We decided to go to Ikebukuro today because I wanted to check out the Toys R Us in the massive Sunshine City mall. I had a feeling that they might have character play sets. Thad was and my friend Kevin Vuong will be proud of me because I got us there by plotting the metro ride and transfers myself. I finally figured out the train system. Yay me!
I took a shot of this small police station that resembled a fukuro (owl)
Before we found Toys R Us, I serependentiously chanced across this little store that sold a lot of Studio Ghibli merchandise.
...and snagged these goodies!
Totoro mitsuketa!
When we finally got to Toys R Us, they didn't have the play sets I was looking for but there wasn't any disappointment there because I still had a high from the Ghibli find. I did however bought these anime kawaii kerchiefs and pencil caps, because-- why not?
Sunshine City mall had actually very fairly priced items. I guess since it's not a touristy place.
Most of the locals shop there.
I got this file organizer with the cute house print and the Upcheeka calendar from Loft.
Lunch break! Thad swears this was the best tonkatsu meal he ever had.
These Blythe doll merch, Shinzi Katoh matryoshka tape and a repro of a vintage lenticular ruler with a showa jidai Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp print were from Village Vanguard Books. It's a really neat place for little knick knacks and novelty items at such a good price. They have quite an impressive stock. They even have old issues of Dolly magazines that are waaaay cheaper
than the ones I've found online.
Outside the store was this gashapon machine that had figures from mine and Thad's favorite anime of the moment, Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) I put 400 yen in the machine, roughly about $4.00 and got the two figures I was hoping I would get (since they come out in blind capsules, so you don't know what you're getting till you open it).
We left the hotel rather late anyway so it was dark when we got out of the mall.
I spotted this rather amusing anime(?) Buddha and Jesus billboard at the Ikebukuro station
as we headed back to catch our train.
The last stop before our hotel was Akihabara which was considered the
otaku (manga and anime fans) paradise. I really just wanted to take a photo of it at night
because the lights are so pretty. But we got seduced by the flashing lights of those UFO catcher machine and decided to try our luck on winning anime figures. We promptly lost $20 trying to win tthem. Dumbasses. You get such a high though. Now I understand why gamblers gamble.
My feet hurt from so much walking. We walked so much, we only ate once today. This is why Japanese people are so skinny!. They walk for hours and hours. Too tired to do anything else but sleep. Oyasumi, minna-san (Goodnight, everyone!) Till next time, holly up!
