Greetings from the other side of the Pacific Ocean! I’m here in Tokyo, Japan through a Seattle University exchange with Sophia University. Words cannot explain how much of a different feel this city has compared to ours in the Pacific Northwest! One of the most fascinating activities I’ve come across here is, of course, people watching.
So much of my days are spent commuting on trains and walking everywhere (I live 40 minutes away from school – which is closer than the dorms everyone else lives in!). Spending so much time people watching, I’ve accumulated a list of some cute fashion essentials every gal needs when spending time in Tokyo!
Here are 5 things I’ve spotted:
1. Cardholders
Here in the city with the best public transportation system in the world, the importance of your SUICA card (Bus/Train pass) is equivalent to keeping your driver’s license or ID on you at all times. With one touch of the card on the reading meter, people can go through the train entrance very swiftly without having to fumble around to find their one-time paper tickets. For that matter, it’s easier to keep the card in a cardholder that you can easily pull out! So why not make its case a fashion statement too? This Hello Kitty one is just one of the hundreds people can find sold all over Japan. I now have one too, and I know it’ll still be useful back in the US for transportation passes! Psst even better – you can make even more of an original fashion statement by DIY-ing it for cheap!
2. Handkerchiefs
Believe it or not, most public restrooms in Tokyo don’t have paper towels or any way to dry your hands. Many restrooms with hand dryers have even turned them off in order to save energy as a whole city, especially after the Tsunami (kudos for that, Japan!). So, what are we supposed to do with our wet hands, right? Well the tradition of carrying around a handkerchief may have been long forgotten in many Western cultures, but it is still prominent here. Handkerchiefs and hand towels are sold everywhere in Japan, and some even package them in shapes of sushi, cupcakes, and more! I finally started carrying one around and it actually has come in handy for more ways than one! I use my newly aquired accessory to hold on to handles on the train or lay it on my lap while eating lunch, as it’s not easy to find a seat with a table here sometimes. I’m eyeing some of these character ones below…
3. Face Masks
Alright, so wearing these in the US can get you mistaken for a robber, but here in Tokyo where everyone spends their days in unimaginable proximity with others, it’s an essential good. Do you really want that dude whose face is right by your ear (literally…) to cough or even breathe on you? Probably not. And do you really want to be breathing in all of the dense city fumes? No thanks. So the masks have become a norm, and for that matter, Japanese people have made them a part of their original fashion statements with cute or funny printed designs! Buh bye, white surgery room masks, and hello to adorable character prints and colorful patterns!
Although they’re sold everywhere around Japan, many are not available for sale online. If you want to check some out though, I’ve found some cutes ones on Etsy here.
4. Umbrellas
I do admit, although it was a bit hard, I had to swallow my northwestern pride for this one…when you’ve got to walk everywhere to get anywhere, and when you’re mostly out all day with plans, an umbrella becomes essential. Luckily, we’ve only had a few rainy days here so far but once June rolls around, it’s going to be rainy and humid until the sun decides to come out again. What’s more gross than being squished between a few people on the rush hour train covered in rainwater and sweat? I would say not a whole lot of other things. And do I really want to show up to school or out to dinner with friends in soaking wet clothes and bags? I’d rather not – so an umbrella becomes essential to the commuting people of Tokyo! And they’ve got the need down; with umbrellas that fold in to the size of your glasses case and adorable undeniable designs yet again, who wouldn’t want to carry one around while keeping the rest of you on point with the fashion sense? Oh, and a little secret for everyone – umbrellas are the best sun blockers too! Once that sun does come back here in Tokyo, I know I’ll still be using my umbrella so I don’t get sunburnt or overheated walking under the rays for hours each day! Hope no one argues with me if I bring this fashion essential back to Seattle with me!
Check out Bella Umbrella for some funky designs and shapes for your rain and sunshine need too!
5. Tote bags
One of the most interesting things I found out through people watching on the train and walking around, is how very many people carry multiple bags at once. Meaning, it’s pretty normal to see someone with a briefcase or purse accompanied by a smaller tote bag. The commutes are often long in Tokyo and the chance to go home between appointments or leaving items in the car aren’t plausible options. But hey, that just means twice the possibilities of bags to carry for the day (your umbrella fits too!)! You’ve always got to have your daily essentials on you. I’m still on the hunt for a cute one around Tokyo myself!
I’m eyeing some of these.
That’s it for now!