By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
Every year, a large number of Taiwanese tourists travel to Japan, and one itinerary they absolutely won’t miss is “shopping.” From the airport to convenience stores, from city-center department stores to suburban duty-free and off-season malls, the strong shopping power of Taiwanese travelers reached as high as 520.7 billion Japanese yen in 2015. As the new year arrived, Scenic Spots compiled distinctive and great shopping destinations, offering new proposals for shopping in Japan. And if you’re worried about running out of yen, don’t worry — starting from the end of November 2016, over 500 Circle K and Sunkus convenience stores in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka now allow you to withdraw cash nearby.
You can also use your debit card to withdraw Japanese yen at ATMs, and this year, starting in January, Hokkaido has added a total of 168 new Sunkus and FamilyMart locations for withdrawals. Starting January 23 at Sendai International Airport and January 27 at Narita International Airport, ATMs for withdrawing yen have also been set up. Shopping in Japan is really so convenient now. Before traveling abroad, don’t forget to enable the “chip debit card international withdrawal” function with your issuing bank.
The ATM of Keiyo Bank located on the first floor of Terminal 2 at Narita Airport, in the international arrivals hall. (Image source / Keiyo Bank)
Toranomon Hills is a cutting-edge, multi-use fashion complex. (Image source / SABO’s Tokyo Famous Spots Photography)
1. Toranomon Hills
Opened in 2014, Toranomon Hills (虎之门山丘) is a popular and talked-about destination in Tokyo. For tourists who are tired of visiting places like Omotesando, Shibuya, and Shinjuku and want to explore somewhere new, Toranomon Hills is a great place for sightseeing and shopping. With the concept of “the future of Tokyo,” Toranomon Hills showcases modern and avant-garde styles throughout. This 255.5-meter-high, 52-story skyscraper offers everything from art exhibitions to a wide variety of restaurants, shops, books, stationery, and other cultural and lifestyle goods, as well as bags, shoes, and accessories. The building also includes office floors and premium facilities like an SPA beauty club. Floors 47 to 52 offer bars, restaurants, and a uniquely styled hotel where you can enjoy beautiful views of Tokyo at night. The nearby Sunkus convenience store (Toranomon 2-chome branch) offers cross-border withdrawal services with debit cards, so you won’t have to worry about not having enough cash while shopping — making the whole experience more secure and convenient.
【Info】
Toranomon Hills
Address: 1-23-1 to 4, Toranomon 1-chome, Minato City, Tokyo
Nearby Stations: Toranomon Station, Kasumigaseki Station
Sunkus convenience stores are widely available across Japan, making it easy for Taiwanese travelers with debit cards to use the cross-border withdrawal service. (Image source / Harajuku Info)
The nostalgic yet modern exterior of Asakusa Ekimise. (Image source / Asakusa Ekimise)
2. Asakusa Ekimise – Matsuya Asakusa Main Store
After the opening of Tokyo Skytree in 2012, Asakusa became a popular tourist destination in Tokyo and sparked a wave of nostalgia for traditional downtown charm. Right at the Tobu Railway Asakusa Station, the same location as Tokyo Skytree, there is Asakusa Ekimise — a unique and comprehensive department store. In addition to the original Matsuya Asakusa store, since its reopening in late 2012 after a major makeover, it has become a must-visit and must-shop destination for many tourists coming to Asakusa. The first floor gathers carefully selected local specialties and souvenirs from all over Japan, making it highly recommended for buying gifts and mementos. The seventh floor, “EAST-TOKYO MARKET WANOICHI,” features Japanese crafts, showcasing various exclusive counters that blend traditional aesthetics with artisan designs — a must-see for those who love design-oriented goods.
The building’s exterior is renovated in the style of a neo-Renaissance structure when it first opened in the early Showa period, and the landmark “Big Clock” from that time has also been restored. Don’t forget to admire it when you visit here. If you need to withdraw cash temporarily, you can also use your debit card to withdraw money at the nearby Sunkus convenience store (Taito Ueno Kaminarimon 2-chome branch), which is very convenient.
【Info】
Asakusa Ekimise – Matsuya Asakusa Main Store
Address: 81-4-1 Hanakawado, Taito City, Tokyo
Nearby Stations: Asakusa Station (Asakusa Line, Ginza Line)
The rooftop restaurant of Asakusa Ekimise offers a clear view of Tokyo Skytree and the foam of the Asahi Beer Building. (Image source / tokyo-skytree-navi)
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