Fun Fact... I spent WAY more than I ever should have after I finished shooting LOL did you see anything that you would have grabbed? How about a livestream here over on the Tokyo Lens Explore channel next time? And yes... The Shamisen! teespring.com/shamisen-tokyolens
YOOO I want that homemade sushi train!!! That would be so fun every now and then!! These little shop tours are my FAVOURITE Japan content. So many awesome little niche shops with the most amazing products. Videos of eating food are kind of overdone these days, but these awesome little mom and pop tours are like a true little Slice of Life. It really makes me feel like I'm browsing sometimes.
The food review videos are somewhat mixed. It' nice to know good food spots to got to, but I don't get anyhthing out of a youtuber telling me how crunchy/tasty/sweet something is ^^ And therefore I love these videos a lot more about shops with unique or funny stuff like here!
Hi Norm, as an Australian living overseas, I was thrilled to see Milo!! It's what Aussie kids are raised on, and I didn't realise it was in Japan too. It's a chocolate flavoured malt drink, certainly NOT a health food, and is pronounced my-low (my as in mine, low as in low down) in English. Most kids will spoon it into a cup with a 1:1 ratio of cold milk and eat it with a spoon, while most parents will serve it to their kids as an alternative to tea; with one spoonful per cup of warmed milk (or milk with hot water). Highly recommend either way, it's delicious 👍
As someone from the (probable) birthplace of Milo, it's uncanny valley to know how wide it's known, for both its good and bad. (edit: wait, it's Australian? Crikey, now that's something new.) And congrats on launching your plushie Norm.
As someone who works retail and manages inventory, it gives me major anxiety seeing the sheer volume of all these products! Then again, I'm very impressed at the organization chaos! They know what their doing lol! Definitely going on my list to visit when I can make it out there!
I’d never heard of Village Vanguard before your video, and I’m shocked honestly. This place seems so unique and like something that more cities should have something similar to. I love the worn floors throughout the store that show off the history of where things/people frequent over the years and how the layout has changed.
I could literally spend hours and hours in a store like that, and leave with no money and way more things than I could ever need. lol As for the Tamagotchis, we do still have those here in the US! I work at Walmart as an order puller and I've pulled several of them for, what I assume are, Christmas gifts. In fact, we have a Hello Kitty one that I have asked my husband to get me for Christmas. lol
They’re a thing in New Zealand too but I think mostly teenagers and young adults buy them as a nostalgia thing. They’re usually marketed as a retro thing and not a kids toy. I own two lol.
Village Vanguard was my favorite store growing up - I would always run inside the mall to the closest VV. It’s still the first store that comes to mind when I reminisce on my favorite stores in Japan. I miss it so much
I love exploring Village Vanguard stores ... Have been to several and you never know what you can find. It's always interesting to see the cards where the staff have written about the products. Good to see that you are able to have them sell the shamisen plushies there too ... The sort of rare, quirky product that you can turn up in them so hopefully would sell well
Thanks so much, Tim!! Yeah it’s always been one of my favourite shops So understandably I was pretty excited about everything from the video, all the way to the Plushie lol
I love Shimokitazawa. I stayed there for a little over a week during their curry festival in October (circa 2014). The neighborhood is pretty chill which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Well, that explains your excitement for this weeks video - merch drop in a physical store. That store looks absolutely massive and amazing, I must go one day. Looks like it’ll take a good day or so so see everything 😅 Milo, yes, we have it in powder and cereal form. Both delicious. But powdered form is best - not that I would call it a powder. It’s hard to describe. I like to eat it out of the tin with a spoon. Hot water/milk is optional 😂 Mini tamagotchis exist here too. They are making a comeback. A livestream through the store would be amazing 😍
I've only just started watching your videos and I really am enjoying them. I am an Englishman who is absolutely obsessed with Japanese music of all kinds, so the moment I set eyes on that Shamisen plushie I just had to have one. Keep up the good work!
Shamisen plushies! Seeing how much joy exudes from you while showing us your very own shamisen plushies makes me smile so much. That is definitely a major accomplishment and I still hope one day I can proudly display one of these in my home. This store makes me feel like a kid again. There’s so much to find!
What a cool shop!! I really like that each store location is able to do its own buying for all of the items they want to stock for their individual location. Yay they have the plushie as well!! And Nerds! It looks like such a fun store to explore!
Totally bought one of your Shamisen stuffys online a few days ago! Can’t wait to get it. I bought it not only to support your work, but as a gift for my wife. As it reminds her of her dad. Who sadly passes a few years ago.
That microwave rice cooker (looks like a bento box) is so cool! It seems like a great product for someone living alone--especially if they lack a real kitchen. They can supplement a take-out meal with extra rice from that little cooker.
I would probably end up spending a whole day exploring village vanguard if I was there. When I was younger, a trip to the main branch of National Bookstore (similar concept here in Quezon City, Philippines though now it is not like what it used to be) was the highlight of our pre-opening-school-year-shopping-spree. Also grew up drinking Milo (pronounced with a long I in our country), with Ovaltine as the counterpart.
Would love a shop like this in my city! One-stop shops where you know you can find that perfect gift for anyone in your life are so comforting. Thanks for taking us along for the ride and love how you got distracted so often!🌸
The face roller thing, its in Australia too. There's even western companies bringing them out now. And for Milo, its common here too. We pronounce it "My low"
Oh my god i literally screamed in excitement when i saw the german Esspapier right next to the nerds Oh the nostalgia! its such a odd candy to find in a store overseas since its literally the cheapest most bland candy imaginable
Yelled at the top of my lungs when I saw the location. The first VV I've ever been to and as a result the ultimate VV experience, at least in my eyes. It's such a fascinating place to just shop around in.
I loved staying in Shimokita, I loved walking around the area and getting lost in this store for about 2-3 hours. I still have so much that I got there from my last trip in 2016!
I went to that store when I was in Tokyo in 2019, it was fun. They had a lot of other locations but they were smaller and less interesting. It reminded of a combination of Urban Outfitters/Hot Topic/Spencers Gifts and a hippie new age shop.
This makes me regret not visiting a Village Vanguard the last time I went to Japan! Shimokitazawa was one of my favourite areas to visit with all the thrift stores they have there! My parents and I got a good haul of winter clothes and ended up wearing them throughout our trip! I'll definitely try to see a Village Vanguard next time I visit!
The roller things that they use for fat reduction. Is actually used by us occupational therapists in sensory intergration, which is to help people, that are having trouble selfregulation their sensory system. It can also be used to help lowering arousal if you are feeling stressed or anxious.
I saw the "edible bugs" in Japan for the first time thanks to a Japanese Virtual UA-camr, who would've known that they're even more popular in Japan than I thought. I also love the whole concept of Villain vanguard! It is sad that depending on where you are you might miss out on very incredible stores, but if you are able to travel around, it makes that experience much more worth it.
About 10 years ago I was in A village Vanguard and looked at a book with 'artistic pictures' of young women. The thing was, the photos had been taken in that store with the models standing in front of the book shelf on which the books were placed. I'd forgotten about that till I saw this video. Now I wonder if I just imagined it.
Amazing how they can prevent shoplifting as effectively as they do with the literal maze of trinkets and good everywhere. No way their cameras can catch all customers movements.
One thing right away I noticed is they must have turned off all the little video screens and speakers that are always playing loud music and videos. Love these stores! Thanks Norm for doing this video!
OMG, my favorite shop in Tokyo!!! Everytime I go to VV, I ended up buying a lot of stuff! When I went to Tokyo 3yrs ago, almost everyday I must visit and shop at VV! 🤣 Can't wait to go back and shop more!
14:19 Amogus merch I would love to have one of those cute Shamisen plushie. And good to see Milo being there as I still drink it almost everyday since way back
I want to say thank you for sharing something a simple as this, I am stuck in the US have had to postpone my second trip to Japan so seeing all this is a great thing to tide me over plus you always present things in a fun and energetic way. Look forward to see what other adventures you have before the end of the year or the start of the new year. Stay safe and have a great holiday.
Ha! Thanks for visiting my neighborhood Norm...Shimokitazawa is where I moved from America, sight unseen, because I heard it was a good place for musicians to live--I should say, I am an architect by day. I stumbled upon Village Vanguard after I moved here 7 years ago....I hate shopping, but love to stroll this shop when I am walking by.
In about 2013 I bought a talking plush of Obama wearing a superman spoof outfit from Village Vanguard. Still works! His signature "Yes we can" is the phrase. I love that store.
This store reminds me of a used book store in Columbus Ohio. The store is like an Escher painting. Multiple levels, stairs everywhere, labyrinthine, hidden areas… I tell people to bring a supply backpack if you go. Bring snacks, water, cold packs, personal fan, Tylenol, hand sanitizer, a calculator, extra clothes if you have to…wear comfortable clothes and shoes… (you have to get the key to the bathroom from the front desk which could be a hunt if you get lost…then find the bathroom which is by the children’s rooms which is also a hunt and probably the opposite direction from where you came from…) ADVENTURE!! It’s called The Book Loft of German Village. Amazing store and it reminds me a lot of this store in the video!
This place reminds me of the old stables Market in Camden Town (London) before it went under a major refurbishment in the early 2000's. Love the vibe of the place.
Quickly weighing in: insects as a food source is insanely efficient. 1 lb of beef takes 2500 gallons of water to produce. 1 lb of cricket protein takes 1 gallon. Ground up into 'flour' it can be used to enrich foods to be higher in protein. In the west we are very squeamish towards eating bugs. Hopefully that stigma will eventually change.
I love going to village vanguard when I’m struggling to get a gift. Most times you’ll stumble upon some wacky wonderful thing that’s just perfect. Last year I got my dad some Tabasco flavored chocolate and he thought it was hilarious 😂
This walk through Village Vanguard reminds me of my first time walking through donki. it's so chaotic yet everything is wildly interesting and unique. I'll definitely have to make a stop in next time I see one!
Only now do I realise that there's actually imported, german labeled "Knabber-Esspapier" ("Crunchy Edible Paper" 7:38 ) above the packages of "Nerds" he's so excited about. A real classic.😅
Norm, Tamagotchis are still a thing in the West. Target has them. Japan just got the best new model called Smart. The West got one with a camera called Pix. An R2-D2 crossover Tamagotchi also recently came out.
To answer your question, yes, those rollers are everywhere. In the US, they are being sold by influencers and touted as improving blood circulation and stimulate your lymphatic system, especially after a night out of drinking/eating food with lots of sodium.
Yes please, live-stream shop tour. It helps me make a list off cool places to visit for souvenir shopping. When!! we're all able to come visit. Possibly a tour off the area, unique, cozy, or just a great mom and pop, local place to relax after shopping before moving on to the next spot? Just a thought.
I'm always amazed when you emerge from shops like these empty-handed. No way could I go through a store like that and not, at the very least, buy some of the snacks to try (but I'll pass on the bugs, thanks). We have an Asian store in Seattle called Uwajimaya, and inside the store is a Kinokuniya book store - I've recently fallen in love with their stationary section & will have to really rein myself in when I'm there.
A main hobby of mine is exploring oddity & "fun" thing stores... ALL from wondering around Shibuya going in and out of these types of shops. It's wild how much the rest of the world is missing out on...
I love Village Vanguard! They have them all over the place in many malls. Unfortunately because of the pandemic, two of my local Village Vanguards have closed down,but there are still three that I can go to near my workplace. Although I’ve never been to the one in Shimo Kitazawa. It’s huge! I’ll have to stop by there on my way to work.
Milo nuggets are tasty. My niece had a friend in Osaka. They met in Universal Studios in Singapore. She was holidaying in Singapore the. So when we were in Osaka, we brought over these Milo goodies cos she loves it.
In Australia we pronounce Milo as Mai lo. I never knew people in Japan pronounced it that way until recently when I was talking about it with a friend here haha. There is a vending machine with those bugs nearby where I live...I haven't tried any so far.
i ate insects before. the cricket burger was the best burger i ate. it had a potato hash brown texture and tasted like polish blood sausage. the go pop toys are great its like never ending bubble wrap. Japan has such great ideas...
That place seem so fun. It's one of those places that's interesting to walk into cause there's so much to see and could get attention. They have snacks, books, and lots of stuff I'd be interested in! lol there's so many edible bugs. Vtuber Haachama would love it there XD. Here in the Philippines, we pronounce it "Mai-low" and it's delicious as a drink! The shamisen plushie looks so cute!! Congrats on the merch!
This shop is amazing, I will have to check one out when they let us back into Japan. When I lived in the UK there was a great taco truck that had fried crickets which were really good except they always put too much pepper on them.
Milo!! I love that stuff. We used to drink it all the time in South Africa as kids. The only other place I found it was New Zealand as an adult. But I miss it so much.
Fun Fact... I spent WAY more than I ever should have after I finished shooting LOL
did you see anything that you would have grabbed? How about a livestream here over on the Tokyo Lens Explore channel next time?
And yes... The Shamisen! teespring.com/shamisen-tokyolens
livestream would be cool. there's a TON of fun stuff in there...goodness...
I would definitely like to see a livestream here! 👍
Do the livestream!💯%
Milo is from Australia, but I be had it when I was younger when visiting family in Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹. We just made chocolate milk with it.
Me and my brother would like to see the live stream ^^
YOOO I want that homemade sushi train!!! That would be so fun every now and then!! These little shop tours are my FAVOURITE Japan content. So many awesome little niche shops with the most amazing products. Videos of eating food are kind of overdone these days, but these awesome little mom and pop tours are like a true little Slice of Life. It really makes me feel like I'm browsing sometimes.
The food review videos are somewhat mixed. It' nice to know good food spots to got to, but I don't get anyhthing out of a youtuber telling me how crunchy/tasty/sweet something is ^^ And therefore I love these videos a lot more about shops with unique or funny stuff like here!
WOWO THATS SO COOL!!!!!!111!! CAN I BE YOUR FRIEND ? WE WILL EXPERIENCE SLICE OF LIFE TOGETHER!!!😁
It is so heartwarming to see how excited and proud he is, especially when he was mentioning about the shamisen plushie 😊
Hi Norm, as an Australian living overseas, I was thrilled to see Milo!! It's what Aussie kids are raised on, and I didn't realise it was in Japan too. It's a chocolate flavoured malt drink, certainly NOT a health food, and is pronounced my-low (my as in mine, low as in low down) in English. Most kids will spoon it into a cup with a 1:1 ratio of cold milk and eat it with a spoon, while most parents will serve it to their kids as an alternative to tea; with one spoonful per cup of warmed milk (or milk with hot water). Highly recommend either way, it's delicious 👍
The same in Colombia
Its a Nestle product though
Ovaltine in the USA.
Milo was founded in Australia by Thomas Mayne, unveiled to the public in 1934.
As someone from the (probable) birthplace of Milo, it's uncanny valley to know how wide it's known, for both its good and bad. (edit: wait, it's Australian? Crikey, now that's something new.)
And congrats on launching your plushie Norm.
As someone who works retail and manages inventory, it gives me major anxiety seeing the sheer volume of all these products! Then again, I'm very impressed at the organization chaos! They know what their doing lol! Definitely going on my list to visit when I can make it out there!
I wonder what their inventory looks like. We do ours twice a year and we dread it every time.
I don’t work in retail but the variety of items made me think about how hard restocking would be. Especially in that maze like building.
i would probably quit on inventory day due to the meltdown I'd surely have trying to keep track of everything
I was thinking the same thing, just 🙀
If I ever visit Japan again I'm so going to this place and bring my best friend! We'd go nuts looking at so many cute stuff 😱
Ketemu kimi 😮
I’d never heard of Village Vanguard before your video, and I’m shocked honestly. This place seems so unique and like something that more cities should have something similar to. I love the worn floors throughout the store that show off the history of where things/people frequent over the years and how the layout has changed.
I've always loved how products are packaged in Japan.
I could literally spend hours and hours in a store like that, and leave with no money and way more things than I could ever need. lol As for the Tamagotchis, we do still have those here in the US! I work at Walmart as an order puller and I've pulled several of them for, what I assume are, Christmas gifts. In fact, we have a Hello Kitty one that I have asked my husband to get me for Christmas. lol
They’re a thing in New Zealand too but I think mostly teenagers and young adults buy them as a nostalgia thing. They’re usually marketed as a retro thing and not a kids toy. I own two lol.
Village Vanguard was my favorite store growing up - I would always run inside the mall to the closest VV. It’s still the first store that comes to mind when I reminisce on my favorite stores in Japan. I miss it so much
It's almost like going to a flea market, with so much variety. Would definitely drop some cash in there.
I love exploring Village Vanguard stores ... Have been to several and you never know what you can find. It's always interesting to see the cards where the staff have written about the products.
Good to see that you are able to have them sell the shamisen plushies there too ... The sort of rare, quirky product that you can turn up in them so hopefully would sell well
Thanks so much, Tim!!
Yeah it’s always been one of my favourite shops
So understandably I was pretty excited about everything from the video, all the way to the Plushie lol
I love Shimokitazawa. I stayed there for a little over a week during their curry festival in October (circa 2014). The neighborhood is pretty chill which we thoroughly enjoyed.
Aww man I miss Japan so much I can't wait to get back!!
Hope it can be sooner than later~
Well said. I miss Japan very much too.
We never even got to go!!! We've pushed the trip back 4 times. From March 2020 to Sep of 2022...
Well, that explains your excitement for this weeks video - merch drop in a physical store.
That store looks absolutely massive and amazing, I must go one day. Looks like it’ll take a good day or so so see everything 😅
Milo, yes, we have it in powder and cereal form. Both delicious. But powdered form is best - not that I would call it a powder. It’s hard to describe. I like to eat it out of the tin with a spoon. Hot water/milk is optional 😂
Mini tamagotchis exist here too. They are making a comeback.
A livestream through the store would be amazing 😍
Nowwwwww you get it right??? So exciting haha
Thanks so much eh!!
Totally understandable and I don’t blame you for being this hyped.
I've only just started watching your videos and I really am enjoying them. I am an Englishman who is absolutely obsessed with Japanese music of all kinds, so the moment I set eyes on that Shamisen plushie I just had to have one. Keep up the good work!
I love shops like this, just eclectic collections of anything and everything.
Shamisen plushies! Seeing how much joy exudes from you while showing us your very own shamisen plushies makes me smile so much. That is definitely a major accomplishment and I still hope one day I can proudly display one of these in my home. This store makes me feel like a kid again. There’s so much to find!
I feel like I would need a whole day to look through that shop and want everything lmao
Great video Norm! And love the shamisen plushie!!
And almost everyone is different
So you end up spending multiple days haha
Thank you!!
@@TokyoLens very true lol!
A live stream would be cool. Love shops like that. You can spend hours in there looking at all the unique stuff.
What a cool shop!! I really like that each store location is able to do its own buying for all of the items they want to stock for their individual location. Yay they have the plushie as well!! And Nerds! It looks like such a fun store to explore!
Such an amazing place!!
Totally bought one of your Shamisen stuffys online a few days ago! Can’t wait to get it. I bought it not only to support your work, but as a gift for my wife. As it reminds her of her dad. Who sadly passes a few years ago.
Had to rewind when you entered the store to confirm I spotted the shamisen plushie. Would not have realized if I had not seen the insta story
That microwave rice cooker (looks like a bento box) is so cool! It seems like a great product for someone living alone--especially if they lack a real kitchen. They can supplement a take-out meal with extra rice from that little cooker.
My Son always makes a beeline for the Village Vanguard in Diver City in Odaiba. We love that shop.
I would probably end up spending a whole day exploring village vanguard if I was there. When I was younger, a trip to the main branch of National Bookstore (similar concept here in Quezon City, Philippines though now it is not like what it used to be) was the highlight of our pre-opening-school-year-shopping-spree.
Also grew up drinking Milo (pronounced with a long I in our country), with Ovaltine as the counterpart.
Stumbled across Village/Vanguard when in Japan, absolutely adore these stores.
Would love a shop like this in my city! One-stop shops where you know you can find that perfect gift for anyone in your life are so comforting. Thanks for taking us along for the ride and love how you got distracted so often!🌸
The face roller thing, its in Australia too. There's even western companies bringing them out now. And for Milo, its common here too. We pronounce it "My low"
I just got back from my first trip to Japan and I actually stumbled upon this place when wandering around Shimo Kitazawa. It’s such a fun quirky shop!
Oh my god i literally screamed in excitement when i saw the german Esspapier right next to the nerds
Oh the nostalgia!
its such a odd candy to find in a store overseas since its literally the cheapest most bland candy imaginable
Why do I feel proud of a guy I've never met, selling a plushie of an instrument I've never heard of, in a shop I've never been to?
It’s a cool shop, I live a few minutes away from that shop and would always take friends there when they come to visit
Milo (pronounced the same as Milo thatch from Atlantis) is an Australian staple. It's nice hot or cold.
Yelled at the top of my lungs when I saw the location. The first VV I've ever been to and as a result the ultimate VV experience, at least in my eyes. It's such a fascinating place to just shop around in.
I loved staying in Shimokita, I loved walking around the area and getting lost in this store for about 2-3 hours. I still have so much that I got there from my last trip in 2016!
I went to that store when I was in Tokyo in 2019, it was fun. They had a lot of other locations but they were smaller and less interesting. It reminded of a combination of Urban Outfitters/Hot Topic/Spencers Gifts and a hippie new age shop.
That is so cool that you not only made your own plushie, but YOU GOT IT IN A PHYSICAL STORE! That’s just another level entirely. Kudos to you for sure
You can tell that building is well loved from the wear and tear on the floor :)
This makes me regret not visiting a Village Vanguard the last time I went to Japan! Shimokitazawa was one of my favourite areas to visit with all the thrift stores they have there! My parents and I got a good haul of winter clothes and ended up wearing them throughout our trip!
I'll definitely try to see a Village Vanguard next time I visit!
... at the beginning I thought straight away: this is THE perfect place for your Shamisen plushie!!!
And then... there it is!!!
Wow to you!!! ✩✩✩
The roller things that they use for fat reduction. Is actually used by us occupational therapists in sensory intergration, which is to help people, that are having trouble selfregulation their sensory system. It can also be used to help lowering arousal if you are feeling stressed or anxious.
I saw the "edible bugs" in Japan for the first time thanks to a Japanese Virtual UA-camr, who would've known that they're even more popular in Japan than I thought. I also love the whole concept of Villain vanguard! It is sad that depending on where you are you might miss out on very incredible stores, but if you are able to travel around, it makes that experience much more worth it.
In Aus we pronounce Milo - MY LOW. Not sure where it originated but always thought it was Australian.
About 10 years ago I was in A village Vanguard and looked at a book with 'artistic pictures' of young women. The thing was, the photos had been taken in that store with the models standing in front of the book shelf on which the books were placed. I'd forgotten about that till I saw this video. Now I wonder if I just imagined it.
Amazing how they can prevent shoplifting as effectively as they do with the literal maze of trinkets and good everywhere. No way their cameras can catch all customers movements.
One thing right away I noticed is they must have turned off all the little video screens and speakers that are always playing loud music and videos. Love these stores! Thanks Norm for doing this video!
OMG, my favorite shop in Tokyo!!! Everytime I go to VV, I ended up buying a lot of stuff! When I went to Tokyo 3yrs ago, almost everyday I must visit and shop at VV! 🤣 Can't wait to go back and shop more!
7:27 as a German I tell you I was shocked when I recognised the Knabber Esspapier 🤯
14:19 Amogus merch
I would love to have one of those cute Shamisen plushie. And good to see Milo being there as I still drink it almost everyday since way back
I want to say thank you for sharing something a simple as this, I am stuck in the US have had to postpone my second trip to Japan so seeing all this is a great thing to tide me over plus you always present things in a fun and energetic way. Look forward to see what other adventures you have before the end of the year or the start of the new year. Stay safe and have a great holiday.
When I saw the video title I thought this was going to be about Don Quijote store.
lol
Ha! Thanks for visiting my neighborhood Norm...Shimokitazawa is where I moved from America, sight unseen, because I heard it was a good place for musicians to live--I should say, I am an architect by day. I stumbled upon Village Vanguard after I moved here 7 years ago....I hate shopping, but love to stroll this shop when I am walking by.
In about 2013 I bought a talking plush of Obama wearing a superman spoof outfit from Village Vanguard. Still works! His signature "Yes we can" is the phrase. I love that store.
I wish we had stores like this in America! I love Japanese culture and wish I could visit someday though I would spend so much money!😄
This store reminds me of a used book store in Columbus Ohio. The store is like an Escher painting. Multiple levels, stairs everywhere, labyrinthine, hidden areas… I tell people to bring a supply backpack if you go. Bring snacks, water, cold packs, personal fan, Tylenol, hand sanitizer, a calculator, extra clothes if you have to…wear comfortable clothes and shoes… (you have to get the key to the bathroom from the front desk which could be a hunt if you get lost…then find the bathroom which is by the children’s rooms which is also a hunt and probably the opposite direction from where you came from…) ADVENTURE!! It’s called The Book Loft of German Village. Amazing store and it reminds me a lot of this store in the video!
I just want to say thank you. As a father of five kids, it would be impossible for me to see these amazing sites of Japan without this content.
Would love a lovestream of this shop!!! So much to see and so many little goodies, I wish we had one of these overseas. Like a magical bookshop.
This place reminds me of the old stables Market in Camden Town (London) before it went under a major refurbishment in the early 2000's. Love the vibe of the place.
I LOVE Village Vanguard. Easily my favourite store when I visited two years ago.
Quickly weighing in: insects as a food source is insanely efficient. 1 lb of beef takes 2500 gallons of water to produce. 1 lb of cricket protein takes 1 gallon.
Ground up into 'flour' it can be used to enrich foods to be higher in protein. In the west we are very squeamish towards eating bugs. Hopefully that stigma will eventually change.
I lived in Shimokita in 2015, this shop, and so many more that are so awesome! hopefully i can visit some friends (and family) again next year
in my country we pronounce it milo like the name. probably pronounced as me-lo in japan but it's been pronounced as milo (my-lo) since the 80s.
I love going to village vanguard when I’m struggling to get a gift. Most times you’ll stumble upon some wacky wonderful thing that’s just perfect. Last year I got my dad some Tabasco flavored chocolate and he thought it was hilarious 😂
This walk through Village Vanguard reminds me of my first time walking through donki. it's so chaotic yet everything is wildly interesting and unique. I'll definitely have to make a stop in next time I see one!
I am an Aussie and Milo is pronounced my-low, it is an Australian product made from malt.
I love the unique items that you can find in Japan. I could spend days inside of these store and I would buy way too many items.
What an amazing store!
Everything everyone loves about Japanese merch! It's a vibe!
Only now do I realise that there's actually imported, german labeled "Knabber-Esspapier" ("Crunchy Edible Paper" 7:38 ) above the packages of "Nerds" he's so excited about.
A real classic.😅
Norm, Tamagotchis are still a thing in the West. Target has them. Japan just got the best new model called Smart. The West got one with a camera called Pix. An R2-D2 crossover Tamagotchi also recently came out.
Hello from Scotland 🏴🇨🇦 loving your channel, it's keeping me sane. You're enthusiasm and passion for Japan is a beautiful thing to see. 👑
To answer your question, yes, those rollers are everywhere. In the US, they are being sold by influencers and touted as improving blood circulation and stimulate your lymphatic system, especially after a night out of drinking/eating food with lots of sodium.
I could have spent a good chunk of time looking at that sticker wall alone. What a cool store!
Yes please, live-stream shop tour. It helps me make a list off cool places to visit for souvenir shopping. When!! we're all able to come visit. Possibly a tour off the area, unique, cozy, or just a great mom and pop, local place to relax after shopping before moving on to the next spot? Just a thought.
I could lose myself for days in a store like this, only to emerging with overflowing with items I never knew I needed and probably would never use 😁
OH MY GOD IVE BEEN TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF THIS STORE FOR TWO YEARS!!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!
Can we just take a moment to talk about the amazing floors in this store? I love the wear pattern. It makes me want to know the building's story.
Milo, we pronounce it My - Low. Strange I know but that's how it's always been pronounced since I was a kid.
The "bubble wrap" / pop it fidget toy is incredibly popular among the elementary school set in the US :D
I drank Milo (My-Low) as a kid. It is for kids who don't like drinking milk so you give them chocolate milk.
I'm always amazed when you emerge from shops like these empty-handed. No way could I go through a store like that and not, at the very least, buy some of the snacks to try (but I'll pass on the bugs, thanks). We have an Asian store in Seattle called Uwajimaya, and inside the store is a Kinokuniya book store - I've recently fallen in love with their stationary section & will have to really rein myself in when I'm there.
Been to Village Vanguard a lot when I was in Japan, really among the most interesting store chains imo
A main hobby of mine is exploring oddity & "fun" thing stores... ALL from wondering around Shibuya going in and out of these types of shops. It's wild how much the rest of the world is missing out on...
I love Village Vanguard! They have them all over the place in many malls. Unfortunately because of the pandemic, two of my local Village Vanguards have closed down,but there are still three that I can go to near my workplace. Although I’ve never been to the one in Shimo Kitazawa. It’s huge! I’ll have to stop by there on my way to work.
Tamagotchi is having a small comeback in the US. You can find them in practically every Barnes & Nobles bookstore, some Best Buy and even Walmart.
Never seen a Village Vanguard with that many books in it. Then again, I have never seen a Village Vanguard that is that big, that thing is huge.
Oh my i love this store… i can browse whole day.
a veritable treasure trove for people who like weird little things, and the adventure for finding them!!
My two sons and I tried chocolate covered grasshoppers. They were chewy. It was fun to try and I'm happy they were willing to be adventurous with me.
I went to 3 or 4 different VV's in 2018, spent money in all of them. Love that store.
Milo nuggets are tasty. My niece had a friend in Osaka. They met in Universal Studios in Singapore. She was holidaying in Singapore the. So when we were in Osaka, we brought over these Milo goodies cos she loves it.
In Australia we pronounce Milo as Mai lo. I never knew people in Japan pronounced it that way until recently when I was talking about it with a friend here haha. There is a vending machine with those bugs nearby where I live...I haven't tried any so far.
Hahaha a vending machine?
Crazy!!
@@TokyoLens I should probably try find it again and share it😅.
It's somewhere in Kumamoto though.
i ate insects before. the cricket burger was the best burger i ate. it had a potato hash brown texture and tasted like polish blood sausage.
the go pop toys are great its like never ending bubble wrap. Japan has such great ideas...
My Malaysian self is screaming when I see that MILO..instantly pure excited😂💕
That place seem so fun. It's one of those places that's interesting to walk into cause there's so much to see and could get attention. They have snacks, books, and lots of stuff I'd be interested in!
lol there's so many edible bugs. Vtuber Haachama would love it there XD.
Here in the Philippines, we pronounce it "Mai-low" and it's delicious as a drink!
The shamisen plushie looks so cute!! Congrats on the merch!
Hehe thanks so much eh!!!
Haachama would definitely be excited about the tarantulas
The popping silicone toys are sooo popular in US like the fidget spinners were. Dying out right now but my three boys were begging for them
This shop is amazing, I will have to check one out when they let us back into Japan. When I lived in the UK there was a great taco truck that had fried crickets which were really good except they always put too much pepper on them.
Milo!! I love that stuff. We used to drink it all the time in South Africa as kids. The only other place I found it was New Zealand as an adult. But I miss it so much.
Milo is very popular in australia, but we pronounce it 'my-low'
Together with the Nerds is a German product called Esspapier or edible paper. Never thought to see that in Japan :D
Gotta go back and try it
@@TokyoLens I can describe it like this: A type of wafer that is very flat and mixed with flavors. Its a common sweet for children here.