JAPAN SUMMER TOUR THIS JUNE!
Mar 24, 2013
Join us this summer in Tokyo for the "JapanLA Super Mega Fun Tour!" This is our 4th tour to Japan. We take you to all of our favorite places and our awesome tour guide will take you out at night for fun adventures too! Take a look at our itinerary for this summer's trip!
Day 1-2
On June 12, we'll board Singapore Airlines, at LAX, bound for Narita International Airport near Tokyo! (Singapore Airlines is famous for their service and cool stewardess outfits. The food is good too – I'm not a vegetarian, but I always get the Indian vegetarian option.) We'll soar over the International Date Line and arrive at Narita on the evening of the 13th and hop on a coach into the heart of the city to our hotel, the Mark City Excel a few steps away from Shibuya Station and its world-famous “scramble” intersection.
Day 3
We're going to jump right in! First thing in the morning we'll head to historic Tokyo Station to visit Tokyo Character Street, a new underground shopping arcade dedicated to character brands from Sanrio and Studio Ghibli to Shonen Jump and even Winnie the Pooh!
Right next door is Ginza, the classic Tokyo neighborhood of old luxury, home to flagship stores for dozens of fashion brands, and tech companies like Sony and Apple. We will also visit, Hakuhinkan, a five-floor toy store that's a local institution. (It even has a 36-meter slot car circuit!) Ginza is also where you will find the largest Sanrio store in the world and my favorite waffle place, Manneken.
Next it's off to Akihabara, known worldwide as the otaku capital. I'll take everyone on a walking tour, then set you loose to shop, and we'll meet up at a maid cafe for dessert and games!
Day 4
It's off to Odaiba's “Big Sight” convention center for the Tokyo Toy Show, where Japan's toymakers big and small show off their cool, crazy, classic and weird new ideas for the year. This is also where you can find lots of character mascots to take pictures with.
Then in the afternoon, you can either head out onto the island to shop or head to one of Tokyo's only onsen hot springs for a relaxing dip and a walk around an indoor version of one of old Japan's onsen towns.
Day 5
It's street fashion day! We'll tour Shibuya, hitting all the hot spots – Shibuya 109, Parco and more – plus some landmarks for music and vinyl toy fans. Then it's Harajuku, the capital of Japanese street fashion, for more cool clothes and a trip to a Tokyo institution, the toy shop Kiddyland. We'll be joined by a professional photographer, who'll be taking shots of your outfits for our own Japanese-style custom fashion mag, which you'll get to keep as a souvenir when the tour ends!
Photo from: Tokyofashion.com
Finally, in the evening, those who dare can join us for Roppongi Kingyo, a mind-blowing burlesque that blends Japanese traditions with modern music and dance, and where almost none of the dancers are women... though you'll swear they were.
Day 6
It's time for Puroland, the Sanrio theme park, with rides, exhibits and shopping you'll find nowhere else! We're getting all-day passports, so you can hang out as long as you want.
Day 7
Enjoy a free day in Tokyo! If you have special plans or even just a general idea of what you'd like to spend this day doing, we're happy to help you figure it out, so just ask! Tokyo Disney is a popular destination that day.
Day 8
Our last day for the Tokyo-Only group starts at Hayao Miyazaki's Ghibli Museum in beautiful Inokashira Park. Its theater shows short films that can be seen nowhere else, its exhibits and cafe are playful and fascinating, and its gift shop is a great chance for some final souvenir shopping. In the afternoon, we step back in time in Asakusa, Tokyo's old pleasure district, with its temples, shrines and old-fashioned sweets.
Finally, in the evening, those who wish can join us for one amazing sendoff – a pub crawl through my favorite Tokyo neighborhood, Shimokitazawa. A maze of winding, narrow streets, this small area was colonized by student protesters and hippies decades ago, and has today it's a hip haven for punks, artists, jazz junkies and street musicians. Its bars and restaurants are hidden treasures. We'll start at a raucous fusion izakaya that serves sake in tubes of bamboo, sample exotic Okinawan cuisine like champloo and sea grapes with fine, aged awamori liquor, drink from the taps at Tokyo's best craft beer bar and more! Food, drink and transportation are all included.
Day 9
On this day we'll have to say goodbye to our Tokyo-Only guests, but if you signed up for the Kyoto/Osaka option, the tour's just getting started! We'll hop on the shinkansen bullet train for the picturesque journey down the old Tokaido route to Japan's second city, Osaka, at a slick 165 miles per hour. Once we arrive we'll drop our stuff at the Granvia Hotel inside Osaka Station, then head for the cool shopping in Amerika-mura and end the evening as one should – gorging on street food on the Dotombori canal!
Day 10
It's been called one of the few world cities everyone should see before they die. Kyoto, the imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years, was also the only major city not heavily bombed during World War II (it was spared an atomic bomb blast only because Secretary of War Henry Stimson had spent his honeymoon there and knew its cultural value). Full of old temples, shrines, geisha houses, monuments and old machiya homes, the old capital is totally unique.
In our own charter bus, we'll visit Kinkakuji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion for its coating of gold leaf, and walk through its spectacular gardens. We'll eat lunch at Nishiki Market, a bustling street market, then head to Nijo Castle, the shogun's stronghold built to intimidate the emperor and a treasure trove of intricate wood carvings, majestic walls and quiet corridors full of priceless screen paintings. Next we'll see the longest wood structure in the world, Sanjusangendo, home to a thousand statues of the Amida Buddha, and we'll end the day at the astounding Kiyomizu-dera, a temple 1,200 years old built over a gorge with an unbeatable view of the city and a winding path packed with traditional shops.
Day 11
This will either be a free day, OR you can join us and head to Takarazuka, a small suburb of Osaka famous for two things: as the hometown of Osamu Tezuka, the creator of Astro Boy and the founder of modern anime and manga, and as the base of the world-famous Takarazuka theater troupe, which puts on spectacular, romantic musical performances in which all the roles, male and female, are played by women. We'll visit the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum...
...then we'll get the unusual opportunity to head to a Takarazuka show ourselves!
Day 12
At last, the time has come. We'll take the shinkansen back to Tokyo, board Singapore Airlines back to LA, and start dreaming of our next visit to this weird, wonderful land...
If you would like to sign up for the tour or want more information, please contact Jamie at info@japanla.com or call the store (323) 934-5201.
TOKIDOKI UNICORNO DIY & TRADING PARTY APRIL 6TH
Mar 21, 2013
Join us at the shop on April 6th from 12pm-4pm for a tokidoki Unicorno DIY & Trading Party!
This event is FREE and for all ages! Suprise tokidoki character appearances!
*Bring or buy a DIY Unicorno figure and we'll supply the decorating supplies! (limited spots available, first come, first served)
*Bring your extra tokidoki figures to trade: Frenzies, Unicornos, Cactus Pups and Royal Pride!
*Free goodie bag with purchase of a DIY Unicorno figure for first 25 people
*Free tokidoki tote bag with ANY tokidoki purchase (while supplies last, one tote bag per person)
*Free face painting!
*Free tokidoki cake balls from Lil Rae Cakes!
*Free manicures by Nail Swag 12pm-3pm (limited spots available, first come, first served)
All freebies are while supplies last. DIY, manicures, and face painting is first come, first serve. There will be a signup sheet with times so we can accommodate as many people as possible.
We hope you can make it! Please RSVP here.
MY MELODY AND FRIENDS, HAPPY SPRING!
Mar 11, 2013
Pencil Box Large $24, Small $9, Pencils .75¢ each, or Pencil Sharpeners $1.25 each.
Subject Notebook $4.95, Giant Die-Cut Notebook $5.95, Sticker Sheet .99¢, or Sticker Book $4.75.
Cosmetic Pouch $6, Wallet $5.75, or Compact Mirror with Comb $9.50.
Hello Kitty dressed as a bunny small plush. $12 each Choose pink, yellow, or light pink.
My Melody Kigurumi Costume is now ON SALE! Regular price $85, now $65. Limited stock, perfect for Easter!
All the above items are available in-store or by phone/email order. (323)934-5201 myorder@japanla.com
KIGURUMI COSTUMES BACK IN STOCK, NEW CHARACTERS!
Mar 1, 2013
We've restocked our kigurumi costumes! These make great lounge wear or costumes. It's up to you how to wear them! Kigurumi are one size for adults. All of them have open feet so you can wear them out with shoes. Made of super soft fleece! Imported from Japan.
We have some new styles starting with Gloomy Bear! It even has plush claws! Choose pink or black. $80 each
Your favorite relaxing bears, Rilakkuma (brown) or Korilakkuma (cream) $80 each
Sulley from Monster's Inc. $80
Stitch from Lilo and Stitch $80
We also have standard animals including panda (seen below), penguin, tiger, flying squirrel, and cow. $59.99 each
Shop all styles online or in store! Stop by this weekend, we have tons of cute new items!
2ND ANNUAL JAPANLA SUPER CUTE DETOX SALE
Feb 26, 2013
We're back with another SUPER CUTE Detox Sale, a JapanLA style yard sale! JapanLA staff and friends have cleaned out their closets and are offering up clothing, accessories, shoes, toys, and much, much more for sale! Items starting at just $1!
For full details and to RSVP please check out the event page. Hope to see you there!
GO TO TOKYO WITH JAPANLA THIS SUMMER!
Feb 22, 2013
We are doing our 4th trip to Tokyo this summer! June 12-20th in Tokyo and 20th-23rd in Osaka & Kyoto! Please email me, (Jamie), at info@japanla.com if you are interested in joining us!
Check out some of the fun places we will take you!
The Tour Price Includes:
Roundtrip Airfare from Los Angeles, on Singapore Airlines! This is my favorite airline, super fancy and nice!
It also includes your hotel stay in Shibuya, (double occupancy). This is my favorite place to shop and hang out in Tokyo! The hotel is right by the train station, so it's easy to find your way back to your hotel, if you want to wander around in the middle of the night to find claw machines or do the night life thing!
All your transportation in Tokyo is included in the price, including all buses and trains you will use!
Admissions to: Puroland (Hello Kitty Land)
Studio Ghibli Museum (home of Totoro)!
International Tokyo Toy Show! See the newest toys before they come out in stores! And take pictures with Japanese mascots. They are everywhere!
There is also a free day, where people usually go to Tokyo Disney or Disney Sea, or they do their own thing, shopping around or whatever they're special interest is.
Another favorite option to go to is the Japanese Onsen. It is a natural hot springs spa. It has become one of my favorite places in Japan. There's food, activities, and entertainment, in a Japanese festival-themed environment.
There are lots more places we go! We have an awesome tour guide that will also take you out at night, to intimate bars, karaoke, a pub crawl, and cool Japanese shows!
There is an optional 3 day trip to Osaka and Kyoto! In Kyoto, you will take a tour of shrines, temples, and the more traditional side of Japan. In Osaka, you will see the more casual side of Japan. There is street food, shopping, and a fun night life there. The additional 3 days in Osaka include:
Hotel
JR Rail Pass
Admissions to:
Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
Nijo Castle
Sanjusangendo (Hall of 1000 Buddhas)
Kiyomizudera
There is a free day in Osaka too, where you may want to visit Universal Studios Japan or Nara Park to feed the deer that roam free. There's lots of options and fun stuff to do in Osaka!
For more info and a more detailed outline of all the places we go, email me at info@japanla.com
SANRIO FRIENDS, RETRO CHARACTER ITEMS!
Feb 6, 2013
We have so many retro Sanrio character items in stock! We recently received the "Masquerade" series which features Hello Kitty "masquerading" as other Sanrio favorites. All pens write with black ink. $8.95 each
Masquerade Phone Charms $8.95 each
Hair bands or barrettes. Choose from Patty and Jimmy, Tuxedo Sam, Hangyodon, Twin Stars, or Badtz Maru. $4.95 each. Each package contains two pieces.
Metal key rings $8.95 each. Choose from Twin Stars, Patty & Jimmy, Tuxedo Sam, Hangyodon, Keroppi, or Badtz Maru.
Character snap wallets. Has space for change and cards. Choose from Keroppi, My Melody, Hello Kitty, or Badtz Maru. $5.75 each
Pencil Pouches $6.00 each (4" x 8" x 1.5"), could be used for makeup or other small items too! Zip closure.
Stationary Set comes packaged inside a cute, plastic container with envelopes (8pcs), sheets of paper(16 pcs), and a sheet of stickers. $5.95
Notepads, choose from SMALL $3.75 (approx. 3.75" x 3.75", 150 sheets), MEDIUM $3.75 (approx. 5.75" x 4", 90 sheets), or SPIRAL NOTEBOOK $2.25 (5" x 3.75", 50 sheets).
Retro Characters sticker sheet $1.95 (left) or magnet sheet $2.95 (right).
Retro Characters Pencil Pouch $6.75 (9" x 5" x 1") Zip closure.
Retro Characters Tote Bag $7.50 (12" x 14")
Eco-tote bag featuring your Sanrio faves! Measures 12" x 14" x 8.5" $2.75
All the above items available in-store, or via phone (323)934-5201 or email order, myorder@japanla.com
Hello Kitty Hello Art! Book
$35.00 
Hello Kitty Leggings - Afro 
Hello Kitty Dress - Red
Rilakkuma Lemonade iPhone4 Case