/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>9365657

>>9373672
It depends, do you normally look like a cringy weeb when you wear lolita?

>>9373817
Oh look, its the cunt again. Your life must be terribly small.

>>9373834
>thinking there's only one cunt on this board

I saw a bunch of Chinese brandwhores in very very OTT Lolita on takeshita last time I went.
Maximum poof, too many bags, clogging the streets, and clogging closet child.

You'll be fine.

>>9373839
It's easy to recognize you, HWC.

>>9373817
>>9373834
This is a fair question on the subject though? Like, if you don't usually look cringy when wearing lolita in your home country, why would it be cringy abroad?

>>9373928
I'm not her nor am I the anon you called a cunt in the lifestyle thread. You are actually the one who contributed nothing to these threads.

>>9373817
Pretty much this. Unless you dress like shit it'll probably be fine.

>>9373672
I'm currently planning a trip to Japan that I want to use to buy some Lolita/Otome fashion.
I think how people in Japan will react to you wearing Lolita, will depend on where you are - I'd think it's less of a shocker on Omotesando than it would be in some rural small town. Be aware of course that if you're a visible foreigner you'll stand out already, no matter what you wear. Not sure if Lolita really changes that much about it, as I've only been to Japan wearing normie clothes so far.

Chinese tourists in Japan are cringey as fuck. Anyone who is well off enough to travel from North America to Japan and knowledgeable about customs and how to not be a shitty person will be fine. Chinese people give zero fucks.

I wore lolita/otome in Japan recently, and didn't get any particular stares/comments. I receive more attention from strangers in my home country honestly. However, if you are white/non-Asian, you will stand out regardless so just use that opportunity to dress up as much as you want since people will stare at you anyway.

>>9373672
I'm going to Japan in April/May, are there any current resources on buying lolita clothes in Japan? I probably will be wearing casual clothing to save room in my suitcase for some rad lolita binge shopping.

>>9373967
They're so fucking loud!

>>9374084
Laforet at Harajuku and Marui Annex at Shinjuku. What brands are you interested in? Most are in those two spots, but there are some like Ozzoneste in... whatever the underground mall in Shinjuku is called.

There's also Closet Child, of course.

>>9374096
Angelic Pretty. I'm going to hunt down sugar pansy.

>>9374099
yeah, then definitely LaForet. If you go during morning on a working weekday it will also be dead, so you can try stuff and look around more calmly (if you don't mind the shop girls following you and trying to make conversation).

>>9373967
I'm not denying Chinese tourists are annoying but there are plenty of American tourists with similarly bad behavior.

I came back from Japan a week ago and I regret not wearing any of the Jfash I bought with me because I was afraid I was "trying too hard". I got stared at regardless by everyone and their dog, so yeah as >>9374057 said, just do it and have fun.

>>9374107
I don't know a word of japanese but hey, hopefully they will help me find sugar pansy. LOL

>>9374127
I speak very basic japanese, and they do it anyway haha.

If you know what you want beforehand, having a pic on your phone will make both of your lives a lot easier. Otherwise, you can get away with basic phrases like "I'll take this" and "Does this come in X"?

I live in Japan. If you're in Tokyo do what you want within reason, it won't phase anyone. People come to Tokyo to let their hair down a bit, so wear whatever you like. Honestly fellow foreigners are likely to be more annoying. Half the people you see are going to likely be tourists, both Japanese and foreign.

Outside of Tokyo it depends. Nagoya and Osaka no one will likely give a shit either. You're not likely to see too many Lolitas in Nagoya but it's a big enough city foreigners aren't a rare sight, and neither is alt fashion. Osaka is kinda like Tokyo in that you can do about anything within reason. If you go to Kyoto and Nara though I'd skip Lolita. Otome might be better in those places simply because you're likely going to be visiting a lot of temples and shrines and that's a lot of walking. Lolita wouldn't be too practical.

If you're going shopping for Lolita, wear Lolita/otome to Brand shops and closet child, the difference in how you're treated is night and day. If I'm in casual clothes because I've been on the train for three hours the shop girls mostly snub me. Wearing Lolita I'm inundated wirh smiling chatty shopgirls trying to sell me the latest collection and chat. It's kinda adorable. (Personal opinion: laforet shopgirls are much friendlier than the girls in the Annex, except for the girls in Excentrique. They're darling)

If you're going to brave Takeshita, make sure you get bubble tea and a crepe, everyone else has one and they have some pretty crazy crepe flavors.

Yes people have gone to Meiji shrine in Lolita, although I personally won't. It feels disrespectful to me, plus there's a lot of walking to be done in the Meiji/Yoyogi area.

Speaking of Yoyogi, it's a really nice place to stop and eat something from the convenience store, and rest your feet. There's also sometimes some yatai (food stands) outside the entrance next to Meiji selling yakisoba and meat buns. They're pretty good, and pretty cheap.

>>9374194
>pretty crazy crepe flavors.
Please tell me more

>>9373967
money cant buy class nor manners/etiquette. tsk tsk

>>9374246
More like Mao ruined any class and culture we had and the economic boom meant that lots of poor farmers suddenly got lots of money. Aka everyone is new money.

>>9374099
go to every closet child you can manage. i was looking for the mint one but only found the yellow and lavender colorways. yellow was at a few different ones. Also check harajuku closet child more than once if you can.. like on monday and sunday or something split apart

>>9373672
Going to Japan in 3ish weeks, planning to binge on Jfash and Lolita- no cares about it "fading" out or whatever, still strong here and I love it.

How much can you even fit in a suitcase anyway? When I say binge, I mean binge.

>>9374701
bring an empty suitcase or buy one when you get there

>>9374194
>f I'm in casual clothes because I've been on the train for three hours the shop girls mostly snub me. Wearing Lolita I'm inundated wirh smiling chatty shopgirls trying to sell me the latest collection and chat.

This kinda sucks that they're snobby but I also don't exactly blame them? A normie foreigner (I'm assuming you aren't Japanese here) that walks into their store, is usually a tourist there to waste the shopgirls' times, make a mess, harass them/make fun of the clothes, etc. If you're decked out, then they know you most likely are there to shop and be serious.

>>9374708
I'm bringing one with like the minimal shit to get me by for two days until I can buy things-- but JAL lets you bring ~two~ for free. So I plan on buying one in Tokyo and loading it up too.

Any shit to avoid seeing in Tokyo that's over-hyped? Should I bring a petticoat or buy one when there?

>>9374124
I'll grant you that but there are simply more of them therefor the stigma is higher for Japanese citizens. They also crowd up brand stores during new releases to go scalp everything later.

>>9373672
Wearing lolita as a gaijin or if you're Japanese is going to be weird and cringy to most people anyway. So who cares? Just wear it out to the shops and have fun with it.

>>9374701
I brought back around 50 lbs of new clothes stuck between a suitcase and a duffel bag and 1 carry on. You can bring quite a bit! I even brought 3 Lolita coats back.

>>9374739
Wow! Three lolita coats? I fear a lot less my 100lb weight limit at this point.

I've never traveled overseas so I'm worried about the stupidest shit.

>>9373967
to be fair so many chinese tourists anywhere are fucking terrible.

I find this type of bag nice when you get a lot of stuff, because when it's not full you can keep it with you in the plane

I'm going to Tokyo for spring vacation so I'm interested in all lolita and gothic stores. I've been a few times, so I try to visit a different shop each time. If anyone has other shop recommendations, please share them. I don't want to miss anything.

As for j-fashion in Tokyo, don't worry, just wear it. I've seen foreigners wear it and it's fine. You're already going to stand out anyway in normie clothes, so pack versatile j-fashion attire. And go to a laundry mat and wash your clothes. You'll be able to pack less. Try to pack as much as you can in your carry-on, then redistribute it into your two checked baggage.

>Pack only one petticoat. Choose cupcake or A-line and commit
>Buy and use space saving bags
>Pack a clean shoe box to pack accessories in on the return trip
>Pack zip-lock bags to bring back cosmetics or oil cleansers
>Your hotel will have most toiletries and you can buy what you need at drug stores
>Don't over-pack! Managing large, heavy luggage in crowded public transit sucks

>mfw so many people going in spring
>mfw I'm going to be there in 3 weeks too

Does anyone want to do a meet up in Harajuku for cute drinks or something? Or is that too creepy?

>>9373672
>be me
>traveling from nearby big city to Tokyo by high speed train
>waiting for crosswalk light near departure station
>old lady starts talking to me about my j-punk clothes
>pretty sure she's asking me if I'm a prostitute
>light turns green and I get to train
>looking for seat
>open seat next to a nun, but I'm not wearing moitie and I feel a little down from my earlier conversation
>find empty row
>rando guy looking for a seat does a double-take and chuckles when he sees me, sits next to me
>looking up words in dictionary, thinking I look too extreme today
>pleasantly surprised old lady asked me if I was a model

I have a few more stories. I can't really tell if it's from my clothes or my foreignness that these things happen to me though.

>>9374800
Another train story
>local train in Tokyo
>train is kind of full but there's a place to sit so I take it
>guy squishes in next to me
>he starts "falling asleep"
>suddenly leaning closer and closer to me
>I lean away as far as I can without annoying the other person next to me
>I'm getting more and more irritated
>people across from me are starting to get nervous I might make a scene
>"sleeping" guy is starting to rest against me
>I elbow this guy and kind of shove him onto the person on the other side of him
>starts to lean back towards me
>at my stop so I get up suddenly and the guy awkwardly falls into my empty spot

Normally people just stare into my soul on trains.

>>9374805
You know, you can still be polite and tap the person shoulder so they don't fall over. It's common for people, especially business people, to fall asleep on their commute. Just tap the person gently and smile.

>>9374805
Sorry omitted the j-punk fashion. That's what I wear as well as j-goth when shopping since lolita impedes me when I try to walk through tiny urban hallways, elevators, and shops. I save lolita for concerts or cute restaurants.

Last story
>eating at a cute restaurant in classic lolita
>go to pay
>staff see me at register but she walks away, that's strange since Japanese service is pretty great
>maybe she's busy, no big deal
>about to push button to notify someone to come to the register so I can pay
>out of corner of my eye, notice a staff member hiding behind kitchen wall
>push button
>staff member pops out with a big smile
>I pay and this cashier is staring at me with a huge smile
>I'm so confused, why?
>thank him politely and leave
>realize he must like lolita as I exit building

I have more, but I think that's enough stories for now.

I might visit japan in autumn near Kyoto, what are good places to visit?

>>9374203
haha, where to start? Do you want a slice of cheesecake, surrounded by sliced strawberries and whipped cream, and wrapped in a crepe? That's a thing. With ice cream on top? Sure. Want a crepe with scrambled eggs, lettuce, and ketchup? Yep, that's a thing too. If it can be wrapped in a crepe, it's probably been done. Matcha is my favorite flavor, but the chocolate standby is always good. Prepare to be overwhelmed by the displays when you go, and remember that most the shops taste the same so find the shortest line, unless you see a specialty flavor you want. Honestly it's as much about the experience as it is the crepe, it's a good chance to pause and people watch. There's also a shop that sells rainbow spirals of cotton candy that's bigger than your head on Takeshita.

>>9374701
A lot. Daiso sells vacuum bags to make your space go farther. If people need suitcases, I recommend either a secondhand shop or Donki.

>>9374712
Oh I know why they do it, and it totally makes sense. I'm just letting people know of the discrepancy so they can either dress up or be ok with pretty much being ignored. And they aren't rude or anything, they're just not chatty. Whereas when I'm wearing lolita and they find out I speak Japanese decently, they're over the moon. It's kinda adorable. (also yeah, I'm as white bread american as they come)

I'll just continue here...

If you're going to walk Takeshita leave the platforms at home. Takeshita isn't level at all, and it's not concrete, it's mostly brick paved. If you stumble (and there's a good chance of that with the crowds) the platforms might break off. Which is shitty because then you might have to switch to the shit normie shoes you tossed into your bag. This has happened to me.

Don't bother trying to stow bags at Harajuku station. There aren't many lockers, and all of them are behind the ticket gates (Meaning that if you come via the Yamanote Line you have to leave the same way).

>>9374099
You're not going to find a release that old at AP. Check at the various Closet Child locations

>>9374852
Continuing again.

Instead you can use the coin locker shops along Takeshita, or you can go to the Meiji-jingumae subway station and use the wall of lockers there. Don't bring luggage and shit onto Takeshita, it's a massive pain in the ass. And CC is so small and cramped luggage makes everyone there secretly wish for your suffering.

Daiso is awesome, I highly recommend stopping there at some point my rule is if i need something basic always check Daiso first. Donki as well, it's great for souvenirs and toiletries.

Prepare to get lost in Shinjuku station, the stupid thing is a warren of tunnels and exits. To avoid it, just go by subway to Shinjuku-sanchome. The right exit will put you a stones throw from the Marui Annex, although Shinjuku CC is a bit of a hike from there. Ikebukuro is better, just follow the signs for the Sunshine City exit. As a side note, Sunshine City itself is worth a visit. Axes Femme, an aquarium, and a massive pokecenter.

Also to give a bit of an idea about lolita outside of the main metro areas. I live in a decently sized city that has an AP shop, but in the year and a half I've lived here I've only seen lolitas in the wild maybe three times. It's so bland here I find myself getting stupidly excited seeing any kind of alt-fash.

I'll add more tips as I think of them. Feel free to ask questions too.

>be me
>forget mascara so go buy some after work and do makeup in the toilet at Shinjuku station before heading out somewhere
>little girl stares at me
>stares some more
>little girl's friend comes out of a stall
>little girl points me out to her friend
>they stare some more
>and stare
>come nearer and walk around me so they can stare even better
>finally leave

Usually I don't notice if I'm being looked at but this one was kinda hard to miss, and they were school age so their staring was more judgey and not the adorable staring in awe that younger girls sometimes do (which is cute af). I just wanted to put my mascara on in peace, don't stare at me when I do my weird mascara putting on face, sob.
But usually I think I don't get stared at much, or I've become desensitized.

By the way Wunderwelt doesn't have a physical shop so if you want to buy from them you have to order online and get it sent to your hotel.

>>9374743
Yep don't worry too much about it! Only problem was I went solo so getting to the airport was a bit tough but usually people are very helpful. I also suggest a foldable carry on like >>9374752
Suggested which is exactly what I used. After I got through security I bought even more snacks and stuff and stuffed it until it burst. Easy way to get quick souvenirs for friends at no cost to you.

>>9374852
Besides the matcha one, all of those are normal

>>9374733
I don't disagree. I had one Chinese girl in front of me (for a non Lolita related clothes release) who bought 6 of a bunch of things and held up the register for almost an hour on her own.
But the white Americans I know were obnoxious in their own ways. Literally doing pull ups on the trains from the hand hold rings or paying music and singing out loud in a crowded elevator kind of thing.
I'm Chinese-American so I try to avoid associating myself with either of those.

>>9374791
Friend and I will be there in May.

anyone know any brands or secondhand shops out there that still sell mori girl stuff? I know it's a hella longshot since mori dead is dead af.

>>9374455
This.

>>9373672
How do you deal with kafunsho when in lolita?

>>9375060
>held up the register for almost an hour on her own
This happened to me so often. Liz Lisa Harajuku, I wanted to buy a few things, some Chinese lady was buying stacks of clothing.
BTSSB in Nagoya, I just wanted to buy a pair of boots, some Chinese guy holding up the register to buy tons of items.
Luckily I didn't have too much of a problem elsewhere other than some Chinese girl at ParisKids following me and my friend around and standing in front of every rack we tried to look at...

>>9375170
Favorite one is some good shit. Still has a physical store in the ikebukuro sunshine complex thing.

>>9374708
Aren't luggages quite expensive in Japan? Can you recommend a store with good prices?

>>9375056
Agreed. Crepes are basically really thin pancakes and all the things anon mentioned are totally normal shit you put on pancakes, so I'm not sure why this is supposed to be impressive.

>>9373967
Give me some stories, anon? I want to know how they behave in Japan in particular, especially lolitas.

>>9373915
How was it shopping in Closet child? Can you get by with just speaking English plus some basic japanese words?

>>9375267
>Crepes are basically really thin pancakes

Ricky Bobby, what are you doing in here?

>>9375360
The staff really don't interact with you except for trying things on and ringing you up. If you want try on, just "try?" and hold up what you want to try. Take off your shoes before stepping in the changing room. For the register, they'll type the total out on a calculator and show it to you

Kiru (着る) means to wear. If you want to ask "can I try this on?" say "kore o kite mite mo ii desu ka?" Also, "kore wa o ikura desu ka?" means "how much is this?" Hope this helps.

>>9374791
Going in three weeks myself!

>>9375655
Same

Cake slices in crepe is the weird "flavour" that I've not found in other places, especially cheesecake crepe. Works pretty well, too. The strawberry cake crepe was pretty good, too, but if you're after unusual, cheesecake crepe has been harder to find outside of Japan, for me anyway.

If you're on Takeshita Doori, there's a small little side road somewhere around the Bodyline area with a Baskin Robbins on it, they do the crepes pretty well and you get better ice cream for almost the same price as the Angel crepe stall. Since it's a chain store, look for their seasonal special as well, we were there in autumn and got chestnuts with chestnut cream in our crepe and it rocked.

For those with savoury leanings, the crepe stall outside La Foret does things like prosciutto salad in crepe.

If you're more of a pancake gal, there's a Hoshino Coffee at the start of takeshita, right opposite Harajuku Station. It's underground, under the convenience store, look for the Hoshino signs downstairs. They do fluffy chiffon pancakes that's like a cross between a pancake and cake, their coffee and regular food is pretty good too. Be warned they're a fairly popular chain and there may be a line, the locals like them a lot too.

>>9375765
>>9374791

I'd be down to do some cute tea or something. It'd be cool.

>>9375588
Ore wa rorita ga daisuki nandayo to u too buddy

>>9375913
2bh I'm too shy but it's cool that we're all traveling at the same time!

>>9375829
Honestly, I'm from an area with a shit ton of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, and Japanese food and desserts. Specialty pancakes, crepes, cakes, and shaved ice being prominent.

So do you have any other recommendations that I might not get here in N.A?

Went for almost a month in December with some friends. I was the group translator and two of us(me included)wore gothic and visual kei during our trip. We went from Osaka to Kyoto and then Tokyo. Definitely toned it down in Kyoto since we were in a very tiny neighbourhood(we did Airbnb). I noticed that knowing Japanese made the locals and shopkeepers behave more friendly towards me than when my friends interacted with them. Don't bring too much shit on the trains especially during rush because you get shoved, glared at, and have to push your way out the train. My group brought all our suitcases from Kyoto to Tokyo and it was absolute hell trying to take the local trains after the Shinkansen.

>>9376025

I'm not American and have zero clue what's even in your area, I'm afraid.

If you're after a food experience that can't be found elsewhere, Takeshita Doori isn't the right street for it anyway, it's a shopping street, not food street. If you really want to push for something unusual to eat, you could try looking for Sweets Paradise just for the novelty of a dessert buffet, or go to the Dominique Ansel cafe in nearby Shibuya (if that's unusual for you). My personal suggestion, do Baskin Robbins, precisely because it's an American brand and while the ice cream is mostly the same the desserts are different from what you'd get in America (or elsewhere) while being delicious.

Otherwise, you're better off splurging big on a kaiseki meal at a sit-down Japanese restaurant, the more traditional the better. Another thing is to get to Arashiyama and try out those Buddhist places that do full Buddhist meals (or just eat the tofu ice cream. There's a version with little yuba pieces in the ice cream). If you're not stuck in Tokyo you could get up to Hokkaido and try the seafood there. Or, you could do sushi in both Tokyo and Osaka and do a comparison (it's subtly different). Kyoto's also well-known for hundreds of small little wagashi shops, if that's your thing.

For bragging rights, you could track down Laduree cafe -- it's expensive (so are the kaiseki, but imo the kaiseki is a more unique experience). There's three Square Enix cafes in Tokyo (one is specific to FF14). If you want to go the weeb/lolita route you could do the famous Swallowtail cafe, Good Smiles (animate) cafe. You need to book ahead for these. There's a lot of other pop-up themed cafes, but they tend to have pretty blah food, so only do those if you really like the theme (or for bragging rights). There's also the historical stuff -- the first omurice shop in Japan is still open (and very good), the soba shop that used to supply the emperor, tsujiura senbei shops (I forget which temples have these)

>>9375913
Diff anon, I'll be there in three weeks as well. This is my first time going to Japan and I'll be there for a month. I would be down for a small gull meet!

>>9374791
I'm up for it!

>>9375405
what, you don't like thin little pancakes?

>>9375264
Suitcases are expensive anywhere, it's why I recommended bringing an empty one you already have with you first.
>>9374752 works as a back up but its basically a giant plastic-y tote bag, so if you buy a lot of shit you're going to be lugging all of it on your shoulder and that starts to hurt after awhile.

>>9376095
You can just do the Russian doll with your suitcases. Pack clothing into the small bag, then small bag - > large bag.

>>9374743
Which airline are you travelling with? You should read their regulations on luggage. With most airlines, it's not too expensive to bring a 2nd piece of luggage, so if you notice that your shopping spree is going quite far, just buy a 2nd suitcase and enjoy!

>>9375359
This is secondhand, but maybe some anons can verify. To trt and deter scalperd Angelic Pretty made a rule that only people wearing Angelic Pretty could buy releases during a release day so a bunch of Chinese ladies showed up in really old AP

>>9376086
Gull meet sounds good to me.

>>9376112
Which is why AP now insist people wear entirely AP to releases, including shoes/blouse/etc as well as a dress, even for lucky packs and other sets that are supposed to be available to people wanting to get started in lolita. It's a bit shitty really.

>>9376112
No, some guy showed up with an AP salopette over just one arm.

>>9376179
They no longer have this rule for new releases. Occasionally they will for certain event (like at Grand Bazar archive sale). You need to check the blog for each shop for information

>>9375359
Different anon, but I live in a major city in Japan.

Chinese tourists in general are loud, block walkways, and have a general disregard for rules. You can't go to more touristy areas without running into huge groups of them.
I've met some Chinese lolitas that were rather nice and quiet, but they're not the norm. On New Years, a group of Chinese girls held up the luckypack line at AP because they had tried to circumvent the "one per person" rule, then when staff told them they had to put some back, they tried to open them to pick the best one. Meanwhile, the line for the register got backed up to the door.

what's a good place to buy jewelry? I'm looking for things more on the hand made side - I went to annex and the metal jewelery seems... cheap? like sort of stuff I could get in a normie store for 5 bucks.

>>9374820
Gion!!! And the Gold and Silver temples. Kyoto was my favorite city in Japan, it wasn't touched during WWII (do not get political abt this u gulls) so all of the original, old buildings still stand.

Make sure to wear super light clothing if you're there in the summer (esp. August), otherwise you'll be misery. Honestly, just buy clothes there. US clothes material is too thick.

Also bring alcohol wipes (to kill the bacteria that makes you smell) to wipe yourself down if you're going to be out for a full day. Especially your armpits.

Question for people who have gone shopping for lolita in tokyo - do victorian maiden and mary magdalene have physical locations? And if so, where? I've been to japan once before but I didn't have much time to shop, and I only managed to slip into closet child for a bit. I saw innocent world's location, but didn't have time to go in.

>>9374820
Definitely visit Fushimi Inari, if you can. It's hauntingly beautiful, especially at night, and it's a great spot for hiking. The main trails are really packed with tourists, but there are a lot of little "off shoot" trails that are usually pretty empty.

Please write a blog about this if any of you are going

>>9375056
Matcha is the best

>>9376317
Maybe try abilletage (not sure about the Laforet store but the one in Shinjuku is pretty and also a cafe so I would recommend going there anyway), they have various handmade and indie accessory brands there. Same for the Seraphim store and Cordless Trapeze, but they're both quite out of the way. Arundel has some stuff from handmade brands too but also cheap aliexpress/Taobao stuff so be careful (their storefront is very cute though).

>>9376355
According to their websites, VM only has their press room in Osaka, MM has no physical store. In Tokyo you can get some of their items at Atelier Pierrot in Laforet or at the Kera shop in Shinjuku Marui Annex.

I wore lolita a few times on my Japan trip last year. I got a bunch of stares, but people stared at me out of lolita anyways.

My boyfriend wanted to stop for ramen one day and I was nervous about it splashing up on my dress so I was trying to be extra careful. Our waitress brought me a paper apron to wear, which I thought was super thoughtful, I didn't know they even had those, and told me I was cute. This was in Tokyo.

Weirdest experience was in Osaka. I was in a restaurant and there were two deaf ladies sitting at the table next to us, speaking in sign language. It was VERY obvious they were talking about me. Pointing is kind of necessary for sign language, and they weren't even trying to hide it. At first I thought they assumed I couldn't tell, but now I'm pretty sure they just didn't give a fuck.

>>9376328
Japanese clothes are all polyester. That shit does not breathe in 23C 80+% humidity

>>9376371
Omg no I miss it by a week.
Where did you hear about it?!

If people are looking for "weird flavors" Then find black sesame and kinako I guess. I can't think of anything particularly strange except very regional stuff like edamame paste mochi and raindrop mochi and other wagashi treats.

>>9376459
Twitter

I'm spending a year in Kyoto starting September. Does anyone know any good clothing stores that aren't obvious. Things like second hand/thrift shops.

>>9376497
There's a shop called Chicago, but it's not lolita. It's in a shopping area with a visual kei store near it too as well as this awesome sticker store down the way if you're into that. You can get kimono there too if you like traditional clothes. If you're looking for second-hand lolita though, you'll have to go into Osaka which isn't that far away.

>>9376112
>>9376179

AP releases haven't been doing so well recently so they no longer have this rule. I went just last year and got in fine, our line had maybe 10 people in it.

Just to let anons know you don't need to show up in head-to-toe AP if you're intending to buy a less hyped up release -- which is probably most of this spring, considering their previews so far.

>>9373672
Puroland, worth the visit, worth the cost?

Worth wearing Lolita to?

>>9377277
Awesome. I'm not so focused on second-hand lolita, but just second-hand in general. Thanks so much!

>>9377663
No problem. It looks like it has two floors. I haven't had time to check it out though. I think it's a chain. There is also a chain of second hand clothing stores called Kinji. There's two shops in Osaka that are literally right next to each other and easy to find. You'll find a lot of grandma-kei and other odd vintage pieces in there along side standard fashion. The occasional visual kei items pop up there too.

>>9378385
Forgot to add that there is a Kinji in Harajuku. I thought it would be a treasure trove of second hand cool kid clothes, but all I found were acid washed jeans and muumuus...

>>9377582
Worth the cost if you enjoy shows, meeting the characters, eating themed foods and having a big range of products to shop from. There are only a couple of rides and they are comparable to It's A Small a World at Disney and are centred around the character displays, but there are a number of walk through experiences like kitty's house and the little twin stars room.

Personally I think it's an adorable place and the tickets are relatively cheap compared to other theme parks like Disney, and it's unique to Japan. I would recommend visiting at least once. It's a great place to take pictures and get merchandise which you won't find in regular sanrio stores. When I have visited I have always worn jfashion and it has made the day that bit more special. Ultimately it's up to you to decide if you would prefer to spend your money on a cute experience, or on something different and maybe more thrill-based.

>>9374127
Sugar pansy was released like 6 years ago?!?!?

>>9378388
It's a bit hit and miss - I've found some amazing things like cheap Milklim and 6%dokidoki items in Kinji stores before, but sometimes I can only find old pajama tops and basic tshirts. Your best bet is to pop in from time to time to see what else has come in. Same goes for Closet child and other second hand stores since they get new things all the time.

>>9374203
I got one with a whole pudding on top.

>>9376469
Shirasu ice cream on enoshima.

>>9376497
Pretty much all of koenji. Don don down on wednesday is pretty good and there was this everything 300 yen store where I got a super nice dress. Lots of cute thrift shops and some cult party kei shops.

>>9376497
Oh sorry, this is in tokyo

>>9375056
Wrapping a cheesecake in a pancake is normal?

>>9374127
Excuse me my good man, have you any Chesapeake tufted knickerbockers in this season? They are my dream knickerbockers!

>>9382416
normal is relative.


On topic, anyone knows any IRL shops for menhera/gurokawa style???

>>9374194
I want to read more of your posts, do you blog?
>what have I become

>>9382850
Seconded.

>>9382609

Maybe Hyper Core?

>>9373672
>I'm personally curious about wearing lolita while in Japan, as I am going to visit in the spring. Is it acceptable, or am I doomed to look like a cringey gaijin?
Why the do you care if some Japs think you're cringey for wearing lolita as a gaijin?

>>9373672
I want Youtube vloggers who do tours or hauls for kawaii shit in Tokyo? Anyone got reccs?

>>9376025
SGV?

Not Japan relayed, but I'm planning to go to Shanghai, and I'm considering making a small report for cgl.

I'm would write about Dimei guang chang, as seen in this post.
http://cuteshanghai.blogspot.ca/2013/11/dimei-guang-chang-underground-shopping.html?m=1

It'll be an updated version I suppose. I'm curious if it's still there or not, and what kind of items are offered.
Would anyone be interested?

>>9384973
i would be! im doing shanghai and tokyo next year so it'll be good to know

>>9384973
I'd be interested! If you're stopping by any other cities (Hong Kong, Beijing?) I'd love to hear about them too!

>>9384998
>>9385031
I was hoping for some interest. I thought I was the only one stalking blogs for kawaii travel deets.
There's actually a huge lack in resources for cute Chinese stores, or jfashion stores in China.

I'm going to Shanghai, and I also plan to go the alleged "taobao irl market". My family friend is a local, and a pretty fashionable one too, so I hope to write about niche places.
I also might wear Lolita one day, and write about how that goes.

Other than Shanghai, I'll be gointo Dalian, which is just some small hick town in China so nothing to write home about.

Expect a post or a thread sometime in June I guess.

>>9373672
I'm curious as to what kind of budgets people are bringing to Japan? especially if you're into multiple Japanese fashions.

>>9385137
I brought about 3000usd only for shopping and ngl, I burnt through it so fast I had to sit down and actually look at what I had bought. (brand and lots of weeb shit).

>>9385137
Stayed for two weeks and brought 2000usd for personal use. I was the only person in my group that had money leftover during the last two days. I still have a ton of 100yen coins that I'm saving for when I return next year. You can get really nice shit in the thrift stores across Tokyo and its super cheap.

>>9385137
I usually blow about $2k every trip specifically on jfash

>>9385228
Could you name a few good thrift stores there then? I'm going in July and last time I didn't visit any.

Alright all of you gulls who are going to Tokyo and are up for a meet, shoot me an email so I know how many are interested.

>>9376105
ohhhh clever I think I'll do this

>>9384973
Speaking of China. Does anyone know any cute shops or restaurants in Beijing?

Tips on traveling and shopping in Tokyo whilst knowing zero Japanese? I've always considered going, but I don't know any Japanese at all and I feel like you need to know some to navigate yourself around.

>>9385967
where are you going? If you can get yourself to

> read katakana
> memorize the most useful ten or so questions
> have common sense about who might know english (shopgirl in fancy shop in tourist area? probably. Granny in a middle of nowhere restaurant? no way).

You'll be good to go.

>>9385137
2-3k on average for jfash, weeb shit and crafting materials.

>>9385223
This. I am so worried that I'm going to do this.

>>9385967
I went alone knowing no Japanese except excuse me and thank you, but learnt some basic katakana and managed to do just fine in Tokyo.

>>9385967
No not really. Use google maps to get yourself around and know super basic Japanese like "thank you" and maybe "can I try this on?"

>>9385116
> Dalian
Oh gosh, update me if there's anything nice you find! I haven't visited there since eight years ago, but I remember there were a lot of marketplaces crammed with cute things (though that seems to be the usual with cities). I don't know if you're aware, but dalian has pretty great seafood you should check out.

>>9385967
I made a translator book for my travel buddy since she spoke 0 Japanese on our trip. You can honestly google 'Shopping in Japanese', 'Eating out in Japanese', 'Directions in Japanese', etc and then learn or write down the sentences you know you'll use the most. My advice is to learn the kanji for your train stops because some of the trains have no romaji for the stops.

What is the best way to pack a petticoat into luggage?

>>9386273
Packing cubes

>>9386257
>My advice is to learn the kanji for your train stops because some of the trains have no romaji for the stops

Where, anon? In my experience they have either romaji or the conductor announces them.

>>9386277
I must have had a lazy conductor because on my way to Shinjuku nothing was announced. The train line was entirely in Kanji and my group only knew where they were going because every stop had a romaji sign. They got lost several times in Kyoto because they knew 0 Japanese and somehow ended up in some tiny ass rural town when they meant to go to Shin Osaka. This was a few years ago though.

>ex-gf was japanese
>we lived in japan for about a year
>saw foreign cosplayers one time and she laughed at them
>tfw dated a bully

was indifferent since they were obese and their fits were shit so nothing lost in the end, but I guess nobody goes out planning on looking terrible

>>9386302
Every train within the Tokyo area that I've ever ridden has announcements in English in Japanese. Almost all trains have a scrolling led display or actual video screen above the door area that says the station in Japanese and English. And almost all platform signs list the station in both languages, and some even additionally in Korean

>>9374721
another idea anon....put your packed suitcase inside a larger one and check that. instant double suitcase, and you don't have to buy one in tokyo!

>>9386216
Will do! I'm going to meet my boyfriends family ther
It's a pretty out of the way town, so I'm surprised you replied. But I'll make sure to write some details for you!

>>9376060
>I noticed that knowing Japanese made the locals and shopkeepers behave more friendly towards me
seconded. i had this same experience (and a hilarious moment when a hotel clerk almost hid under the counter when a gaijin walked into his business hotel, but visibly became relieved when i spoke to him in japanese)

>>9386371
I'm glad to hear it's improved then. It was absolute hell getting around when I went. Has Google maps gotten any better at picking the correct JR lines? My friend and I tried to go to the giant Ferris wheel via google maps and it took us to train that went over a bridge in the exact opposite direction. It took us to the wrong bullet train as well when we went to Osaka and kept trying to make us take orange lines. I might try going again if navigation is better.

>>9386428
Not the anon you're replying to, but when I went recently I used google maps exclusively to get around and didn't have any issues that weren't my own fault. Basically my (possibly obvious) advice would be to triple-check the exact address you're putting in with google and maybe the place's website instead of just typing the English name into the maps app and picking the first result, because that tended to give me the wrong destination entirely if I was trying to get somewhere even remotely obscure.

> event I really want to go to is on Mach 20th
> work for foreign company so I'm not sure if we get the day off

god damn it I'm going to be so pissed if I miss Art Varie.

>>9386401
What does luggage run in Japan? If I chose to just buy one there...

>>9386410
My mom's half of the family is from there, but we haven't been back due to general heavy pollution. You probably already know this from your boyfriend, but invest in sick masks to cover your face. It's never happened to me but one of my friends fell ill due to the heavy smog in the air when visiting Beijing. Dalian doesn't have as bad air quality but it's enough that the sky is noticeably not as blue. If the sky is bright blue with no clouds one day that means wind has blown most of the pollution away, so going sans sick masks those days should be fine.

So with all the discussion of small jfashion brands shutting down, what's worth visiting? I'm going to Tokyo for the second time at the end of may - unfortunately my first time was as a young weeb, so I want to be more intentional/picky about what jfash I bring home this time. Obviously gonna hit up 6% dokidoki, closet child, and marui, but are there any other specific stores I should make a point to visit?

>>9386428
You're better off getting the Hyperdia App if you want accurate trains. Google Maps is only helpful because you can find places you want to go and stations near your destinations nad favorite everything ahead of time. That way even if you have no internet connectivity you can still use the GPS to know where you are relative to your favorites.

>>9386310
I really don't think it's fair to call her a bully considering the culture she grew up in.

I saw a lolita wearer in Inverness, Scotland while I was on holiday.

I'm going to France for work for a few months in the summer and I'm planing on spending a few weeks traveling through Europe. Is it worth packing the an lolita outfit? I wear toned down lolita every day but I don't want to look to flashy, or weight down my suitcase. Any advise besides common sense?

>>9390846

If you're just after the shopping, CC alone will give you loads of that. Each location has different stock, so make sure you hit up more than one. If you're into multiple alt styles, check for their nearby branches, sometimes the lolita stuff is on one floor, the gothic/punk is on a different floor, the otome/casual stuff is on yet another floor, and then the VW stuff is in another building across the road.

If you're after experience, AP still does lottery line up for their releases on Saturdays. It's your best bet to see lolitas, despite what the other anon says they still do tend to dress mainly in full AP lolita. If you don't particularly want to buy anything, you could just find out where they do the line up lottery and then go there early, find a cafe and people-watch.

Abilletage has a cafe-shop in Tokyo someplace as well, if you're into the neo-victorian-vintage-classic look they do.

>>9386725
A lot, like at least 10,000 yen, more like 20,000. It's better to bring an extra suitcase if your airline allows it for free or getting a shitty walmart special collapsible sack you can put in your main bag like this
https://www.walmart.com/ip/40-Wheeled-Rolling-Spinning-Suitcase-Duffel-Bag-Travel-Luggage-Black/148420918

>>9375060
Speaking of American tourists...I was walking along takeshita some time when the sun had already gone down alone but the street was still busy. There were these 2 American guys chatting up a group of Japanese girls, I already saw them once before on the street and they were kind of being loud and obnoxious by themselves so I avoided them and it was clear that they were "asking for directions" but actually flirting with the girls. But whatever the girls would be fine they were in a large group and they were politely giggling but I don't think they were actually getting charmed. I continued to explore the street and went in this sort of mini multistory mall? idk how to describe it lol

Anyways as I was getting out of the elevator on the top floor the same 2 American guys were on the top floor waiting for the elevator to go down. They kind of tried to block me from getting out for a bit (remember I am alone) and I just kind of side stepped a few times until I could get passed them and they started laughing and as the elevator door was closing they yelled at me to come suck their private parts in English but with an "Asian accent". I'm Asian and I often had Japanese people come up to me in Japan to ask me for directions so I assume I can pass for a Japanese person so they must of thought I wouldn't be able to understand them. Absolutely disgusted and shocked I wanted to quickly leave and meet up with my friend and since they were on the elevator I was going to take the stairs but when I got to the stairs I saw them on the next floor also taking the stairs (wtf they literally took the elevator for one floor and then decided to take the stairs?) so I quickly went back into the top floor to rushed to elevator because there was no one else on the stairs but them. There weren't many people on the top floor and I doubt the shopkeepers understood or heard them over the loud music so I felt really alone and that I just had to get out of there.

>>9385967
If you're just shopping I don't really feel like you need to know any. I like to shop alone and the shop assistants understand if you want to try something on and they how to tell you in English to "please take off your shoes" before entering the change room. Definitely get data for your phone to help you get around. Google maps was my bff when I travel alone. Food-wise just look at pictures or some places will have some English and point to what you want.

>>9386310
Were they at least at a cosplay event or in an area where they were having cosplay day?

>>9386428
Google maps worked great for me! My friend who has been there a while for work uses a Japanese app instead and I downloaded the English version of it I think? The results were always pretty much the same but google maps was a bit more user-friendly and familiar for me so I just used that in the end. I tend to be able to pull up results faster than my friend as well but I think she had to type in Japanese.

>>9392556
You know you can just tell them to fuck off.

>>9392583
Some people would rather be offended

>>9386734
How shit must it be when a basic element needed for life is constantly surrounding and harming you, jesus China.

I'm loving these stories of Chinese tourists, though. I lived in the country of the Midwest for my whole life then moved to the city for college, and began forming some prejudices against the Chinese international kids here. I don't like it, I know it's shitty, but man when someone is talking during lecture, basically yelling on the phone on the bus, or chewing with their mouth open I already know it's Chinese person.

On topic I'm finally going to live my gay little dreams and wear nanchatte in Tokyo and perhaps haori in Kyoto. Gulls bringing literal thousands of dollars to spend on jfash freaks me out a bit, though. Hopefully not being a lolita or big on the Liz Lisa stuff will save me.

>>9392583
The actual elevator exchange happened too quickly for me to process and by the time they had said something the doors were already closing. I didn't think approaching them about it in the back stairwell with no one else around would have been smart.

>>9392753
Why don't you just tell them to go back home?
Then other day an ugly girl was talking on the phone really obnoxiously next to me so i made sure to trip her up as we were leaving the train.

>>9392791
Not the same person you are replying to but you know that would be extremely racist to say right?

>>9392798
I think anon is making a joke about americans telling people to go back home but being super obnoxious themselves overseas.

>>9392753
Reasons I hate my own race especially when they decide it's ok to cut their nail in public. Just kill me.

>>9391691
Is there more than one release coming up? I saw the bunny-berry-whatever the fuck.

>>9392707
Yeah sure one Asian girl against a group of sexually aggressive 'MURICANS how do you think that's going to end. Most of us would prefer not to be beaten and raped then blamed for it.

>>9392810
Americans that go overseas are more likely to be aware of the stigma these days are are generally some of the friendliest people. Not all, but most.

>>9393064

If you're heading to the La Foret shop, AP store in particular makes it a point to have something going on every weekend, whether it's a print release, non print release, special sets, or advance reservations. La Foret itself also sometimes does special events, such as the Monsters Inc or Barbie event where AP released some Barbie/Monsters Inc collab clothes.

Your best bet is to keep an eye on AP's yaplog and twitter the week before you want to visit, and drop by La Foret's homepage to see if there's any upcoming events scheduled.

>>9393181
You are delusional and your view of the world and people is far more negative than the reality

>>9393213
Aaah thank fuck. I'm missing the berry-bunny shit they're releasing on the 18th and was bummed that it would be my only chance.

>>9373672
People who wear cosplay and egl in japan when they're white are the cringiest fucking thing in the world, don't do this unless it's some kinda event. Japanese street fashion should be showing off the japanese, not stupid fat americans that think they can be like japanese girls if they dress the same.

>>9373672
>or am I doomed to look like a cringey gaijin?


Fanny Rosie is currently in Japan and she's pulling it off well.

>>9394542

>>9394546

>>9394547

>>9394542
I love her coords but there's something about her that bothers me, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Her body proportions, maybe?

>>9394691
What's wrong with her body proportions?

Currently in Japan right now, just finished 4 days in Tokyo and 4 days at Disney-sea/land

>Harajuku
ZARA and Topshop all over Omotesando. I was there on a weekend and lots of middle-high schoolers in WEGO/Spinns style in Takeshita-dori. Even more tourists. Lots of dirty white weebs just looking at shit and not buying ("Oh I've heard of this lolita thing! It's a shop! Look the dresses!") Only a few came out of Bodyline who bought stuff. A few lolitas, without pettis, and actually quite badly dressed. Found a DREAM item in CC from 2009 in pristine condition, so pretty happy about that. I wore lolita with a petti, had lots of tourists sneaking photos (so my bf tells me), but the shopgirls didn't really talk to me or anything. Crepes were ok, I've had better elsewhere. The savoury ones were a bit strange because the crepe itself was so sweet. Definitely go to the thrift shop Chicago. Lots of very interesting things, but it's all sourced from the US so if you're from there you might have seen it all. It's also for Asian sizes so my bf couldn't find anything that fit him. He also said some Japanese lolitas walked by, pointed and looked at me, and laughed. I have no idea what about, since I look Asian and I was wearing a full classic burando coord.

>Shinjuku
Arcades and shopping is fun, didn't wear lolita. Lots of pubs and restaurants. EVERYTHING CLOSES AT 9PM. EVERYWHERE. It was a ghost town by 10. Go to Daikoku drugstore, cheapest prices I've seen. On the 10th of each month they have extra 5% off, and you can get tax free directly with your passport. You're not supposed to use the tax-free items while in Japan and they'll seal it in a bag, but really nobody checks when you leave. Compared prices with Matsumoto Kiyoshi and they're definitely cheaper.

>>9395806
>Shinjuku cont.
Closet Child Shinjuku is GREAT. Huge selection of dresses, a lot of purses, not many accessories when I went tho. Shop is pretty big and they let you try on anything. Shopgirls were kind and helpful but didn't feel friendly. Got some really good deals like a vintage Baby blouse for 2000 yen and a bustier for 4000. Also REMEMBER TO ASK FOR A POINT CARD. They fill up really quickly and gives you direct cash off of the next purchase. Especially if you're buying for friends too. Don't expect popular new prints for cheap. Recent AP was still minimum 180-200 dollars. I did find a Misty Sky JSK in Lavender for my friend for 320 bucks, which is good. Perfect condition too. Maiden Clothing nearby is crazy overpriced. Don't bother. It's in the same space as a VK records store.

>Shibuya
Very fashionable, wore normie fash. You're gonna wanna do your make-up and hair well, because Japanese girls can do crazy intricate braids and you'll feel like an under-dressed slob. Shopping in 109 was not expensive, small items about 15-40 bucks, and clothes 50-200 (for winter coats). Staff are all very friendly, especially if you dress well, and will take time to recommend things that suit your style or taste. Wear something easy to change out of for trying things on. Best shopping experience here, more-so than any lolita stores.

>>9395806
>EVERYTHING CLOSES AT 9PM. EVERYWHERE.
Most food floors and restaurants are open until 11pm, and some places even until 4-5am. If you mean shopping, other than Donki or shops geared at hostess, 9pm is pretty normal.

>>9395809
>LaForet
I didn't go to Marui because of time. The basement is all lolita brands. I bought a purse and a necklace from AP, but not much else because none of the newer prints interested me. I wore lolita, and this was the only place I felt under-dressed. Full AP clones in the store, with the blonde curled wigs circa-2009 and last week's prints. Everyone had their nails done and full-face-of-smack make-up. Shopgirls didn't talk to me at all, and just superficially nice. A few of them were pretty fat (like 65kg at least, 165 cm or so) stretching the shirring and blouses to a max. My bf said he saw a bunch of them rolling their eyes as soon as the customer turned away.

Swimmer was godsend. Everything cute and cheap, unionpay gets 5% off. Great place to shop for gifts. Their current magical girl collection is kawaii af. Didn't shop that much at LaForet because retail prices were expensive. I can get 4-5 items at CC for 20,000 yen, and all non-print and basic items that are difficult to find online. Getting to try it on was also a plus, and I bought some stuff that I wouldn't have considered before.

>>9395811
Eh. We were in Shibuya and getting kicked out of Don Don Down on Wednesday (must-go) at 10. It was even open the latest too. When we came out all the malls were closed and streets basically deserted except for people heading into the metro. Takeshita-dori was pretty dead by 6-7, and even the drinking places in Shinjuku were emptied out by 9. It was really weird because where I'm from even at 1-2 am you go out the streets are bustling and there are food stalls and taxis all over the place. Here by 10 the shop lights are out and the streets are mostly empty.

>>9395819
>Disney-sea/land
Only saw 3-4 lolitas per day. It's winter so everyone was wearing coats. It's difficult to tell especially because normie fashion like Axes Femme and Liz Lisa leans towards the lolita silhouette. I brought a coord to wear but didn't end up doing it because it was cold, and I ended up wanting to enjoy more rides and shows. It was the middle of the week and still lines got up to 160-300 minutes for the popular ones (Spash Mountain, Space Mountain, Pooh's Hunny Hunt, Toy Story Mania). Do your research before you go, have runners go off for fast-passes as soon as you can get another one, and manage your time carefully. We ended up being able to do all the rides we wanted, and only lined up for 2 hours once for Journey to the Center of the Earth. Disneyland was more fun for us than Disneysea. More rides, more attractions, closer together, and less lines. Fantasmic! was great. Definitely see all the parades/shows more than once if you can and from different viewing points. It was raining the first two days and some stuff was changed (no puppets, props, fewer lights etc.) Also sometimes a float may be broken and they'll take it out.

You could probably do all the rides in lolita no problem, but I just didn't want to spend the time getting ready and opted for comfort instead. Lots of people in super-cute coordinated outfits, couples and groups of friends alike. Everyone was super polite and lined up for all the things, even taking photos, it was so great. I could post some bonus tips for Disneysea/land if anyone is interested.

>>9395819
>stretching the shirring and blouses to a max.

Now I'm curious about what they were wearing because I have a rather big bust and I've never stretched a shirred piece to the max unless it was an S/M.

>>9395837
I can't remember, but it was some sweet JSK with a pink blouse underneath. Half-shirred in the back. This girl was BIG. Arms stuffed into the sleeves, sleeves almost bursting. Like I'd estimate her at 75 kg 165 cm. Had bleached hair and lip piercings I think.

The Baby shopgirls looked way friendlier in LaForet when we went past. They were more toned down, less make-up and their own hair, helping some girls coordinate their outfits.

>>9395839
It's so interesting to hear about how the shopgirls act at different shops. I've had generally good experiences at axes, JM, Favorite, ETC and AatP and was outright ignored at Leur.

I did notice that they seemed to be far more attentive in my most recent trip than previous trips - might be a combination of me being a lot thinner than before + more catering to Chinese tourists.

>>9395823
"Normie fashion"
Axes Femme and Liz Lisa

Has anyone gone to any special Tokyo Halloween events? It seems like they're getting more popular every year

>>9394691
what bothers you is she's prettier than you

>>9395809
Were the girls in Shibuya wearing jeans? Nice sneakers or all dressy little flats and heels?

Casually freaking out since I have short hair and extremely low maintenance about it (straighten and that's it)

>>9395914
Yea there were girls in jeans and sneakers in Shibuya, even school uniforms. Lots of different styles, but mostly very feminine because of beauty standards I guess. What stood out was everyone was extremely well put together. Make-up and hair very precise like they walked out of a magazine, and clothes all looked intentionally styled, even the messy hobo styles. Some braided hair-styles so intricate I think they must have eyes on the back of their head. There were also a lot of people in hakama and kimono because it's graduation season. Just do your make-up and hair well and you'll feel fine. Also get a manicure, I super regret not having one and having naked nails made me feel so out of place. In LaForet at AP I was the only one in the whole shop with naked nails. Some nice nude or pink gels that would last you all week without chipping. I thought I'd get them done here, but they're expensive and I seriously had no time.

>>9395806
>>9395809
>>9395819
sorry if this is a stupid question, do they typically have the animal shaped bags at the physical stores?

>>9395878
Yeah I went to Shibuya this past Halloween. It was super fun and I made a lot of friends, going back this year too.

>>9395923
Like lolita or random normie stuff? In CC they had a bunch of the AP pony bags, and the AP store in LaForet had a lot of bags but all released within the last 6 months. Just keep in mind the CC stock changes a lot. There were a ton of MILK heart bags, I snagged one with some damage for like 5000 yen.

Speaking of positive experiences, I think the best interaction I had was with baby/aatp in laforet. The one and only shop girl there was such a QT. So polite, refined, and attentive.

>>9395966
i was talking about the AP and Baby purses, but i'm basically a collector of all animal bags

>>9386725

Save your money and just buy a second suitcase/expandable bag at home before you go and nest your suitcases. Even at Donki, suitcases are well over 10,000 yen. Closer to 15,000-20,000 yen regular price. I got lucky and found one on sale for 10,000 yen, but I can find a decent suitcase for $50 or less at Ross.

Has anyone mailed stuff home to have smaller luggages?

>>9397504
I've considered it but I usually keep track of my purchases and pack well enough that I can fit my things into my suitcases. Why pay for mail when I get two free check bags?

Im going to tokyo this october, any recs for cool goth/alternative shops to check out? I only really know about nude n rude, other then that I'm going to be checking out the brand stores ofc but I feel kind of overwhelmed

>>9393183
Lol no. Americans in general are kinda loud and pushy when you compare them with the rest of the world. You can recognise them from the distance just by the noise they're making and space they take up, no matter if it's in Asia or EU.
I guess this behaviour can be understood as being outgoing and friendly, but it's still a very American way of looking at it.

>>9385137
I take like £2,000 which I guess translates to $2,500 or something? Idk exchange rates

>>9391179
Bring a lolita dress you can also wear as a regular dress in a normie way (it helps if you are into classic brands). That way you can still wear it if you don't feel like dressing up, so it won't be a waste of space in your suitcase. Also pack a bolero or cardigan that you can also use with your regular wardrobe. Some tights that can go with either your normie-wardrobe or the lolita outfit. Same goes for shoes etc...

As for the flashy part.. I don't think that you will have too many negative experiences in France, if any. But is also depends on the location. You should check the areas you plan to visit for crime rates etc. in order to know if they are safe to travel alone as a girl (but yeah, that's the common sense part).

Posting the Google Maps I made for a 7-week trip last year, they should still be reasonably accurate for finding shop locations:

Tokyo Part 1: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=12cEPU0ToUszWjhEsTlxvJM27In0

Tokyo Part 1: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1AZwdLu_S-2lNXTdLwgdsC-WIwlw

Osaka: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1xMJreoirS_7MXSG7X08Z9n5wfG4

Kyoto: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ib8FVY1m8dCnAcx9ifXCmDTR8Aw

These include general tourist stuff and nerd things along with lolita shopping and some general resale stores that I wanted to check out.

My biggest recommendation is renting a portable Wifi device; you can use GPS and Google Maps to find your way around super-easy. Google Translate is also really helpful to have for making sense of restaurant menus and asking basic questions if your Japanese sucks.

http://www.artism.jp/ has listing of goth band nights and Artism markets, worth checking to see if anything neat is happening while you're in town.

Also check dates for Design Festa, which is an indie artist shopping powerhouse. Lots of the smaller gothic & lolita designers vend there; it's huge but you can find some really amazing accessories: http://designfesta.com/en/

>>9401863
cool, thank you

>>9401863
>https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1AZwdLu_S-2lNXTdLwgdsC-WIwlw
anon you are a god send

I want to live in Japan, at least for a short while. How do you do it, seagulls? I know there are teaching positions, but isn't it bad if your students see you wearing Lolita?

>>9406943
why the fuck do you want to live in nippon as a woman

>>9395910
absolutely this. i'm not even joking, all women are like this. must be biologically hardwired

>>9406943
That's a question for /trv/ and what do you think they would let you wear lolita at a school?

>>9394485
thisisbait.jpg

>>9395876
It is fairly normie though, university students wear it to class because it's cheaper, easier and less flashy than lolita. Axes femme bags everywhere.

>>9407606
I think anon meant weekends and other off days; it's entirely possible for students (or parents of students) to see you dressed up when you're out and about and recognize you, and potentially judge you. It's happened before: http://egl.livejournal.com/18935955.html

>>9376328
Reading about your armpits is kinda hot.

>>9406943
I wear business suits at work with the occasional brand blouse, very modest clothes in my neighborhood, and I change into lolita at my friends apartment in another town or at one of those large pay-to-use dressing rooms in the big train stations. I'm honestly considering moving to another town, just so my students don't see me in lolita. I come across students in town wearing otome and it doesn't matter what they wear, but people are much more critical of teachers here. Be willing to commit to six or twelve months abroad.

>>9406946
This anon makes a solid point. I live here so I can work and travel, but if you're petite and even mildly good-looking your experience living here might be overwhelming. And not in a good way.

>>9406943
Depends on your location and what you teach. In a large city like Tokyo it doesn't matter because the likelihood of running into a student if you teach in the suburbs and wear lolita in Harajuku or Ikebukuro is low.

Although as getting a position in Tokyo is highly desirable, unless you have teaching experience it's highly unlikely you'll be teaching there from the start.

>>9393183
No, not really. Maybe they're aware of it a little more than they used to be but they still tend to be noticeably loud and brash and in-your-face. Not all, but many.

However, they also tend to throw more money around than most nationalities due to the tipping culture being so strong in the US and practically nonexistent in many other countries, and also it's true that they're often friendly at least (even if it's in a vaguely condescending way) so Americans aren't the worst tourists around, not even close. But they're definitely very recognizable.