When in Japan: Paradise found - Takashimaya Times Square

If there's one place in Shinjuku I want to get lost in, it would be at Takashimaya Times Square.

Takashimaya is a large Japanese department store chain founded in 1829. Here’s an interesting story—it started out as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth. Today, the wide range of products it carries includes international luxury brands. From humble beginnings to a retail giant, Takashimaya is all over Japan and overseas in Taipei, Paris, and Singapore.

For the shopaholics, this destination is paradise, and a day isn't enough in this place. Takashimaya Shinjuku's 14 floors are loaded with everything beautiful—and delicious! 

The basement level is a fairyland of confections. Whether it's the wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) or yōgashi (Western-style cakes, pastries, and chocolates), everything is sheer bliss to the palate. 

From the array, I zeroed in on a rich, silky dark chocolate slab. I plan to bite into it when the clock strikes twelve and sing. "Happy birthday to me." Stay longer? No. But I promised to return another day to slay more confections.

But before I made my exit, I paid a courtesy call at the Salon de Chic, where the luxury boutiques are. I knew why I went and what my target was—the local designer brands of Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe, and Comme des Garçons.

While going through the pieces on the racks, this line kept going through my mind: "Nice to see, nice to hold; once you love it, consider it sold." I'm not telling what happened next.

Back in my hotel room, I took out my precious purchase, carefully unwrapped it, sang my birthday song, and sank my teeth into the decadent treat. I shot a glance at the Takashimaya mall next door through my bedroom window and whispered, "See you again tomorrow."