Unboxing: Japan 2024 Travel Haul

You know what's great about Japan (aside from the food and high-tech toilets)? Duty free shopping for tourists! 

Sholayered Light Green 1945 Eau de Toilette
Shiro Fragrance Earl Grey Hand Serum and Eau de Parfum
House of Rose Aroma Rucette Body Wash & Bubble Bath in Pink & White Grapefruit and Mandarin & Bitter Orange
House of Rose Sakura Fufufu Milky Body Cream
House of Rose Doux Surge Moisture Body Milk and Moisture Body Cream
Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara x 2, DeJavu Lash Knockout Extra Volume Mascara, DeJavu Fiber Wig Ultra Long Mascara, and Rohto C3 Cool Eye Drops x 3
Sunstar Ora2 Stain Clear Toothpaste in Peach Leaf Mint x 3 and Fresh Kiwi Mint x 3
Asahi Mintia Breeze Sugarless Candy in Fresh Peach x 5 and Fresh Grape x 5
Souvenirs: Cosmetics pouch, hair brush, coin purse, and glasses case
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Tokyo
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Osaka
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Japan (Spring Edition)
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Tote Bag — Japan (Spring Edition)
Uniqlo "Asakusa" and "Daruma Dolls" by Bog Craft UT Graphic T-Shirts
Uniqlo "Asakusa Icons" and "Kaitenzushi" UT Graphic T-Shirts

Not included in this post are the plethora of random skin ointments and lip balms I got at pharmacies and the atrocious amount of jeggings and sweatshirts I got at Uniqlo (which are HALF THE PRICE than they are here!!!!!).

Sholayered

Shibuya Scramble Square, 5/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Shiro

Shibuya Scramble Square, 6/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-6803-8246

House of Rose

Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, 3/F

1 Chome−2−3

Dogenzaka, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0043

+81-03-6427-0709

Uniqlo Asakusa

Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building, 1-2/F

2 Chome−6−7

Asakusa, Taito City

Tokyo, Japan 〒111-0032

+81-50-3355-7798

Unboxing: Tokyo 2023 Travel Haul

My only rule when it came to shopping in Japan was that I could only buy domestic products that I either couldn't get in Canada or that was significantly cheaper in Japan, which resulted in buying a lot of random stuff:

House of Rose Amanatsu Orange Body Soap and Jelly Lotion + Green Lemon Body Soap and Jelly Lotion
House of Rose Oh! Baby Body Smoother Set(Clockwise from top: Muscat Grape, Yuzu, and Lychee)
House of Rose Oh! Baby Yuzu Lip Balm Scrub and Hand Mirror (Gift with Purchase)
Sholayered Lemon Peel Body Spray

We were casually perusing the many floors at Shibuya Scramble Square when I came upon a boutique for a Japanese body products brand called Oh! Baby by House of Rose, and was immediately suckered in by all the colourful packaging. They do your typical body products like body wash, body scrubs, body lotions, etc., but all the scents are specifically Japanese- or East Asian-based, like amanatsu orange and green lemon or sudachi. So after smelling literally everything in the boutique, I bought a few select items. (The girl who was working there was so freaking adorable, too, trying to explain all the scents in broken English so cheerfully, I just wanted to buy everything from her.) Then seeing me buying so much at House of Rose, the girl at the neighbouring boutique for a Japanese fragrance brand called Sholayered decided to come up to me and offered me a scent card. I ended up smelling all their fragrances and fell in love with one called Lemon Peel — super-fresh, citrusy, and clean with a slightly green undertone — and bought the Eau de Cologne Body Spray. I'm a sucker, but it is the perfect fragrance for summer.

Shiseido Integrate Matsui Girls Mascara in Curl and Volume + Kose Fasio Permanent Curl Mascara in Long and Volume
Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara, Isehan Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Eye Designer Volume Mascara, and DeJavu Lash Knockout Extra Volume Mascara
Left: Sunstar Ora2 Me Stain Clear Toothpaste in Fresh Kiwi Mint and Peach Leaf Mint + Rohto C3 Contact Lens Eye Drops in Cool and Aqua
Right: Threeppy Resin Chopsticks in Monotone Colors and Black Tea Fragrance Perfume

I also bought a lot of random shit from the drugstore, like 7 tubes mascaras, 4 tubes of toothpaste, two bottles of eye drops, and two bottles of Clear Care contact lens solution (because there's a huge shortage in North America right now due to one of the factories getting contaminated last year) — all of which are SO MUCH CHEAPER than buying in Toronto or online. (Seriously, that toothpaste was on sale for ￥290/$2.90 and it's $7.99 at T&T here. Those eye drops? On sale for￥208/$2.08. It's $12.99 at T&T. Even the Clear Care was on sale for ￥1,288/$12.88 and I used to buy a single bottle for over $16 here, even at Walmart.) Speaking of cheap, we went to the Daiso flagship store that also houses their "fancier" brands, Threeppy and Standard Products, and I bought a set of chopsticks and a tea-scented body spray (that oddly smells like mango, so maybe a mango bubble tea) for ￥1,300/$13. I only regret not having the luggage space to buy more here. 

Left: My Melody and Hello Kitty takoyaki-themed ankle socksRight: Randomized dessert-themed plush gachapon
Left: Uniqlo UTme! Ginza Flagship Exclusive Collaboration TeesRight: Ginza Torishige x Uniqlo Ginza Exclusive Collaboration Tee
Left: Ginza Kimuraya x Uniqlo Ginza Exclusive Collaboration TeeRight: Ginza Manpuku x Uniqlo Ginza Exclusive Collaboration Tee

I went a little wild at the Uniqlo flagship store in Ginza. I mean, c'mon, it's 12 storeys. (We spent nearly 2 hours in there.) Since Uniqlo is available globally, I was determined to get only Japan-exclusive items in there and it was on the UT floor that I really scored. I found not just Japan-exclusive items, but Ginza-exclusive items. Uniqlo Ginza collaborated with several Ginza institutions on some graphic tees, so I chose three of the food-related ones (obviously): Ginza Torishige (a famous yakitori restaurant),  Ginza Kimuraya (the oldest bakery in Japan and the birthplace of anpan), and Ginza Manpuku (one of the oldest ramen restaurants in Tokyo). Who cares if I didn't actually go to those restaurants...?

Uniqlo UTme! Custom Print TotesLeft: Uniqlo UTme! "Japanese Desserts" Custom Print ToteRight: Uniqlo UTme! Tarepanda Custom Print Tote

I also made two custom-designed tote bags at Uniqlo. At their UTme! Custom Print Service booth (available at selected stores worldwide), you can pick the item you want (the Japan locations offer short-sleeve and long-sleeved tees, as well as pullover and zip-up hoodies, and two different tote bags) and then you sit at one of the design stations and customize your item on an iPad (there are a multitude of different logos, images, stickers, and typography that you can choose from — the stickers are provided by a ton of different designers and brands, but the variety is dependent on location). I decided to make one featuring a variety of Japanese desserts and then another featuring Tarepanda (one of my childhood faves) in a sundae bowl and THEY ARE ADORABLE. Even the girl assisting me was like, "Aiii, kawaii!"

BT21 Planet Japan Tote Bag
BT21 Japan 6-Piece Sakura Chocolate Box
BT21 Japan 6-Piece Sakura Chocolate Box
BT21 Japan Minini Key Covers in Shooky, Mang, and RJ
Left: BT21 Japan Minini Cooky Figure KeyringRight: My Neighbor Totoro Metal Keyring
Studio Ghibli My Neighbor TotoroChu Totoro and Chibi Totoro plush toys
Studio Ghibli My Neighbor Totoro Totoro, Chu Totoro, and Chibi Totoro plush keychains
Sanrio x Koupenchan Pochacco plush mascot keychain and Yeastken Shibakoppe plush keychain

The sole reason we went to Harajuku was not for trendy clothing or shoes or even food, but for a massive toy store called Kiddy Land. Yes, five glorious floors full of character products. We happened to go on a Saturday so the store was packed, but let me tell you, despite its name, I only saw like, 10 kids in there. Because let's be real, Kiddy Land is for nostalgic adults with money, not children. After 45 minutes, I came out with a random assortment of My Neighbor Totoro and BT21 Japan merch, and realized I have an obsession with keychains. (Weirdly enough, BT21 is a Korean brand but they seem to be even bigger in Japan. And the majority of the BT21 products sold in Japan are actually exclusive to Japan, so you can't find any of it in Korea.) Anyway, I guess I made up for not buying any BT21 merch in Korea...

Mintia Breeze in Shiny Pink, Fresh Grape, Fresh Lemon, and Fresh Peach
KitKat Mini in Matcha and Banana Caramel + Giant Pocky in DreamPocky Assorted Flavours

Surprisingly, I didn't bring back that many snacks. Partially because they're quite easily accessible in Canada, but mostly because I had no room left in my luggage. I did randomly get addicted to these sugarless mints called Mintia Breeze and decided I had to get all the flavours I could find. (I have not figured out what "Shiny Pink" flavour is yet, but I imagine it's quite magical.) Also, while at Don Quijote, we found Japanese KitKats on sale for ￥290/$2.90, which is why I decided to get two bags. (We can get them pretty easily in Toronto, but they're usually around $10 a bag, which is highway robbery.) And finally, at one of the duty free stores at Narita Airport, I found Giant Pocky in the DreamPocky assortment and HAD TO HAVE IT.  (Yes, out of all the incredible snacks from duty free, Giant Pocky is what I decided was a must-have.)

Anyway, you see now why I needed to buy an extra suitcase.

House of Rose

Shibuya Scramble Square 5F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Sholayered

Shibuya Scramble Square 5F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Matsumoto Kiyoshi

1 Chome−14−25, クロスアベニュー原宿

Jingumae, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0001

+81-03-5413-3066

Threeppy (Daiso Flagship)

Marronnier Gate Ginza 2 6F

3 Chome−2−1

Ginza, Chuo City

Tokyo, Japan 〒104-0061

+81-70-8714-2960

Uniqlo Ginza Flagship

Ginza Komatsu East Building 1-12 F

6 Chome−9−5

Ginza, Chuo City

Tokyo, Japan 〒104-0061

+81-03-6252-5181

Kiddy Land

6 Chome−1−9, キデイランド原宿店

Jingumae, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0001

+81-03-3409-3431

Don Quijote

3 Chome-36-16

Shinjuku, Shinjuku City

Tokyo, Japan 〒160-0022

+81-05-7007-7611

Unboxing: My Christmas 2021 Haul

I got some Christmas presents! For myself!

Basically, I had some intense retail therapy sessions over the past month, you know, to practice self-love or something, and I used Christmas as an excuse.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max 256GB in Silver

Firstly, I finally got myself a new iPhone 13 Pro Max, which I actually wanted to get for my birthday last month but the 256GB silver model was sold out EVERYWHERE, so I had to just keep checking Apple to see if there was a location I could reserve it at. It finally became available at my nearest Apple Store just in time for the holidays, so I snatched that baby up quick and traded in my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

BTS x Casetify "Butter" iPhone 13 Pro Max Cases
BTS x Casetify "Melted Butter" Floaty Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max
BTS x Casetify "Pancake Medley" Case for iPhone 13 Pro Max

Obviously with a new phone comes new phone cases! Okay, not gonna lie, I bought these BTS x Casetify "Butter" phone cases for the 13 Pro Max before I even secured the phone. The collab cases were released in October and I HAD TO HAVE THEM, so I just bought them because I knew I was going to get the 13 Pro Max anyway. I might be the only person who buys phone cases for a phone they don't have yet, but as if I would miss out on BTS phone cases featuring butter and pancakes... 

Saint Laurent Black Grained Calfskin Monogram Bi-Fold Wallet
Saint Laurent Black Grained Calfskin Monogram Bi-Fold Wallet
Saint Laurent Black Grained Calfskin Monogram Bi-Fold Wallet

I had worked quite a lot of OT over the past two months and as a result, I thought I would finally splurge on a YSL wallet. I wanted something classic and compact since I've been wanting to downsize my purse, but would still hold my essential cards, cash, and coins. This one checked all the boxes. And thus, it became the second designer purchase I have ever made in my life. (The first one being the Miu Miu wallet I bought over nine years ago.) I've never been someone who collects designer items (let's be real, I spend all my money on BTS instead), but I'd been using old, worn out Kate Spade wallets that I bought at the outlet store years ago and I thought, "I DESERVE THIS."

Nespresso Vertuo Next Matte Black
Nespresso 12-Capsule Discovery Set
Nespresso Coffee Capsules (Left to right: Double Espresso Chiaro, Diavolitto, Altissio, Il Caffè, and Jamaica Blue Mountain)

Then I finally splurged on a Nespresso Vertuo Next machine. One of the first things that you'll learn about me is that I love coffee and need it to function. I had had a Keurig several years ago but wasn't impressed with it since every single cup, regardless of brand or type of coffee, never tasted the same as its original format. (For example, Starbucks or Tim Hortons K-cups are never as good as getting it from the store.) So I gave up on the automated coffee makers and went back to manual ones, and have just been making regular drip coffee for the past five years.

But my workplace has Nespresso machines, which I use almost everyday, and every single cup I make — whether it's espresso or coffee — is always excellent. They just produce a richer, better quality cup of coffee. There's no need to fuss around with adding an exact amount of water per cup — you just pour water into the big reservoir, and the machine will automatically dispense the perfect amount of water depending on the capsule you use. So I'd been eyeing Nespresso machines for the last couple months. And finally, I saw that they were offering $100 off all of their machines! Which includes a free discovery pack of 12 capsules! And a $25 off voucher for 50 capsules! So I got a brand new Nespresso machine, a 12-capsule discovery pack, and 5 boxes of capsules for under $150. I AM SO EXCITED TO MAKE COFFEE EVERYDAY.

Dr. Martens Sheridan Combat Boots in Black
Kamik Rogue Mid Waterproof Winter Boot in Black
SoftMoc Topanga Black Lace Up Ankle Boots

I also got myself some new boots from SoftMoc. 'Cause it's winter. And they're cute.

 BTS x AmorePacific Laneige "Permission to Dance" Lip Sleeping Mask
Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum and Sugar Advanced Therapy Recovery Lip Mask
Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Volumizing Mascaras and Brow Wiz Skinny Brow Pencils in Medium Brown
Marvis Toothpaste in Whitening Mint, Classic Strong Mint, Aquatic Mint, and Jasmin Mint

I did get some Christmas gifts from my friends, too. Two jars of the limited edition BTS x AmorePacific Laneige "Permission to Dance" Lip Sleeping Mask (it's BTS, it's purple, it's gummy bear-flavoured, and I've been using this lip mask for years, so obviously, I AM OBSESSED). A 100ml bottle of my favourite Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum and a jar of Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Recovery Lip Mask. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette plus three Brow Wiz Brow Pencils, plus two tubes of Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara. Four tubes of my favourite Marvis Toothpaste (seemingly random but I mentioned it in passing to my friend one day, so she snatched up four for me because she saw it on sale at The Bay).

But the present that my brother gave me takes the cake.

Autographed BTS You Never Walk Alone album (front)

Yes, it is an autographed copy of BTS' You Never Walk Alonealbum, signed by all seven members.

About a month ago, he texted me out of the blue to ask me who my favourite BTS member is and what my favourite BTS album is. I told him that Jimin and Jungkook are my biases and my favourite album is You Never Walk Alone because it's the Wings album but with "Spring Day" and "Not Today," which makes it the ultimate queen. He tried to be all smooth about it and told me, "Well, Jungkook is obviously my bias because of his incredible soothing voice," and, "My favourite album is Skool Luv Affair. All the tracks are great, so I obviously can't pick a favourite..." I was like, "Chris, I've been an ARMY for years. Stop Googling shit and reciting the BTS Wiki page." I mean, I did find it suspicious that my 36-year-old brother, who is most definitely not an ARMY, tried to converse with me about BTS all of a sudden. I figured it was for a Christmas gift. 

Autographed BTS You Never Walk Alone album (back)

But I would never have expected this in a million years. As it turns out, he asked some of his business partners in Seoul to see if they had any connections to BTS. And as it turns out, one connection has a connection who has another connection. And he somehow procured me a completely authentic, fully signed copy of my favourite BTS album. I don't know how much it cost him, but I will surely be buried with this album. And in case you're wondering, yes, I did buy a shadow box frame for it so I can showcase its magical aura.

Suffice it to say, this has been the best Christmas, ever.