya Center-gai. A few decorations up for Christmas

Plenty of fashions to be seen.

A jewelery store in the middle of Center-gai

Fire Inspectors checking some of the Center-gai buildings

Finding some bargains in Center-gai. A good place for some fashion pickups.

A friendly storekeeper gives some advise on clothing

Looking through a passageway of two buildings to this strategically placed billboard

Some promotion for B'z Magic album on the streets of Center-gai

Cafe Danmark has been around for a long time in this spot. I used to buy my bread here.

A closer look at the Willcom campaign for mobile phones. Your choice of 512 color combinations

Looking back at the Station area and the Scramble Crossing. Plenty of people taking pictures.

One of the real estate companies in Center-gai

Just inside Center-gai in front of Sakuraya

Crossing from the station and heading to Center-gai.

Heading past Tsutaya into the Center-gai

Savoring some of Shibuya's finest ice-cream

Me in the middle of Center-gai

Everyone has time for a few photos when waiting at the Scramble Crossing in front of Center-gai

One of the many places to get a quick bite.

If you have been to Japan, you probably spent a bit of time in Tokyo. If you have been to Tokyo, you probably got the chance to visit Shibuya, and if you visited Shibuya, no doubt you would have strolled down Shibuya Center-gai. What is your favorite memory of Center-gai? For those who have visited, keep watching the photos and start planning your trip.

Japan Phone Chargers

shibuya246 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:17:59 +0000

Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma to the resuce when your mobile phone battery goes dead

If you want an original phone charger when you come to Japan, these might be for you. A mixture of Hello Kitty, Rilakkuma and then original JR train phone chargers. You can power up your phone with the Yamanote Line!

Mobile phone battery chargers with Japan Rail design

Couldnt hold the iPhone far enough away and get a clean shot so these are a bit blurred. Looks like most of these are for au phones. I am sure there are some DocoMo ones around as well. Less sure about iPhone battery rechargers.

Hachiko for Labor Insurance

shibuya246 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:05:29 +0000

Hachiko still standing outside of Shibuya Station, now helping those meeting up with friends to find each other, also helping the Labor Standards Office with their Workers Insurance campaign

Hachiko is working it hard at the moment to support the Labor Insurance month campaign. Go Hachiko! It is strange that nobody has taken off his sash whilst people were not looking.

Whilst I was out, I wanted to test a new lens I had picked up, a Nikkor 60mm F2.8 macro and also a Sigma 50mm F1.4. They are not direct comparison lenses, but I wanted to see what could be done with each one on the street.

Entrance to the subway for Hanzomon and Ginza line. You go down at the scramble crossing into ShibuChika (Shibuya underground shopping mall) and then work your way to the Hanzomon line below or through Shibuya Station and upstairs to the Ginza Line. The platform is not underground at Shibuya Station. (taken with the Nikkor 60mm)

A grate covering the entrance to the subway. Not much to see here, but wanted to see the definition the macro angle on this lens could picky up. Good? Bad? Actually I am not sure how to tell with this ^^. (also Nikkor 60mm)

Tried to capture some of the Autumn colors here next to Hachiko. I find it a bit hard to stare at this picture for too long. My eyes start to go blurry. How do you find it? (Nikkor 60mm)

A look down the street over scramble crossing with the Nikkor 60mm.

Heading into Bic Camera to look at some other digital cameras. Saw these free 2010 Japan map calendars out and decided to try a shot of them with a reflection of the crowd. Not quite what I was looking for, but interesting nonetheless (Nikkor 60mm)

This camera I would like to take on the streets and see what it can do. I tried a few shots in store and the lens really seemed to operate well in the artificial light. It stopped down low and seemed to give a good depth of field. If Panasonic are ready to support a couple of episodes of 'Shibuya Streets' with the GF1, then I am ready to start shooting. Lets roll ^^. (taken with sigma 50mm)

The Sigma 50mm did a good job of capturing the GF1 upclose, although the focus looks a little off, and softening the background on the far side. Looking good there GF1 ^_^

The G1 Lumix looks like it could also be an interesting camera to take outdoors.

I tried a Nikkor 50mm lens directly against the Sigma 50mm lens in BIC Camera. The darker image (left) was with the Nikkor 50mm while the lighter one (right) was the Sigma 50mm.

Met up with my golfing friend and bought some Beard Papa at Shibuya Station. Tried out the Sigma lens here (Sigma 50mm, manually set at F1.4). Little short on light?

It's crowded boarding the Yamanote Line around 6pm. A little dark in this shot. Not sure what I was trying to achieve here. Maybe that is why it came out a bit strange ^^. (taken with Sigma 50mm)

This shot didn't really capture what I was looking for. I think the station sign at the top of the picture with more room for the people to be shown underneath would have been a better frame (Sigma 50mm)