Mecca of outlet malls
7 May
So, I finally made it to Gotemba’s Premium Outlet Mall — by far one of the most talked about outlet malls in Japan. I think it’s not so much that it is so different from its other branches but it’s the one closest to Hakone, which is a hot spot for onsen-loving Tokyoites.
A friend from Singapore was in town and you know Singaporeans love to shop, much like the Japanese, so we made a trip down.
We took the Odakyu Hakone Romance Car from Shinjuku station (click here for directions) and it was a good 90-minute ride so by the time we reached the outlet mall, it was close to noon. That gave us five hours to shop and eat because the last train back to Tokyo was at 5.55pm. No wonder it makes more sense to go over from Hakone so you actually have a longer time to shop if that’s what you want.
But you know, five hours was enough for me…
There were basically two wings to the mall and this was the long bridge that connected both sides.
There’s also a ferris wheel (if you can spot it in the background) if you get weary of browsing.
My friend was a little disappointed because the high-end designers like Chloe and Prada had pretty ugly offerings. I think they were the rejects that city folk didn’t want and wound up in Gotemba.
But it wasn’t a futile trip. Mid-range brands like Levi’s, Nike, Gap and The Body Shop had awesome deals and I nabbed quite a few things. Shopping in Tokyo is amazing but it can hurt your wallet so to find 4,000JPY Levi’s jeans was an absolute steal. I’m wearing them as we speak…
What I liked about this outlet mall was that it was organized, clean, and orderly. Most outlet malls I’ve been to outside of Japan tend to have their merchandise in bins or hung haphazardly or crammed into every space available. The shopping experience was very relaxed in Gotemba and it was easy to survey what each shop had to offer with just a quick glance.
They also offered on-the-spot alteration services — smart! I guess outlet rejects can turn into a find if you could just stitch up the hem or cut something off.
Food-wise, Gotemba felt a bit like a carnival with its food stalls dotting most corners. I spotted hot dogs, waffles, crepes, pretzels, and all sorts of sweet and savoury snacks. The cafeteria was a little dismal but it had reliable offerings like the usual curry rice, soba/udon tempura, and ramen type dishes.
The cherry blossoms were still around when we were there. It was chilly, too, which perhaps explained why the flowers “froze” halfway in bloom. That’s me looking cold but happy with my shopping booty. I would highly recommend this for people who like to shop but are not necessarily enamoured by Tokyo’s chic, edgy togs that have high price tags.
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Oh I have never been but have passed it many times on our way out of town and often thought about making a trip out there.
Good to know about the cheap(er) Levi`s too! Need myself some new jeans
It may be a good hike from Tokyo, but I think it’s a worthwhile trip for cost conscious folks, like me. I only spent 20,000JPY but I felt like I bought many things. I also nabbed 200JPY Franc Franc place mats for my kitchen and they look fabulous. Franc Franc is quite pricey for what it is but at Gotemba, I would def splurge on more than a few items.
こんいちわ！
私わセリヌセリーヌです。
Stumbled upon your blog by chance and may I take this opportunity to share with you how much I enjoyed reading some of your past entries filled with your candid sense of humour. I actually googled for “singaporean japanese” and it led me to your blog.
I’m a 21-year-old Singaporean student currently studying Journalism in Melbourne, and doing a minor in Japanese. I realised that we do share similar interests such as print journalism and the Japanese culture. Japanese is such an interesting language, isn’t it? I would love to visit Japan someday in the future, and even possibly teach English in Japan. I previously did a short relief teaching stint in a secondary school back in SG and realised that it is indeed a challenging and noble profession. As of now, I’m still a penny-pinching undergraduate who loves getting my head up in the clouds.
Anyway, keep up the good work on your blog! Will be checking back often for updates. It’d be awesome to learn more about the place gradually over time before I decide to make my trip to Japan. It’s really interesting to learn more about the culture, places, food and people in Tokyo through your eyes
P.S. Love the last photo of you with the pretty cherry blossoms in the background!!! One of the wonders of Japan :p
Hi Serene,
Thanks for coming by and for leaving such glowing comments here.
Japan is an interesting place, indeed. I don’t think I could ever figure it out fully! It’s such a huge country so I can totally understand why some people keep coming back.
I think if you could experience living in Japan, it’ll prob be an experience of a lifetime — even if it’s just for a year or two, since you’re such a Japan fan
Wow, thanks for your prompt reply!
Yes, I reckon living in Japan would provide me with a whole new perspectives and outlook of the country. Nothing beats first hand experiences…
Lucky you! I read an older entry where you shared your feelings about returning home. I’ll be returning home during the winter break and honestly, it’s something that I have been looking forward to and my main motivation to get through all the tests and assignments.
You made a huge gamble and many sacrifices to relocate to a foreign country and I really admire your courage. I took awhile to adjust to the new surroundings here and I still often find myself feeling homesick.Hope you aren’t feeling too homesick in Japan. At least you are in the good company of your Kangaroo!
Yeah I get homesick for Singapore — the warm weather, friends, family, and…the food…
Well, I have the support of the kangaroo so I could take the plunge. I never would have been able to just do it on my own like this. Def would’ve needed the security of a job if I came independently.
Ohhh God I love that Outlet
we always try to pop by on the way back from Hakone! I love hakone too, my husband’s grandad has a vacation apartment there! I cant believe there were still cherry blossoms around.. i guess it’s cooler up there. I love Gotemba – gorgeous Mt. Fuji view and shopping = heaven!
Nic, you said that right! I agree…hontoni…