Shop & Serve

We love all of these Great Holiday Gifts From Tokyo Area Artists & Curators! Support their creativity and passions! All of the artisans and curators work tediously designing, producing and selling every piece. I think you will appreciate their work as much as we do. Shop today to receive your special item in …

Tsutaya Electrics in Futakotamagawa is my favorite place to sit back, relax and enjoy a good book with or without the kids while browsing their art, appliances, and home space. Located near the creative DIY Factory where you can learn, make, buy DIY products; the 100 Spoons Family Restaurant, Futakotamaga Park, Japanese …

Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years are just one month away! Celebrate the ones you love by giving Healthier Holiday Gifts. Best Living Japan has tied-up with HealthyTokyo to select ten healthier holiday gifts for any person in your life.  Do you have a Beauty Queen…or King, a Wine Lover or …

Weaning is an important milestone in a baby’s growth. To help you here is our Guide to Japanese Baby Food Brands and Ingredients. As parents, we want to make the right choices regarding baby’s food and diet. In Japan, weaning typically begins when babies are around 5 or 6 months …

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 …

Shimojima Decorating and Packaging Store is the go-to chain store for handicraft makers, gift givers, and party planners. Shimojima has 30+ branches in the Kanto area where families can go and buy all their decorating items for the holidays and parties. The 8-floor flagship store in Asakusabashi on the Ginza …

Kayanoya dashi is my favorite instant dashi to cook with. Kayanoya specializes in offering carefully prepared, authentic seasonings and foods to make delicious dishes with the minimum of fuss. All are made without any artificial flavors or preservatives, and a super easy to use. Kayanoya Stores are located throughout Japan and …

Wondering where to buy a Christmas Tree in Japan? Many people have asked recently about where to find a Christmas tree in Japan. First, you need to determine if you want a real tree or an artificial tree. There are pros and cons to both! Real trees smell amazing but …

Uniqlo Flagship Store Ginza is the World`s Largest Uniqlo store. They have 12 floors of clothing to fit many sizes, provide the widest range of Uniqlo products, supply a concierge counter with multilingual staff, and cashiers and fitting rooms are on every floor. Stop in to stock up on great …

Can you believe the New Year is only two months away? If you are living in Japan now is the right time to order your Osechi, Japanese New Year Food.  What is Osechi (Osechi-ryori お節料理)?  Osechi is the food that Japanese families usually eat from January 1-3rd to bring good luck, wealth, …

Yutenji Kindergarten is holding their annual bazaar on the Yutenji Temple grounds tomorrow Tuesday, October 31 from 10:00 – 12:45. If you`re looking for gently used Japanese children`s clothing, toys and books this is a great place to shop. There will be food stalls and games for young children outside …

10 Popular Japanese & English book series for babies and toddlers What better way to spend time with your child than by curling up together and reading a good book? Reading is a wonderful way to establish communication between you and your young child. Books introduce children to concepts like …

If you have a family member who is celiac or just cutting back on gluten, check out these Great Gluten-Free Products from HealthyTokyo. Learn about gluten-free diets on the HealthyTokyo blog. HealthyTokyo, an English language online retailer, and health concierge service have a good selection of healthy products which can …

Tokyo Urban Garden Planting Calendar – Autumn. Whether you`re an accomplished gardener or a novice, gardening is a great opportunity to partner with Mother Nature and bond with family and friends. Gardening teaches patience, care and offers a pathway to better health and nutrition. Our advice for novice gardeners is to …

If your family consumes large amounts of fruits and veggies, you will want to shop at one of the five Bikuri Ya  Fruit and Veggies (びっくり屋) shops in Azabu, Hiroo, Shirogane, and Mita.  This five-store chain is located primarily in Minato-ku and is growing quickly because they offer great value …

Japanese Medicine Cabinet Essentials for Baby & Kids 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 injuries. It’s best to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet so that …

School is in session which means sports and sitting close to each other, but also some contagious children’s ailments. Be prepared and know what to look for. Here are five common contagious children’s ailments in Japan.  We also have a list of skin conditions which are causes by heat and …

Japanese Baby Skin Care Products – Best Sellers and Organic Choices In recent years, there’s been an increase in the selection of skin care items available for newborns, babies, and toddlers. These products match parents’ demands and concerns regarding products that are gentle on a little one’s sensitive skin. These …

Kappabashi Kitchen Town, Tokyo is a cook’s shopping paradise. There are over 180 cooking, kitchen and restaurant supply stores extended over six blocks. Here even the kitchen sink is for sale – every pot and pan, serving dish, utensil, kitchen appliance that a cook can imagine. Kappabashi is located between Ueno …

The TOC Shopping Center is a bit tattered (built in 1970), but if you are looking for free parking and a one-stop for kids, baby, home and crafting items TOC is the perfect location. I shop at the TOC at least once every few months to stock up on kids/baby …

Reading Japanese Food Labels – Allergens and Tips  A challenging part of life in Japan is navigating the supermarket aisles and deciphering the labels. You may be wondering how to recreate home dishes using ingredients available at your local grocer, or you may have special dietary restrictions or allergies. Food …

MUJI Flagship Store reopened their flagship store in Yurakucho over the summer and it`s awesome! The 3-story complex now holds an organic foods marketplace which offers fruits and vegetables direct from farms that use little to no chemical pesticides and fertilizers, packaged soups, condiments and so much more. They also …

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 …

The Spiral Market is a great store for stationary and home accessory lovers. The merchandisers have selected a beautiful selection of foreign and Japanese products that would fit in any design savvy home around the world. The Spiral Market is located on the second floor of the famous Spiral Building …

Zusso Kids Hair Salon is a great place to get your kids first haircut. They have everything a child needs to keep them entertained; mini cars to sit in, small toys for toddlers, and a selection of Japanese and Disney movies to keep them entertained. They will shampoo, cut, blow …