Ginza, Tokyo

Mitsukoshi Department Store 三 越 デパート みつこし デパート

Mitsukoshi is a well-known brand name for quality shopping. The department store chain has many branches, but perhaps the best known branch is the one in the Ginza. It is a huge building with many floors in the most expensive real estate streets in the world. When you shop at Mitsukoshi you get quality and that’s what you pay for. If you buy your gift there, you are not “stingy”.

Behind the famous blue ‘noren’ lies of world that equals shopping paradise. Mind you, it is a shopping heaven within reach for the middle class customer.

Mitsukoshi is such a huge company that it can afford to have its own credit department. Gold or Platinum, Ma’am? For certain products, the large department stores have an advertising, possibly subletting arrangement with big brand names. These photos show German Loewe, French Le Tanneur, Italian Louis Vuitton etc. to their advantage.

Mitsukoshi also takes care of the needs of the ‘Inner Customer’; they provide quality restaurants, amazing groceries and bakery departments – you name it!

The food and the service is perfect. Despite the size of the building as a whole, each department is housed in a subsection that gives the idea of a more personalised home setting. Hence one feels one is walking through a small shopping village. All staff are waiting just for you:

You’re welcome!    

よく  いらっしゃいました。

yoku irasshaimashita

In the larger central reception areas special events are held. It could be an ikebana exhibition, a bonsai display with commentary, or as in this case, a young opera star aiming to make his fame and fortune. Customers will enjoy a free concert and feel refreshed after such an event. In western department stores one might see a ordinary car display of a ‘latest’ model. The Japanese prefer something more special and educational. Anyway, cars are not that sophisticated.

Mixing of religious ideas, as long as it impresses!

The perfect set of Hinamatsuri dolls. Good quality dolls could set you back a few hundred thousand yen. 

Have you been to the Italian Fair already? Here’s your chance!

Mr Piaget will help you with your diamond needs.

They even have a garden centre where they can advise you on your gardening needs – in the middle of Tokyo! Maybe it is more your veranda needs, or your balcony requirements… Whichever. All gardening needs will be taken care of.

Back to food again!

And fashion…

Well… OK, one car at the back somewhere! 

But it had better be a very good one though!

Anyone for antiques, or antique-looking furniture?

Bonus payment celebration time! Long live the wallet!

Twice a year at bonus time, one needs to buy presents for all people who have helped you achieve your present, well-deserved state of happiness. The department store is prepared and many presents are pre-packaged. We have one here, just like that one, all wrapped up waiting for you!

Here is that lovely furoshiki! Pure silk! Very dignified!

Here are those yummy delicacies for your ‘bestest‘ friend!

Here are those cute, fluffy toys for your grandchildren!

Here is that gorgeous matching shopping bag for the discerning housewife!

How could winter be brutal? 

Winter at Mitsukoshi is cosy and warm and friendly!

A light tempura lunch in the Ginza

Lunch in the Ginza requires some finance, but is it worth it?!  Yes!

Ginza 銀座 ぎんざ

Tokyo Subway 東京の地下鉄 とうきょうのちかてつ

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So easy to use! Ticket vending machines are everywhere – well, at the entrance anyway. Plans, diagrams and maps are everywhere, and in English as well. Spare a thought for those visitors from Russia, Venezuela and Togo who may not speak English. Difficult, but they seem to manage and the Japanese staff are most helpful.

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地下鉄の地図

chikatetsu no chizu

ちかてつのちず

subway map

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A child can do it – (and a child must be able to do it)

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place   kippu-uriba

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place  kippu-uriba

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Please, put the ticket in the right way.

Your kneecaps will help remind you for next time.

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• Not a good idea to lean forward.
• Also, there are those boxes on the side for those who thought they might like to slide down the banister, so to say…
• Do keep to the left as people will try to pass you.
• Wherever you go in the subway, do follow your coloured circle.
• You can’t go wrong.
• There is braille everywhere for the visually-impaired, so they have thought of everyone and everything: Japanese organisation and planning.

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Shinbashi (=New Bridge) Ginza Line, 8 station

station 8 going to station 7

(counter clockwise direction)

(Hang on… how did we know that?   Aha! From 8 to 7!)

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You can even see how long the ride will take you.

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 Rush hour is a different matter though…

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We are not quite sure why a cat would have a problem here, because we leave the cat at home. We all get the message though. You don’t need language for these pictures, do you? It usually happens to you only once. Oh, dear. You will get sympathy, but no-one is likely to give up their seat. If you are slow to learn, there will be staff on the platform to help you though – Just take care.

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We all know what these mean: don’t take the cat on the train and be careful with your fingers.

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This says: (If you want to be a slob) – do it at home! (Your mother will love you for it! – no, it doesn’t say that last bit. LOL.)

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And another gem:

Take care to avoid ‘helpful’ pickpockets!

They may take advantage of you.

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He has a cold and is being considerate

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poor people

they work so hard

their work day is so long

the train is so boring

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Now you know why Japanese people are so fit – and so informed!

Very difficult to not notice the advertisement.

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There are some rules to observe on public transport:

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• You should speak in a low voice, not speak out aloud. (You recognise foreigners straightaway. They are so noisy and their conversations include the whole world: talking from one end of the carriage to the other! Or calling out: “Hey, Lisa, have you… blah, blah, blah…?” How un-Japanese! No sense of restrained consideration. Remember that everything new on the train, the other passengers have already seen thousands of times before you, so they don’t really want to hear about it. They just want to get home, or to wherever they want to go, without your comments.)

   

• Also, you shouldn’t eat or drink on the train. There are plenty of coffee shops elsewhere. That includes revolting chewing gum. Nasty habit. Yuck! Not to mention what foreigners do with their chewing gum when they have finished. A great way to make your hosts sick or take a dislike to you!

   

• These days you shouldn’t use your mobile phone on the train either. Inconsiderate.

   

• Just don’t bother other people – lead your own life and get on with it.

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These rules may seem strange to us, but imagine if 2000 passengers all talked aloud on the train, it would be too noisy. Not a good look and not very pleasant.  Remember too: you’re on holiday, they are not.

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Normally you should stand in line when boarding a train. The spaces where the doors of the train are going to be opened, are marked on the platform, so you can already line up in anticipation.

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  he’s not lining up…

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and this is only the start of the week…

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Don’t you just love those little square windows

next to the machines: human help!

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I did it! Pretty cool!

Yes, pretty and cool.

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very few miss their station though…

must be years of training

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The puzzle パズル is referring to something else

not to the subway train system!

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Nice one! (whoever you are who took it)

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