It was disgustingly crowded in the hotel vicinity of Ikebukuro which was expected as it was Saturday as well as the summer holiday (夏休み) for the students. But the glaring heat of the Japan summer was quite unexpected from the pair which was that intolerable, even for Singapore standard. One can only check in by 2pm, so leaving the luggage under the care of the concierge, the couple went wandering the ground of East Ikebukuro. 

Unsure of where to eat, the familiar golden arc could not be wrong...
"I'm Loving It!"
Something can't be found in local Mac, "Petit Pancakes"
In Japan, and more specifically Tokyo, diners held the responsibilities to clear your rubbish off your tray properly. The differentiation of the nature of the rubbish play a crucial part in conserving the environment
Some cool musical clocks from Bic Camera which was just beside the Mac restaurant.

Now some view of the surrounding area from the East exit of the Ikebukuro station ....

A Police kiosk which has Picasso style architecture of a chicken, across the road from JR View Plaza where we exchanged for our JR pass and shinkansen (新幹線) tickets

Colorful buildings spotted in East Ikebukuro

The main shopping area in East Ikebukuro (the West are filled with drinking houses and red light districts) is the famous Sunshine Prince City and the surrounding streets filled with hip boutiques, cineplexes, Pachinko shop and game centers. This is a usual haunt of KK who had walked the streets for umpteen times and non had those large black hustlers on the street ever considered hard-selling their products to him...

Some of the new box-office offerings like Star Wars Episode III, the new Naruto movie as well as Nana, a movie starring local diva, Nakashima Mika, based on a cult favorite shoujo manga
The staff of Tokyu Hands demonstrating a new Doraemon toy in which you can propel a Styrofoam-made Doraemon into mid air...sure a hit with the kids. You can get locally at La Tendo, so what are you waiting for. Anyway with the revamped Tokyu Hands, you sure can find any kind of novelty items on the 1st floor.
One shop in Sunshine City which Corin and KK could not give a miss is the Studio Ghibli official merchandise shop which the couple didn't dare to spend a dime as it would be a bottomless pit. Corin love the expression of the life-size Totoro stand, like he is startled by the peck given by her. Make a wild guess how much that large Totoro plush is on the right.. a big chunk of my traveling budget.
"Welcome East Ikebukuro in Summer"	Overview of Tokyu Hand Building
Corin's favorite clothing apparels franchise, UNIQLO, Japan's very own Giordano but of better value for money.
Sanrio Gift Gate to entice the lady customers	Lotteria, a Japanese own fast food franchise got the one and only Bae Yong Jun (Bae-sama to the Japanese fans) who's popularity is forever feverish especially when he came to Japan to promote his latest movie "April's Snow" which drove hordes of aunties in delirium
Relax Kuma (bear), a famous San-X character, helping to draw crowds to a game center especially the children and Corin who was all too eager to take a picture with him.
Across the Sunshine Prince Hotel locate one of otaku's favorite haunt, animate Ikebukuro branch, just beside K Books. There was a Toranoana branch around the area as well.	A eatery deli with authentic Japanese architecture which caught KK's attention enough to snap it down.

The only picture we taken of the sleazy West Ikebukuro was a roadside fruit stall in which Corin was amazed by the freshness of the rock melons. They were there for a celebratory dining session with the La Tendo crew on the 2nd night in Tokyo:

© Copyright KK Heng 2005