Tokyo was everything I expected and more: crowds that seem to move like tides, a maze of buildings as far as the eye could see and the certain demise of shopaholics. Having planned to go to the bustling metropolis for over two years without avail, I had certainly arrived with many expectations and preconceived notions. For one, I kept waiting to be shoved into a subway car, packed in like sardines with the rest of the regular commuters. This never happened. It was certainly busy, but rush hour ran later than I had anticipated, with office workers typically leaving the office between seven and eight PM. On the other hand, Shibuya Crossing, or Tokyo’s “Time Square” was exactly how I had pictured it with the streets being utterly flooded at every light change without fail. It was awe inspiring.
In stark contrast to the popular overload of Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ginza came the lesser known attractions. Being completely obsessed with the intricate, true to life food displays in front of many Japanese restaurants, I just had to see where they came from. I dragged Ski Gypsy Man to Kappabashi street through deserted, pedestrian side streets to marvel at plastic food creations so real you swear you could make a delicious meal of it. The whole street is a restaurant supply mecca, offering everything from pots and pans to tables and stools. Our serious foodie tendencies went into overdrive when we came across the shops selling Japanese made knives so beautiful we may have had a hard time actually putting them to work. Too bad we weren’t checking any baggage on the way home.
No trip to Tokyo would be complete without ticking off a few stereotypes. Overdose of Hello Kitty- check; selfies in front of temples- check; getting way too excited about a samurai graveyard- check; humming “Hollaback Girl” in Harajuku- check; getting lost in the subway- check, check and check.
I think it’s safe to say that most would complain about rainy days. Yes, my leather boots were soaked through, but I was rewarded with a rainbow of umbrellas. Tokyo takes rain repelling seriously! There’s the practical clear ones that you can keep low and still maintain visibility. Then come the microscopic, collapsible wonders that one could easily stow away in a “kawaii” (cute in Japanese) hand bag. Any colour, any pattern, any size, you name it and it was there.
But I digress.
For you ski lovers out there, here comes the good stuff: a whole stretch of urban jungle dedicated to ski shops. “Keep calm, shop on” should be the motto here, as it could be quite easy to get carried away. In the district of Kanda, on Yasukuni Dori between Ogawamachi and Jimbocho subway stations lies what is mainly know as the Sporting Goods Disctrict of Tokyo. With over 50 shops, I must confess to having been completely overwhelmed. Had I been looking for anything specific, the experience may have been panic inducing. Every option imaginable is available: new or used, the latest in technology or last year’s stock, top quality gear to very basic apparel. One could search the world and never find such a high concentration of snow sports retail anywhere else. If bigger and better exists, I fear having to admit that it would be too much!
More on the Tokyo ski shops to come, watch this space!
Winter is coming,
K