Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno
A brief 2-minute jaunt away from Ueno Station is where you’ll find Mitsui Garden Hotel Ueno, an uber-easy base with direct access to major Tokyo transit lines plus major destinations like Asakusa and Akihabara.
The area around the hotel is super convenient. There are convenience stores, drugstores, supermarkets, and ramen shops—all nearby.
Tsunan Snow Festival
The Tsunan Snow Festival is held every year in Tsunan Town, the southernmost part of Niigata Prefecture. Known as one of the snowiest regions in the world, this event showcases the beauty and excitement of snow like no other.
The food stalls at the snow festival are fantastic. You can get hot soups and local specialties—perfect for the cold weather.
Majime na Tokeiya KAME-KICHI
In Tokyo's Nakano Ward is a luxury brand watch specialty shop called Kame-Kichi. It enjoys a good reputation as a place where popular brands of watches, such as Rolex and Cartier, can be purchased more cheaply than elsewhere. With a regular lineup of about 3,000 timepieces, this shop is top-class.
Finally got the watch I've been wanting for so long! Nakano is the go-to place for secondhand watches, and the prices are a bit cheaper too. Best part is, the shops here have staff who speak Chinese.
TOKYO SKYTREE(R) TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN(R)
Boasting a height of 634 meters, TOKYO SKYTREE is the world’s tallest free-standing tower which stands in the center of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN surrounded by tourist facilities. The tower has two observation decks, Tembo Deck at a height of 350 meters and Tembo Galleria at 450 meters.
The views from up high are amazing, and there are plenty of facilities and things to do around the area. It's a great place to visit.
Tokyo Disneyland
Known and loved as the “kingdom of dreams and magic”, this full-scale themepark is just a 15 min. train ride from Tokyo Station.
This is a theme park that's perfect for the whole family. There's the thrilling Space Mountain, It's a Small World for little kids, plus fireworks and parades.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
In Tokyo's Mitaka lies the Ghibli Museum, overseen by Director Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli, established in 1985, is a Japanese animation studio known for planning and producing films primarily directed by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the station, so taking the bus is more convenient.
MITSUI OUTLET PARK KISARAZU
This resort-style outlet mall ranks among the largest in Japan, complete with all the perks of a naturally rich area and convenient access via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. Over 330 stores await, included coveted domestic and international brands, select shops, and high-end fashion names for a purely unpparalleled shopping experience.
We stopped here for a meal on our way to the airport. There's a small amusement park and a Ferris wheel right next to it. It's a great spot to bring kids for shopping and some fun.
Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO & Pikachu Sweets
Pokémon, the pocket monsters phenomenon loved across the world. In addition to the Pokémon Centers in 11 cities across Japan, the official plushies and merchandise can also be found at Pokémon Center locations worldwide. Inside you’ll find original pokémon goods, games and consoles to shop.
A few years ago, when I was really into Pokémon, I made a special trip here just to look for related merchandise.
Nakaza Cui-daore Bldg.
Located in Dotonbori, Osaka's busy downtown, this building is like a condensed version of "Osaka, the city of gourmets," filled with delicious food. In addition to the typical Osaka gourmet food such as kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables) and reasonably priced izakaya (Japanese style pubs), there are also a number of restaurants that offer sweets, sushi, all-you-can-eat crab, and other food selections.
Every time I'm in Dotonbori, Osaka, I see the Kuidaore Taro doll. There are lots of local specialty products inside that really represent Osaka. I recommend picking some up as souvenirs.
LECT
A shopping mall LECT located in Nishi-ku, Hiroshima. It is occupied by about 150 business tenants based on ”knowledge, food and housing” in order to become a third place for people, with the concept “making one want to come every day, wanting to make a special trip”.
There are lots of creative and cultural products inside. They also hold events and lectures from time to time. The vibe is pretty similar to Eslite Bookstore.