Tokyo is a unique city with many traditional and cultural features -but there's more than just that.
In this article, an expert who authored two books on wacky stuff to do and see in Tokyo will share her recommendations to make your next Tokyo trip even more enjoyable. You should definitely NOT come back without trying some of these things!
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/anniedaly/only-...
La Carmina is the author of two books about quirky Japanese pop culture — Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo, and Cute Yummy Time — and also appears on multiple TV shows about subcultures around the world, including Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, and National Geographic’s Taboo.
“My family and I went to Tokyo a lot when I was growing up, and I became mesmerized by the ‘fashion tribes’ I saw in Harajuku and Shibuya,”
La Carmina, who’s originally from Vancouver, Canada, says “They dressed in ways that blew my mind! So I started blogging about Tokyo trends in 2007, and since then, my site has developed into a full-time career.“
“Trends move at the speed of light in Japan, and cat cafés have become old news. Owl cafés are currently all the rage,” she says.
“Tokyo has many theme restaurants dedicated to cute characters, such as Pokémon and Hello Kitty. Pompompurin Café celebrates one of the lesser-known Sanrio mascots, a yellow puppy in a beret,” says La Carmina.
“If theme restaurants aim to put their customers in fantasy worlds, then Alice Café takes them ‘through the looking glass.’ The Cheshire Cat winks from the elevator, and the waitresses, dressed as Disney Alices, hand you a pop-up storybook that doubles as a menu,” says La Carmina.
“Look for a giant white egg, and you’ll know you have arrived at Square Enix’s Artnia café,” says La Carmina. “The makers of the cult video game Final Fantasy have built a café to celebrate its beloved characters, like Cloud and Chocobo. Fans can admire rare Final Fantasy figurines in the museum, or hug a smiling Slime stuffed toy. The café fills up quickly, but it’s worth the wait for themed food like Moogles-decorated pancakes.”
Japan is the native land of Hello Kitty, so it’s no surprise that there is a decadent Sanrio theme park just outside Tokyo, says La Carmina. “The experience resembles a Day Glo acid trip, with smiling, and slightly unnerving, giant characters everywhere you turn, and a strange musical starring life-size versions of Hello Kitty and Daniel. The rides are only for children, but anyone can enjoy the cat-shaped food and pink glittery gift shops.”
Popular with Tokyo Goths and Lolitas, Abilletage is an independent boutique decorated with red velvet curtains, chandeliers and antiques, says La Carmina. “The owner, Bambi, is a corset maker who sources accessories — like leather gas masks — from all over the world. She specializes in intricate custom corsets, and has designed outfits for Jpop stars Koda Kumi and Ayumi Hamasaki. I love to escape the bustle of Shinjuku by stopping by her parlor, for a pot of rose tea.”
“Kabayuki looks like a nondescript tavern in Utsunomiya … until you meet the waiters, who are two monkeys in kimonos!” says La Carmina.
“Visual Kei is Japanese rock (J-rock) at its most flamboyant,” explains La Carmina.
“These Japanese maids may look sweet, but if you agree to the ‘disgusting drink challenge,’ you’ll see a very different side to them,” says La Carmina.
“I appeared on Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods, and took Andrew Zimmern to a horror themed restaurant called Alcatraz ER. A girl in a skimpy nurse uniform took us to a table, and locked us up behind bars,” says La Carmina.
“In the ‘geek’ district Nakano, I stumbled across a ‘super used’ underwear vending machine,” says La Carmina. “Insert 500 yen (U.S. $4.50), and you’ll receive a random capsule containing dirty panties … or so it seems. But the truth is, there’s a disclaimer that the garments are not actually used, but made to look and smell as if they were!”
“A visitor friend asked me: ‘Why are Easter eggs being sold in vending machines throughout Japan?’ And I had to explain that these are Tenga, or ‘pleasure devices’ for men!” says La Carmina. “The company is known for stylish sex toys such as the Deep Throat Cup: sleek on the outside, with a lubricated vacuum and textured nubs on the inside.”
“Godzilla is alive and well in Nakano, an eccentric neighborhood for anime-lovers,” says La Carmina. “Every Wednesday, the minuscule Luna Base Bar turns into ‘Dai-Kaiju Salon,’ a kitschy celebration of Japanese monsters like Mothra. The space is decorated with rare toys and drawings by famous manga artists. Customers bond by watching 1960s Ultraman films together, and can take turns wearing a full-body pink monster suit! My friend Naomi put on this behemoth, and gave people walking by a good scare.”
“DecabarZ is a favorite hangout for Tokyo’s Goth and subcultures crowd,” says La Carmina. “The Shinjuku club looks like a Day-Glo candyland, and has theme nights such as ‘shibari rope bondage’ or ‘1980s pole dancing.’ On my last visit, I drank absinthe with drag queens, and danced with Jem and the Holograms cosplayers until dawn.”
“Alien strippers, slave boys on chains, bloody body modifications… that’s par for the course at Department H, the most outrageous fetish party in Japan, if not the world,” says La Carmina. “Every month, Tokyo’s fringe subcultures come together for a night where anything goes. Many wear full-body latex costumes that turn them into anime dolls. On one of my TV shows, we featured ‘bagelheads’ at the party. This body mod involves dripping saline into the forehead, which creates a temporary bulge that resembles a bagel!”
“Harajuku fashion often has a creepy-meets-cute aesthetic, explains La Carmina. “The dream of the 80s is alive and well at Nile Perch, a Harajuku shop for “fairy kei” fashion. These designs are an explosion of childhood nostalgia: Think pom-pom hats, pastel tutus, and cardigans covered in hearts.”
Most items are rare and not found outside of Japan, and she’s making them available for the first time, here on Depop.
For more Japanese travel inspiration, follow La Carmina on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter — and visit her website here.
