Field Trip Friday

Board the DTR bus for Ōkunoshima, Rabbit Island

Ōkunoshima, an island just 3.4 kilometers (about 2.1 miles) off the coast of Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture boasts hundreds of wild bunnies romping freely. Ōkunoshima, now a relatively quiet island, was once the home to a poison gas factory during World War II. Having no natural predators on the island, the bunnies have pretty much completely taken over and will literally run to people carrying food.

 

Board the DTR bus for the Meguro Parasitological Museum

The only museum in the world dedicated solely to parasites. On the first floor is one of the most fascinating dioramas of the human body you’ll ever see–it shows just a few of the 100-plus parasites that infect humans found in Japan. In the blue box, is the 8.8-meters of a grown tapeworm. This tapeworm came out of a person who got it from eating an infected fish. The worm lived in the patient for three months until pieces of it came out with his poop.

 

Board the DTR bus to Donguri Kyowakoku, the store with nothing but Studio Ghibli anime items

Unlike the gift shop at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo’s Mitaka, Donguri Kyowakoku isn’t directly managed by the animation studio. Instead, Donguri Kyowakoku is operated by Benelic Co., which specializes in setting up dedicated stores for holders of popular intellectual properties. In addition to the 30 branches of Donguri Kyowakoku across Japan, there are also seven Donguri Garden locations, which also specialize in Ghibli merchandise.

 

Board the DTR bus to Donguri Kyowakoku, the store with nothing but Studio Ghibli anime itemsUnlike the gift shop at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo’s Mitaka, Donguri Kyowakoku isn’t directly managed by the animation studio. Instead, Donguri Kyowakoku is operated by Benelic Co., which specializes in setting up dedicated stores for holders of popular intellectual properties. In addition to the 30 branches of Donguri Kyowakoku across Japan, there are also seven Donguri Garden locations, which also specialize in Ghibli merchandise.

 

Board the DTR bus for the Kit Kat Chocolatory

Located in the Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro, Tokyo the specialty shop sells Kit Kats in original flavors created by renowned patissier Yasumasa Takagi. The original flavors available were "Sublime Bitter," “Chili” and “Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Green Tea”, selling at 420yen for a package of four. All three of these flavors are apparently available only at this shop.

 

Board the DTR bus for Artnia

Visit Artnia, a café run by Square Enix. Enjoy Cactuar pancakes, a buster sword parfait or cocktails with a vibrant blue orb in the center that looks just like a materia ball at this stylish eatery in Shinjuku.