SHOP & SERVE

At Best Living Japan, we offer various craft classes that use Japanese washi, so we are “experts” on where to find the best selection. Here are our top 10 locations to buy Japanese washi in Tokyo. Many smaller Japanese souvenir shops may also sell sheets of Japanese washi, but for …

Shibuya is undergoing a huge facelift bringing it out of the bubble 1980/90s to the 2020s with the new Shibuya PARCO Building, Shibuya Scramble, Shibuya Stream and others.  The backstreet “teen grudge” shopping still exists but new shiny multi-service complexes are now popping up all over. The new Shibuya PARCO …

I have been collecting Japanese antiques for over 30 years, so I am sharing with you the Best 10 Japanese antique stores in Tokyo. These stores have excellent selections and are owned and run by true experts in the field of Japanese antiques. If you can’t find what you want …

If you’re suffering from excessive sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose or a scratchy throat you might be experiencing an allergy from Japanese cedar pollen, or sugi tree – known as kafunsho (花粉症)/hay fever.  Here are our recommended Top 10 Ways to Survive Hay Fever (kafunsho) Season in Japan.  Kafunsho is …

The farm to market focus in Japan is lower than in many western countries but is slowly gaining traction at Tokyo Farmers Markets. Below you can find five Tokyo Farmers Markers that moms love! Always so much fun to take the kiddos and find fresh fruits, veggies and handmade bake …

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), …

Got Lice? Learn how to treat lie in Japan. Lice is SHIRAMI in Japanese (シラミ).  First reaction is ick, yikes, embarrassment, worry. Get over it quick and take action. Lice are very common in Japan, especially on kids in daycare, nursery and elementary. Any kid can get it. We talked …

With four men & boys in our house,  I have been researching and shopping at Tokyo Men’s Big and Tall stores for quite a few years. Here is a list of the top locations in Tokyo and also the best online resources (domestic and international). I have shopped at, and …

Shibuya MUJI Play Area and Hourly Childcare (木育ルーム) is a special place where parents can play with their kids or leave them to play with a caregiver for up to three hours Friday – Monday. The play area and hourly childcare are in the same area on the 5th floor …

Only a 33 min express train ride from Shibuya station MARK IS Minato Mirai Mall in Yokohama is a family shopping paradise. MARK IS is a six-story building connected to the Minato Mirai train station where you can shop close to 200 stores, enjoy every type of Japanese and international …

Do you have kids who love Hello Kitty? Check out our list of Everything Hello Kitty; stores, transport, hotel, theme parks and more. We’ve got you covered. If you have other recommendations to add to the list, please let us know! 1. SANRIO PUROLAND (Hello Kitty Land), Tama New Town, …

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 …

Are you a sandals person like me? If so, head over to Boudoir Day Spa for a pedicure to kick off the sandal season. Boudoir has been in business for 18 years and specializes in pedi, mani, facials and hair removal.   My trip this past week was to summerize …

Hamley`s entertainment toy store is a fantastic spot to spend a couple hours. Hamleys is the oldest and largest toy shop in the world. It is named after William Hamley, who founded a toy shop called “Noah’s Ark” in London in 1760. Currently, Hamleys operates over 110 stores all over the …

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 Pokemon Cafe and Center Store is another excellent spot for Pokemon lovers in Tokyo. Pokemon Center Tokyo DX opened its cafe and center store in 2018 on the 5th floor of the Takashimaya Department store in Nihonbashi. They offer adorable Pokemon character-themed drinks and dishes, exclusive merchandise, and a …

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 that’s …

If you are living in Japan make sure you have your Japanese Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Baby & Kids ready!  Despite their tiny size, it’s often hard to keep up with babies and toddlers. Because they are still exploring their boundaries and newfound abilities, this can sometimes lead to accidents and …

Winter is just around the corner. Wanted to share my curated recommendations on preparing for winter – 10 Items to make living in Japan more comfortable. Below are products that have excellent customer reviews in Amazon.co.jp, and are shipped for free immediately from Amazon.  If you have your recommendations, please …

If you have a big family or big eaters, and live in central Tokyo one of your go to supermarket shopping locations should be Hanamasa Wholesale Supermarkets (Niku no Hanamasa (肉のハナサ). Hanamasa is a wholesale supermarket whose roots began as a supplier to restaurants, but is now open to the public …

Gallery Kawano Kimono is one of the best stores in Tokyo to buy used “up cycled” kimono, kimono fabric and kimono accessories. They are open seven days a week so if you don’t have the schedule or the time to hit a antique or flea market this is a one …

Top recommended Tokyo baby kids clothing stores. If you are looking for Baby or Kids Clothing in Tokyo, here are some boutiques, mass brand, department and general merchandise stores in Tokyo that BestLivingJapan moms highly recommend. If you have a store to recommend with great selection and service, please add …

When you move to Japan with kids one of your top priorities is to find a Tokyo English speaking pediatricians. Luckily for us, there is an increasing number of skilled pediatricians in Tokyo to choose.  Below is a list of seven Tokyo based English speaking pediatricians that my friends and I …

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 …

We love visiting Tokyo antique markets and flea markets. Most markets are held on the weekend, with some on national holidays. The events are a mixture of significant indoor events like the Antique Jamboree, or the Heiwajima show held a few times a year, or what we call “shrine sales” …