Tokio - All Facets

Full Disclosure 🕶

I'm taking the train today to the largest Gachapon store. Japanese people have an almost absurd love for the capsule toy vending machines. On Google Maps, I find out that my train is delayed.

On the train itself, I will also find out the reasons. Not through announcements, but through the monitors. They display information about the train status.

Status - Delay

Reason - Personal Injury Accident

But I also see 'Baggage caught in door' on the displays. Something that is warned against on various stickers. And one of the reasons to wear the backpack in the front. Besides the fact that you don't accidentally bump into others. If you see tourists with a backpack in the front, they are either well-informed or attentive. Or both. ;)

I arrive at the destination station, another shopping district. My destination, as I find out, is in the Sunshine City. Ironically, I have to go underground first to get to the sunshine.

I see the internal signs of the Sunshine City and realize: Okay, it really is a city. That's why I first go to my secondary destination, which should be smaller. Animate. An anime store, who would have thought?

Well, at least I thought it would be smaller. It turned out to be the six-story Animate Café. So I head over to the actual Animate building. If Kyoto is known for temples and shrines and Osaka for gambling and shopping, then Tokyo is for anime and manga. Everywhere you go here, you encounter everything related to anime and manga.

The real Animate has nine floors. Still, much less than Sunshine City. I struggle through, trying to fulfill some souvenir wishes for children. Gosh, so many options, I narrow it down. So back to Sunshine City.

It's lunchtime, and I feel like having ramen. What was it? The longer the line, the better the restaurant? After a quick translation, I take a ticket from the vending machine. It offers only four types of ramen, two of each in hot and cold variations. Having limited choices is usually a good sign. As my father said yesterday, spend money. 1080 yen, 7.29 € for dinner in one of the most expensive cities in the world. That's okay.

I like this system for specialty restaurants like this. In the display, you can see what you're going to get. You select something from the vending machine, pay there, and then eventually go to your seat. After that, it's all about enjoying the food. This works best for lunch, not so much for a social dinner with friends.

After a short while waiting in line outside, my ticket is collected for the gourmet journey. I'm asked to wait in an intermediate waiting area with three other people. After another minute, I sit at my seat, waiting for the warm ramen. I need to get used to all the slurping around me, it's particularly common in a ramen restaurant. At the counter, I notice another variation, not having to put your bag on the floor.

If it weren't for this J-Pop music, it would actually be quite relaxing. The irony... Having a cozy meal with energetic pop music playing, and calm classical music in the minimart while quickly shopping.

After a while, I see someone from the 'Ramen Ultras' faction. He brought a folding chair to sit in the queue. Now he sits at the counter, wearing a disposable bib around his neck. He's not new to this place.

I continue walking. On my right, souvenirs. Ah, nice. On my left, Disney. Not interested. On my right... Studio Ghibli merchandise!

I know that as soon as I enter this store, there will be casualties. My credit card will suffer on the frontlines.
There aren't many things that make me a fanboy, but Studio Ghibli has a special place in my heart. They have produced some of the best animation movies, and almost every one of them is worth watching.

My hands fly through the shelves, to the horror of my wallet. I know this opportunity will never come again unless I actively search for it. I've never actively searched for it before, and I probably won't in the future. But at least they won't just collect dust. When it comes to things like this, I combine the beautiful with the practical. Among other things, dishwashing towels. They are a must-have in every household, so why not be practical here?
In the end, I leave the store with 87 € less in my bank account. Well, at least it's tax-free. 😅

Speaking of taxes. The value-added tax in Japan is 10 percent, and 8 percent for basic necessities. Even for take-out coffee or restaurant meals, different tax rates apply. Surprisingly, for example, at Starbucks, you pay the same higher price for take-out, and the difference is directly passed on to the customer. I haven't seen that in Germany so far. It's one of the reasons why you get asked at McDonald's, 'Eat in or take away?' Besides the obvious reason. It's just different bookkeeping.

I find myself in the Gachapon store. Yup, it's big. Damn big. But in essence, it's the same as everywhere else. A bunch of vending machines for the 100 yen coins, which is around 70 cents, depending on the exchange rate.

The tourists emerge from their hiding places, and the store fills with Westerners. It's time for me to work. I leave Sunshine City and turn in the second correct direction. I could also say I turned in the wrong direction. But what's wrong about getting to see the cutest police station and the weirdest bus ever.

Sitting on the train, I see another reason why a train can be delayed. 'Unidentified noise' Wow, better safe than sorry.

On the way home, first graders board the train. The schoolchildren in their uniforms are really cute. Especially with their hats, it has a classic feel to it. The little ones also have phones their size. Like little adults. But it seems to be limited to the essentials. That's something.