| Shopping is an integral part of your travels in Japan. If it | | | | around the huge complex, you will quickly realize that |
| isn't in your itinerary, it should be. Harajuku is fantastic | | | | apart from providing hours of pleasure and making you |
| for an extreme wardrobe makeover, Okachimachi is | | | | miss the last train back to the hotel, Tokyu Hands |
| one giant flea market that stimulates all five senses, | | | | gives you an insightful glimpse into popular Japanese |
| and Akihabara is a well-known electronics heaven. | | | | culture and Japanese ingenuity. Many of the goods |
| The Japanese economy relies heavily on consumers. | | | | make great gifts to take home, and aren't expensive. |
| Despite the rather stagnant economy recently, you do | | | | Tokyu Hands has multiple branches all over Japan, |
| not need to mindlessly follow the horde of Japanese | | | | while their biggest one is in the Ikebukuro district in |
| consumers just for the sake of it. Shopping in Japan | | | | Tokyo and is well worth the visit. Other locations |
| can also be as cultural of an experience as is ringing | | | | include Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, and cities such as |
| the bell in a Shinto shrine. | | | | Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and even Sapporo up in the |
| Calling itself the "Creative Life Store," Tokyu Hands is | | | | north. |
| a department store chain that houses multiple floors of | | | | Thanks to the invention of the Internet, you can do |
| stationery, gifts, cooking utilities, home decorations, | | | | some online browsing of the Tokyu Hands |
| furniture, gadgets, and super "kawaii" toys. Wandering | | | | merchandise without traveling all the way to Japan. |