Shin-Okubo: Tokyo's Hallyu Holy Land
↑↑↑↑↑↑Do you see this BTS gacha machine and these dazzling Korean idol merchandise? This is not in Korea, but in Shin-Okubo, located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. I had heard before that Shin-Okubo is Tokyo's famous Koreatown, but when I first came here, I was still amazed. At a glance, Korean restaurants, drugstores, idol merchandise shops, etc., basically occupy this street; it almost doesn't feel like Japan. Shops targeting foreigners and real estate agencies are everywhere. There are many Korean snack shops with a wide variety to choose from. On the right side of the picture above, you can also see a Seoul Market. Walking here, you won't worry about not finding good Korean food; you'll just worry about not knowing which one to choose. The Japanese writing above says 'Welcome to Shin-Okubo,' and the pictures displayed are of Korean idols. It's as if they are saying, 'We are the masters of this street.' It is said that walking into the small side streets, there are not only Korean restaurants but also many Chinese and Southeast Asians who have set up shops here as their base. So by just coming to Shin-Okubo, you can experience the feeling of being in various Asian countries all at once—very cost-effective. Moreover, Korean beauty products like face masks can be easily purchased here, which is great. Korean fortune-telling has become very popular in Japan recently, so fortune-telling shops are also common here. I also saw a Korean bar, probably with handsome Korean staff to attract girls. Korean handsome guys are very popular among Japanese girls. That's the introduction to Shin-Okubo! Walking on the street, I unexpectedly found that near the station, there seem to be more Chinese speakers than Korean speakers. Would you like to come here and meet friends by chance?
