Edinburgh's South Queensferry

Saturday at last! My week was bit tough as I've been running around, trying to earn some monies. Got job, even two. They're not that great, but better than nothing. And I get free cookies (working in sweets factory, oh yes!). Anyway, I promised myself, that when weekend comes I will not sit home but go somewhere, relax. For that, I have choosen a destination called Queensferry. You can read more about it on VISIT SCOTLAND PAGE

Shibuya

I had such a rough week, guys. My work is killing me, thus I am extremly happy that I will not stay there for long anymore. Meanwhile lets enjoy another portion of photographic memories from Japan. Today's menu: Shibuya. Not the themed coffee shops or restaurants (I did wrote about Alice in Dancing World and Train sushi places, so if you haven't checked it out before- now is ur chance), but the district itself.

Shibuya is popular part of Tokyo known as fashion centre for young japanese people. Famous for many things, among them Hatchiko monument. If you want to know more about that district history, I recommend clicking on Wikipedia article (very nicely writen and with plenty of details). But how does it look exacly?

Here you can see the Shibuya Station with it's famous, always busy crossing. Now, this pic was taken when the crowd wasn't really that big. 

A must-see Hachiko monument with his feline friend. This was one of the most important things to see in Tokyo, because I love dogs and Hachiko's story so much.
By the way- did you know we have a monument for a dog in Cracow to? 

Me and Menoa under the monument.

Random story time:  at evening, on the same day we took these pics, some western guy (who was fairly drunk but kinda hansdome XD), sat up beside me under  Hachiko. Suddenly told me story of his whole life. I don't remember his name anymore, but he managed to tell me all the details like for example that he was half german and half british, lived in Kyoto for few years and came to Tokyo because he got few days off to celebrate Silver Week. when he told me all of that, he grabbed my hand, said 'it was nice meeting ya' and ran. I dunno what it was all about. But it was kinda funny XD 

Further exploration of Shibuya streets

Lupin III (?) posters

109 shopping centre (which included many cool shops) logo

Inside 109- Liz Lisa with very unpleasant customer service XD;

some other nice shops :)

Places like this have usually few levels. You can take either elevator (which may be full) or stairs. And loose some calories. Exacly this many XD

 After shopping, me and Menoa saw this cute lolita :) I think I saw that girl's pics online- anyone recognizes her maybe?

And the crossing again, at night time 

I really enjoyed walking around Shibuya. I kinda regret I haven't go to Gyaru club which is located there. Well, next time, next time :)

Tokyo Imperial Palace

I am pretty sure that those, who watch my blog, thought I finished my Japan trip summary. Well, I was pretty sure I did too. Yet, recently, I decided to check all the pictures I had from my trip, to print some (yes, I do that, I like to have a printed version of photos, because I think it's so much more fun to have an actual album on my shelf, than just another folder on my laptop). I realized I haven't wrote anything about Tokyo Imperial Palace, Shibuya, Ginza, Yoyogi park etc. Which is a big mistake. Time to correct this. Today first off the list :)

Going to Imperial Palace in Tokyo was one of the things I wanted to do no matter what. That is why, before flight to Japan, I have reserved tickets (for myself and Menoa), for trip around the Palace's grounds. I exchanged few e-mails with their office (which was both pretty funny and awesome) and got onto their list. Now, here is the catch- trip with guide is free, but ONLY for limited amount of people. Reservation has to be made at least month earlier, cuz later there might be no tickets at all. I got tickets for the very begining of my journey- the 3rd of September, which made me extremly happy.

I didn't see many pictures of that place before, so I didn't know what to expect. All I knew, was that it's not as 'pretty' as Kyoto palace. Still I was kinda surprised with how modern and humble it is (at least from outside).

Moat around the palace grounds and view for Shinjuku district

More traditional way of building in Japan. Tho I dunno what it was. Maybe a dojo? 

That's where our guide appeared~~

 

Temple on top of fortification walls

Main palace building. This is where Emperor is living if he's in Tokyo. There is also supposed to be a big reception and hall where all the official parties take place. 

Gas lamps on the bridge leading from palace to garden.

I had luck to see the palace officials on this lovely carriage. 

Look, the guy is making a picture by his cell! Was it because me and Menoa were in lolita? XP 

View of palace's grounds from other side

 Obligatory outfit photo in front of Imperial Palace's garden entrance

I'll be at Pyrkon

I can confirm, that I will be at Pyrkon- Multigenre Fan Convention.  

Here is official site: http://pyrkon.com/

If any of you is planning to come- I'll be more than happy to meet ya!

PS. Next note soon :)  

Hyper Japan Christmass Market

Wow, this note was supposed to be published max up to two weeks after the event. I kinda...forgot about it? Sorry! But that way you get more interesting stuff at the begining of 2016 than just another lolita meetup summary XP

Now, as you may or may not know from previous notes, I was once on Hyper Japan. Only for one day and in summer time (freakin HOT July!). Now I decided to check out winter edition aka 'Christmass Market'. Reasons were simple- to have fun, to see friends (thank You for everything, dear Agnes and Kate), other lolitas and...see Minori Mon in real life! Yes, she was one of the HJ guests *//////* So yeah! I am not gonna bore  you with the details of my trip. Nothing out of usual type traveling, to be honest. I'll just start with arriving on con place.

Hyper Japan CM took place at London's Tobaco Dock for the first time I think. The area was easly accesible with Tube (took me about 20 minutes to get there from city centre).
When I crossed the main gate (I bought a 3 day pass which cost me 40 pounds), I got surprised. Cuz I was expecting a large hall, a closed building and instead I got an open space divided onto weakly seperated sections. Here You can see the plan of building:

Part of upper level

 Centre of bottom level early in morning.

Here in middle of day (quite crowded)

Gamers area

It wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't quite cold and raining from time to time. Good thing that I wore quite warm and cozy clothing (even while being in lolita).
After the first shock, caused by that (IMO) bizzare place, I decided I will take a look around. There was plenty of great shops, where every person could find something interesting. There were booths with japanese food and sweets:

Bubble Tea stall. I got a Matcha Milk Tea with Tapioca, but it wasn't that good as one I've been drinking in Japan :/ 

Stalls with anime and manga gadgets/ cosplays of all kinds:

Ears/ horns anyone? 

Dollies (more of small exhibition, than actual shop)

 Customized footwear

 Awesome lampions (I'd take some to home if I only had enough cash. these were fairly expensive)

And ofcourse clothing shops (lolita/ kawaii)

Look at these plushies! Most of them were bags/ bagpacks.

Amazing Tofu Cute/ Dreamy Bows stall:

Cute lady serving the sweets

And cute guy ^_^

Shoe heaven.

I even made a small purchase there- my black tea party shoes :D

While walking around I saw many, many amazing people *_* 

Cosplayers

(this trio was actually from Gdańsk! Cheers!)

Lolitas (and Brolitas)

Here with Minori Mon. 

Everyone looked amazing and unique :)

As you can asume, my main attraction was taking huge amount of pictures (as always). But it dosn't mean there was nothing else to do. Just the oposite! Let's take for example this small show- the girls (not sure if all of them were girls, tho XD) were playing various melodies on traditional japanese instruments. Quite entertaining.

And did I mention concerts? Like, y'know, full fledged concerts on a bigger scene? :) 

There were so many to choose from. Fans of Visual Kei got to see for example a Wing Works:

And fans of crazy Lady Beard could see him in Lady Baby. I enjoyed this one soooooo much, even tho one of members (the older girl: Rie Kaneko) was absent, they still gave pretty cool show.

For those who prefer rather quiet entertaiment- there was quite a few panels:

(Talk-show with members of  Studio IG. 

I was sitting quite far from scene, thus bad pic of a projection)

and workshops (keep in mind them some of them required an extra ticket). 

In other words- there was so many things that kept people busy, that some didn't know what to choose from. Busiest day was ofcourse Saturday (as it always is). Whole place was super crowded, so it was very hard to move around.
Sunday was rather quiet day. Not that many many people around too. When I checked HJ's timetable, there were still many attractions but I had to rush for my flight back to Cracow.

The whole trip was very enterteining. I am very happy I went to London for HJCM- it was something new. There were things I liked and things I disliked. IMO the organisers tried their best, but they still have to work hard to make this event better, as it had it's faults.

That's all for today. Hope You enjoyed this note! Cheers!