kenleewrites in 日本

If you’ve been to Tokyo, or planning a trip here, Shibuya will probably be on your list… right? hmmm… bright neon lights!

Have you been to Shibuya’s dodgy area? You know, where there’s lots of pink neon lights and stores which provide free information on where the action is at and what’s hot? Not to mention the … ahem… toy stores. ^^.

Of course, everywhere requires you to be above 18 before they allow you entry. SOP I guess.

Here’s a nice little shop called “Strawberry Jam”.

If I’m not mistaken, it’s a 風俗 (ふうぞく) shop. This is a very interesting word because it can take on 2 meanings. Let me illustrate it for you with 2 examples. 風俗習慣 means manners/customs, as in foreign customs (外国の風俗習慣). This 風俗街 on the other hand, refers to a red-light district. Putting “habit” (習慣) or “street” (街) behind it makes a world of difference.

30 minutes for ¥7900. What goes on in 30 minutes, I’ll leave it to your imagination. ^^. But 30 minutes is quite long isn’t it…

There’s always a place to stock up on stamina! ^^. I heard this place serves pretty good ramen. Gotta try it sometime too – the ramen I mean.

There’s a pet shop too. I don’t really like the looks of it though. It doesn’t give the impression of a good pet shop. Maybe being in a dodgy area isn’t one of its strong points.

Lots of “free to enter” and “free information” stores with bright neon signs.

You can see this area is rather quiet compared to the main area in Shibuya.

Joyful.

There’s also a Strip Live Theatre…. hmmm… I think they mean something along the lines of “Live Strip Shows”. I haven’t been in here before, but drawing from my previous experience in Kabukicho, it should be pretty much the same. Except for the girls. It looks rather empty inside doesn’t it?

This place has a rather easy to read sign. “Vacation Red – rental room”. I wonder what goes on in the basement.

Wide walkway all to myself. There are some interesting things along this path, including one the shops on my “to visit again” list.

This is not on my “to visit again” list. I’m not even a member. ><.

It’s not this one too.

Here we are. This is the place I’m talking about.

It sells Kendo gear!

Lots and lots of Kendo gear! I bought myself a nice Kendo-related keychain. ^^. It’s still all wrapped up standing in “next keychain” queue.

It’s been a while since I held a shinai. These are the bamboo swords used in Kendo. There are many different varieties. Length, shape, center of gravity, quality of the bamboo etc etc.

You choose the one you want and buy it naked. The other accessories – tsukagawa, tsuba, tsuru, nakayui, sakigawa – are bought separately and self assembled. Very much like putting together your own lightsaber.

No baseball bat, but I have a few of these at home too. I even have a thick and heavy bokuto which I used for swinging practice a long time ago. A few swings with that and you’ll fly with the much lighter shinai. ^^.

In Japan, the 4 sides (north, south, east and west) sides of the train station can look quite different. At times, they cater to different crowds. I like to explore. And I found this wonderfully stocked Kendo shop when I explored the red-light district in Shibuya. I don’t think I covered all of it though. There should be a few love hotels somewhere in there which I probably haven’t walked past. Save it for the next expedition. For now, I have a legitimate reason for venturing into the dodgy areas – getting Kendo gear. ^^.

Related posts... maybe:

1. Shibuya #2
2. Shibuya #1
3. Shibuya #6 Stormtrooper’s Day Out
4. Hachiko and Waiting Around Shibuya for Dinner
5. Shibuya #5 Beer

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Tags: shibuya, tokyo

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