Thoughts: 4 Bookstores in Asia [Bookworm, Poplar, VVG Something and Daikanyama T-Site] Made it to the 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World

     I am crazy about books...and as much as I love to read, I am most happy when I am browsing shelves upon shelves of books.  Most especially if the bookstore is pretty.  I get depressed when the books don't get the proper respect they deserve, really.  I cringe when my book has a dent, a folded page, or worse, a tear on the page or cover.  I shudder just thinking that books are just stacked haphazardly in fugly, dust-covered shelves; moreso when it's the bookstore itself that has no regard for the books' well-being.

     Yes, I am quite OC about books and being quite discerning when it comes to bookstores, where I buy my books, comes with the territory, of being OC, that is.  I mean, I could stay at a well-lighted, well-designed bookstore for hours, so I was really hyped when I saw an article about the The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World by Flavorwire website.  I mean, bookstores!  Pretty, lovely bookstores!  I'm in book heaven!

     An excerpt of the article/list from Flavorwire is quoted here:

     "With Amazon slowly taking over the publishing world and bookstores closing left and right, things can sometimes seem a little grim for the brick and mortar booksellers of the world. After all, why would anyone leave the comfort of their couch to buy a book when with just a click of a button, they could have it delivered to their door? Well, here’s why: bookstores so beautiful they’re worth getting out of the house (or the country) to visit whether you need a new hardcover or not. We can’t overestimate the importance of bookstores — they’re community centers, places to browse and discover, and monuments to literature all at once — so we’ve put together a list of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, from Belgium to Japan to Slovakia. Just so you know now, all you bookstore fiends: neither the Strand nor Powell’s is on this list. They’re both great bookstores, of course, but not particularly pretty (at least in our minds), and thus disqualified. Click through to see our picks for the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and as always, if we’ve left off your favorite, be sure to add to the collection in the comments!"

     And, I got all happier when 4 bookstores in Asia made the cut, 2 in Beijing, China, 1 in Japan, and 1 in Taiwan.  So great, right?  Since, this is an Asian travel blog, I'll only discuss the 4 bookstores in Asia as mentioned.  Include these bookstores in your "places of interest" which you may want to visit while in Beijing, Taipei or Tokyo.

     So, here it goes:

     BEIJING, CHINA

     The Bookworm, Beijing

     "There’s magic in the air at this English-language bookstore in Beijing. Bookworm, Beijing, China."

     The first thought that popped into my head was: "Oh, Hogwarts!"  Yeah, really, the "floating" candles really struck me.  The illusion, though, was more twinkling stars in the night sky.  Very divine, don't you think?

     Here are a couple of photos from The Bookworm's website.  Apparently, it is not only a bookstore but a library, bar, restaurant and events space as well.

     Anyway, here's the About Us excerpt from The Bookworm's website:

A bustling hive of literary activity, The Bookworm is forever expandineag its book offering – at the last count, we were able to boast 16,112 titles on our library shelves.

Our bookshop offers a wide range of sometimes surprising tomes, and our talks continue to beguile our audiences. Our restaurant is well loved for its tasty-yet-value-for-money menu, and spontaneous musical evenings are apt to bubble up from nowhere. 

It’s easy to see why The Bookworm is such a hit among Beijingers; where else can you while away the hours savouring fabulous fare, browsing thousands of books, sipping good espresso, being regaled by eminent authors, catching up with friends over your favourite tipple, or simply just checking your emails? The spacious, interconnecting rooms with floor-to-ceiling books on every wall are light and airy in summer, yet cosy and snug in winter. And the roof terrace is perfect for yard-arm cocktails. 

Booklovers, old China hands, newcomers, students and business travellers alike unite at The Bookworm. Our coffee’s always freshly ground, our chocolate cake voluptuous and our staff delightful. 

So, why not drop in sometime and join us?

      Apparently, The Bookworm now has branches in Suzhou and Chengdu.  However, if you want to visit the Beijing branch, here's its address and contact information:

Building 4, Nan Sanlitun Road,

Chaoyang District, Beijing

100027, P.R China

Tel: (010) 6586 9507

Email: books@beijingbookworm.com

Web: http://beijingbookworm.com

Directions to The Bookworm Beijing by Car, Bike or Foot (very detailed):

From Tuanjiehu Subway Station: Exit at the Pacific Century Plaza exit, on Gongti Bei Lu.

1. Head West along Gongti Bei Lu to the intersection of Nan Sanlitun Lu and Sanlitun Bei Lu.

2. Turn South onto Nan Sanlitun Lu and walk 200 metres (passing The Rickshaw on your left) to the first small turning on your Left. (Be careful not to walk too far South on Nansanlitun).

3.You will find The Bookworm, a large green building on your immediate Right. If you reach Banana Leaf, you've gone too far - we're between Banana Leaf and the main road.

From Gong Ren Ti Yu Cheng (The Worker's Stadium): 

1. Head East passing China View on the South side of the road, and 200 metres later, pass Ya Show Clothing Market on the North side. 

2. When you reach the intersection of Nan Sanlitun Lu and Sanlitun Bei Lu (approx 0.5km from The Worker's Stadium), turn South onto Nan Sanlitun Lu and walk 200 metres (passing The Rickshaw on your left) to the first small left turning on your Left. (Be careful not to walk too far South on Nansanlitun).

3.You will find The Bookworm, a large green building on your immediate Right. If you reach Banana Leaf, you've gone too far - we're between Banana Leaf and the main road.

BEIJING, CHINA

Poplar

     "How could any kid (or adult, for that matter) resist those delicious reading nooks? Poplar Kid’s Republic, Beijing, China."

     This one is special; it's designed for kids.  I mean, this is a sure way to get kids fall in love with books and reading.  Just look at the reading area!  Yup, this may very well be a good diversion rather than playing computer games day in and day out.  Ah, to be a kid.  

     A couple of photos from Poplar's website: 

    From Poplar's About Us page: 

Introduction of the Company 

The Beijing POPLAR Culture Project Co.,Ltd (BPCPC) was established in July,2004, by the Poplar Publishing Co., Ltd., which is the largest professional children’s book publishing company in Japan. 

Against the background that more attention is put on international cooperation, the BPCPC devotes itself to the creation and development of a new children as well as picture book culture. In the information era as we are in now, the children’s world accordingly is becoming diversified and more internationalized. We take children as the future pillars of each society and the hope of the world peace. In order to help them grow up healthily, we would launch various forms of international cooperation. With the mission to communicate the colorful and abounding culture, which is so indispensable to a meaningful life, to children, we hope to contribute our efforts to a better future for children, with the assistance of our Chinese friends.  

In the middle of Oct. 2005, Kid’s Republic, the picture book store of BPCPC, opened in Jianwai SOHO community, Beijing. It has become the first specialized picture book store in China. With the aim to supply the children and parents with the top of the best children’s books as well as a relaxing reading environment, not only plenty of carefully chosen Chinese and foreign children’s books are available in Kid’s Republic, a special reading room assembling excellent original version of picture books from all over the world is also established. Meanwhile, a Reader’s Club has been formed and various fun activities relating early reading have been launched. The club also periodically provides early reading information up to date.

In China's children book stores, there are many kinds of books available for children, but more and more people feel something important is missed in most of them, something that touches the heart naturally or some naive enthusiasm. Therefore, we want to introduce picture books, this special art form which has a long history in Western countries and often enjoyed by different generations together, to Chinese children. We hope these fine craft stories and art works nurture their hearts and spirits, and bring them an imaginative childhood.

Here's Poplar's store information and directions on how to reach there:

Store Hours

• Open everyday

• Summer (May 1st – sep. 31st) 10:00 am – 19:00 pm

• Winter (oct.1st – Apr.30th) 10:00am – 18:30 pm

• For more Information, please call: 010- 5869-3032

How to get here?

• Add: the First Floor, Building 13th, Jianwai SOHO Community, No.39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Beijing (Opposite the China World Hotel;At the South Side of the Chang An Avenue; Close to GuoMao Subway Station; Southwest of the Guomao Bridge. Please note, It ‘s NOT SOHO New Town)

• Main Bus Route: Take 28, 57, 705, 703, 801, 976 to Da Bei Yao Nan Station, On the West of the road is Jianwai SOHO Community.

• By Metro：Line 1 Guomao Station, use exit Cand walk 100 meters West.At the path to the South opposite the Jinglun Hotle, look for the sign that says with “Jianwai SOHO”.

• Parking Lot：Base 2 of Tower 13, Jianwai SOHO. Free parking ticket available. 

TAIPEI, TAIWAN

 VVG Something

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tendertiger/4721388082/#

"Almost utilitarian but filled with simple old-world grace, this store is a little like what we might imagine our ideal ship’s main cabin to look like. VVG Something, Taipei, Taiwan."

     Oh, this one's small, but pretty!  How come I haven't been to it before?  Anyway, I've roamed around one of the Eslite branches in Taipei, but it'll definitely be a treat to visit this bookstore.  Look at the details!  I'll want my private library to look like this.  Before I forget, VVG means "very, very good."

     I've scoured the internet for details about this lovely bookstore and found out that it has a cafe, too!  Also, from the blog of one of the owner's friend, "nanamoose:  m-u-s-i-n-g-s", I was able to learn some facts about the VVG Something bookstore.  An excerpt from the blog post entitled, Taipei Finds: VVG Something, can be found here:

"A cute little addition to the VVG empire that occupies one end of Alley 40 on Lane 181, VVG Something sells beautifully bound, imported hardbacks on gastronomy, along with random household knickknacks like old typewriters, ice-shavers, copper teapots from India, enameled brassware from Poland, and handmade stationary from Japan. If this doesn't already send you pacing out the door to go find it, add bright red French doors, white brick walls a big fat lamps with a black shade, and an oh-so-cute coffee counter that reminds you of an old ticketing booth.

The coffee here comes in gargantuan sizes, so pack up a good book, or simply flip through the ones available here, and while away a rainy afternoon in the company of Some Very Very Good Things."

      For more wonderful photos, you can check out nanamoose: m-u-s-i-n-g-s blog here: http://nanamoose.typepad.com/musings/2011/07/taipei-finds-vvg-something.html.  Or to this blog, entitled the Cookie Cutter here: http://thecookiecutterblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/taipei-vvg-something.html.

      Contact information for the VVG Something bookstore:

VVG Something is at 13, Alley 40, Lane 181, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Daan District, Taipei

台北市忠孝東路四段181巷40弄13號

Tel: (02) 2773 1358

      If you're getting off at Zhongxiao Dunhua Station, it's a 4 minute walk from the exit (via Google maps).

TOKYO, JAPAN

 Daikanyama T-Site

"This slick, super-modern store benefits from clean design and charming flourishes of light and mirrors. Daikanyama T-Site, Tokyo, Japan."

     And, this is Daikanyama T-Site, T apparently means, Tsutaya, if I read the Google translated website of this bookstore correctly.  Also, this is more than just a bookstore; it is a complex of stores, and I think, even a pet salon, again, if I read the Google translation correctly.  This one is super sleak, very modern.  So pretty!

     Here are some other photos from its website:

      And here's the link to the CNNGo article about Daikanyama T-Site if you want to know more about it: http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/shop/tokyos-stunning-palace-printed-word-334326.

     Here's instructions on how to reach the complex:

T-SITE Daikanyama Address

Ya ivy bookstore
Sarugakucho, 17-5, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 〒 150-0033

GARDEN
Sarugakucho 16-15, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 〒 150-0033

How to access 

Train
5 minutes walk from the "station" Daikanyama Tokyu Toyoko Line 

Bus
"Shibuya Station" Toranse Tokyu
"T Daikanyama site" → 

Car
5 minutes from the "Shibuya Station" JR Yamanote Line

Taxi
5 minutes from the "Shibuya Station" JR Yamanote Line

Travel Tips: Taiwan's Free Half-day Tours for Transit Passengers

     A member of PEX posted a query in the Taiwan travel thread about what to do during a stopover in Taiwan with 3 to 4 hours to spare.  I said I think a visa is still required, unless exempted.  As for things to do, I really am not sure since Taipei is an hour away by bus from the Taoyuan International Airport.  What I do know is that Taiwan, as other countries, have free half-day tours for transit passengers courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau for transit passengers, but only for those with at least 7 hours to spare.

        I copied the mechanics from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau website below for quick reference:

Nat Geo: About Taiwan - The Emperor's Treasures

     On-air now at National Geographic is a feature on Taiwan's imperial treasures, entitled, Inside the Emperor's Treasure.  And I'm trying to live-blog it!

     Qianlong was an emperor of China who believed that his legacy was to preserve China's arts and treasures.  He commissioned a catalogue of their treasures which took 16 years to finish.  He was truly devoted to the arts and collected a lot of artworks himself.

     The feature now shows the National Palace Museum which I visited when I first came to Taiwan.  How did the treasures come to Taiwan and how those artifacts survived?  I too, wonder, having seen those intricate ivory carvings, the jade cabbage, and the emperor's curio, among others, myself.

     Apparently, after the last emperor of China, these treasures became state-owned and beginning 1925, were displayed in public.  But due to wars, the treasures were moved from Beijing to Shanghai and other places.  There were treasure escorts then who protected the treasures, and after the defeat of the Japanese, these were returned to Nanjing.  However, after some years, the Nationalists moved the treasures to Taiwan.  And they survived!

     The treasures were first exhibited to the public in 1965 at the National Palace Museum.  Renovated in 2007, it has 3 floors, 29 galleries and hundreds of cases.  It's huge.

     Apparently, innovation was key to please Qianlong, like a vase in a vase.  I remember our tour guide saying that.  The treasures must be unique.  And gosh!  I've seen the ivory ball with many spheres within a sphere when I was there!

    Hey, who knew Qianlong made his own mark even on the masters' works, be it painting, poetry or other arts!  Amazing.

    To make sure these priceless objects remain preserved, humidity and temperature is closely monitored.  Plus, there is maximum security to prevent pilferage.  However, how about security from acts of God, like earthquakes?  Of course, they have measures for that.  The scrolls are anchored, as well as those on display inconspicuously, usually the most precious ones.

    Then again, the Museum has to battle time, and the battle is even more special with the 10,000 paintings and calligraphy it houses.  And so, these delicate treasures are lovingly restored and handled with utmost care.  

     To be relevant in the 21st century, a branch is being made in the south of Taiwan, a modern edifice at that, but it will focus on Asian art and culture.

    Well, the treasures are also made into 3d for a virtual museum; for maximum fun and so you'd know how it looks if you can't go to Taiwan yourself to see the treasures in real-time.

     That's it.  The episode has now come to an end.  So, if you ever visit Taiwan, don't forget to go to the National Palace Museum and see for yourself the emperor's treasures.     

 

   

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011: Day 4 - Hot Springs Bath at Spring City Resort, Beitou

     After days of walking, commuting and getting a little lost, I felt I needed a special treat to alleviate my weariness.  Really, it had taken its toll on my body, especially my feet.  And I had planned the perfect immediate solution to relieve my tiredness: a hot springs bath in Beitou!

At the Beitou MRT Station.

Special Train to Xinbeitou.

     The last time I went to Taiwan, I had a hot springs bath in a Japanese-style common bath house, the ones you read in mangas where most probably, older people go to.  I got really scared and uptight during my first first bath house experience since I had to go buck naked.  Yup, in my birthday suit.  I was so shy!  But, I overcame it eventually since there was only a middle-aged lady in the communal bath who was then preparing to leave.  So, in the end, I got the whole ladies' bath to myself.

     I still am not accustomed to bathing and dipping in the hot springs bath with other people, naked, so when I returned to Taiwan, I researched thoroughly where I can get a private hot springs bath.  I considered Villa32, but it's really expensive, and it's only for 90 minutes.  A private hot springs room at Villa32 costs NTD 2,000 on weekdays and NTD 3,000 on weekends and holidays, good for two persons.  I considered taking the buck-naked-route at Villa32 since it's just NTD 1,500 and NTD 2,000 per person for four hours, for weekdays and weekends/holidays, respectively.  But I didn't have that too long a time to relax at a hot springs resort.  So, I decided to just go to Spring City Resort which offers a private room for NTD 600 for an hour.  I promised myself that I'd just go to Villa32 the next time I visit Taiwan.  

     According to my research, I could ride the shuttle from the Xinbeitou station to Spring City Resort.  So, I waited just outside the station, near the taxi stand, and waited for the shuttle since it's free.  They also drop-off customers back to the station, too.  You'd easily find the pick-up point.  It's at the left side of Xinbeitou station  from the exit.  Just look for the particular resort's poster/information on a pole with the time tables for the shuttles.

     I think I waited for 20 minutes before the shuttle arrived.  I was contemplating on getting a cab but I had no reason to rush, so I just waited there.  Besides, even if I was standing near the taxi stands, the queuing drivers did not approach me to ask me where I'd want to go.  Probably because it was obvious that I was waiting for the free shuttle since I was standing at the proper pick-up point.  Oh, if you're planning to hike the Spring City Resort, don't do it.  It's kinda hard to go there; you had to take a turn every so often and it's very easy to get lost.  I think it's about a 10-minute drive from Xinbeitou. 

Spa Spring Resort lobby.

     Finally, the shuttle arrived and I got a room right away.  When I saw my room, it was small!  It's just like the size of a regular bathroom hotel.  And there was only a puny window.  But its still cute, with the wooden basin and stool.  It's also complete in toiletries, just like in hotels, and soft towels and hand towels, too.  I was constrained to mix the bath a little colder because there's just a tiny window and it was very easy for the room to get really hot.  Besides, if I don't mix the hot springs water with regular cold water, the room would smell really, really nasty.  Remember that the Beitou hot springs water is very sulfuric and it smells like rotten eggs.  Heehee.

 

     Although the private room is very nice and welcoming, I quickly appreciated the old  bath house I went to before in Taipei since there were 4 baths with varying degrees of hot springs water: really hot, regularly hot, cold water bath and a private tub which a customer can fill with water in her desired temperature.  In the old bath house, I was able to take 15 minute-alternate dips in the hot springs water and the cold springs water.  It's really beneficial to the skin that way.  In the private hot springs room, I only had one tub to dip in, and after every 15 minutes, I'd go to the wash area beside the tub and take a cold shower.  And it was kinda suffocating, too, because the room was not well-ventilated.  Thus, while I was dipping in the hot springs tub, I thought to myself that I should have gone to Villa32, or Spring City Resort's outdoor hot springs (but I didn't have a swimsuit with me) or to another hot springs with private outdoor hot springs, like the Asia Pacific Resort.

My favorite photo coz it shows the color of the hot springs water.

    While the rooms are pretty small, there's a common area outside the rooms where you can take a breather, watch tv, drink water or tea.  And before I forget, there's a bottle of water inside the private room. 

     It was already dark when I got out of my hot springs room, and I had to take a cab instead of the free shuttle since I'd have to wait for 30 more minutes.  I paid NTD 110 and I got off at the Beitou station.  Afterwards, I picked up my luggage at the Star Hostel, bade goodbye to the staff, and walked all the way to the Taipei Main Station to take the bus going to the airport.  I thought the airport bus will pick up passengers where I got off from when I came from the airport, so I boarded the bus that dropped-off passengers from the airport there.  It turns out that I had to go to the bus station at the other side of the Taipei Main Station and buy my ticket board the bus there.  Good thing the driver was nice and he allowed me to hitch, helped with my luggage, took me to the correct ticket counter, and when he saw that another ticketing officer beckoned me to take a ticket, he told me that it's for the next bus that will depart some time after and not the one that is about to depart.  The bus driver was really too kind.  And I was glad that the whole time I was in Taiwan, I've met people who were really kind and helped me even if it meant going out of their way.  So, I really want to thank those people from the bottom of my heart.  Xiexie!

   And, finally, my Taiwan travel adventures come to a close.  Please wait for my travel adventures in Singapore and Malaysia, soon!



     

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 4: Watching a 3D Erotic Movie at Vieshow Movie Theater

For some reason, I think my photos' resolutions are hazy...they don't look sharp at all.

     I know.  I sound like a dirty old man, but hey, how can I turn down this opportunity?  I have never watched an erotic movie until Sex and Zen.  And it was in 3D!  I've known it for weeks before its showing in Hong Kong and I got the surprise of my life when I came to know that the film was to be released in Taipei, too! A soft porn movie will never be shown in movie theaters in the Philippines, so I had to watch it for bragging purposes.  Har-har!

     Since I had little to do on my last day in Taipei, I proceeded to Xinyi district to catch Sex and Zen 3D at Vieshow cinemas.  Yup, it's Vieshow, not Viewshow; no spelling mistakes there.  Anyway, there are a lot of movie houses in Taipei, especially in Ximending, but I chose Vieshow since it's in Xinyi where I could get a better view of the Taipei 101. Of course, I checked the schedule before I went there, but still, I lost a lot of time going in circles at Wanhua district hunting down the Monga filming locations.  So, I got in the theaters just in time for the movie, but not to eat lunch. I ended up buying a soda and popcorn to curb the hunger.  Yes, it was very unhealthy.

     To get to the Vieshow Cinemas, I took the MRT from the Longshan Temple station to the Taipei City Hall station, and walked far to reach the Vieshow cinemas under the harsh sun.  I passed by a very long strip of malls, I think its the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi mall and I wanted to shop but I was running late for the Sex and Zen 3D screening.  So, the beautiful shops were just a mirage.  Sadness.

     When I finally got to Vieshow, I bought my ticket, and waited for several minutes before we, the audience, were allowed into the theater.  And I got to finally watch my first porn movie ever on the big screen!  Who knew?!  But you might wonder how the hell did I understand the movie?  Simple.  There were English subtitles.  So, yay!

     Anyway, if you want to know my review of Sex and Zen 3D, click HERE.

     Since I still had a lot of time before my flight back home, even after watching a soft porn, I decided to stop at Eslite, a very popular bookstore in Taipei.  It's like Fullybooked, my favorite bookstore here in my country, but bigger...a lot bigger.

     I saw a couple of lomo cameras, I think they're called the Diana, and I was so tempted to buy one.  But I had to stop myself.  My purpose there was to buy a book, not a camera.  While browsing the shelves, I decided to take photos of the bookstore, but a store clerk called out to me telling me no photos.  I obliged, of course.

     After purchasing the book I wanted, From Third World to First : The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 by Lee Kuan Yew, I gladly left Eslite and worked my way to Beitou for a hot spring bath.


     Before I end this post, here are some pictures of Taipei 101:

Taiwan Travel Adventures 2011 - Day 4: Gundam and Super Dollfies Save the Day?!

     After spending the whole morning at the Longshan Temple vicinity, I headed to the Taipei Main Station in search for the Taiwan Storyland. I had complete directions for that; after all, it's in the Taipei travel brochure I got from the Taipei Main Station MRT information counter.  It says there that the address is at B2, No.50, Chung Hsiao W. Rd., Sec., Zhongzheng District, Taipei, just a minute from one of the Main Station exits. But for the love of everything cute, I could not find the damn place!  I was at the correct location; I was so sure of it. But it was nowhere to be found.  

     I entered the mall, I think it was called K-Mall if I'm not mistaken, or something. I wandered in the upper levels, since I couldn't find the Taiwan Storyland the entrance of which was supposed to be at street level.  I went to all the floors but I couldn't find it until I reached the toy section.  There was a store clerk who speaks very good English.  I asked him about the Taiwan Storyland, showed him my brochure and I got the shock of my life when I got my answer.  He told me it's already closed and the place where it's supposed to be is now occupied by a gym!  Whoa!  I was not expecting that.  

     I was really, really dejected.  I was like looking all over it for 30 minutes.  I was about to go down again when I saw a very familiar figure...it was Gundam!  Apparently, there's a Gundam exhibition of some sorts.  And even if I have not watched a single Gundam episode, Gundam is so popular and so, it lifted up my spirits!  Yay!  My time was not wasted at all.

     Funny thing about the Gundam exhibit:  I've seen a couple of families taking photos with Gundam, and believe it or not, the fathers were the excited ones, not the kids!  Hahaha!  Fan boys!  Well, thanks to those fathers, one of them obliged to take a couple of shots of me and Gundam.

   Aside from Gundam, I saw some very appealing life-like dolls of superior qualitiy.  I think they're called Super Dollfies.  God, I wanted to buy those but they look very, very expensive.  I love everything cute, including dolls.  The dolls look like anime characters.  So, so kawaii!  The shopkeeper was so kind and she let me take a couple of photos of the shop and of the dolls.  Apparently, you can dress up and put accessories on your dolls and arrange them like telling a story.  Hay, so cute! Kyaa!

The shop's window display

The dolls on the window display.

So, so beautiful in traditional Japanese clothing.

I want these dolls!

I want these dolls so bad...Megami boy with pampered princesses.

Opposites attract!  Cute loli-type girl with a rocker-like boy, holding hands!

Goths!

Are they emos or just plain rocker dude and chick?