Takashimaya department store

Browsing the Takashimaya "Times Square" department store ("depato" in Japanese) was a surprisingly enjoyable experience for us. Department stores—such as the renowned Takashimayas—in Tokyo and Kyoto, are not like department stores in the United States. They're neater with far better service. And in their basements they have top notch grocery stores and food courts. 

These sandwiches were perhaps not the most wholesome. But boy were they delicious.

We had a fabulous time strolling through the basement food floor of Tokyo's Takashimaya. Gorgeous displays of mouthwatering foods, ranging from the inexpensive (you can get same day-fresh sushi at bargain prices) to the expensive. And they often give out samples.

Look closely at the price tag on those grapes. Yep, that's over $50 U.S.

Then there were the other floors of Takashimaya, selling all sorts of other goods. Unlike American department stores where it can be difficult to find employees—much less get service—in Takashimaya helpful, courteous employees were never out of sight. While we were buying yukatas there I found it rather amusing that there were about five employees in one area, one of whom was serving us and the others were standing ready and alert to help us or any other customer in the area. 😃

You can get high end brands of stuff my wife likes to buy (but which don't interest me in the least) like Chanel and Louis Vuitton paraphernalia for less money in Japan than in the United States.