Tokyo, with over 13 million people, is an enormous consumer of goods. This is probably the main reason that, although Japan has 47 prefectures, nearly all the antenna shops in the country are located here. The tores allow customers to sample the atmosphere of the localities, and sev eral travel agencies have even orga nized tours that visit Tokyo's antenna shops. Sometimes they come in large groups by tour bus," says Sugishita, who adds that in such cases they will notify the shop beforehand. According to Aoki, domestic travel was height- ened in the wake of the so-called Lehman Shock of 2008, and more customers began visiting the shops following frequent coverage in the media from around 2009.
When asked whether or not foreign ers also patronize the shop, Sugishita responded, Not so many. Perhaps it's because they don't know we exist." But for foreign visitors pressed for time, whose stay is limited only to Tokyo, these antenna shops can be recommended as places to capture the atmosphere and flavor of other regions of Japan.