Shinjuku truly is a shopper’s paradise. There are so many department stores just around the station that you couldn’t visit them all even if you spent the whole day shopping! This time, I made a special trip to the Keio Department Store Shinjuku to look for women’s shoes~ The Japanese women’s shoe brand HIMIKO focuses on footwear that is both stylish and practical, offering everything from elegant heels and everyday loafers to casual shoes. The styles have a distinctly Japanese look, and the designs are easy to coordinate with different outfits. If you’re passing by, head upstairs and take a look. You might find a style that suits you~
Keio Department Store, Shinjuku | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo
The flagship store of Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo, a long-established maker of traditional Kyoto confections, is located on the first floor of the Kitaza Building at the east end of Shijo Bridge. Since its founding in 1805, the shop has preserved the flavors of Kyoto in Gion. Its signature Izutsu Yatsuhashi is a crisp, koto-shaped rice cracker created in memory of Yatsuhashi Kengyo, regarded as the founder of koto music. With its distinctive cinnamon aroma, it is a classic Kyoto souvenir.
Yatsuhashi is a classic Kyoto sweet. Besides the soft, chewy nama yatsuhashi filled with sweet bean paste, I also really like these thin, crispy, koto-shaped baked yatsuhashi! Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo was founded in 1805 and is known for its traditional koto-shaped yatsuhashi. Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi is another long-established Kyoto shop that also sells classic baked yatsuhashi. The thin pieces are crisp, with a light cinnamon aroma, and become more flavorful the more you chew. They also keep longer than nama yatsuhashi, making them a good souvenir. Brewing a pot of hot tea in the afternoon and enjoying it with a few pieces of yatsuhashi is a simple little pleasure full of Kyoto charm. Each shop has its own distinctive qualities, so it just depends on which flavor you prefer!
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Umi Bozu Main Branch
You'll find Umibozu Main Store easily by the oversized, red paper lantern marked with the words “oden”. Located conveniently just 2 min. walk from Shizuoka Station, this spot offers a warm welcome and local vibe once you duck inside. Once inside your eyes will immediately travel to the source of the delicious smell, oden wafting up from the center hot pot.
Before the trip, I already knew that Shizuoka oden was quite famous, so this time I made a point of adding the highly rated UMIBOUZU to my itinerary. I finally got to try it for myself! Whenever I eat oden, my must-order combination always includes daikon and boiled eggs. They're especially satisfying after soaking up all the broth. In Shizuoka, you also can't miss the local specialty, black hanpen (黒はんぺん). Made from sardines and other fish, it has a rich fish-paste flavor that gets better the more you chew, and it's very different from the more common white hanpen. If you like seaweed, you can sprinkle on some aonori and fish powder for more layers of flavor. So delicious!
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Dogo Beer Hall
Located across from the Dogo Onsen Honkan, Dogo Beer Hall is a brewery-owned establishment that is popular for offering a refreshing drink after soaking in the ancient waters of Dogo Onsen.
After soaking in Dogo Onsen, nothing feels better than finding a laid-back pub where you can enjoy good food and a slight buzz! Dogo Beer Hall offers four distinctive Dogo beers, each with its own flavor and character, so you can choose based on your preference. Add a few snacks to go with your beer, like crispy, juicy fried chicken, light and silky chilled tofu, and fried fish cake slices with a unique texture. Every dish keeps you reaching for more! Sipping local beer while enjoying the relaxed dining atmosphere adds a little tipsy fun to your hot spring trip.
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