Nippori

 From Shinjuku, ride around the Yamanote Line to Nippori Station.  We first visited Nippori a few years ago to check out Fabric Town.  Nippori is known as the "Textile District" in Tokyo.  At the station, go out the South Exit and walk into the streets.  You'll soon see signs that point you in the direction of "Nippori Textile Town."

http://www.gotokyo.org/en/kanko/arakawa/spot/s_930.html

While walking in and out of stores all through Fabric Town, I saw every type of fabric including traditional silks to cottons, jerseys and contemporary prints.  You will also see the most beautiful Japanese printed fabrics there.

Not only are there fabric stores, but there are also stores that specialize in buttons, zippers, cord, etc.  There are also stores that only specialize in leather, knits or silk fabrics.  When visiting this popular Textile Town, you can't leave without shopping at the store, "Tomato." 

There's actually more than one "Tomato" store on the Fabric Town street.

You'll find tables of bargain fabrics as well as remnant pieces.  Most of the textiles are of the highest quality, which can reflect the prices.

 Here's some of the fabrics I purchased at Tomato.

If you love to sew, head towards Nippori and visit Textile Town!

Riding the Train and Subway Lines

During our recent trip to Tokyo we were walking through the outer area of Tsukiji Fish Market when I jumped at the sound of my name.  Someone in the distance yelled out, "Ashley!!!"  In the middle of this enormous city and this extremely crowded open market, we ran into my co-worker and her family.  We had no idea she would be at Tsukiji on that same day.  Her first words were, "I thought you said riding the train and subway was easy!!!  It's not!!!"

She was absolutely right.  It's not a simple task to understand the complex system of Tokyo's trains and subways.  We first had guidance from my very dear friend and her husband who live in Japan.  After one ride with them, we studied the maps using Hyperdia and asked for verification from strangers along the way until we were successful in using both modes of transportation.  My #1 tip is: Do not walk into a station thinking you're just going to wing it.  You must have a plan before you leave your hotel room.  Always search the route using the Hyperdia app first and take a screenshot. Then head towards the station in case there's a problem with your pocket Wifi while you're away from the hotel.
 
The Hyperdia app will always give you the fastest route.  This will mean switching from train to subway or vice versa.  You might not be comfortable riding the train and the subway lines during your first trip.  When moving from a JR train line to a subway line, you first have to exit the JR gates and then find the right subway line and enter new gates.  This could be at the opposite end of the train station.  In some cases, we would exit the station, walk outside, around the building and reenter through another doorway as we followed signs that led us on the right path.

Entering the JR train gates at Ueno Station:  Most stations will be filled with travelers as you move with the foot traffic so it's very difficult to stop and read signs.  We witnessed several frustrated American families in the train stations arguing or studying the maps.  It can be especially difficult when you are not fluent in Japanese.

Entering the Ginza subway line at Shimbashi Station.  More stairs!!

Basically, you will need to be aware of all signs and remember the names of the train and subway stops as well as the name of the lines.  We were extremely lucky that my husband has a good sense of direction.  That always helps too.

This map shows the train system in Tokyo.  At first glance I was like, "What???"  I could barely see the names of the lines, let alone understand the direction and stops.  This is why we mostly visited areas on the Yamanote line on our first trip.  This would be the light green line in the center of the map.  Look for Tokyo Station and you'll see the awkward oval shape of the Yamanote line.  If you miss your stop or are headed in the wrong direction, it travels in a connected oval so you'll get there sooner or later.  The drawback of using the Yamanote line is the number of stops which adds to your travel time.  These trains are also more crowded at all times of the day.

This is the map that the information desk will give you when asking for help using the Tokyo subway system.  Again, the map appears to be a complicated dot to dot worksheet, filled with names and numbers.  Knowing the number of the stop you need is also helpful when checking to see that you are moving in the right direction.

On our last trip to Tokyo, there was one day where our Hyperdia App did not function properly.  As a backup, I googled the route and was given about 4 different choices of trains and subways.  Make sure you choose the picture of the train above the google map.  You also need to know the name of the closest station to your destination.  Each route will tell you how many minutes you have until the train departs.  Remember, if you miss the train, the next one will come in less than 10 minutes (in most cases).

This was my google search for the route from Shinagawa Station to Oshiage Station.  This route took me to Tokyo Solamachi or the Skytree Mall.  Please note that when it says 5 minute walk, double that number.  Speaking from experience, a 10 minute walk usually equates to a 20 minute walk!  In some instances, we did a search on Hyperdia and Google to compare different routes in order to be sure we were headed in the right direction.

Hopefully these tips can help you to successfully use the train and subway system in Tokyo.  You might also be able to find your own apps that can give you direction in taking the right lines of transportation.   Although it takes planning, the children always say that riding the train and subway is a highlight of the trip!

My Favorite 100 Yen Store

Making a trip to a 100 yen store is a priority when visiting Tokyo.  As an avid shopper, it's always fun to walk through the aisles and view all the items in these stores.  There is one store at a specific location that has become my favorite.  If you're ever in Asakusa, be sure to journey up to the 5th floor (that's right, I said 5th floor) of the train station and you'll find the 100 yen store called "Seria."

 From the outside, Seria looks like "Can Do," but at Asakusa Station the store is very large and open, which are reasons why this store is a priority on our Tokyo tour.

If you take the subway on the Asakusa or Ginza lines, you will walk up the stairs to the street level and end up one or two streets down from the station.  If you enter the front doors of the station, you'll find yourself in a department store.

Climb up the escalators and walk straight ahead down the path.

Seria is the store at the end.  There are also other stores and pop up shops on the 7th floor that feature clothes and animation characters for the children. 

We like the quality of the products found at Seria.

There are lots of kitchen gadgets that are great omiyage gifts for the family in Hawaii.

If you're having a party, Seria would be the perfect place to purchase favors!

We would never be able to buy these cute chopsticks for a dollar anywhere!

There are tons of cute packaging materials at Seria.

 We found ziploc bags, waxed paper and tin foil that were decorated with all the kid's favorite characters!  There are also a lot of Disney and Sanrio items at Seria.

If you're in Asakusa, be sure to visit Seria!

100 yen shops

As you walk through the train stations, streets or malls you'll come across Tokyo's famous 100 yen stores.  A 100 yen equates to about a $1.00 US Dollar, depending on the exchange rate.  Everything in these stores cost 100 yen which lures people in to walk through the aisles and suddenly find themselves with a basket full of items ranging from kitchen gadgets, to stationary, to Sanrio products, to health and beauty.  You name it, and you'll find it at a 100 yen store!

 The first popular 100 yen store is Daiso.

This store can also be found in other parts of the world, including Los Angeles and Dallas.  On a recent trip we were surprised to find this store at the Skytree Mall at Tokyo Solamachi near Asakusa.  I walked out of an elevator and there was Daiso!

Daiso and other 100 yen stores usually have a section showcasing Japanese gifts.  These are great for omiyage or presents to bring home for loved ones.

On this visit to Daiso, we were happy to find a variety of Furoshiki, or Japanese wrapping cloth.

Another 100 yen store that we frequent is "Can Do."  You'll also be able to find food items in this store.  There are packages of Japanese snacks and candy for the kids!

This Can Do was found in the mall connected to our hotel at the Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel!

It was a pleasant surprise!

A variety of health and beauty products are in this aisle of the Can Do store.

 You'll find the cutest stationary at any 100 yen store.  The rows of items are endless!

Remember, you might not have enough room in your suitcase for everything you want to buy!

Not only can you find bath towels and sponges,

but there's always a cute little frog or puppy for the kids!

These towels were so soft!

Every kitchen gadget could be found in this aisle.  I wanted to buy more, but I got the look of, "How are we supposed to bring all of this home?" from my husband.  It's easy to go crazy at any 100 yen store!

Exiting the Train or Subway

Finding the right train and subway can be a challenge, but the next step of locating the right exit and walking out of the station can be just as tricky.  During busy hours of the day, you might find yourself in close quarters with people in one car of the train or subway.  No one speaks and people have their phone set to silent mode.  Almost everyone has ear buds on as you won't hear the constant "bing!" or anyone publicly speaking out loud on their phone.  In fact, you won't even see much conversation.  There is also no eating or drinking on the train or subway.

If you're not sure if you're on the right route during the ride, ask someone around you.  The extra reassurance will only alleviate the anxiety of using this mode of transportation.  A voice will also announce each stop as well as the stop that will be coming up next.  The name of the stop will appear above the door in Japanese characters as well as in English letters.  If you look out the window, you'll also see the train stop on the walls of the station along with an arrow in the direction that the train is headed with the name of the next stop. 

Once you've reached your destination,  step out into the station and the immediate question becomes, "Which way do we go?  Left or right?"  There may be signs on the wall pointing you in the right direction if you are headed towards a landmark.  We usually walk in the same direction as everyone else which is almost always the right call.  If you have trouble walking or climbing stairs, using the train and subway may be a challenge for you.  You will find yourself speed walking with the foot traffic of Tokyo businessmen and women.  Then, there may be flights of stairs ahead.  In some cases, there may be 4-5 sets of stairs which poses the question, "How far below ground was I?"

In Japan, you usually walk on the left side.

There are arrows that tell you which direction you walk while going up and down stairs. 

As you exit  the subways, there are elevators, but you'll find a line of elderly people or families with strollers waiting.  As you reach the street level, you may also feel disoriented as some of the exits take you straight into a busy street, far away from the main station.  If you are headed towards a certain landmark or area, read the website before you leave your hotel.  You can almost always read about the train access, which will give you the correct exit.  Exits in the stations are numbered (not in Japanese).  We also walked into stores and asked the sales associates to point us in the right direction.

In some stations, you can rest your legs by using escalators.  Stand to the left of the escalator if you're riding your way up.  The right side are for people who will walk, and sometimes run!  During the ride, we usually used our phones to make sure we knew what exit to take out of the station.
Thank you pocket Wifi!!!

Remember, you have to beep your pasmo card on the way out.  If you bought a ticket, you will need to insert the ticket into the gates as you leave the subway or JR train.  As you're speed walking with the traffic, it's important to be prepared to walk through the gates without stopping. You don't want to hold up the station traffic!

Shinjuku

While planning for our next trip to Tokyo, I spend a lot of time searching for hotels.  I use many of the travel websites and read hundreds of reviews.  The location of your hotel will play an important role in creating an itinerary that provides the best experiences in Tokyo.  With that said, booking a hotel that is located near a train station is the best choice for foreign travelers to Tokyo.  The train station not only will get you everywhere you want to go, but it also provides a variety of shops and dining options.  You could spend an entire day just at the train station!

Shinjuku Station is the busiest train station in Japan.

We love being in the mix of the exciting city of Tokyo.  So during one of our trips we decided to explore the Shinjuku area by staying at the Shinjuku Prince Hotel.  Coming off the train at Shinjuku Station, we took the wrong exit and walked the long way to our hotel through the heart of Shinjuku.  It was the first time I felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of people, lights and energy of the city.   But we soon found our hotel and was very pleased with our location. 

One of the reasons why I chose the Shinjuku Prince hotel was because it sits on top of the Seibu Shinjuku Station.  The hotel website also boasts being only a 5-minute walk from the main Shinjuku Station.  Of course, this is only if you come out of the proper exit.  Although the Seibu Shinjuku Station is not on the main Yamanote line, we found a way to use this station to another station where we could catch the right line to our destination.  This let us avoid using the main Shinjuku Station. 

We also found many shopping places and a great 100 yen store right inside our hotel building.  There was even a huge McDonald's across the street!  The biggest surprise was the size of the room at this hotel.  It was enormous compared to the rooms we had previously experienced.

http://www.princehotels.com/shinjuku

When walking down the main street of Shinjuku, look down one of the narrow streets.  Who's that peeking over the Hotel Gracery?  Is that . . . . . 

Godzilla???????

Visit Shinjuku and feel the excitement of Tokyo!

Meiji Shrine

Exit Harjuku Station and your body is pushed into the foot traffic of the busy area.  You'll suddenly find yourself in a crowd of people that moves you in the direction of the huge Gap store across the street from the station.  Go left and you'll head down towards the entrance of Takeshita Dori.  Go right and you'll enjoy shopping and dining on the tree lined Omotesando Street.

If you don't cross the street and go towards your immediate right, you'll see a forested area and the entrance to the Meiji Shrine.  The grand torii gate is surrounded by tall trees and a pebbled walkway that provides a peaceful stroll.  The grounds are a hidden gem from the busy streets of Harajuku.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3002.html

 After passing through the gates, you'll walk about 10 minutes through the tree lined path.

We visited the shrine in the late afternoon and found that it wasn't busy.  There was a calm, peaceful area where people sat and meditated.

Beautiful trees surround the shrine area.

If you're not interested in shopping in Harajuku, visit the Meiji Shrine and the adjacent Yoyogi Park!