Desolation Row

[Blackadder]

Thanks. That is kind of what I expected regarding taxes but asked just in case.

Found the Lee store in Lumine. I was expecting something larger but at least I could try some jeans. I am a 32 waist and a 32 in a slim Lee was huge. I'd be a 30 or 31 but they had none.

Yes. Too bad they closed the Lee shop at Harajuku. As said, try Americans 610 at ueno. Lots of Lee and wrangler. No tax free at 610 but tax free at Hinoya where you can find toyo items. Check out hinoya own burgus plus while you are there. Great value stuffs burgus plus. Must visit Ueno. Definitely not like shinjuku.
There are a couple of Lee shops I'm Osaka.

 

[Colin G]

Yes. Too bad they closed the Lee shop at Harajuku. As said, try Americans 610 at ueno. Lots of Lee and wrangler. No tax free at 610 but tax free at Hinoya where you can find toyo items. Check out hinoya own burgus plus while you are there. Great value stuffs burgus plus. Must visit Ueno. Definitely not like shinjuku.
There are a couple of Lee shops I'm Osaka.

I own some Burgess stuff already. Bought it at Hinoya in Osaka Namba last time I was there in 2020. I'll be going there and Jelado when I get to Osaka. The Iron heart shop is a ways away from where I am staying so I won't be able to go there. I'd like to go to Porky's in Kyoto also and maybe find that Rainbow Country belt I am after. McFly in Osaka may also have it.

I won't be able to get to Ueno or Ginza or anything like that. I leave in a day and a half and am sick of running around plus I have 2 more weeks in Japan so I'm just going to hang out at my hotel for the next day and a half then catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Shinjuku station is huge and hard for me to navigate. I get lost in places like that easily. It just swallows me up. I live in a small city so no trains and this is my first time dealing with train stations and transfers ect. I don't even take public transportation where I live and drive everywhere. I'm like a little kid lost in the big city.

 

[Blackadder]

I own some Burgess stuff already. Bought it at Hinoya in Osaka Namba last time I was there in 2020. I'll be going there and Jelado when I get to Osaka. The Iron heart shop is a ways away from where I am staying so I won't be able to go there. I'd like to go to Porky's in Kyoto also and maybe find that Rainbow Country belt I am after. McFly in Osaka may also have it.

I won't be able to get to Ueno or Ginza or anything like that. I leave in a day and a half and am sick of running around plus I have 2 more weeks in Japan so I'm just going to hang out at my hotel for the next day and a half then catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Shinjuku station is huge and hard for me to navigate. I get lost in places like that easily. It just swallows me up. I live in a small city so no trains and this is my first time dealing with train stations and transfers ect. I don't even take public transportation where I live and drive everywhere. I'm like a little kid lost in the big city.

Take a cab lol.

 

[Colin G]

Take a cab lol.

I have been. and its very cheap here for cabs.

Honestly, I just don't care enough about shopping to be bothered. If it is not easily in reach, then whatever. I'd rather relax and have some curry or Ramen and people watch.

I was looking for some vintage Sony studio condenser microphones. That I would cross the city for, but clothing? I simply can't be bothered.

 

[Blackadder]

I have been. and its very cheap here for cabs.

Honestly, I just don't care enough about shopping to be bothered. If it is not easily in reach, then whatever. I'd rather relax and have some curry or Ramen and people watch.

I was looking for some vintage Sony studio condenser microphones. That I would cross the city for, but clothing? I simply can't be bothered.

If you going to akihabara for the microphones, ueno is just next to akihabara. Relax is if you go to Kagoshima or Hokkaido. Hard to imagine chilling in Tokyo or osaka

 

[Colin G]

Personally, I don't have to imagine it, because I am doing it.

I came here to relax, get a real feel for the place and decide if I am coming here for my master's thesis or going elsewhere. We all have our own motivations for travel. Yours are obviously quite different than mine.

If I can get into Ukraine, I will go there next year as my first choice but that may be extremely difficult for obvious reasons. Maybe Poland or Latvia to work on things. Japan is second choice since I don't jive all that well with the climate here but still love Japan.

 

[Jasonissm]

Tokyo is definitely very hectic and it's gone right back to being packed full. A year ago major tourist spot Takeshita Street in Harajuku was pretty much empty. Saw yesterday, crowds are back and in full force, everyone, tourists and locals are excited to be out and about again! That is on the main streets though, you can literally take one turn off Harajuku and it's completely silent, with only one or two people in an instant. So I can definitely see being able to relax in pretty much any city (unless you're staying out on the streets of a busy area lol), seems nice to have low pressure easy trip going at your own pace.

I still love it though, amazing city, crazy amount of people, and crazy amount of cool shops/restaurants/bars.

Good luck with your master's mate!

 

[Blackadder]

Kagoshima

 

[Jasonissm]

Kagoshima

Looks amazing I'll have to go some time, not planned going too far south for my upcoming trip, but instead hitting up Hokkaido as I've never been before. In time for the cherry blossoms I hope!

 

[Colin G]

Been in Kyoto since December 22. I could not get out of that massive, urban hellscape of humanity and infrastructure that is Tokyo, fast enough. I love Kyoto and have been wandering around the Shinkyogoku shopping streets the last couple of days since there is so much to see.

Checked out all the new 2023 stuff at Real McCoys which I had no idea was even here until I wandered by and decided to go in. I was planning on going to the shop in Osaka anyway but still had to go in. The Osaka shop is twice as big but the Kyoto shop is small and really nice inside full of really cool shit. I am going to go back and try on some of the Buco stuff today and see how it fits. Checked out the Japan Blue denim shop too but I just can't swallow the blue Japanese denim pill and fork out over $250 CAD on jeans. I destroy jeans so seems pointless to me to spend over $100 CAD on a pair of jeans. I wear through 2 pair of Levis a year.

Of course like many Japanese shops, no photos allowed so this is all you get from Real McCoys.

It being Christmas day yesterday I treated my self to some spicy pork and black pepper gyoza and a glass of white wine for $10 CAD at one of the Shinkyogoku food stalls.

Then there was this guy chanting ancient Buddhist Christmas carols. Lol.

I am off to Osaka tomorrow for a week then back to Tokyo for a day, then fly back home to Canada. I really dislike Tokyo for some reason and wish I did not have to go back. Ever. Next time I will bypass staying in Tokyo completely and head straight for Kyoto and Osaka.

 

[Colin G]

Cool vintage shop in the alleyway right outside my hotel in Kyoto. I instantly thought of @ton312 when I saw this 50's sports jacket in the window.

 

[Colin G]

Pontocho alley about a block from my hotel. This image is what I think about when envisioning Kyoto in my mind.

Canal near Pontocho.

Met a new pal in Pontocho park.

 

[Colin G]

I thought I was done with leather and never wanted a cross zip but this Buco BJ19101 J-82 at Real McCoys was calling my name. Someone lend me some cash! If I brought home a jacket that cost $2700 CAD my old lady would cut my head off in my sleep.

 

[Jasonissm]

I stayed in a similar area last time a few years ago. Pretty sure I walked around that canal area to grab some drinks. Makes me even more excited for my upcoming trip, and I gotta check out that vintage store, I'm on the hunt for a nice woolen halfbelt!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Tom71]

Amazing photos and great insights. Thanks for sharing! I have seen plenty of great places thanks to my work, but Japan is still the great unknown.

 

[Will Zach]

Pontocho alley about a block from my hotel. This image is what I think about when envisioning Kyoto in my mind.

View attachment 475829

Canal near Pontocho.

View attachment 475830

Met a new pal in Pontocho park.

View attachment 475831

you're killing me man. enjoy Japan. Stay till Jan 8th and catch some sumo at the Kokugikan. Great fun.

 

[Colin G]

you're killing me man. enjoy Japan. Stay till Jan 8th and catch some sumo at the Kokugikan. Great fun.

I leave Jan 3. To be honest, 3 weeks was more than a long enough trip and I am not built for traveling solo. I am going to try and catch an Osaka Evessa basketball game Dec 28 if I can ort it out. Next time 1 1/2 weeks will be enough.

 

[Colin G]

Made it to Osaka yesterday and had to stop into the Real McCoy's store again since it was not very far from my hotel. The Flathead is across the street as is Lewis Leathers but Flathead had hardly anything in there (just like the last time I was here) and I have zero interest in Lewis Leathers since I think it is over-priced and over-hyped for the quality so I did not bother to go in. Their gloves are ok and that is about it.

Real McCoy's makes a very high quality product which is why I like going in there. Their leather goods make Lewis Leathers seem plasticky and redundant. The Flathead's leather jackets are so-so also and did not get me excited at all. More fashion than function for sure.

Today I'll mosey on down to Hinoya and possibly Jelado West but might save that for tomorrow since it is a bit of a hike.