Tenshi no Sato -- worth the trip?

They were out of stock on two widely different dates - so I dunno how often they restock. The last time we'd gone, they'd just restocked and EVERYTHING else was in stock. But no angels. So maybe they're restocked really infrequently, or just sell out REALLY fast?

 

There's a good chance she'll be there for three years, so that should give them time to restock!

 

Where in Kyoto is this store? Do they carry doll magazines? I have friend there, internship, and he will go and get me at least that. He's just not sure where it is. Thanks.

 

Being still very new to Super Dollfies, Sato is the place to go to be convinced that you NEED to have a dollfie. LOL It is truly one of the most incredible places I've ever been with the amazing and well thought-out design of the store grounds, from the gardens to the lobby/sitting area with all the doll furniture set up for your 'children' to enjoy the view of the gardens with you. That's where I first saw Jun Tachibana and I will always hold a special place for that store. I only wish I had bought a lot of items when I was there.

I really believe it is not a place to miss out on.

 

Hello, I am going to Tenshi no Sato on the 9th of september! YAY! I am really looking forward to it but i am also very nervous because I am not exactly good at speeking any japanese. (although i've read they have some english staff-thanks Kellyhime! i was worryed about that)
You all say that the ko-tenshi are rairly in stock, I was hoping to buy one while i was out there. I had heared that you had to reserve limits, like tsubaki, Volks replyed to my e-mail saying that it wasn't possible and also that they couldn't get an english translator for a nameing ceremony (I am sure i had seen people talking about them having a translator present at the nameing ceremony, maybe it was a freindly member of staff?)
Oh sorry I am wittering. What I wanted to ask was that if there is no ko-tenshi, i was hopeing to buy a standard doll eg MSD ken. If any of you knows how well they stock standards?
I think acouple of people are going to TnS in sept and if you are in kyoto from the 7th-9th it might be nice to meet up?
Thanks!!!
p.s. sorry for my gramer and spelling...*sigh*

 

You might want to pm DoA member ria_ria, she visits Sato frequently and has very good English

 

my 2 cents, Kyoto is worth the trip _anyway_ without Tenshi No Sato. Kyoto has some of the most beautiful temples and older buildings in Japan. I really loved visiting there. If I were you, I would take at least two days to visit temples and landmarks in Kyoto, and then go to Tenshi No Sato.

Tenshi No Sato not only has exclusive FCS (but you have to have a japanese address...) but also has merchandise that other Volks stores in Tokyo did not have. Sato is also a particularly pretty place to have Omukae ceremony done and the garden is very beautiful, imho. You can sit and eat cake and meet other doll fans.

if you're not into seeing temples and such though, the trip might not be worth it, it is not really close to tokyo. For me it was totally worth it, but it depends on what you're interested in.

 

oh, also, you can stay in buddhist temples in Kyoto for pretty cheap and it's a very nice experience, imho. Like a ryokan.

a day bus pass is like $5, and it's totally worth it. I didn't find it too hard to get around. The fun thing about a bus pass is that you can pick like one temple that you really really really want to see, and then just randomly get off bus and see whatever you like.... but if you're going to see Kyoto, I really feel like you need to have at least 2 days.

 

I think that you should go if you feel you'll regret not going later. I've never been and I plan to go because I know I would probably KICK myself for not seeing it in person.

 

I might be going to Sato on the 9th of September! I know the After Event is going to be around then and I want to go to Sato for the AE.

I've been 3x before. The staff person who spoke the most English there, unfortunately left, but Okura-san, who I think is the manager is so kind and wonderful. My first time I had an Omukae ceremony, but it was translated by the staff person who left.

They stock all the standards as well as not sold out LEs there. (Like Tony, Emma, Manabu, Midori, etc.) They also have some of the no longer produced standards like Mary/Mario, or did the last time I was there.

I like Kyoto, it's a fun city and if you get a good free map from the Kyoto City Authority or from JNTO before you go it helps a lot. I would also recommend using buses.

BTW if you are in Tokyo on the 17th you might want to attend Doll Show.

 

THREAD HIJACK (srry)

The 17th of which month? If it's September, where in Tokyo? Is there a thread discussing?

Sorry, I'll be in Tokyo then and I would love to go to something like that.

 

Dear Dragontiger

I'm sorry to say this, Sato will have "Dolpa Nagoya & Makuhari After Event" on 9th and 10th September.
Sato usually opens from AM 11:00, but on AE day, they opens eariler than usual. And many many many people come to get limited SDs (Sweet Dream Syo etc) and Sato doesn't accept Full Choice & ceremony at least 9th...

I think they have MSD Ken. (Mika, too, I think.) You can buy MSD Ken on 9th September. Sato has many standards. I've seen they had First Edition Yori, First Edition Hohaku (or Hisui?), Miesya? etc recently.

If you want to get Dolpa limited models, you have to go to Sato from early morning. (Maybe by AM9:30. But I need confirm the time, so if you want to know correct time, please send a PM to me!) On AE, you have to wait in line (for a long hours) and try a lottery.

Kyo-Tenshi are sometimes sold out, but Sato often get new dolls, so you can have a hope I recommend you to sent a mail to Sato again and ask to reserve Tsubaki. If you could get Tsubaki, you can send him by EMS from nearby post office~.

Good luck to you!! Enjoy Kyoto

 

Dear Rkold

Are you going to Sato, too? That's very nice
I wish you can get a good number of the lottery
Have a wonderful trip

 

Hey ria_ria

Dragontiger is my friend and she'd be picking a Tsubaki up for me when she goes to Sato. ^.^ I'm worried though since so many people say they've always been out of stock when they go there...do you think they'd have them instock, expecially since theres an AE?

Also, would she have to queue with the people waiting to buy after event dolls to buy a doll thats usually available at tenshi no sato?

I didn't know they had other limits that haven't sold out yet! What limits do you think they'd have?

I heard that sato sells Yo-Tenshi on special events. Will they be available?

 

I JUST got back from visiting Japan a few weeks ago. I'd been to Japan before and I'd have to say I enjoyed Kyoto more than Tokyo this time. It's a beautiful city and there's a lot to see, especially if you take the time to wander a bit.

The Tenshi no Sato is NOT in the center of Kyoto. In fact, it's far west of the city, about a 20 minute train ride from Kyoto station. It is WELL worth the trip if you plan on doing FCS, but be prepared that they don't speak much english and that you have to have a location within Japan to ship to. If you don't plan on doing FCS and you're not really interested in going to Kyoto, I'd recommend going to the Volks store in Akihabara instead (which is part of Tokyo). Yes, there is a bit more in the store at the Tenshi no Sato, and there is the museum, but it's a high price just to get yourself there.

A Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is about $150 and the ride is 2.5 hours. One thing that I forgot is how much time you lose travelling. If you plan to stay a day or two in Kyoto, that adds time to get to the hotel and get settled, etc. So my advice would be, unless you have an interest in seeing Kyoto itself, I wouldn't go there just for the Tenshi no Sato, especially if you don't plan on ordering a doll.

 

I'm sorry if I came off a little harsh, I just feel like in general Japan has a reputation for being hard to get around, and I find it a true pleasure. I love not having to drive anywhere. lol

I adore Fushimi Inari , even though I got rather lost there. lol I also enjoyed doing the Philosopher's walk, a ride on the Hozu rapids and the Iwatayama Monkey Park. lol

Riding bicycles in Japan can be rather a challenge, I tried in Kyoto actually, and people like to ride on the sidewalk and pedestrians can be a challenge.

As for allergies, I think it really varies by the time of the year. If you can take off, I find November is an ideal time for sightseeing.

Yes, the 17th of September in Tokyo. It is why I am planning my trip to Japan for September. I adore Doll Show. It's not as big as Dolpa and also has a lot of 1/6/non BJD-things but it's a lot of fun. Assuming it is being held at the same location as in the past, it's near JR Hamamatsucho Station. Feel free to PM me.

Thanks! I also PMed you with a few fast question. You're sure it is the 9/10, right? For Tokyo Christmas Dolpa I was #2250 ~.~

To go along with Zania's post, Arashiyama, the part of Kyoto where Sato is located, does have some nice tourist things you can do. There are a few temples and shrines, and it's where the Hozu river rapids trip ends, it starts in Kamaoka.

It is expensive to travel around Japan, but if you're a tourist you can get a rail pass BEFORE you go and it does help a lot. A 1 week pass is currently $250 and is good for all trains but the nozomi shinkansen for 1 week. (It is only available to foreign tourists to Japan there for leisure.)

One thing a few guidebooks I've had have suggested, is actually making Kyoto your base and just seeing the Kansai area. Nara is lovely, Kyoto has some great temples and shrines, Osaka has good restaurants and lots of shopping (and the hardest to navigate underground malls in all of Japan :P), Himeji has an amazing castle with even more amazing gardens and if you want to go further afield, Okayama has one of the 3 best gardens in Japan, Hiroshima is about 2.5 hours away, and Miyajima's floating tori gate is one of the 3 "famous" sights.

 

i just went to tenshi no sato with a friend a week ago, and i thought the place was rather nice, even if it's located in what seems to be quite a desolated area. ^^ but i suppose the desolatedness lends itself well to the rustic charm that is kyoto, and the general feeling of peacefulness that surrounds tenshi no sato.

personally i found tenshi no sato a good place to chill out/hang out with your doll for a lazy afternoon with other doll owners. plus their cafe has tasty pastries and cakes. the one-off museum was interesting (and tempting!), but as people have said, it doesn't take a long time to browse through the museum part of tenshi no sato, as well as the shop itself. i also didn't take much photographs outdoors, because it's summer now and it's freakishly hot. though i imagine when you guys go there in september, the weather'll be more condusive for photo ops.

all in all, my opinion on tenshi no sato is that it's worth a visit for the experience. kyoto also seems like a very picturesque place, and it was a pity that we didn't have more time to hang around and explore the rest of the area. that, and the weather was killing us.

i totally agree with rkold, the japan rail pass is probably one of the most useful and money-saving things ever. i travelled from hakata to kyoto, then from kyoto to tokyo, and then around tokyo before heading back to hakata - all using the rail pass and it really saved me a lot of money. it's totally worth investing in one before heading to japan! and yeah, the floating tori gate of itsukushima shrine on miyajima is beautiful, especially when lighted up at night. went there on a school trip last month, and it really took my breath away. *feels like such a tourist*

oh, and the shinkansen is awesome. it took me nearly forever to get back to hakata, but i enjoyed the ride immensely. XD maybe it's just me though, haha!