Ja(a)pan - A blog about Tokyo, traveling and yes, penguins

Hard Off Kichijoji: Sega Saturn, Intellivision

10. April 2025 Mia Jaap games

Hard Off Kichijoji: The Game Museum

If you follow the English-language retro games in Japan bubble, you’ll find plenty of videos recommending stores like Hard Off Kichijoji to get cheap games.

shopping tokyo

11. March 2025 Mia Jaap akihabara, train

General Store Railyard: Souvenirs for train lovers

I love trains – even in Germany, but more so in Japan, so I had to get some train souvenirs at the General Store Railyard in Akihabara.

shopping

18. February 2025 Mia Jaap harajuku

Graniph Japan: Still the place for design shirts?

Graniph is a name synonymous for cool design shirts – at least for me. So I want to revisit this brand and compare to where it was many years ago.

Sewerage Science Museum manhole exhibition

museum places to go

13. February 2025 Mia Jaap osaka

Osaka City Sewerage Science Museum

The Osaka City Sewerage Science Museum is a museum next to the Yodo river. Learn something about the sewerage system and get a gift!

eating out event

24. January 2025 Mia Jaap anime, cafe, shibuya

Nekohanten and Ranma 1/2 Pop-Up Shop: All you need to know

Ranma 1/2 is back, and with the first season just concluding on Netflix, pop-up events like a character café and more were inevitable.

event Parks & Gardens

20. January 2025 Mia Jaap illumination, minato-ku

Tokyo Blue Garden

Heading to the Tokyo Blue Garden in Happo-en. This is one of the last illumination festivals in the city of Tokyo, ending on January 31.

tokyo

19. January 2025 Mia Jaap setagaya

Carrot Tower: Free Observation Deck

Going to an observation deck can be costly in Tokyo – or it can be free if you go to the Carrot Tower in the Setagaya ward.

tokyo

16. January 2025 Mia Jaap minato-ku, roppongi

Sailor Moon Lids in Tokyo: Moonwalking

The anime and manga Sailor Moon is set in Minato City, Tokyo: Let’s discover all the lids in the Minato ward and collect the Sailor Moon card!

museum tokyo

12. January 2025 Mia Jaap art, harajuku, shibuya

Jinny Street Gallery: Tokyo’s Biggest, Yet Smallest Gallery

The public image of Shibuya is that of an overcrowded city that never sleeps – but an art walk on the Jinny Street Gallery shows a different side.

The bronze statue at the Suica Penguin Square

places to go tokyo

11. January 2025 Mia Jaap penguins, shinjuku-ku

Suica Penguin Square: Meet the Penguin

Located at Shinjuku Station is a place to meet Tokyo’s most famous penguin: Let’s go to the Suica Penguin Square!

event shopping tokyo

4. January 2025 Mia Jaap setagaya

Setagaya Boroichi: Flea Market with a History

Setagaya Boroichi is a flea market with a long tradition: It has been held for over 440 years. Hundreds of stalls wait for you.