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.
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