Ginza's Big Name Brands
I'd been wanting to see how the "most expensive Metropolis," that is Tokyo, does high-end shopping, so we went to the Ginza district this weekend. In the rain. With our one-year-old daughter. That takes motivation. Well, if you know me, you know I enjoy shopping as much as the next woman. But nothing illustrates how I feel about the many "name brands" you see in Ginza as a story from my first Valentine's dinner with Brian in Boston. Bear with me, as some of you have heard this...

Brian and I dressed up and went out for a delicious dinner in a tiny Italian restaurant in the North End of Boston for Valentine's day. When the time came to leave, I picked up my purse--a stylish bag with "PRADA" displayed somewhat prominently on the front--and set it on the table while I put on my winter coat, gloves, scarf, and hat. (It's usually cold in Boston, and windy. I don't know why they call Chicago the "windy city." But I digress...)

One waitress said to another waitress, under her breath with uppity sarcasm, "Ohhhh, PRAAAH-DA." Well, did I mention how tiny this restaurant was? Brian couldn't help but overhear. And he couldn't leave having them think I was a snob, so a minute later on the way out the door, he leaned towards them and said, "It's fake." Needless to say, they were mortified! Truth be told, I've never--before this weekend--seen a PRADA store! My bag cost me 10 bucks on the street in New York City.

So, if you are like me, you will mostly window shop in Ginza. You will see Prada, Gucci, Tiffany's, and Mikimoto, among many other famous brands.


I look forward to shopping with Sydney when she's older, but this little smirk makes me very nervous...she looks like she enjoys her opulent faux fur a tad too much!