The rain only lasted for one day so on my third day in Japan I decided to go to Shibuya.
Started off at Hanzomon station, first time riding a Japanese train! Thanks to Dean I had an idea of how to buy and use tickets^^
It’s a bit complicated at first, but now that I’ve used the trains a few times it’s really easy.
These maps are great, always look at them so I know I’m going the right way^^ Just 4 stops from Hanzomon to Shibuya.
The yellow ones tell you where the exits are and what you’ll find outside of them.
And here it is, Shibuya! It’s kind of like getting a slap in your face, ’cause when you get up from the station you’re right in the middle of everything, definitely surprising on your first time.
HMV store has loads of music! If you don’t know hiragana you’ll definitely be lost, since they’re in hiragana order rather than alphabetical. Artist names are of course in kanji too.
Weekly charts and best of 2009 on the left, random new releases on the right. Listened to a few but didn’t find anything here really.
DVDs on the right, timeless music ahead.
If I have enough money left I’ll buy some iTunes music cards to bring home.
Thinking about going to Shibuya again today to check out some stuff that I missed.
Lots of weird stuff here, like the various famous Japanese massage tools :P
Since H&M is my favorite clothing store, I had to check it out in Japan. In this H&M there are 4 floors, the men’s section is at the top floor and even if it’s just one floor, it’s bigger than the men’s sections in the Swedish stores. The sizes are different too, it’s easier for me to find fitting clothes here^^ The pants are mostly in size 28 to 30 (also 32 for jeans I think) so if you’re bigger than that, you’re screwed.
Back at the hotel, view over Tokyo at 5 PM.
Bought a CD at the HMV Store, Sotaisei Riron’s Hi-Fi Anatomia. Also some stuff from Sunkus.
Another thing that is different with the Japanese stores is the way they pack. In Sweden they would just put everything in the big bag, but in Japan they put small stuff in small bags which they then put in the big one, not very good for the environment :P
This is actually the sunrise at 7 AM. I was actually supposed to meet up with a bunch of friends in Shinjuku, but I fell asleep and woke up at 3 AM T_T Guess I was a bit jet lagged after all.
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I don’t think I could ever find that easy, mind you I struggle in the London tube.
Hey, are you meeting up with Danny (choo), a fellow blogger? ^^
Haha, well it does look pretty complicated at first. But when you’ve been on a few times you realize it’s actually really easy.
I might meet Danny, I’ll definitely go he’s hosting another CGM night this month :)
No problem! Look at that poor soul caught on camera sleeping on the train XD. Did you not get alittle ‘Thank You’ sticker on your bag? I thought those were neat :D.
Lol, they’re always sleeping! Hmm I dunno about stickers, didn’t really look :P
IIRC, the yellow sidewalk things are for the vision-impaired. ^^
懐かしい、I want to go back~ I never got good photos in Shibuya!
A couple brews, cup noodle and a sando probably went down nicely! Glad you’re having a good time so far. Seems exciting to be new to Shibuya.
Yeah, the instant noodles here are great^^ And Shibuya is really cool! Heading to Akiba today.
coming from a country without a train or subway system I am also wondering how difficult it will be to take the train in Japan when I get there.
Great pictures!
First time will probably be a little confusing but I’m sure you’ll also realize that it’s actually pretty easy^^ Thanks!
When I first got to Singapore I found the system to be a little confusing at first, but since the signs are all in English it helps. Some of the major interchanges are complicated and I still have to stop and look at the signs to remember which way I’m supposed to be going.
On that note, there are tunnels in downtown Singapore that connect the rail stations with quite a few malls. It can get confusing but I think you can hit about 7 different malls without ever going outside. Now that’s convenience.
Sorry to hear about the jet lag. I remember how bad it was for me when I went from the US to Qatar one time. That was about a six hour difference and it was killing me. Same problem again when I came here to Asia, but worse since it was a 13 hour difference. Hope your buddies understand!
I see, well, some of the big stations are complicated here too, the Japanese use the maps a lot too :) Shibuya station is connected with Shibuya 109 here for example, so you can probably do a lot of shopping without actually going out here too.
My friends understand, but I’m alright now^^
Cool! But, when will you go visit Akiba? ^_^
I’m going to Akiba today :) It’s supposedly best on a Sunday so I decided to wait a while.
The picture with the sandwich from Sunkis looks good, although I prefer the ones from AM/PM ;) Nice pics, thanks for sharing :)
Maiden caffe!!! When do you go to one? I think since your gaijin they might let you take photographs, if not take some ninjashots with silenced iPhone. :P
You and your maids lol. I don’t really feel that I have a need to go to a maid cafe haha, but we’ll see, I’m going to Akiba today.
Wow, I would probably never be able to work at a Japanese H&M if that’s how they bag things XD;;
Its weird that the Shibuya store would have more men’s items then Sweden since H&M is a Swedish company, so therefore shouldn’t they have more stuff in Sweden?
Well, Tokyo has almost 13 million inhabitants while Gothenburg (the second-largest city in Sweden) has less than 1. They might have all the things in Swedish stores, but definitely spread out among them.
Nice view. What hotel were you at & what was the room number (to get that view)?
Grand Arc Hanzomon is the name of the hotel. My room was on floor 16 (of 17), room number 1608 :)
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