Shop & Serve

So if you have been in Tokyo for more than a few seasons and love clothes than you are probably ready and wondering how to donate or sell used clothes in Tokyo.  Watch my video on youtube to see how my clothes purge went. To get motivated, I read the …

Looking for some great deals on adult and kids clothing and other home items in Tokyo? Then do not miss the annual Nearly New Sale happening tomorrow at the Tokyo American Club.  This popular event is open to the public. The Nearly New Sale (flea market) is Tuesday, May 22nd …

10 Best Japanese Items For A Toddler My daughter just turned 15 months old not too long ago, and it’s still a shock having a “toddler” in my care. Luckily for me, my sister-in-law, who is a mom of 2, has been there to help me on my journey. She’s …

Buying a First Balance Bike for Your Child? Is your child ready for his or her first bicycle? Get your child riding confidently and safely with the right two-wheeler. There are a number of different features on balance bikes to consider; weight, size, tire type, and brakes. We listed the top 5 bikes foreign mothers purchased, …

10 Baby Proofing Items You Need In Your Japanese Home We love to watch our babies grow and explore their surroundings, but we don’t often realize what’s dangerous until they’ve gotten their little hands and months on something! Baby proofing items are called itazura boushi guzzu (イタズラ防止グッズ) and you can …

If you have curious kids who love bugs then tell them to stay away from this one, the hairy caterpillar/kemushi. Take care to avoid these “hairy” caterpillars as they have developed hairs or sharp spines that are capable of transmitting various toxins causing inflammation and hives on the skin. In most cases direct …

D2 Home Center is one of my favorite places to shop in Tokyo. Everything you need for apartment living. Great if you are spring cleaning and need boxes, cleaning products or organizational plastic storage boxes. If you are ready to start a flower or vegetable veranda garden D2 home center …

We are very excited to announce that the 1st Tokyo Collective Market will be the held on April 21 & 22, 2018 at the brand new Best Living Japan Studio in Minami Azabu!   16 creative and stylish Japan-based small businesses will be showcasing their most exquisite products, choicest handmade items and invaluable …

Artsy families will love the Asakusa Wanariya indigo dyeing and weaving workshop. You can indigo tie-dye (Aizome -藍染) a shirt, scarf, bag and more. If you have a piece of cloth at home or garment, you would like to dye you can also bring that in to try the art. …

Guide To Japanese Air Purifiers Air purifiers  (空気清浄機/くうき せいじょう き/kuuki seijyou ki ) improve the air quality in your home or office by filtering out pollutants like dust, smoke, pet dander, and pollen. Some air purifiers in Japan also double as humidifiers (加湿器/かしつき/kashitsuki). With Spring underway, you may be searching for …

Guide to Rice Cookers in Japan Rice is the staple of the Japanese diet and there’s no shortage of rice cookers (炊飯器 | すいはんき | suihanki) on the market that aim to make modern-day cooking as efficient as possible. This guide will walk you through the basic functions of a …

Finding Easter Goods in Japan can be quite the challenge with limited quantities which sell out quickly. Easter is Sunday, April 1st so hop to it! We completed a store check yesterday (March 12th) and found Easter goodies including chocolate bunnies, eggs, and jelly beans available at the stores listed …

Buying Menstrual Hygiene Products in Japan You have a variety of options when it comes to shopping for sanitary napkins and other menstrual hygiene products in Japan. Known as seiri shoriyou hin in Japanese (生理処理用品 /しりしょりようひん), you’ll find napkins, cloth napkins, tampons, and menstrual cups in Japan. Brands To Know …

Considering our modern busy lifestyles and the prevalence of technology, it’s no wonder that many of us gravitate towards shopping online. But, shopping online in Japan can be very different that what you’re used to. In this guide, we’ll take a look at online shopping in Japan, major retailers, shipping …

Okadaya Shinjuku is a great place to go to for textiles. They have two buildings; one with six floors of fabric (cotton, velvet, silk, satin, organic cotton, fleece, velor, wool, etc), traditional Japanese materials and other special textiles; and the adjacent building carries seven floors of basic materials (buttons, thread, string), …

Guide to Point Cards in Japan – How to Earn and Redeem Points Go shopping anywhere in Japan, and you’re bound to be asked: Do you have a point card? (ポイントカードはお持ちですか?/ぽいんとかーどはおもちですか?/pointo ka-do wa omochi desu ka?) You might think that point cards take up valuable real estate in your wallet. But, …

The Japanese bamboo crafts at Take-no-Megumi in Moto Azabu are simple but so beautiful.  This wonderful little shop in Moto Azabu that has been in business for over 40 years. The founding family of Take-no-Megumi shop were originally manufacturers and wholesalers of bamboo products before opening their shop originally in …

Obento making is a daily occurrence in homes with children who attend Japanese yochien. We spoke to veteran obento making moms and these are their recommended obento making items. Many can be found at Toys R Us Japan, department stores like Aeon Style or on Amazon Japan. We have highlighted Amazon products below which …

We surveyed Japanese mums and listed the most common essentials to get through the day in Tokyo. The snacks, toys and lip balm vary and not pictured are everyday essentials; hat, gloves, sunglasses, and mini hot patches. Most products, aside from the stationary & legos, can be found at Japanese drugstores …

The Best Time For Shopping in Japan – Tips and Tricks For Saving Yen Japan has a reputation for being an expensive place to live. But if you know when to shop, you’ll be able to plan your purchases and save some serious yen. Here’s a handy Japanese shopping calendar …

Fukubukuro Lucky Bags in Japan – 10 Tips for Smooth Shopping What are Fukubukuro? Since its inception in the early 20th century, fukubukuro have become synonymous with New Year’s in Japan. Originally intended as a means for shops to sell off excess inventory, these lucky bags typically contain merchandise sold …

Cuoca is a one-stop shop for baking supplies that aren’t always easy to find. Their stores are stocked high with everything from baking inserts and pans to sprinkles and toppers. They carry pastry tips and icing for making more detailed desserts, a variety of high-quality flours, nuts, dried fruits, liqueur …

Sharing our top 10 Tokyo shops for Japanese gifts! If you are looking for that something special for friends in town or overseas? Some of my favourite gifts to bring overseas are hanging fabrics (tengui), calendars, chopsticks, items made from metal or washi paper. Local gift favorites are pottery, glass and …

If you are looking for a birthday present, holiday gift or a fun travel memorabilia check out our recommended Top 10 Tokyo Toy Stores. Although you can buy almost all of the toys on the market from Amazon.co.jp, there is still something fun about checking out the latest and greatest …

If you still have holiday shopping to accomplish, I highly recommend the Charity Market for Tohoku Children 2017 taking place this Wednesday, December 13th in Ebisu. I have attended the past few years and always walk away with the most fashionable handmade items. There are about 30 sellers who attend the …