Back again in Tokyo, and of course our first order of the day is...

AKIHABARA!

???

Happy Year Of The Horse!

Another regret: Not buying Animal Crossing merch :(

Swiper, no swiping!

Snek

This is a must-visit place for Ken whenever he is in Tokyo. Super Potato has multiple floors where you can buy second-hand game consoles and fun games from your childhood. I did notice that Super Potato is kind of expensive; however, I feel more confident that the consoles or games they sell really work vs. buying them off in Book-Off or other similar second-hand shops. We usually go to the topmost part to play retro videogames and buy vintage-looking candies and sodas.

If you want to buy collectibles but you're on a budget, I suggest checking out second-hand shops, like Lashinbang, prior to going to other stores. I was able to score QPoskets for as low as ¥390!

Umm

Mandarake is another second-hand store selling toys, memorabilia, books, and everything you can think of a nerd would love to have. They have a HUUUUUGE selection of Nendoroids, and each box is tagged if it was opened or unopened- of course, unopened, mint conditions are more expensive.

It is very enticing to buy gadgets from Japan because they are priced less and they offer it tax-free. I guess the only caveat I see in buying a camera or phone is the warranty, because I don't think it covers even outside of Japan 😕

Pro Tip: Don't expect that there will be a lot of Fuji Instax film available! In my past 3 trips to Japan, I was only able to score films in Nagoya! Better to buy in your home country, then if you're lucky and the nearest Bic Camera has stocks, go hoard!

My favorite girl!

Damn it! Now I wanna go back again soon!

Love Always,

Nicole 💗

We visited it, and we had so much fun.

This near!

Walls and walls full of old and new Mangas!

At the Kimishibai area

I remember when we went there, there was a small show intended for kids. I just found out that the show is called a Kimishibai, a traditional Japanese style of storytelling where the storyteller uses different pictures to really capture the attention of his audiences, which are predominantly kids. The show is in Japanese, but despite us only knowing how to say Sumimasen and Arigato, we were able to follow the story thanks to the visuals! I remember the story was about Momotaro, a popular hero of Japanese folklore 🍑

Who's that Pokemon?

One part of the museum showcased mangas categorized per year it was created/released! It was fun checking out what mangas came out the year you were born, but in my case I didn't see anything I know released in 1993, unlike in 1992 when Sailormoon was released.

Aside from all the manga you can check out, there are also activities and events you can participate in. They have various workshops that are open to kids and adults, and they even have an area where a manga artist can draw you for a fee! They also have a shop, where you can buy- what else, mangas, and souvenirs! Lastly, they also have a cafe (unfortunately, it was closed when we were there soooo)

Like any other Japanese establishment, of course they also have their own mascot!

Overall, we had a pleasant time visiting this gem of a museum! For more details, such as schedules and new exhibits to look forward to, you may check out Kyoto International Museum's Official Website HERE

Love Always,

Nicole 💕

A little break from all the Japan content!

After 7 years, I have finally bought it! Siri, please play Lizzie McGuire’s What Dreams Are Made Of!

How my Parisian brands end up after a year of daily usage.

During our chit-chat, I mentioned that I have always wanted to buy a Senreve Maestra bag, but it's too expensive for my budget. I think it was in 2018 when it became famous- Tumblr famous, even! Aside from seeing it worn by influencers, I have also grown fond of how structured yet pretty it looks; the more I see it, the more I want to have it someday.

"Inspired by women who do it all"

Things about my mini Maestra bag that I love:

💓 The leather! I got the one made from Mimosa leather, so it was a little stiff, perfect for maintaining its boxy form. Also, it's already textured, so I don't need to be scared about scratching it.

💓 It doesn't have any loud logos.

💓 Anti-Thief! Hahahaha! I mean, you could also look at this one negatively, but I find it funny how it's not easy to open! Aside from the front metallic clasp, after flipping the flap, you still need to unzip to fully open the bag!