Bully_4_U's review

  • 0

    Starbucks Coffee Ginza Marronnier-dori

    Huge Starbucks!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 4:43:09 PM]

    For most Americans Starbucks is a place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe surf the net, or meet a friend to work on a homework assignment. Generally it's a pretty chill place to hang. The average Starbucks seats about 12 to 25 people depending on the location. The Ginza Starbucks is a two story building with seating for around 200 people!!



    I was amazed at the size, and wondered why it would be so huge. It has a secondary coffee bar upstairs as well. When we were there, the place had from 10 to 25 people spread out through the house. The main coffee bar downstairs did a brisk business since its in the midst of a large business district, but many just grabbed coffee and hoofed it. ...until Saturday! OMG you never say such a bustle as the Ginza Starbucks on the weekend! This place is packed! Clearly Tokyoites love coffee as well as I do, because it was really challenging to find a place to sit!



    You can of course enjoy the great quality of Starbucks coffees, pastries are slightly different- lending themselves to local tastes. Prices are high, if you balk at paying domestic Starbucks prices you will be in shock at what a Tokyo coffee will cost! Still, I am not starting my day with brown swill, and tea is NOT a fog cutter for me. So gimme that grande french roast and pass me the loan papers to pay for it.

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    Zenshutoku, Ginza

    Excellent quality

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 4:18:57 PM]

    We enjoyed a delicious meal in this lovely restaurant. Great romantic atmosphere and more intimate. Nice place for a date.

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    TOKYU HANDS, Ginza

    Fun fun fun!!!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 3:32:07 PM]

    I'm a pretty hardcore crafter, so when I learned that there was such a place as Tokyu Hands, I put it at the top of my "to do in Tokyo" list!



    The Ginza store (there are several locations) is a smallish TH, only four floors... but there is a LOT packed into those four floors! There are materials and tools for a wide variety of crafts, hobbies and DIY projects. There are a lot of unusual materials to be had, so if you are a crafter, looking for something interesting drop by and poke around. I so wished I could bring home some tubes of lacquer, but it is not legal to ship via air freight. :(



    The store also has a nice assortment of stationery and phone gadgets, luggage, books and a full culinary section where they hold demos from time to time.



    If you make it out to Shibuya there is an even larger Tokyu Hands with a woodworking supply, full fabric section, and housewares. Such fun from such basic shopping. This is my kind of store!

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    Favori

    We loved this place!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 3:20:21 PM]

    Although a bit pricey, the quality of this establishment is fantastic. The decor is rustic, as though you had just entered a tavern established in the 1500s. Funky music playing, lots of locals stopping in after work. An amazing array of Belgian beverages and some really tasty food on the menu.



    We visited Tokyo in November, so there were a few rainy nights. Stopping into Favori for a couple pints and some hot stew was a cozy treat.

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    Hotel Monterey GINZA

    Great location, close quarters

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 3:13:33 PM]

    The Hotel Monterey Ginza is located in the Higashiginza, which is just a few blocks east (toward the harbor) of the main Ginza shopping district. Located a comfortable walk from Tokyo Station and with easy access to main train lines, this is a great location for enjoying the bustling city of Tokyo.



    The hotel is clean and friendly. It is an older style building that has been updated and kept comfortably modern. Internet is available- bring your own Ethernet/USB cable just to make things easier. Wi-fi is not available in most of Tokyo without expensive phone plans. Make use of the Internet in your room to plan out your days excursions and save the info to your tablet or phone before you leave for the day. We used OffMaps and it worked very well.



    Rooms are very small, especially for us big Yanks, so don't be too surprised if you find yourself climbing over each other. Beds are comfortable but a bit short. Even though we had a "king size" it isn't the same as US beds of the same name. Also the Japanese run the heating to tropical levels. Ladies of a certain age will probably feel like they're in a sauna! Television and a small refrigerator are provided, as well as a very modern bathroom with a soaking tub and toilet with a built in bidet and a warmed seat... by the time I left Tokyo I wanted one for home!



    The staff are friendly and can direct you to local conveniences, restaurants and subway stations. They can also post your cards and letters. Laundry service is available but I would recommend not using it if you can manage, it is very expensive. That said, they do an excellent job.



    Nearby you can find loads of restaurants, cafés and a super tavern that specializes in Belgian beers and ales. Just a couple blocks away is a HUGE Starbucks for those that love their coffee. Of course just a few blocks up you have the most dazzling array of fashion houses and world class department stores you could ever hope for!

    Once you have had enough shopping you can catch a train on the JR Tokyo Belt line and see some of the other parts of this wonderful city. By the way, Tokyo trains and busses are way easier to use than people will tell you. Buy a SUICA card at Narita, and you won't have to mess with correct change all the time.



    My rating is for the over-all experience of the location and the hotel itself combined with the price of the stay. I know a lot of people look for much more in a hotel, but I sleep and shower in them and spend my vacation running around seeing the sights, so this place was great!

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    GINZA Cozy Corner

    Treat yourself!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 2:28:42 PM]

    Cozy Corner is a wonderful place to enjoy a meal or treat yourself to coffee and a delicious dessert. The menu is a little difficult to decipher, but the images will be all you really need. Everything is prepared fresh and expertly.



    Meals are cosmopolitan and have an international flair. The Japanese seem to enjoy variety and foods from all over the world, and the Cozy Corner meets their discerning palette. Desserts are a treat for the eye as well as the sweet tooth. Much attention is focused on the textures and combination of flavors. There is no wrong choice!



    This is also a nice place to pick up a gift for your pet sitter or coworkers. Beautiful selections of cookies, cakes and sweets are available for purchase at a separate gift counter.

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    K.ITOYA1904

    The King of Stationery Shops!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 2:10:39 PM]

    When we visited Tokyo this was one of those places we went back to a few times. My husband is a fountain pen fan, and as it happens, the Japanese are fountain pen aficionados.



    Itoya is a fantastic store full of gift and post cards, specialty papers, stationary and writing tools. One floor is devoted to high quality pens and pen sets. There is a nice range of pen brands in all price points. Perfect for gift shopping or picking up a great keepsake from your Tokyo visit.



    You can also find lots of nice post cards for dropping notes to your friends back home. Stop by Itoya and enjoy a lovely bit of something all but disappeared from American life- the art of writing.

    click to view more.
    Label
  • 0

    Ginza Hamburger Steak AOI

    Delicious food and a great price!

    Bully_4_U [Oct 18, 2013 1:57:12 PM]

    We ate at a number of places while staying in Higashi-ginza. AOI is one of those places that just stuck with us. The restaurant is small and a modest decor, but clean and inviting. Since it can be tricky to locate the restaurant you are looking for if you don't read Japanese, look for the menu poster out front that has a fried egg on every item. That's actually what we called the restaurant- "Eggs on Everything".



    The menu is pretty simple, as a lot of restaurants in Tokyo are. The house makes their signature items with skill and pride. I recommend the delicious curried hamburger steak, served with a fried egg, rice and a green salad. This is savory tasty, filling and an excellent value. Do note that the seasoning is not American style, the owners infuse their version of a hamburger with Japanese culinary flair. A double steak order is plenty filling for even the hungriest American tourist!

    click to view more.
    Label