Affordable Tokyo
It was great to be back in Tokyo after several months of absence; I missed our compact yet cozy and high-tech apartment as well as my daily routines. My life in Tokyo is nothing like the one I live in Manila; I walk or take the public transport every day to get around instead of being driven around in a car by a driver. I don’t go to an exclusive gym but rather use the beautiful public parks and running paths to get my dose of exercise along with the free weights we have in our home. I wake up to prepare breakfast instead of waking up to breakfast and I do all the household chores without anyone’s assistance. While many may squirm at the thought of washing dishes, doing the laundry or vacuuming the floor, I find the experience of taking care of our home all on my own quite liberating and grounding. I relish the freedom to move around in complete safety and savor the independence to explore and discover life’s offerings beyond the comforts of Manila.
Tokyo is a great place to live in and to visit; it is not all expensive, as everyone thinks. Just like any place, there are ways to spend lots of money and save lots of money; it really all depends on which one you prefer to do on your trip. The wonderful thing about visiting Japan, though, is no matter how much or how little you spend, you get the same kind of excellent quality in food, products and services, sans tipping.
I love walking around Tokyo, venturing into unfamiliar streets just for the simple joy of finding something obscure, out of the ordinary. To this day, I am still fascinated with the little discoveries I make on my spur-of-the-moment jaunts: a small bakery that beckons with the whiff of freshly made bread, a café with great sandwiches and coffee housed in an old Japanese wooden structure, or a family-owned novelty shop with traditions that date back centuries. On this trip, I found what is perhaps Japan’s answer to the all-too-sweet American donut, Love Sweet Antique, a Japanese donut store with a funky, eye-catching design located off the Omotesando crossing. It has been drawing crowds since it opened a few months back because the donuts are pleasing both to the eyes and to the palate; their colors are vivid and inviting and their flavors are unique and not sugary-sweet.
When traversing the streets of Tokyo, you don’t have to worry about getting lost or not speaking the language. The Japanese are kind and helpful by nature and they will assist you in any way they can.
Don Quijote: King of Bargain Finds
It was on one of these spontaneous trips that I discovered Don Quijote, a discount store that offers just about everything under the sun at rock-bottom prices — from medicine to appliances, food to pet needs, cosmetics to electronics, clothing to furniture; from the mundane and the usual suspects to unexpected and big-ticket items, plus deal-of-a-lifetime purchases.
Don Quijote was originally named Just Co., a wholesaler whose first store opened in September 1980 in the Suginami-ku district, Tokyo. In 1989, it changed its business model and name to become a retailer called Don Quijote; today it is the largest, publicly held chain of discount stores in Japan with 160 locations nationwide and four in Hawaii, with profits in the billions of yen.
Everybody goes to Donki, as the Japanese fondly call the retail giant, including locals, expats, tourists, housewives, singletons, salary men, and executives. Its no-frills, bordering-on-tacky interior design is endearing in a way; atop the six-floor Don Quijote-Roppongi branch near our apartment, there is a humongous working rollercoaster that has remained idle since the store opened several years ago because of protests from nearby residents.
I go to Don Quijote for basic household goods like detergent, toiletries in refillable packs, bathroom cleaners and the like. For pasalubong their economy packs of Japanese senbeis (crackers) (Y370 or P195) and chocolates (Y260 or P137) are a steal since they cost less than in regular groceries. Japanese and international keishohin (makeup) is plentiful, including specialized ones like pure mineral foundation (P515) or lip-plumping gloss (P367).
If you’re in need of thermal underwear for cold weather, look no further because they have those that come with slimming benefits for the arms, waist or thighs as well (P1,932).
If you wish to make a fashion statement with your nails or hair, you can grab multi-colored, crystal-encrusted and painted faux nails (P777-935) plus varying colors and lengths of hair extensions (two for P515).
To replenish the collagen in your skin, there are pills to take and packs to put on the face; there’s even placenta gel (P276).
If you have a pet, you can find fashionable, portable homes for them (P1,565), even Christmas-themed clothes.
Among the latest hi-def TVs, there are many to choose from. Don Quijote has everything, even things you are not looking for but will find a use for. They have regular promotions and visitors spending less than six months in Japan are entitled to an additional five-percent discount on purchases upon presentation of their passports. Don Quijote is open 24/7 and international credit cards are accepted. Be sure to set aside several hours to visit Don Quijote so you can take your time to see everything and, if possible, commit to a budget and bring a list so you don’t go overboard with the spending.
Gotemba Premium Outlet: Queen Of High-End Finds
If you want to splurge on branded products without having to pay the full retail price, Gotemba Premium Outlet is a must-go destination. Opened 10 years ago, Gotemba is the flagship center of premium outlets in Japan, situated at the base of Mt. Fuji and close to Hakone, Japan’s natural hot springs capital.
I found out about Gotemba from a Japanese girlfriend, who told me how nice it was to spend a day just walking around Gotemba and window-shopping because of the beautiful landscape and lush greenery that surround the outlet. Gotemba is very well designed so you don’t waste time getting lost and finding your way; it is divided into east and west zones and both areas offer places to eat and rest.
I went to Gotemba on a Tuesday so I could avoid the weekend onslaught of shoppers; it was beautiful 15 degrees with the sun shining and the cool, crisp wind blowing gently. I was on a mission to find sexy, gold high-heel sandals and I was hoping to find them there. My “style radar” brought me to Sergio Rossi and almost instantly, I spotted what I thought were the perfect pair at the perfect price. I tried them on and for good measure walked in them; they were fabulous! But being a prudent shopper, I had them reserved until the end of the day (my SOP) and headed out to Jimmy Choo, Chloe, YSL, Gucci, Prada, Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta just to make sure I wasn’t rushing into a purchase. Except for Jimmy Choo, I didn’t find anything that caught my fancy; the shoes I liked the most were in a sample size (Italian 37), while I’m a 38. I tried them on anyway because they were open-toed and they were 70 percent off, but the straps didn’t wrap nicely around my feet. In the end, I went back to Sergio Rossi, happy with my mission accomplished.
I was on a strict budget when I went to Gotemba so, apart from the shoes, I walked away with just three casual cotton tops from Gap at P150 each. I spotted a beautiful printed short Balenciaga dress at P23,100, a silk jersey one at BCBG for P7,875 plus Chloe and Jimmy Choo clutches in green and gold, respectively, at about 40 percent off the original price. But I did not want to break my self-imposed shopping exile, so I just window-shopped, ate Japanese kare (curry) at P315 and had kohi (coffee) for P158 the rest of the time I was there.
Apart from the stores I went into, there is also Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Dior, Jil Sander, Martin Margiela, Lanvin, Marni, Bally, Coach, Anna Sui, Armani, Brioni, Bulgari, Escada, Etro, Ferragamo, Hogan, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade NY, Loro Piana, Paul Smith, Pleats Please, Theory, Tod’s, Valentino, Vivienne Westwood, Zegna, and many other international and Japanese fashion brands. There is active wear and sportswear from Adidas, Puma and North Face; housewares from Wedgwood and Royal Copenhagen; specialty stores like Swarovski, Tumi, Bose, Nikon, Delonghi, and so much more. Unlike other outlets I’ve been to, Gotemba is well stocked and has merchandise from the latest season so you don’t feel like you are buying rejected, unwanted and leftover items.
It is quite easy and comfortable to go to Gotemba from Tokyo. JR Highway buses leave daily from Shinjuku Station’s new South exit and Tokyo Station’s Yaesu exit at 8:30 a.m. It is best to reserve seats in advance but on weekdays, you can just show up early at the bus stop and buy your ticket on the spot. The trip takes about an hour and a half. If you want to avoid the hassle of finding your way back to Tokyo, buy a roundtrip ticket (P1,470). The same bus leaves at 4 p.m., a good six hours after arrival, so you should have plenty of time to cover your shopping requirements for the day. In the bus we were given small gifts and discount booklets, bargains on top of the bargains awaiting us at the outlet.
