The last time i visited my favorite bookstore they had the September 08 Issue of the Dengeki Daioh Magazine on Sale and i was tempted to get it.I usually wouldnt pick up something like this tough since i cant understand a word and can only guess whats going on.I found out a short time later that the Dengeki Daioh serializes alot of Series that im watching right now/Im reading translated and i decided to pick up one issue for fun.Hey after all there are still the extras i can have fun with if it turns out to be boring!
I had to take the Train to Düsseldorf to pick one up and thought why shouldnt i take some pics along the way to show a bit about the Japanese parts of Düsseldorf.
Check out the pictures and some infos after the Jump!
Düsseldorf (デュッセルドルフin Japanese) is the capital of the german state NorthRhineWestphalia (NRW) and a neigbouring city of my little hometown of 56000 citizens.Düsseldorf itself has a population of 582000 citizens with 19% of it beeing foreigners.The high percentage is due to the excellent transportation system of Düsseldorf including an International Airport ,wich is the third largest in Germany with 16 million passengers a year, and a strong healthy international economy.Among those foreigners are about 7681 japanese making it the largest japanese community in germany and the third largest in europe.Since most of them are leading personalities staying for a short amount of time theres need for a proper education of their children.Thats why the city established an International Japanese School and several Kindergarden that those kids are ready for the harsh japanese schoolife after they return.
Even though most of them leave for their motherland sooner or later they had a big of influence on the city be it economical or cultural.Theres for example the Eko Haus offering Japanese,Calligraphy ,Ikebana classes along with Events like the tea ceremony aswell as buddhist events.You can enjoy the Silence in the Japanese Garden in the Nordpark(1 2) or go for a round of shopping on the Immermannstreet.One of the biggest and most popular events in the area is the Japanday with its japanese fireworks wich i attended this year(I was only able to take some poor pictures before the rain started tough).
So much for the pretty talk ^_^
The bookstore that sells the Dengeki Daioh is located close to the Immermann street with its various Japanese Shops and Restaurants.Thats why i only took pictures of those places.If theres an interest in the other places i mentioned drop a comment and ill try to take some pictures if possible.Most shopowners dont like people running around with cameras taking pictures of their shops(i asked at first and they acted like i was a spy) thats why most of these pictures were taken the Ninja way and didnt turn out too well.I always wonder how Danny is able to take all those pictures in the shops/restaurants…Either hes famous enough that they let him or hes a better Ninja than me…
Alot of those pictures were pure crap and i didnt use them at all.Keep in mind that there are a lot more Japanese Shops/Restaurants than the few in those Images!
I start my trip on the small station of my hometown
The S-Bahn arrives!
This is one of the trains with neater interior.13 minutes and im in Düsseldorf!
Leaving the station
A Look at the Immermannstreet
Some Girls checking out the windows of the first bookstore
Whos residing the the German-Japanese Center?The Japanese General Consulate!
And of course the Hotel Nikko!
Mitsukoshi is basically a shop that sells local goods to japanese Tourists.It exists in various places in the world selling the countries specialities.It usually located next to a japanese frequented Hotel (like Nikko) or the like
Eating at the Benkay will cost you a foot and a leg.They have a SushiBar,Teppanyaki and even offer Tatami rooms for your delight.
JALPAK-Organizing your whole Japantrip or just your flight and railticket
One of our old Streetcars rolling by…
Japanese Cleaner-Notice my Ninja Finger
The Nippon-Kan will cost you only a leg
This time its a woman checking out the second bookstore.
*Activating Hyper Mega Ninja Skill*
*Entering shop*
Okay im a scaredy cat and just took pictures in the not personell observed back part of the shop.Usually alot of noisy brats hang out here making trouble.Somehow NONE of them was there! They store Artbooks,Mangas,Figures in this part of the shop.You can also buy some convienience products there tough!
Tons of ridiculous priced Artbooks and cheap Mangas i cant read!
Some figures and Gashapons…Dont even dare to ask for the price <.<
Even more Gashapons,Sounddrops and Tradingcards…If you wonder whats written in the red font: If you open the Boxes youll have to buy them !!! Those Kids are really an awful bunch!Destroying,Opening and scribbling on stuff.I wasnt that rude that age.It was even that bad that they had to install surveillance cams….. >.<
If im no wrong you can rent japanese Media here.Can you spot the Pikachu?
*Entering Korean Grocery Store*
*Loading Ninja Skills*
I once again have no guts and only photographed crackers…
…and Instant Noodles.My favorites are Shin Ram Yun.How about you?
Okay i prefer this grocery store over the Japanese one next to it.It is much more organized and also has everything the Japanese one has.
I always wondered why they sell silent water like Volvic in those Asian Stores.I know that they use it for cooking tea but you can buy that water anywhere…No need to buy it overpriced there…Weird!
Finally the third bookshop! They sell lots of Otaku Goods like Megamis,Dengekis and even figures!Small shop no chance for ninja pics ^^ Just picking up the Dengeki Daioh
Getting hungry…Dropping by the Bakery My Heart.The Poster Girl is cute <3
My Lunch and Dessert! I have a sweet tooth! So what? Eating and checking out the Dengeki ^_^
Am i the only one smelling something fishy when looking at this Karaoke Bar?
Walking by my favorite Restaurant! The Naniwa is delicious until the last gulp!Ill try to take some pics inside the next time im there!
Walking back to the station.Mainly Restaurants on this side of the street…
Todays Lunch is Schnitzel Japanese Style with MisoSoup. Yum!
Entering the Station
Waiting for the train
A last look into the setting sun right before entering the train
And here ends my little trip to Düsseldorf! Theres alot more to see and if your ever in the area be sure to contact me and well eat some Ramen!I really like how the Japanese Culture and lifestyle has blended into our everyday life over here. Are there any Japanese communities in your region?Did they blend it well or do they cook their own soup (haha horrible pun)
The sad thing is even tough there are that many japanese hotties in the area i somehow dont meet them outside ;-P
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wow…great post. i didnt know there were such a big japanese community in dusseldorf
jonhohx´s last blog post..Free-Binta film company
Kinda off-topic, but have you read/seen Monster? It takes place in Dusseldorf.
Ich wünschte ich würde in Düsseldorf wohnen ;_;
damn, it looks just like a town in japan. I wish I had something like that where I live.
Otaku Dan´s last blog post..School Swimsuits
Great post! I want to go spend a weekend in Dusseldorf! But I do not know when I have time for that. Can you send me some bread to chocolate lucky star please ^ ^?
Nice pics , now i want to go there
and omg the choco cornet and the melo, pan
James´s last blog post..Osana Najimi 1/10 (Wave) review
If I’m ever there, I wanna check out the third bookstore. I can see there are a lot of goodies from a distance already. ^^
Ur random grocery pictures is already making me hungry. ^^
Seeing the sunset is a great way to end a good day.
Optic´s last blog post..Figma Storage
@jonhohx
Thanks!
I bet you didnt even hear of Düsseldorf before^^
There are alot of Asians running around during Daytime so its pretty hard to not notice.
@shirokiryuu
Ive seen Monster and enjoyed it alot.
@Berurin
Na einfach beim nächsten Japantag vorbeischauen und einen Hauch Japan genießen^^ Wobei man dann natürlich die Geschäfte wegen Überfüllung vergessen kann
@otakudan
Haha that would be awesome if it be like a real japanese Town^^
It still feels very Germany like.I always thought that the bigger US Cities have Asian Districts?
@mikiwank
Thanks!It be worth it!I fear that ill eat the bread before ill be able to send it to you^^
@James
Thanks.That what i wanted to achieve with these pictures.Make more people come to our lovely city^^
Yeah they were Oishi
@optic
If youll ever get to visit Germany drop me a message and ill lead you there!I also get hungry when i see food posts ^_^
wow i now want to visit your town!!
Make a cast then! It is for my collection, it will be great in my showcase XD
mikiwank´s last blog post..[plamo] Macross Frontier HDM december 2008
Why don’t Toronto have similar stores like this…
Most stores here are anime themed and stuff…hard to find good anime goods…
OMG thats a CHOCOLATE CORNET!!!!!!! As a Konata fanboy, I want!!!!!!!!
Rin´s last blog post..New Figures and Games…
Thanks for sharing. I love the photo scenery that were taken, especially the one with autumn leaves to the side of a nicely path tar road with vehicles around (13th photo).
In Singapore, as the country is small, there is no one whole area for the Japanese to hang out. However, there are certain spots or places where the Japanese community can hang out. One of them would be Liang Court which is the name given to a big building that is akin to a shopping center. The catch there would be the bookstall (Kinokuniya) and the supermarket that sells imported Japanese products. I did not see any figure shops around but there are many food stalls that specializes in varying Japanese delicacies found. I bought myself a bottle of imported milk tea from the supermarket and it was delicious! ~<3
Hynavian´s last blog post..Spider Lilies (刺青) – Behind Every Tattoo, There Is A Secret
O_O Chocolate cornet and Melon bread. Yum.
Kairu Ishimaru´s last blog post..Chaos;Head episode 6
Huhu^^
Woah das sieht ja lecker aus *_*
Ja, ich stamme zwar aus dem Norden, aberich lebe nun in Bayern mit meinem Freund. Die einzige Möglichkeit hier an Figuren etc zu kommen istz entweder das Internet, oder aber wenn ich nach Japan fliege – was maximal alle 2 jahre vorkommt <<
Hast du irgendwo Fotos von diener Kompletten Sammlung? *_*
Ab und zu fahrei ch übrigens auch nach Düsseldorf, aber das letzte Mal ist ewig her ich kenn mich dan icht mehr aus *lach*
What? I’ve never noticed that the last time I’ve been there (in an exchange) many moons ago lol…
But wow, seriously, I didn’t know that there’s so much Japanese stuff in Dusseldorf. Book stores, restaurants, and even a bakery! I mean, there’s even a Mitsukoshi department store there! Trying to find that many in UK even in London is like dreaming! I guess I just gotta go back home for those then -_-
Very interesting. If I were to revisit Dusseldorf again I won’t hesistate to check those out for fun.
Q´s last blog post..Meronpan & Pineapple Bun
@andres
Yeah you should there are so much more things worth to check out
@mikiwank
Haha but only if you send me a cast of one of your delicious Croissants!! Our Croissants suck…We cant imitate yours good enough
@Rin
Düsseldorf is really an exception.I think its hard to get ahold of good goods in most parts of the world.
@hynavian
Thanks alot!
Theres always a way to gather with people thinking alike.Even if its just a districts with some shops!
Milk Tea eh?Never had it.Ill try it if ill find a can^^
@Kairu
Yes! Yum Indeed! You can make Melonpan pretty easy yourself!Just search the web and make the delicious goodness yourself
@sari_manion
Na da machst du mich aber neidisch mit deinen Japantrips!
Bis dahin darf ich aber noch lange sparen!
Nur Flug und 14 tage Railpass kosten so um die 920€ als ich das letzte mal nachgeschaut habe…Und irgendwo übernachten muss man ja auch noch!
Wenn du dich mal wieder in Düsseldorf rumtreibst sag bescheid und ich spiele den Führer ^^
Ich kann ja mal die nächsten Tage meine kleine Sammlung posten
@Q
Oh youve been here?Cool!
How come?For fun or buisness of the parents?
Oh as far as i know London has a bigger Japanese community than Düsseldorf so i thought they would have more stuff like this.Seems like i was wrong.
If youll ever drop by again be sure to send me a mail ^^
i am so jealous of your choco corone
been trying to find one here and so far no luck. japanese grocery stores here usually only have anpan, melon pan… and other pan when it comes to baked goods.
i guess i’m pretty lucky to be living in the bay area… there’s a ‘japan town’ as it’s called in san francisco and in san jose (i live kind of half way in between both… about 20-30 miles to either)…my weekends are usually spent in the san francisco one where i get some ramen, manga and groceries ^_^
meronpan´s last blog post..姫 Hime!
@ blowfish = I see that Mr has good taste in food. If one day you come to Paris on will tour the best bakery in the capital together;)
mikiwank´s last blog post..[Figure] Hatsune miku 1/8 GSC
@ Blowfish:
I recall I was there for an exchange back then. I remember checking the Rheinturm out, as well as the St. Lambertus Kirche, but my memory doesn’t serve me too well anymore…
Q´s last blog post..Meronpan & Pineapple Bun
@miki
I was once in Paris and it was fabulous!
@Q
Your memory seems to be perfectly fine since you spelled both right! Thats a prety cool exchange program
Hmm, another reson to want to go to Germany ^-^
I’m really surprised at the strength of the Japanese culture in Dusseldorf… a very interesting post indeed!
suki´s last blog post..LAN | Fate/Stay Night | Late Nights are Back!
Man, that store looks amazing. I’d geek out if I visited a place like that.
Nice post. It’s cool how you shot photos throughout the trip
. I see you got some nice food, too.
@suki
Oops…Looks like I overlooked your comment back then ^^;
I wonder if its cheaper to fly to Japan or Germany from SA
@M12
Im a Master Ninja Photographer ^___^
Wooa why am I not living near Düsseldorf?! As much I know such japan-towns are a rarity in Deutschland. Sad the way from Jena to Düsseldorf is so long. However, may I though dare to ask you the prices?
Youll have to visit atleast during the next Japanday!
I guess youre reffering to the figure and other merchandise prices?
Ill give one example:
LuckyStar Petit Nendoroid @ Archonia 4,30€
LuckyStar Petit Nendoroid @ that shop 8€