Shop ‘Til You Drop with Bunny
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Itinerary “The Mission”
Start: Ikebukuro
Introduction to cosplay, anime, otaku-girl culture
Shinjuku
Iconic Godzilla Head, Kabukicho Red Light District, 3D Cat, Omoide Yokocho
Harajuku
Lunch at the new Sanrio Cafe in Harajuku, Togo Shrine (aka. Hello Kitty Shrine), Kawaii Fashion
End: Shibuya
Baseyard Tokyo, Shibuya Parco
3D Cat in Shinjuku
The Best Graduation Trip
A gift from the Netherlands, where Miffy is actually from! I’ve been cultured on how Miffy is supposed to look like! Tysm I will cherish this!
American family living in Europe spends their tail-end of the trip with Cyber Bunny!
This Japan trip is a graduation gift that celebrates both daughter’s accomplishments as they have completed their Master’s degree and high school degree. Wooohooo!
This 9-day trip is about spoiling them before they return back to the grind. They’ve been wanting to visit Japan since Covid-19 days. Six years later, their dreams have come true.
Fast-Paced Shopping Focused Tour
The family just came back from Osaka, Nagoya and hiked the Nakasendo Trail from Magome to Tsumago. They only had a few days to spend in Tokyo, so they asked for my help to zip through the day hitting the shopping list.
The Custom City tour is fast-paced. There’s lots to see, eat, buy and do and 6 hours can go by so fast.
Most tourists spend an entire day in just one neighborhood, but we rocked not just two, but FOUR!
It’s understandably easy to feel overwhelmed!
But the girls had a very specific request and that is to find a specific anime merch. I took them to my secret spots and we hit the gold mine!
It was a challenge to get them out of Ikebukuro. It was as if there was a magnetic force field that kept them in one store. Can we make it to all our stops???
Ikebukuro
We started our day at 11:00 am in Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is where the otaku girls hang out.
In English, "otaku" refers to a person with an intense, obsessive interest in a specific hobby or subject, most commonly anime, manga, or video games. The closest English equivalents are "geek" or "nerd," but with a stronger focus on niche pop culture. (Wikipedia)
As soon as we arrived, there was already a queue of Japanese locals. It was a Monday!! Most shops open between 11:00 am to 12:00.
Don’t think… Just buy it!
I brought them to different cosplay shops where cosplay enthusiasts shop for wigs, make up, costumes, colored contacts, props etc.
The girls went bananas for Umamusume, Alien Stage, Hatsune Miku, Danganronpa, Chiikawa merchandise.
Throughout the whole day she continued to repeat these words, “Japan is amazing, I can’t believe it!!! Am I dreaming?? Japan has everything I’ve ever wanted.”
The look on her face was priceless. They were also telling me that these items cost a lot more in their country.
Momonga is her fav
Shinjuku
If it’s your first time coming to Tokyo, you can’t miss these iconic shots in Shinjuku. Since we had so much fun shopping in Ikebukuro, I sped through all the spots in Shinjuku, (thanks to the Bunny Mobile), to catch up on time… so we can shop some more in Harajuku!!!
Godzilla’s head in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. We also passed by the Red Light District where the hostess and host clubs are.
3D Cat and there’s the Bunny Mobile on the right waiting for us
Omoide Yokocho 思い出横丁 “Memory Lane” let’s make memories!
Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku is a compact, atmospheric alleyway cluster of tiny izakaya and yakitori stalls that feels like a preserved pocket of postwar Tokyo. This narrow lane gives a nostalgic setting where its history traces back to the late 1940s. This was the food spot that served the rush-hour workers and recovering postwar communities. Omoide Yokocho’s mid-20th-century character remains as a beloved culinary time capsule.
Harajuku
Togo Shrine 東郷神社
It is known as the shrine of “winning luck” after Japan's Imperial naval war hero, Heihachiro Togo (1848-1934) who led Japan to a victory in 1907. In May 1905, he led his navy to victory against the Imperial Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima. This led to Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War - the first time in modern history that a great Western power had been defeated by a non-Western nation.
Many visit to obtain the “winning plates” and “winning charms.” “Winning plates” have the genuine calligraphy of Heihachiro Togo. Togo Shrine was destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945, and rebuilt in concrete in 1964.
On the weekends, there is a huge line of people trying to buy the Sanrio lucky charms
Goshuin stamp book
This is my winning lucky charm!
Come early in the morning before it’s sold out
NEW Sanrio Cafe in Harajuku
Officially opened on December 11, 2025
There are many table seatings available, but since we booked in advanced, we got the private room! Yay!
Lunch with their favorite Sanrio characters! The girls love Milk, My Melody and Pochacco.
Regular seating
Table fee is 800 yen per person at the time of booking and it includes candy! Worth it!
This is their favorite brand (ACDC Rag) and I think they may have influenced me too!
She’s actually standing up! Her favorite style is Japanese Maximalism “Decora” where more is more .
Tokyu Plaza Omotesando “Omokado” 東急プラザ表参道「オモカド」
Huge fan of Hatsune Miku
Chiikawa Bakery
Shibuya
Baseyard Tokyo Harajuku
Free entry! This is the floor above 3COINS. In the back, this is where you can take a photo op with life-size characters from “Yuri on Ice”. (Victor & Makkachin)
She was in heaven!!
We met up with their father at Tower Records in Shibuya, who had a blast exploring Tokyo on his own. He was on his own mission finding Oldies Music like “The Grateful Dead.” The parents went back home to Hoshinoya hotel.
I escorted the girls to Shibuya Parco to see Nintendo and the Pokemon Center.
Thank you for a fun day in the city!
I have enjoyed seeing their smiley faces.
I learned so much about their current home, living abroad as Americans, culture, fandoms etc. I’m happy we crossed paths- best of luck to the next chapters in life.
I have a feeling they will be back soon!
For those traveling starting next week/mid-June…
Please be sure to be flexible with Japan’s random weather!
It will start to get hot, muggy, rainy, all at once! Be sure to hydrate and wear sun protection.
