Japanese online shop

This week in Japan is called “Golden Week” which we have 4 national holidays in sole one week! Combined with Saturdays and Sundays, it is the period for many Japanese “salary men” or office workers to take 7 to 10 days of consecutive non-working days which is often difficult for them even during the summer holidays (summer holiday here sometimes last only 5 days or so…depending on companies, of course ).

This week, public transportations and highways are packed with people and cars.

Packaged travel plans and nice hotels get quickly reserved.

So you have to plan ahead to move around Japan this week.

And if you decide to go by car, you need an extra planning.

I remember one time I drove to a lake about 300km north of Tokyo at this time of the year. Usually it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to get there, but at that time, it took me about 7 hours and I spent most of my first day of Golden week staring at cars in front of me.

Ever since, I prefer to take public transportation to move around this week. Packed with people perhaps, but at least you know when you’ll be arriving at your destination.

If you live outside of Japan and are planning to come here in the first week of May, be prepared to find yourself amid extra wave of people, but it’s also a nice period for the temperature is normally mild and you find special events everywhere!!

Now we have added 1 kimono coat and 1 obi for sale.

Kimono coat
http://japanbrandonline.com/kimono-coat.html

Nagoya obi
http://japanbrandonline.com/black-nagoya-obi-with-peacocks.html

We have added two more kimono for the Spring sale.

http://japanbrandonline.com/pale-apple-green-kimono-with-flowers.html

http://japanbrandonline.com/cream-colour-kimono-with-flowers-and-the-autumn-leaves.html

Check them out !!

We have just lowered the prices of 4 kimono accessories;
2 pairs of japanese sandals, and 2 hair ornaments.

If you buy these with a set of kimono and obi,
you can be fully dressed in traditional Japanese style !!

For details, please check the campaign site:

http://japanbrandonline.com/campaign/sale-kimono-accessories.html

We are going to start Spring throw away sale on the 7th of April.
We are virtually giving away second hand Kimono for very low price.
All items are priced less than 100 US$ !!

The sale will starts with only 8 items but more items will be added.
So come check us regularly!!

With April starting, we have just activated our Facebook account (at last !!).

The address is:

http://www.facebook.com/japanbrandonline

Along with latest information about Japanese culture,
we're going to take a closer look at some of the product
sold on the site.

Check it out !!

Almost everyone here in Japan agrees that the most symbolic flower for spring is Sakura, or cherry blossoms. Indeed, it is the national flower of Japan, along with chrysanthemum which is the symbol flower of Japanese Imperial Family.

But do you know that there is another flower so typical of Japanese spring?

It is plum blossoms. They bloom a few weeks earlier than cherry blossoms when you still feel winter in the air. So when we Japanese see blossoms on plum trees, we feel the arrival of spring.

Usually the best season to see plum blooms around Tokyo is from the mid of February to the early March. This year, however, we’ve had longer and colder winter, and in most places, plums bloom a few weeks later than usual. Now they are at their best !!

I uploaded some of the pictures taken last weekend so that you can also feel the arrival of spring!