This is the APA Hotel in Ikebukuro. There's no other APA Hotel in this area, but I heard that a new one is going to be built soon. So, I think it would be good to go to the new one when it opens. It's located behind Don Quijote, and once you get there it's mostly residential, but the area leading up to it is a busy commercial district, so I think it depends on how you feel about that. It's new and comfortable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone staying in Ikebukuro.

Honestly, you'll probably want to bring back half a suitcase full of stuff from Japan 😅 But instead of typical magnets and generic keychains, it's way better to get things that genuinely represent the country—things you'll actually use instead of just letting them collect dust on a shelf. Here’s my list of the best Japanese souvenirs 👇 1. Matcha and Japanese tea What to buy: ✔ matcha ✔ sencha ✔ hojicha 2. Japanese KitKats Yes, this is an attraction all on its own 😄 Japan has dozens of unique flavors: · matcha · sakura · strawberry · yuzu · sweet potato You won't find a selection like this anywhere else. 3. Ramen and Japanese snacks · ramen sets · rice crackers · unique chips · matcha sweets 4. Traditional souvenirs · folding fans · chopsticks · ceramics · kokeshi dolls · yukata 5. Anime and characters · Pokémon · Studio Ghibli · Hello Kitty · Totoro · Nintendo The variety in Japan is simply massive. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🛍 Where to buy souvenirs in Tokyo 1. Don Quijote (DONKI) If you're short on time — go here. They literally have everything: ✔ snacks ✔ cosmetics ✔ souvenirs ✔ electronics ✔ anime merch Many travelers consider Donki the ultimate one-stop shop for souvenirs because you can get almost everything in a single visit.  📍 Best option: MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya 28-6 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 2. Kiddy Land (Harajuku) The best place for: 🎌 Ghibli 🎌 Hello Kitty 🎌 Pokémon 🎌 Japanese pop culture characters This store has been around for decades and is famous as one of the top spots for buying Japanese character merch and toys.  📍 I recommend: Kiddy Land Kiddy Land Web Address: 6 Chome-1-9 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan 3. Nakamise Street (Asakusa) If you're looking for traditional souvenirs. Here you'll find: · fans · yukata · traditional sweets · handmade crafts This is one of Tokyo's most famous shopping streets, located right near Senso-ji Temple.  📍 Asakusa area Save this list before your trip to Tokyo — it'll definitely come in handy when it’s time to pack your bags to head home 🇯🇵

📍 Place: Tokyo, Japan ✨ What it felt like: From neon streets to quiet shrines, Tokyo has a mix of energy and calm. Walking or using public transport makes the city manageable and full of small discoveries. 👀 What stood out: Convenience stores are lifesavers for cheap meals—grab a ramen combo or a matcha latte for just a few dollars. Capsule hotels and budget hostels are compact but comfortable for a night’s stay. Free shrines, parks, and observation decks let you soak in the city without spending a lot. A Suica card simplifies metro and JR travel, saving both time and money. Walking between spots also lets you notice quirky shops, street art, and hidden photo opportunities. 💡 Exclusive tip: Track your spending in yen to make every coin count, and combine walking with public transport for maximum savings and exploration. ❤️ Personal feeling: It felt like the kind of day where you can wander freely, take endless photos, and enjoy small treats without worrying about overspending—perfect for discovering the city at your own pace. #tokyo #budgettravel #midrangetravel #luxury #japantrip #citywalks #traveltips #publictransport #travel2026#travel#couplestrip#staycation#thingstodo

📍 The shop at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo is an experience in its own right, not just a quick stop to grab a fridge magnet on your way out. I'd highly recommend budgeting some extra time for it—even when you think you've seen it all after the tour, the store pulls you right back into the magical world. 🛍 The selection is massive: house robes, scarves, wands, sweets, stationery, drinkware, toys, pins, keychains, bags, apparel, and plenty of merch featuring the Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff crests. While some items are your standard souvenirs, others feel like truly spectacular collector's finds. 🧣 The robes and scarves definitely steal the show. They instantly give off the vibe that you're surrounded by Hogwarts students gearing up for the new school year rather than just regular shoppers. Lots of people try things on right in the store, pick their houses, snap photos, and chat about what to buy. 🪶 The wands are an absolute trap for fans. Even if you didn't plan on buying one, once you start checking out the boxes, the character names, and the stunning designs, you can't help but reach out and pick your own. It's not the cheapest souvenir, but it makes for an unforgettable keepsake from the studio. 🍫 Sweet tooths, brace yourselves—the candy section will drain your wallet in no time. Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, beautifully themed packaging, and various sweet treats look so good you'll want them just for the boxes. It's best to pace yourself, though: all those little purchases quickly add up to a pretty penny. 🪄 I really loved that the store doesn't feel like just a random mishmash of merchandise. It effortlessly extends the atmosphere of the tour with stunning window displays, decorations, themed zones, and incredible attention to detail. After wandering through Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, this feels like a natural continuation rather than your average gift shop. 👀 The only downside is predictable: the crowds. You might get stuck around the popular displays, and the checkout lines can get pretty long. Because of this, I definitely wouldn't leave the shop for your last 10 minutes before heading out. Make sure to carve out some time to browse at your own pace; otherwise, you'll be rushing your choices and missing out on a lot of cool details. ✨ My advice? Decide beforehand what exactly you want to get: some wearable gear, a gorgeous keepsake, some sweets, or a gift. Otherwise, it's incredibly overwhelming, and your basket will fill up way too fast. The store here is genuinely massive, super atmospheric, and highly dangerous for your wallet.

🇯🇵Tokyo Flash 72 Hours Day1🇯🇵 🔥 Asakusa Kimono → Hunting Chicory → Night Barbecue Full Guide 📍First Stop | Japanese Decoration Workshop Ya👘 ✨Hong Kong people in Japan professionally wear super fantastic lace kimono, and there are also Hong Kong photographers to help take pictures📷, one-stop service is super courteous! ✔️ If you are having a coming-of-age ceremony, wearing a kimono to walk to Sensoji Temple is super feel ~ ✔️ Remon Shopping Street must be eaten while walking, balls, senbei, soy milk desserts are unbeatable 🍡 📍Second stop|BUTTER JUWER🔥 👉2025 new opening photo spot! "Text Grilled Crepe" is really amazing, the salty and sweet taste directly refreshes your perception of crepe!! ️ ▫️ Crispy crust sandwiched with rich mint + smoky marshmallow + strong cheese, perfect for both appetizer and meal! ▫️ Completely Tokyo version of crepe x text burning crossover, really want to try! 📍Third Stop | Waiting for the Holy Heaven of Milk Mountain ⛩️ 🚶♀️ About 10 minutes walk from Sensoji Temple, carefully selected super quiet secret place! 📸 Few tourists, red paper umbrella stairs in a second out of a blockbuster, do not have to crowd with people! 📍Stop 4 | Barbecue トラジ🌃 🥩 Sitting by the window, eating extra thick beef tongue facing the Skytree, great for taking pictures! ✔️ Beef tongue is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, 2cm thick, JUICY! ✔️ Diaphragm and rib meat are rich in oil, satisfying the ultimate wish of meat lovers! 🔥 Guaranteed to be included in the "Tokyo Barbecue Must Eat List" after eating! Day1 rampage x food at once satisfied ✅ The next episode will continue to unlock the super popular queue shops in Tokyo. If you like it, remember to follow me! 💥 👉 #Kimono Experience (Tip: Kimono Koboya | 1-18-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo / BUTTER JUWER | 2-6-7 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo / Toruyama Seiten | 7-4-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo / Yakiniku Tokugi Kinshicho Store | 4-27-14 Etobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo) #globaltravel

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this place! I had read reviews saying it was tiny and a bit dated! But it wasn't at all, I felt the decor was overall quite new! The staff were also super nice! It's right outside the subway station, with a FamilyMart next door and a Lawson right behind it! Super close to Kaminarimon! You can also see the Tokyo Skytree as soon as you step outside! The room is spacious enough to fully open two suitcases! The shower water pressure is great, and the temperature is stable. Oh, by the way! The hotel is near Exit A1, but that exit is stairs only. If you need an elevator, you have to use Exit A2 across the street! Overall, I highly recommend this place.