Totem Pole Photo Gallery

Hello! Please follow me down the rabbit hole! 

Saturday night I went out with a friend in Shinjuku.  We were out looking for an obscure bar that I had heard of.  As the minutes ticked by and we wandered around getting a bit more lost, my friend became agitated and asked me if we were even on the right road.  I assured him that we were. I told him I had already gotten lost in this area many times over while photo gallery hopping. He looked at me in surprise and said in an incredulous voice, "There's galleries here?"

In fact, the first gallery I came upon was Totem Pole Photo Gallery. The first time I went, it was rainy and dark.  The second time I went I could not remember my way. The result? I got lost for 45 minutes, when in fact, it only takes 7 minutes to get there from Shinjuku Gyoenmae exit.

Try finding this gallery with the minimal sketch of a map that they provide on their website! For someone not familiar with Shinjuku or Yotsuya area, this was not a good map!  In any case, I was determined to find it, and as it turned out, getting lost for 45 minutes (in my high heels by the way) was not completely useless! At the end, I found five completely unique ways to get to Totem Pole Photo Gallery. I do have a favorite route to get there, but for today, I'll provide you with one of the simpler paths.

When exiting from Shinjuku Gyoenmae exit 2 off the Maronouchi Line, you'll see this sign with an arrow pointing to your left. Take a left and go straight for two blocks.

You'll pass by Maestro Gourmet Bakery Cafe on your left.

Next block, you'll see this. Look closely at the picture, you'll see two people walking and a red sign with white katakana letters on it.  That red sign is the sign for Nippon Rent-A-Car shop. Go there!

At the corner with the Nippon Rent-A-Car shop, you'll see the Shinjuku 1-Chome intersection. Anyway, take a left at this corner and go straight. Walk on the right side of the road. At a point, you'll come to a small split in the road, if you are walking on the right side like I mentioned, continue on walking straight along the sidewalk.

Go straight for about three long blocks. It's basically a really calm and empty road.   You'll pass by a furniture shop called Sakura on your left.  Then, you'll eventually come to see this pink building on the corner of Okidosakashita intersection on your right.

You'll see Okidosakashita intersection.  You'll see the temple pictured above across the intersection towards your left. Meanwhile, across the street in front of you, you'll see an empty building with a white sign that says "Ishibashi 5 Building".    To the right of "Ishibashi 5 Building" is an AM/PM convenience store. Cross the road towards Ishibashi 5 Building.  By this point, if you are lucky, you might spot the Totem Pole Photo Gallery sign board at the corner by Ishibashi 5 Building.  Sometimes they have it up, but sometimes they don't.

If they don't have the sign up, no worries, you're nearly there.  It's just straight pass, behind Ishibashi 5 Building, less than half a block!  At this point, you will definitely see the second Totem Pole Photo Gallery sign board. Follow the arrow, taking a right down the small street.

You'll see this children's playground.

Right behind the children's playground is a nondescript area, maybe you might think it's a garage or nothing is there...but look closely.  And, take a left to there.

There, you'll find Totem Pole Photo Gallery!

Gallery Deux Poisson

Months ago I went to Ebisu to go see Yasuki Hiramatsu's Jewelry and Object exhibition at a tiny out of the way gallery called "Gallery Deux Poisson". I tried going back again recently, but they were closed for the holidays. If you are interested in viewing jewelry as an Art form, "Gallery Deux Poisson" is an excellent place to visit. If you are looking to buy jewelry, I'm sure I don't even have to say it, but Mikimoto in Ginza is the spot for drool worthy pieces! Love, love the Mikimoto building!

Anyway, for those interested in jewelry as Art, follow me! Get to Ebisu station on the Yamanote line. You need to exit from the East Exit of the station, and then you'll see the above "Atre" department store, and escalators going down just past it. Just follow the dude in all black on the right of this picture.

Once you are down the escalators, you'll see Starbucks immediately on your left, and on your right, you'll see a clock tower and the taxi cab pickup area. Turn right, but don't turn right-right! I mean don't go behind the escalators, turn right, walk between the clock tower and taxis and follow the sidewalk with the railing which will lead you right pass the taxi pickup area and to the road pictured above. Do you see the guy in the white shirt? You should be on that sidewalk, OK? From there, just follow the sidewalk, which curves to the left.

From there, just go straight and at the end of the short block, you'll see the blue Mizuho bank sign. Cross the street towards there and keep going straight. You'll walk straight for about two more blocks, but these two blocks are LONG.

On your right(across the street), you'll pass by SAMRAT Indian restaurant.

Meanwhile on your left, you'll pass by this warehouse looking restaurant.

Once you reach the end of the first block, you'll see this building(restaurant) on your right. You've got one more block to go!

Keep going straight and once you pass by the convenience store called "The Daily Yamazaki", you'll see the "Ebisu Post Office". The street sign by the stoplights there also says "Ebisu Post Office". At this point, take a left and go straight. I would say, you've got about five or so short blocks to walk before you arrive at the gallery.

You'll eventually pass by this French restaurant which is on your right.

You'll pass by this Yakitori shop on your left.

You'll pass by the Ueda apartment complex with these hot-pink gates, on your right.

You're almost there, look for the "Fummy's Grill" sign on your right. If you're on the right side of the street you'll see the sign. If you are walking on the left side of the street, you'll probably see the restaurant first, pictured below.

If you are not on the right side of the street, cross over to Fummy's Grill, and just on the right side of Fummy's Grill is an empty, quiet and boring looking road. Pictured below.

Walk down this boring road. You'll notice a hair salon on the right. Gallery Deux Poisson will be on your left. It's an extremely tiny space, so you might still miss it if you aren't careful.

It's basically right before the Ebisu Car Factory building. So do not go pass the Ebisu Car Factory building.

This is the front of Gallery Deux Poisson, again, it's a very very small space. It should have taken about just 15 minutes from the station to Gallery Deux Poisson, but of course longer if you are stopping to window shop or whatever. And again, you should only bother going here if you are interested in jewelry art. Anyone?


Here's the link to gallery deux poisson. Try NOT following my directions and finding this gallery on your own by using the flimsy map they provided on their website. I went twice, and managed to find it OK the first time, but the second time, I got pretty frick'n lost.

NOON -Body Customisation Studio (Tokyo)

NOON is a body piercing shop I stopped in by in Utagawa-cho. They do practically everything when it comes to body customization, so if you're in Tokyo and feel like it, drop by there! It's about a 10 minute or so walk from Shibuya station. Take the Hachiko exit, and actually, you probably won't see the Hachiko statue as it's usually surrounded by a crowd of teenagers waiting for their friends. What you will immediately see is the big Starbucks and the famous Shibuya pedestrian crossroad. Take the road just on the left of the Starbucks, towards the huge pink HMV billboard. This road is called Center-gai. It's a shopping arcade with many shops, people and very noisy.

Just keep going straight, you'll see this stuff. A Pachinko(Gambling/Game center) on your left. You'll see the bookstore "Book Off" up ahead.

After a few short blocks, you should come to a dead-end at the "Outback Steakhouse" restaurant. At this point, cross the small street towards Outback Steakhouse and take a right from there. You'll be at NOON shortly.

Go straight for about half a block and cross a small street again towards the yellow "REAL BLACK MUSIC! SAM's" sign. NOON is in that brick building.

If you look up, you'll see NOON's sign. The studio is on the 4th floor, just take the elevator.

From the elevator, take a left and go around this corner. To your right will be NOON's Body Customisation Studio.


Oh, and they don't open until past noon! Anyway, I'll be back there a few more times, they do an excellent job, professional, experienced and safe!

つかれた

I became lost twice today, and two strangers asked me for directions today. I really hate getting lost sometimes, especially in really busy places. This is why this blog is important for me to keep up, because I often do forget how to get someplace once I stop frequenting it, anyway, this blog will be a good reference then. I may have to utilize my Japanese skills and translate this blog into Japanese too, since I've basically been asked by Japanese people all the time for directions.

Coming Soon...

Excuse the lack of posts! I really do have a whole lot of places I'd like to introduce ya'll to. These places will be a whole lot more obscure, and maybe, a little seedy, haha, but you'll love it. And if you don't, the lonely planet will always be there to take you to the mainstream spots in Japan.

I'm getting a digital camera today from a photographer friend, so this blog will soon be up and running again in no time! In the mean time, get off the internet and go outside! haha! It's beautiful out there!

XAYMACA -Roots Raggae Restaurant Bar

I found this place just before I left for Tokyo! Haha. A lovely acquaintance gave me the tip. Sooo, if you enjoy roots reggae music and want to try Jamaican food, this is a great place! It's a bit out of the way from the usual busy areas in Okayama city, so unless you are specifically seeking out reggae music or Jamaican food, you'd probably miss this. Damn, if I'd only known of this place earlier...

Anyway, now YOU know about it, so DO go and check it out. The reggae CD mix the owner put on was REAL good stuff and I was considering asking if I could buy it from him -but then I hesitated and didn't. SIGH. Always be BOLD, and you might get what you want. hehe.

The guy who runs the place is a bit of a scrawny fellow, but I really liked his beard and long hair. Hmm. I think I like any Japanese guy with long hair and a beard...something about it...gives off a sexy yet eccentric vibe or something(not the bums though folks, come on now)!


Here's how you get to Xaymaca....

When you exit from Okayama station this time, take the exit opposite the fountain exit. I think it's the west exit. Anyway, get out from there and look for the mini-mini guy as pictured above. Cross the street towards that way at the streetlights.

Next, take a right towards the CoCo Curry House. Pass by it and keep going straight.

You'll eventually see Aoji Ent Clinic, yup, keep going straight pass that.

Next you'll come up upon the Malet shop. Keep going straight pass that.

You'll eventually see the restaurant Zale on your left. That means you're getting close to the shopping arcade that Xaymaca is located in.

Pay attention, and you'll see this arcade on your left. There's a streetlight right in front of this shopping arcade. So basically after you pass the restaurant Zale and you see the streetlights, the shopping arcade is just on your left.

Go straight all the way down the arcade, it's a bit of a walk. Xaymaca is located near the end of the arcade.

Along the way, you'll pass by this Takoyaki shop. It seems to be quite popular with the locals, so it's probably real good. I didn't stop to try it though.

When you see this Momotaro scenario above, it means you're nearly there.

When you see this stand, you've found it!

Enter, it's a dark narrow pathway, and the restaurant bar is at the end of it.

When I went there, I tried the Ital Soup(pumpkin soup), which was amazing -well honestly, pretty plain and you probably wouldn't like it, but I loved it because it is VERY similar to Hmong people's pumpkin soup! Yum yum!

For the main course, I tried the "Jerk Chicken". This was GOOOOOD and SPIIIIICY. The chef actually recommended it for me but if I had more time and a bottomless pit tummy, I'd try everything on the menu! Guess experimenting with the food on the menu will be up to you guys in Okayama now, you'll have to tell me all about it!

ENJOY!

Open: 6pm - 2am M - F Closed: Sunday

You can find their website here.

Unmarble Cafe (アンマーブル カフェ)

Omelette rice dish(omuraisu)...maybe only in Okayama? Haven't found any in Kanto ever.

If you're in Japan for a time, you'll soon notice that when you go out to eat, there are some places where men go, and some places where women go. You'll notice a lot more men at places like Yoshinoya than women. Meanwhile, most Japanese men wouldn't be caught dead at a fanciful sweets cafe shop, and if you ever eat at a pasta place, you'll rarely see any men there either. Maybe men in Japan don't eat pasta or sweets? If you feel brave enough as a guy to eat at a sweets cafe or pasta place on your own, I applaud you, it's a rare occurrence here! I think, I think, that you might not enter Unmarble Cafe on your own though... Well, no ifs ands or buts about it, Unmarble Cafe is a woman's domain. I have seen one or two guys at this place but they were definitely there with a girl. Once however, the universe became really out of wack when I actually spotted two guys there, by themselves! Yes, mind-boggling... Okay! Here's how you get there...

If you come from Okayama Station and walk down Momotaro Dori(road) you will see a huge Mc Donald's on a corner on the right side of the street. Take a right at the Mc Donald's.

Go straight and very shortly you'll pass by Fujicolor shop on your right side.

Right after the Fujicolor shop, you'll see the Takashimaya Department store on your right. Keep going straight.

You'll see a Family Mart convenience store on your right and if you look ahead, you will see the Karaoke Studio Bun 2. Walk straight towards that building(about four - five short blocks).

Yep, just keep going straight until you see the Seven-Eleven convenience store on the corner on your right.

And then, cross the street towards the store Malibu and prepare to take a left, crossing the street again.

Go straight down this sidewalk.

You'll see the red Park & Bus Ride on your left across the street.

And very shortly you'll see this small purse boutique called Wagon, on your right. Unmarble Cafe is found just a few seconds after you pass this boutique.

The store Earth.Music.Ecology is on the first floor, and you can find Unmarble Cafe on the second floor up the spiraling steps! By the way, my personal favorite and what I'd recommend, is the salmon(I think they changed it to shrimp now) sandwich, it is to die for! It's only served during dinner hours though!

ENJOY!

Open: 11:00AM - midnight and you can find their website here.