Shop & Serve

Nitori is the IKEA or Bed Bath & Beyond of Japan selling affordable furniture and interior goods.  Nitori is a nationwide chain with more than 300 stores throughout Japan and around 50 stores outside the country. It’s a great place to shop if you are setting up a home in Japan or if you want to …

Summer in Japan is hot and humid, but it brings plenty of opportunity for kids to go out and enjoy themselves. While kids take advantage of school vacations and longer day light hours, we must also be vigilant in keeping them safe from insects, intense heat, harmful UV rays and …

Guide to Baby Formula in Japan There is a dizzying colorful assortment of baby formula available on the Japanese market. This guide will help you navigate the aisles by introducing the various types of baby formula and their manufacturers. Packaging You may be surprised to find out that concentrated liquid …

It is hot outside and getting hotter – time to make a Tokyo summer oasis on your patio or balcony. No matter how small your space, you can create a fun and refreshing area for your family. Here are our recommended ten summer water play items.  All are for sale …

Guide to Baby Wipes in Japan As with diapers, there is a large variety of baby wipes available on the Japanese market. According to a survey by Unicharm, a leading producer of sanitary items and the manufacturer of Moony and Mamy Poko diapers, the top three qualities that Japanese mothers …

Mega Don Quijote opened their newest store in Shibuya last month! Don Quijote is Japan’s largest discount goods store with locations all over Japan. Like all the Don Quijote stores, also known as Donki (ドンキ), Mega Don Quijote is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and offers everything …

Guide to Baby Diapers in Japan Added to the stress that comes with a new baby comes selecting the right diaper to suit your baby’s needs. Any advertising catchphrase will tell you “__ percent of moms love xx brand!” So, how do you chose the right brand of diapers for …

Trying to figure out which Japanese drugstore sunscreen for kids is the best for your family? Here is a quick reference list of the top selling 2017 sunscreens for children.  Sunscreen is recommended year-round for children 6 months and older. Infants under six months should not be in direct sunlight, …

If your kids are like mine a trip to Candy Show Time is a good “reward” (aka bribe) for being a good kid while visiting shrines, gardens, and museum. Although started by a couple from Melbourne, Australia the designs and flavors are 110% Japan Kawaii! Now with eleven stores across …

Aeon Style Himonya is your one-stop shop for all your home needs. Located 10 minutes from Gakugeidaigaku, a small Tokyo suburb between Shibuya and Jiyugaoka with the popular Himonya Petting Zoo and Pony Ride Park, it`s a great spot to shop while avoiding the crowd. Aeon Style is known for their reasonable prices with locations …

Stumbled across this beautiful D47 Project Children’s Tools Exhibit the other day having lunch at the D47 Shokudo. If you are looking for Japan designed and made gifts for children, this exhibit is the perfect solution. You can find products from the 47 prefectures of Japan including child size bowls …

Ozu Washi in Nihonbashi, Tokyo carries the widest selection of washi paper, shodo paper, and sumi art paper. A 300+-year-old store that has always specialized in paper and art materials (brushes, string, and inks). Whether you are an artist or a crafter you this will be your candy store in …

Finding Easter Goodies in Japan can be quite the challenge with limited quantities which sell out quickly. Easter is Sunday, April 16th so hop to it! We completed a store check yesterday (March 9th) and found Easter goodies including chocolate bunnies, eggs, and jelly beans available at the stores listed …

We`ve listed a few of the most common illnesses among young children in Japan; the Japanese pronunciation, English translation and ways to describe sickness / pain. Please keep this list handy when visiting your local Japanese clinic. If you have some to add please leave in the comment section below. Japanese …

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 …

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 …

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 …

If you are a bargain shopper, Ameyokocho is a must visit in Tokyo. We visited yesterday, and it was crazy busy with shoppers negotiating deals on crab, tuna, sneakers and bags. My favorite items to buy in Ameyokocho are nuts, dried beans and spices that are much cheaper than in …

Bornelund is one of our favorite stores to visit to test out new, educational toys. Bornelund is a Tokyo based shop which started as a toy store in 1981. They now have over 100 stores and corner shops in department stores throughout Japan, 15 popular indoor play centers, a new indoor …

French food to me is synonymous to fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, so the Picard Frozen Food Grocery Store openings around Tokyo were a bit of a surprise. Everything in the stores is frozen! If you are a busy family, the Picard store is a dream come true. We bought …

MUJI Ebisu reopened their store at the new Atre Ebisu West building (an extension of the Main Atre Building) in April 2016 and it`s bigger and better than ever. This store occupies the fifth and sixth floors and carries the first makeup counter in the Kanto region. They hold about …

Søstrene Grene a Scandinavian design home accessories, kitchen ware, gifts, stationery and interior furnishings chain has opened their first store in Japan.  The store is located right off the main Omotesando strip behind Omotesando Hills. The store offers super value items from yarn, paint, and beads to candles and end tables for your apartment. …

Adding another Tokyo Store to or favorites list – the Yamashiroya Toy Store in Ueno.  Like Hakuhinkan in Ginza and Kiddyland if you are looking for Japanese or International toys and collectibles you will not be disappointed. Yamashiroya Toy Store is a one minute walk from Ueno station so you can …

In an effort to improve the nutritional diets of our families we looked more closely into Japanese packaged kids snacks. Below is calorie, tutorial and allergen comparison of  14 of the most common package snack foods sold in Japan. We all know fruits and veggies are the best but we …

Gazone Studio is a small studio located in the Osaki New City building in Shinagawa. They offer services from maternity to family portraits, and ceremonial to business photos. They also specialize in product photos, travel, wedding photography and commemorative photos. We made an appointment to celebrate and capture our kid`s 753 …