Sign Language

Walk into almost any mall in the U.S. and you're bound to recognize mostly national chain stores and restaurants these days.  Tokyo seems to be heading in the same direction, but you can still find some great independent boutiques and regional Japanese chains with great names.  

ソウル バー ドギーズ

Socks That Make You Smile

Store on Takeshita Dori

Nothing Says High End Fashion Like Freak's

Preppy Fashion Inspired by Santa

Harajuku Boutique

Kamakura, Home to the Best Amish Cuisine

Mrs. Pot's Tea, Coffee and Pie in Kamakura

Specializing in Low Calorie Cuisine

Fashion That Makes You Want to Sing

  

Moscow Nights

I always love Moscow at night. Even in the depths of winter, the lights bring back color and warmth to the city.

Red Square

St. Basil

GUM

Kievskaya Station

White House

Long Layovers

When non-stop flights aren't available, sometimes a long layover is a good way to see a new city.  Amsterdam and Munich are two frequent layover hubs in Europe, with good transportation to the city center.  For shorter layovers in Munich, the town of Freising is just a few minutes from the airport.  Even when staying in the airport, Munich is my favorite airport overall.  

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Marienplatz, Munich 

Munich

Munich

Friesing

Friesing

Freising

A Day in Odaiba

A day in Odaiba can feel like an escape from the hectic pace of Tokyo.  Built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, it is a short ride on the fully automated Yurikamome line from Shimbashi Station. You can also get to Odaiba by driving or walking over the scenic Rainbow Bridge.  The whole island is a mix of anime inspired futuristic buildings and love hotel inspired kitsch, complete with a replica of the Statue of Liberty on the beach.

Lady Liberty in Odaiba

View from Observatory

One of the most distinctive buildings is the Fuji TV Building.  You can visit the observatory and take a studio tour.

Fuji TV Building

Other than the views, my favorite thing about Odaiba is probably the theme malls.  This is an only in Japan kind of experience with shopping malls designed to look like 1950s Japan (Decks) and 18th century Venice, complete with marble fountains and a changing sky (Venus Fort).  Until recently, there was also a Little Hong Kong with an amazing number of Dim Sum options.

Little Hong Kong

Decks 

Decks

Venus Fort

Central Fountain, Venus Fort 

"Night Time" at Venus Fort

Toyota MEGA WEB is located right next to Venus Fort.  It is a great showroom, and you can even make advance reservations to test drive some vehicles.

Toyota MEGA WEB

Odaiba is also home to entertainment centers including Joypolis, with excellent "virtual" amusement rides and Tokyo Leisure Land with arcade games, bowling, billiards, and karaoke.  For a more relaxing day, you can visit Oedo-Onsen Monogatari, a large Edo-Era themed hot spring complex.  No matter how you spend your time in Odaiba, a sunset or evening view of Rainbow Bridge is one of the best ways to end the day.

Rainbow Bridge