At SAN-A Urasoe West Coast PARCO CITY, I made a special trip to visit Donguri Republic (どんぐり共和國), an officially licensed Studio Ghibli merchandise store. As soon as I walked in, it felt like entering the world of Ghibli animation. The store was filled with all kinds of merchandise featuring familiar characters from My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle. Every item was beautifully made and cute, including plush toys, charms, stationery, and household goods, making me want to take my time looking at them one after another. Seeing familiar Ghibli characters right in front of me really brought back memories of classic scenes from the movies. The store's decor was also very distinctive, with little details worth photographing everywhere. Before I knew it, I had spent quite a bit of time browsing. If you like Ghibli animation, you definitely shouldn't miss this store when visiting PARCO CITY!
SAN-A Urasoe West Coast PARCO CITY | Review by Gina C
Other Reviews by Gina C
-
Omoshiroi Koibito
The newest, must-try Osaka souvenir is produced by Yoshimoto Kogyo and packed with a humorous spin on the Hokkaido staple cookie that’s sure to make you chuckle.
Omoshiroi Koibito is a distinctive Kansai souvenir. It’s quite different from Hokkaido’s Shiroi Koibito, with thin cookies sandwiching a sweet soy sauce filling unique to Kansai. It has a subtle soy sauce aroma and a distinctive sweet-and-savory flavor, followed by a hint of soy sauce sweetness, so it’s not simply sweet. The cookies are light and crisp, and they go surprisingly well with the sweet soy sauce filling. The more you eat, the more flavorful they become!
-
-
Hokkyokusei Shinsaibashi Honten
Founded in 1922, Hokkyokusei is a venerable Western-style restaurant known as the birthplace of omurice. The main restaurant was built in 1950 in the sukiya-zukuri style of traditional Japanese architecture, offering a unique moment with an iconic dish and picture-perfect view out over a Japanese garden.
What I liked most about the omurice at Hokkyokusei was the egg on top. It was really soft and tender! When the dish arrived, the golden egg looked so appetizing. I gently cut into it with a spoon, and the texture was soft, tender, and slightly moist. It was silky smooth, with a distinct egg flavor. It went well with the fried rice underneath and didn’t taste too heavy. You could enjoy the egg’s delicate texture in every bite. I originally planned on just having a simple meal, but it turned out to be quite tasty. No wonder Hokkyokusei’s omurice is so famous!
-
-
Rainbow Bridge
“Rainbow Bridge,” an approximately 800-meter-long suspension bridge, is an iconic part of Tokyo architecture that connects Odaiba and Shibaura. At night the bridge is beautifully illuminated, and many people visit it to take pictures of one of Tokyo’s most well-known night views. The bridge has a dual structure: the upper section functions as an Metropolitan expressway, while the lower section is used by a general roadway, the Yurikamome Line, and a walking path.
When you visit Odaiba in Tokyo, you definitely shouldn't miss Rainbow Bridge! It looks imposing during the day, and even more romantic when it's lit up at night. The entire bridge sparkles against the night sky over Tokyo Bay and is truly beautiful.
From around Odaiba Seaside Park, you can enjoy views of Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Bay, and the Statue of Liberty all at once. Taking a leisurely stroll in the sea breeze makes for such a relaxing atmosphere. -
