Saturday, 6 April 2013

Forty Years minus one day - part 2

So.... where were we.  Yes, the Fish Market, we left there and went to Ginza.  The yin, if the Fish Market is yang.  Ginza emerges as a metropolis - think Total Recall. High rise, shining glass, neon, stainless steel and bling in drug-addict dosage.  Ginza, suffering the same up-themselves disease as most of the Gen Y that frequent it, does not start until bloody 11am.  Luckily, light headed from the Fish Market, we were happy to sit and have a coffee (remember to say "milky") while we waited the 20 minutes until 11am.  We wandered down the main drag Chuo Dori - closed to traffic on Saturdays, which is directly above Ginza subway station.  We stopped at a few watch shops - birthday pressie shopping for the birthday girl.  Then we went to the Sony building to buy the birthday girl's boyfriend a Sony action-cam LCD screen.  Note: items over 10,000Yen (app. AUD $100) can be purchased tax (5%) free.  Luckily the screen was under the threshold.  Sony - no where near as "hip" as  the mahoosive Apple store, directly opposite the mahoosive department store Mitsukoshi.  Our spot-on tour-tipper Marni said GO DIRECTLY TO Mitsukoshi, do not pass go.  So we went and visited the food hall as instructed.  OMG! Fantastic fresh everything.
Here is a riddle for you:  What looks like 8 big fat red strawberries in a little box with tissue paper and costs AUD52?  Answer:  8 big fat strawberries..... unbelievable.  We opted for the much cheaper salads and sushi for all up about AUD20.  Great value.  We snacked in a nearby area before heading back to the aforementioned watch shop to secure a birthday gift for the over-indulged birthday girl.  Note to self: be nicer to boyfriend, he really is a super tops catch.
The lovely Japanese Assistant in the watch shop had a Rolex watch - very nice.  She showed us the engraving on the back.....  "Let's soak up this fabulous day", a quote from Sponge Bob Square Pants.  SO Japanese, a Sponge Bob quote on a Rolex.  Aptly illustrating the 2 sides of Japan.
After leaving the shop, we headed to Muji...Like a trendy Ikea, north of Ginza.  Also coming across Loft, another quirk, distinctly Japanese Shop.
After Ginza... we needed refreshments.  Here is my lovely husband trying to make a decision.

No comments:

Post a Comment