Tag: shopping

Now what?

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You saw the exhibition and that took all of five-ten minutes. You want to do something more with your time in the big city? How about a haircut by Yasu at the Nakamura Biyoshitsu (Salon)? More information can be found at his website: http://yasunakamura.com/.  If you can read Japanese, he also has another website and blog that list his prices: http://www.nakamura-biyoushitu.com/.

Yasu Nakamura
Yasu Nakamura

He worked in New York for many years, speaks English, and imports dyes and some hair products from the United States. The occasional celebrity or circus performer might also pop in while you are there to get a trim. I kid you not.

Daimyo Cross Garden
Daimyo Cross Garden

After you have made an appointment and have seen the amazing art made by yours truly, walk for about one minute to the corner of the road. (That means you turn left when you leave the gallery’s building.) Are you feeling a little unsure about where you are going? Don’t worry! Can you see the modern white church called Daimyo Cross Garden at the end of the street? If so, you are going in the right direction.

The street turns left, so you should too. Turn onto the first street on your right. You should be able to see a small,

Blurry exterior of Nakamura Biyoshitsu
Blurry exterior of Nakamura Biyoshitsu

retro beauty shop with a brick storefront almost immediately on your left. That is the Nakamura Biyoshitsu (Salon). The shop was originally run his mother-in-law, and he renovated the place with all kinds of beautiful antiques.

What else can you do? How about a pint in a British pub very close to the hair salon and on the same side of the street but in a larger, more modern building. (I have not been there, so I don’t know the hours or if it is any good or not. I think it has been there for a while, so that is a good sign.)

Are you hungry? Well, if you want to try some falafel or hummus at a Sudanese restaurant called Kebabooz, you are going to have to walk to the other side of the block. Keep heading down the same street away from the gallery and the salon. Turn right at the first corner, and then turn right again so you are heading back to Z-side. By the way, Kebabooz does not sell alcohol, but you are allowed to bring some with you. That Lawson’s along the way is your last chance to pick up a beer to go with your shishkabob. They do sell other drinks as well as coffee and chai, just not alcohol.

The restaurant is on the left side of the street but it is a little hard to find. Keep an eye out for a signboard on the street in front of what looks like a building filled with bars,

Kebabooz for Sudanese food in Japan
Kebabooz for Sudanese food in Japan

Kebabooz is on the first floor, so you don’t have to go upstairs. Just like with the gallery,  you have to go further inside to find the door. Sana and the staff will greet you with big smiles! (When you look at the menu, tamiya are falafel balls. The smaller, cheaper choice is half of a pita. I recommend the ful (pronounced “fool”) if they have some.)

Where the streets have no names

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Crosswalk behind Z-Side in Tenjin

How do you get to the Konya 2023 gallery if the streets have no names? Well, you can use Google Maps or ask people (if you speak Japanese). Another helpful approach is to use a visual guide with pictures of landmarks that you can spy with your little eye along the way. I apologise  for the poor picture quality. Just think of them as snaps in action…

1) Go to the area called Tenjin in Fukuoka City. 福岡市の天神という地方に行ってください。

2) Head towards Iwataya’s department store called Z-side. Z-サイド店の方に行って。

3) Go to the crosswalk behind the store (if the Starbucks in Z-side is regarded as the front). もしスターバックスはZ−サイド店の前だって、Z−サイドの後ろにある交差点に行って。

Crosswalk behind Z-Side in Tenjin
Crosswalk behind Z-Side in Tenjin

4) Cross the street and turn left. Walk towards the Apple Store and Zara, away from the Nishitetsu Grand Hotel. 道をわたる必要がある。ここでして左の方に行って、西鉄グランドホテルは後ろにしてください。ZARAとアップルストアーの方に歩いて。

Look up! See Aveda (2F)?
Look up! See Aveda (2F)?

5) You don’t have to walk far. Turn at what is possibly the second corner on your right. You should be able to see an Aveda banner and a bit of the shop on the second floor. (Sorry that the picture is a little blurry.) 多分2番目の角で右に曲がる。AVEDA店の看板が見れば、安心して。

6) Do some window shopping on the way. わああ!ウィンドーショッピングのチャンスだぞ!

Coffee shop and radio station
Coffee shop and radio station

On your right is a coffee shop and a community radio station. 右側にコーヒーショップとラジオ放送する所が見える?

 

7) Keep walking! Need some souvenirs? How about some from the AKB48 café and store? That is if you can fight your way through the crowds of juniour-high-school students and young men who should know better. お土産を買う必要がありますか?AKB48カフェーはいかがでしょうか?

Otaku heaven: AKB48 cafe & shop
Otaku heaven: AKB48 cafe & shop

8) You are very close now! Don’t worry! Keep walking until you see a parking lot beside a gyoza shop with what looks like a pig’s nose as its logo. もう近いです!もうちょっとますぐにして、左側にパーキングと餃子やさんが見えるでしょう。餃子屋さんのロゴは豚の鼻で、分かりやすいと思う。

Gyoza shop
Gyoza shop

9) The gallery is in the white apartment building beside the gyoza shop. Where is the entrance? Look for the round sign that has the name of an Italian restaurant. The gallery’s sign is a little hard to find because it is on a dark wall a little bit inside the building.  ギャラリーは餃子屋さんんの隣の白いアパートにあります。入り口は?イタリア料理屋さんの丸い看板が見える?あそこは入り口です。Konya 2023の看板わもうちょっと奥に黒い壁にある。

Circular sign for Italian restaurant
Circular sign for Italian restaurant
Entrance to Konya 2023 Bldg
Entrance to Konya 2023 Bldg

10) Now go inside and head to the back of the building towards the Italian restaurant and the many motorbikes that are parked near the entrance to the stairs. もっと奥にイタリア料理屋さんとバイクのパーキングの方に行って、階段があります。

Motorbikes & Stairs
Motorbikes & Stairs

11) Now just go up to the stairs to the second floor. The gallery is the first door on your left. Open the door and come on in! 2階に行って、階段の左側に一番目のドアです。どうそ!入ってください!

See? That wasn’t so difficult after all. We will be setting up in the morning of Monday, February 11, but you can still pop by to visit. I have to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I will not be in the gallery then. Elida Maria Matsumoto and the gallery staff will be there, so don’t worry! I will be there starting Valentine’s day. Don’t forget the chocolate! 簡単だったんでしょう? 11日の朝はセットアップするつもりですけど、見に来てもいいです。12日と13日は違うところで仕事があるから私はいないんで、松本さんとスタッフがいるから見に行ってもいいです。バレンタインズディーから私は毎日行くつもりです。ぜひ、見に来てください!