If you are into window shopping like me, Tokyo is a paradise. I love how the shops here have seasonal window displays and interesting highlights.
20 years ago, I used to shop at Harajuku, Shibuya and Kichijoji. With age, I reduce the frequency of shopping in these areas. In the past 5-6 years, I started shopping at Ginza and Yurakucho area. But even these areas have proven to be too crowded for comfortable window shopping with the influx of tourists. These days, we just “escape” to Nihonbashi, Daikanyama and Roppongi areas for more space.
Grandberry Park
Newly opened on 13 November in the suburbs of Tokyo, Minami-Machida Grandberry Park is set to be a life-style entertainment park with 230 shops and restaurants, cinema theatre and complete with a rock-climbing wall and artificial pond for kayaking.
How to go
From Shibuya Station, you can take the Tokyu Den-en-toshi line. It takes around 30-35 minutes with the express train that will stop right at Minami-Machida Grandberry Park station.
mont-bell Village
If you are into outdoor activities, you may be familiar with this brand name “mont-bell”. Here in Grandberry Park, they have a “mont-bell village” which is apparently the largest store in Japan.
KFC buffet-style restaurant
KFC is no stranger but it’s different when they offer a eat-and-drink-all-you-can buffet-style package at 1,980+ JPY for adults, 980+ JPY for elementary school kids, 480+ JPY for those below the elementary school, and free for those under 3 years ago. There was a line when we dropped by, but personally I don’t think I can stuff myself with fried chicken, soft drinks and desserts.
Green Living
I like the concept of the “Green Living” where they have a big relaxing space of interior products for gardening, plants and cafe space. Featuring “Farmer’s Kitchen” and “the Farm Universe”, it is a place when you can enjoy a lot of greenery and detoxing time with colourful vegetables. 🙂
Pets are welcomed!
With the open park concept, they also welcome people to visit with their dogs. I was so impressed to see the designated area for the dog toilet.
Snoopy Museum Tokyo
There was a temporary Snoopy Museum set up in Roppongi from 2016 to 2018 but it was closed then. Finally, Snoopy has found its permanent home in Machida which will reopen on 14 December 2019. Expected to be twice its former size, you can expect to find PEANUTS Cafe and also their museum store which will feature exclusive Snoopy products.
Conclusion
Considering that we went on a weekday within a week after it’s open, crowds were expected. But still, we had a very hard time finding a place to have lunch without long waiting lines.
We ended up at Starbucks for some quick bites but it was a more comfortable choice than trying to find a seat at the food court or other restaurants. Hopefully, the crowd will subside a little in the following months.
Grandberry Park does remind me of those big outlet shopping malls in Japan, with many familiar household names but if you are looking specifically for some luxury brand outlets, I don’t think they offer many here. I think probably I will still go to Gotemba Premium Outlet… *oops!* Still worth giving it a try to enjoy some shopping and relaxing outdoor time!
