Today, Natsuki and Ai make special one as well.

“It tastes great, right?”
“Mmm… I’m not really sure how tasty this is.”

To my beloved, from Princes :)

Uta no Prince sama

Models
Natsuki Shinomiya / PSK
Ai Mikaze / Haru

Photography by Yohco

Ring ¥273,000

Necklace ¥262,500

Pendant ¥76,650, Earrings ¥73,500

Bangle ¥57,750

Earrings and Necklace ¥29,085,000

　
MIKIMOTO × HELLO KITTY official website
http://hellokitty.mikimoto.com/

I want to get this costumes!!!! White jacket, pants, shirt, hat and navy tie.

The east exit of Ikebukuro station.

If you have seen “DRRR!” anime, I’m sure that you recognize these sights.

At first, I visited a cosplay shop MAPLE, which is one of my favorite shops, but I could not find Rei-chan’s costumes. This shop only had Camus’ costumes today.

Then I came here, Animate’s costume shop ACOS. ACOS is in the old building of Animate Ikebukuro. This shop has only 6 princes’ costumes right now. It seems that Senpai’s costumes are very rare…

At third, K-BOOKS cosplay shop. This shop sells second-hand costumes. No Rei-chan neither…

No Rei-chan…

No Rei-chan…

I visited MANDARAKE at last, but I could not find Rei-chan’s costumes. GEEZ…(´;ω;`)!!!

With a new attitude, I came Animate’s new building for anime gooods and books, and I bought a cosplay magazine “COSMODE.” COSMODE provides popular cosplayers’ photos, make-up and photgraphy advices.
COSMODE’s official website is here.

Haaaa… It’s difficult to get Rei-chan’s costumes. Actually I already have his wig. How do I handle this?

Recently, Japan’s railroad companies are active in improving Eki-naka with various shops and events. Stations are special places where large groups of people congregate, so companies that open up stores can also benefit. Large train stations like Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya are filled with interesting shops. Especially, Eki-naka of Ikebukuro station is now rapidly spreading. You can find many many kawaii things there!

The west exit of Ikebukuro station.

The underground, Eki-naka of Ikebukuro station is just like a huge maze.

You can often see Japanese original brand shops like MUJI and UNIQLO on many stations in Tokyo.

This is normal station stand.

Confectionery shops are popular.

Mini cakes in the shape of owls, which is the symbol of Ikebukuro city.

Guess what! Chocoholic is my recommendation. This shop sells so kawaii cakes and sweets.

Kawaii goods shop for a limited time.

Sometimes you can buy vegetables and fruits at Eki-naka.

A station building “Esola” is popular with young girls.

Lottery stands has been a staple of train stations in Japan.

“Echika” is a part of Ikebukuro station’s underground.

There are many stylish cafes.

Soup Stock Tokyo is very popular suop stand in Japan.

★Today’s catch at Ikebukuro Eki-naka
Super kawaii macarons by Chocoholic, and reasonable fleuret pierces.

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea is near to Maihama Station (舞浜駅). Perhaps Maihama means Miami Beach where the Walt Disney World is. (Mai likes Miami, Hama=Beach)

Tokyo Disneyland Hotel.

The entrance of Tokyo Disneyland. There are many characters.

What you can see in Tokyo Disneyland at first is “World Bazaar.” Full of goods shops!

Mr. Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse, and the symbol of the park, Cinderella castle. This is the main photo spot.

So many kawaii costumes…!!! Disney Halloween is funny!

The parade has started! Disney all stars appear!

　
After the parade over, let’s walk around the park and attractions.

Flavored popcorn’s outdoor stands are the staple of Tokyo Disneyland.

Tokyo Disneyland has Halloween special parade as well.

At night, Halloween’s decorations are stand out more.

Night parade “Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights” is the main event of the park.

The interesting day passed quickly…

Tokyo Disneyland Halloween season is really recommendable, but in weekends, the park is usually full and the gates are closed. So I recommend to visit there on weekdays.

Halloween is now Japan’s major event, but I think that most of Japanese people don’t know the original meaning. Japanese people recognize that Halloween is the day for costume party.

Mystery trash bins.

Now that the parade are over, let’s stick around here for a while.

Laforet Harajuku.

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku.

Omotesando and Harajuku crossing.

Recently, there is always long cue in front of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop at Omotesando. There had not been Ben & Jerry’s in Japan, so the shop has attracted many customers. They are everywhere in the United States… That is funny.

Sometimes I can find London buses in Tokyo. They are very popular with Japanese young people and they are usually used for some kind of campaigns.

Kawagoe is in Saitama prefecture which is next door to Tokyo. It takes about an hour from central of Tokyo. You can get there without transferring by Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line from Shibuya.

The Kawagoe Station.

Kawagoe Matsuri is held from morning, around the station is full of people.

One float (山車) was standby around the station. At the Kawagoe Matsuri, a total of 29 gorgeous floats are drawn around the city.

A float is going to the central of the festival. Everyone is waiting!

There are many outdoor stands at the festival.

Beer and Takoyaki (たこ焼き) are staple of Japanese festivals! Kawagoe has the original beer.

At the central of Kawagoe, there were so many people and floats!

Each float pop their top in and out of the roof. On top of each float there are dolls under which is a round stage. The floats are made of lacquer and gold leaf and have exquisite sculptures of Zelkova trees on them. Half of these are appointed as cultural treasures.

When floats pass by each other, that round stage rotates and they compete with each others festival music. It called “Hikkawase (曳っかわせ).”

The festival becomes exciting because of the cheers of the people pulling the floats and the spectators.

The floats proceeding down the streets lined by warehouses are lit up in the daytime as well as nighttime by lanterns. This festival has not changed from more than 360 years ago.

Young girls wearing yukata (summer kimono) around Roppongi Hills.

People enjoyed Bon dances (盆踊り) at Roppongi Hills square. Bon dances were originally a religious ceremony held to send off these spirits, but they have become local festivals for entertainment.

We came to Azabu-Juban!

WOW! Huge crowd of people!

There are many outdoor stands at the festival.

“Goldfish Scooping (金魚すくい),” a game in which the aim is to scoop goldfish with a thin paper scoop out of a shallow water tank, is a staple attraction at summer festivals.

Young people are sitting outside… They are tired.

Yosakoi (よさこい) is a unique style of dance that originated in Kōchi Prefecture of Japan. Yosakoi means “Come at night” in Kōchi dialect. Original Yosakoi festival, which originated in 1954 as a representing people’s wishes for the recovery from World War II, is held in Kōchi Prefecture every year. Yosakoi dancing has a lot of flexibility in music, dancing and costumes, and its style of dance is very energetic. The charm has spread throughout Japan, and now there are more than 200 of Yosakoi style festivals all over the country.

Yosakoi dancers are preparing at the starting point of Omotesando.

Many people are enjoying Yosakoi dancing.

This year, 88 Yosakoi dance teams attended the festival.

The place’s name originate from this bridge, “Nihon-bashi.” Nihon means Japan, and bashi means bridge. This beautiful bridge is now covered with metropolitan highway…What a shame!

One of the oldest department stores, Mitsukoshi (三越), and beyond it is Mitsui Honkan (三井本館). I think that this street looks like New York City.

Behind the Mitsui Honkan, there is Bank of Japan (日本銀行). This building is also elegant.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Mitsui Tower is next door to Mitsui Honkan.

Now an event themed goldfishes “Art Aquarium” is being held at this building in Nihonbashi.

Colorful goldfishes remind us lively Edo culture.

This event is being held until September 24.