Clothes Shopping in Japan

Clothes shopping in Japan can be very difficult.  As a foreigner at 176.5 cm (5' 9.5"), I have a difficult time finding clothes long enough or big enough (I HAVE HIPS) to purchase in Japan.  I have had luck, however, at Uniqlo.  

NOTE: I have NOT shopped in store (or online) at Uniqlo in the States, so please let me know if something is the same there that I don't know about.  

Trying on clothes in Japan is a little bit different than the States.  

The same: 

1. Inside there is a row of fitting rooms

2. They want to know how many pieces of clothing you want to try on (you get a number) 

3.You go into your own cubicle to try the clothes on  

Different: 

1. There is only one fitting room, so men and women use the same one.  

2. There is a slightly raised platform in the cubicle and you have to remove your shoes before you stand on it, as if you were going into someone's home. It makes perfect sense.  It keeps that area where people are in their socks cleaner.  Those same socks will be touching their floor at home later that day when they leave.  

3. I went to try on a dress (yay for dresses that are supposed to be long on Japanese women!) and they gave me this: a face covering. On one hand it makes perfect sense: many women wear make up and I have seen foundation on clothes that I have wished to try on in the States and I have been grossed out.  On the other hand, I felt ridiculous! 😂

4.  This is where I don't know if Uniqlo in the States uses this technology for check out; if they do, that's awesome!  If they don't, then here's a little video.  I checked out in less than a minute.  It might have been even faster if I had their app (I should probably download it, since it seems to be my go-to store for clothes now). 

My basket of clothes.  This was filmed in winter, thus the jacket.  

SIDE NOTE: In the States, fire extinguishers are in glass boxes mounted on a wall.  In Japan, they are just sitting around in stores, sometimes not even in a holder like this one.  Why do you think this is different?  In the States it seems that there is a smaller degree of trust in individual people and so I would assume that they are behind glass so that no one uses them at the wrong time.  But in Japan trust seems to be put more in people, like people leave their shopping carts in a parking area after paying for things at Costco and waiting in line to buy food,  AND NO ONE TOUCHES ANYTHING. They also leave crane toy prizes ON TOP of the machines NOT LOCKED UP and NO ONE TOUCHES ANYTHING.  Any ideas as to what the difference is?  It's got to be cultural and perhaps based on the individualism in the States versus doing things for society as a whole in Japan.  

So what do you think of clothes shopping in Japan? Do you think the differences make for a better experience? Let me know!

Sakura in Japan (and Animal Crossing!)

People in Japan seem to love limited edition and seasonal things. They seem to embrace the moment and celebrate it. Even before I moved to Japan, my favorite week and a half in Animal Crossing was definitely when the cherry blossoms bloom! All of the hardwood trees, probably what most of us deem "regular" trees, bloom for the first 10 days of April in game!

Now that I live in Japan, I can understand  the extent of how prevalent sakura (cherry trees) are here.  They are everywhere!!! We have several trees at our local (across the street from our house) park.  Even the tiniest park I know has its own tree! 

Japanese people take the time to appreciate the moment. Visiting parks to view the sakura is a thing! There is even a name for it, ohanami, which means flower viewing.  Having a picnic under the blossoms can also be included.  Playing games such as badminton and drinking can also be a part of it.   

I didn't get very good pictures, but here is one of people walking by our picnic site this weekend.  You can see smaller groups on the side.  

In the next two shots, I was trying to take pictures of the crowds.  It was INSANE! Since things are finally opening up again, it seems that everyone is ready to go and socialize! There were so many people and food trucks in this park!

Here's where Animal Crossing comes in.  I decided to take pictures in my Lolita (Victorian/baby doll) dress that I got in Harajuku (Tokyo). I have always been a girly girl, but not too many people probably know it because it's not practical to always be dressed girly.  It's also a lot of work! I went through a period in elementary school where I only wanted to wear dresses. After Philip took my pictures, I remembered that they had a Lolita dress in Animal Crossing and so I decided to recreate my pictures in game!   

In game, there is a DIY you can make that is a pile of cherry blossom petals.

I didn't know before coming here that is a real thing! This happened naturally in my neighborhood.  

When the petals begin to fall, they truly do get blown by the wind.  I have been in parks where it is almost like a blizzard and so magical.  This video shows one of the piles blowing around in my neighborhood.  

What do you think? Would you like to visit Japan during sakura season?