How would you spend 20 summer days in Japan? Here’s a log of highlights from my latest trip, day by day. Follow along this Blaugust as I recount my adventurous July!

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For the first full day of my summer Japan trip, we wasted no time and headed for one of the city’s greatest attractions: Shibuya and its endless maze of shopping centers.

I’ll spare the K-pop sidetracks since this is an anime-focused blog, which meant Shibuya PARCO was the primary place for me to unload some yen. It was surreal to see the perpetually floating Mewtwo statue in the Pokémon Center, an icon emblematic of Japan’s endearment to the global franchise that it’s become. While I don’t recall buying anything at this one, I would eventually become a customer of Ikebukuro’s Pokémon Center. Still, so cool!

I also had NO IDEA that the RADIO EVA outlet was, like, HERE. In Shibuya PARCO. It’s much smaller than the internet makes it seem, no more than a few racks of designer wear, but it was satisfying to finally touch all of these street aesthetic clothing that I’ve ogled at for years. Neon Genesis Evangelion turns 30 on October 4, 2025, and is once again scattered across Tokyo. Mark your calendars for all the excitement leading up to their titanic EVANGELION:30+; celebration!

One non-anime shopping store that I’d set my eyes on before coming to Japan was PUEBCO, a brand dedicated to “home and lifestyle items created from recycled materials and found objects, designed with a utilitarian, industrial and minimalist aesthetic.” I made a small purchase on this day, but peep the tennis bag in the bottom corner of the photo; I’ll be coming back for that baby after a week of dreaming about it nonstop. >.<

We then traipsed through the crowds to Tower Records. Safe to say I could’ve spent an entire day in this nine-story building full of K-pop albums, J-pop singles, anime OSTs, concert DVDs–really, all things music. I secured some city-pop staples like Anri and Tatsuro Yamashita along with other odds and ins: NCT Doyoung’s first solo album Youth, a Blu-ray collection of Ghibli commercials and promo shorts through the years to 2016, and a couple others.

Looking back, this was one of my favorite days, not only because it was a day of firsts but also because I could’ve spent more time looking at EVERYTHING. On my return trip, Shibuya will be a must. By then, I’ll be fully prepared to lose myself in the scramble.

More in store tomorrow! Thanks for reading.

– Takuto