ANTENNA SHOP
If you get a chance to visit Japan, where do you want to go?
As far as we know, many foreign tourists would answer “Tsukiji,” ”Shibuya,” ”Asakusa,” and so on. All of these spots in Tokyo are popular among tourists. They would also answer, “Kyoto” or “Nara,” where many historical shrines and temples are located. Most Japan guidebooks for foreigners focus on Tokyo and Kyoto, so these answers are only natural.
Do you know how many prefectures there are in Japan? Japan is a very small country, but it has, surprisingly, 47 prefectures. I have never met a Japanese person who visited all 47 prefectures in Japan. Some Japanese do not even know areas other than a prefecture they live in.
However, you can get useful information just by going to shops in Tokyo. These shops are called “Antenna Shop,” built in many places, especially near stations along the JR Yamanote-line. An Antenna Shop provides travel information of a certain prefecture. If you are thinking of taking a trip to that prefecture, just talk to a travel adviser in the shop! In most cases, the advisers come from that prefecture, and they really love their hometown. They will be happy to give you information because they want you to be a fan of their prefecture. Every prefecture which has an Antenna Shop welcomes tourists, so they put great effort into making these shops enjoyable.
Antenna Shops also provide specialties of the prefecture. It is interesting to just look at the original products from that prefecture. They are selling souvenirs that are usually hard to find unless you go to that prefecture. You can get everything; foods, beverages, sake, and sundry goods produced in that prefecture. For example, after you come back from a trip to Hokkaido, you may long for Sapporo Ramen. How can you let go of such longing? Isn’t it sad to think that you can never enjoy Sapporo Ramen again? Don’t cry…Antenna shop will help you. You can go to Hokkaido’s Antenna Shop and buy a Sapporo Ramen.
There are several Antenna Shops in Ginza, where our office is located. At Ginza 1-chome, there is “Okinawa Washita Shop (Okinawa’s Antenna Shop).” This is a very large shop, covered with tropical mood of Okinawa. The shop staffs are wearing half-sleeved Aloha shirts often worn by people in Okinawa, so you can enjoy Okinawa’s atmosphere. This shop widely covers food in Okinawa like vegetables grown in Okinawa (like Goya, Okura), Okinawa Soba, Rafutei and so on.
Okinawa Washita shop
Below are other Antenna Shops around Ginza.
・Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza (Hokkaido prefecture)
・Ikiiki Toyama Kan (Toyama prefecture)
・Ginza Kumamoto Kan (Kumamoto prefecture)
・Iwate Ginga Plaza (Iwate prefecture)
Unfortunately, these stores do not have English websites. If you are interested in Antenna Shops in Ginza, please feel free to ask us about them. We would be happy to give you the information of the shops.
Even though Japan is a small country, every area has its original culture. When you have a chance to come to Ginza, how about going to these Antenna Shops? By seeing various shops, we are sure that you will find a prefecture you want to visit in Japan. Or you may even feel like you’ve actually visited many prefectures!