I managed to spend a fair bit of money on a few bits and bobs when in Tokyo/ Kyoto this spring.
Will be adding them to Flickr as I go along getting them unpacked and photographed.
Only thing I am regretting not getting was the long black Volks DD wig that I bought one of for Jezatron as they were sold out in black everywhere 
Oh well, another time ^^
As we had two weeks in Japan we just had to get a RailPass and take the Bullet train to Kyoto 
No way around it.
Also, this meant that I could go visit the Tenshi No Sato place 
Signed up via the website a month or so before as reservation is never really released any earlier than this.
You need to have a Volks web-user account so if you don’t already have one you need to make one first before you start with the booking.
You make the booking for yourself and any number of guests that you will be bringing.
The booking form asks you to pick a number, not sure why, I just picked number 1.
Did not seem to have any relevance at all when we got there but maybe I missed something.
Also, think you can book workshops as well as the ‘ceremony’ where you get a certificate for your doll but have no idea how to do this and was not really interested in any of this anyway, so was not bothered about finding out.
However, if you do have any info on this, please do share as I would be interested in knowing for another time ^^
Content of Dolpa for Dummies
Dolpa For Dummies
How to Get Your Dolpa Guide Book
To reserve a Bento Box or not to reserve a Bento Box
Getting to Big Sight
At Big Sight – Getting Into Those Queues
Queuing for Limiteds
Queuing for Sumika items
Doing the Dolpa
Lottery for One Offs and Limiteds
Getting your bingo plates and how to play
Dolpa, Done!
Feedback
Dolpa For Dummies
As I was heading for Tokyo this year for the Dollshow, again, I discovered by pure accident that Dolpa was on as well two days later.
Did I want to go, Hell ya!
(Pardon the swearing but in this instance, it is needed )
So after my experience with getting late to the Dollshow I was NOT gonna be late for Dolpa! Got up ridiculously early but not insanely early as other people from DOA were.
Was aiming for 8ish.
Big Sight is a long way away when you stay in Nakano! Wauw. But got there in the end.
Think it took us 1 1/2 hour something like that.
Arrived and saw massive lines, got a bit confused but followed the crowd in the hope they knew what they were doing. They did
Got in contact, when at the door area with my resident DOA contact Mitsuki_Moon. She told me that she had gotten an awesome low number. Lucky lady!
Also seen some other people on twitter that had gotten well, awesome numbers.
My turn to pull a number.
Something 2000 and near 3k >.< Hubby's was even worse!
This all came about after attending the SOAS DC event.
Kinda forgotten how but think I got chatting to Danny about it at some point, either at the event or afterwards online.
Mentioned that we, hubby and me, were of to Tokyo in a couple of weeks time and were gonna hit the Dollshow and Dolpa.
If I was interested in attending this Doll Summit thing that he was arranging with some other people on 3rd May, in between the two events?
Sure, why not ^^
Just had to sign up via tsubuyaku.fm – Easier said than done when you, as me, do not read or speak Japanese. Thank goodness for auto translate and general common knowledge about how websites are build *sweat*
Got Mio signed up to attend and was looking forward to it.
Then a couple of days before heading of to Japan, Danny Choo pulled out. He was planning on bringing a French TV crew but some of the Doll Summit attendants were not so keen on being on telly so he had to reschedule for Dolpa instead. Shame.
Last time we arrived on the day of the Dollshow and this meant that I was majorly jet-lagged and we had all our luggage with us and hubby had to sit on it for the two-three hours it took me to ‘run’ through all the floors.
So decided that this time, we were gonna arrive a couple of days before so that well, I would be awake and not miss half of the thing and hubby could come in too!
Still managed to arrive late because I managed to get us lost at the station. Seriously, don’t ask. I think it was because I secretly did not want a MamaChapp…
Boring Wednesday middle of April gets interesting tweet message in my stream from Danny Choo. Just shows how often I check my mail…
Minutes later gets a phonecall.
The boring Wednesday all of a sudden have taken a turn to be interesting.
Having a chit chat and is asked if I do commissions?
Nah, not really, hobbying around for friends but that is about it but hey, why not, that could be fun ^^
Was initially planning on going to Expo on Sunday but plans changed along the way.
First there was the big hoohaa about wristbands that had to be worn in order to even be allowed to be on Exel grounds. This meant a lot of people that I wanted to meet up with decided not to go anyway. They were either sticking to Saturday, for which they had bought tickets or just staying away, because they had no intention of buying one in the first place.
Me, I was going to wing it but then the YHJ! incident with Airi happened and since Jezatron was going Saturday and could not let the poor lad suffer a week more of waiting for his dream girl, decided that Saturday would be a good day to attend.
Also, turned out there was a figure.fm meetup being arranged by CookieDude_2332 on Saturday so another reason to go Saturday.
Great day yet again ^^
Was hoping that some of the people attending the Danny Choo SOAS talk was gonna pop by but unfortunately no, could have been fun! Maybe they will turn up at EXPO.
Anyways, found out that one of the people that I chatted to at the DC event was a friend of a friend of Mao’s and they had recently been out bowling. How small the world is!
Was good seeing Mao again after her being tucked away studying somewhere up North I think and great seeing a lot of new dolls and their owners.
Not so sure it was good seeing Horse and Blood dressed up as babies but maybe in some sort of weird parallel universe kind of way it might have been Dunno. Still speculating.
I have been waiting for these ever since they released the first teaser drawing back in 2008!!!
And then they release them right when the Unon is up for pre-order!!!
I need to seriously win the lottery…
Or sell some of the crew…
Or not buy another Unon…
Or maybe I just don’t need them…
Help?
