Slow made Japanese homewares

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City Guide

Directions: Tokyo

16 August, 2023

Words:

Tara Bennett

Pictures: 

Tara Bennett

Tokyo is the largest city in Japan and in our opinion one of the best cities in the world which means there is a lot to see and do. We have rounded up our top places to see and explore while you are in Tokyo plus some of our favourite brands. 

01
Dutch pancake at Path.
02
Tokyo view.

BREAKFAST & COFFEE:

Path

Path is open for dinner and breakfast but if you find yourself there for breakfast we recommend ordering the dutch pancake (it's incredible). 

Fuglen

If you've been to Tokyo, you've probably been here but it's really good coffee and it's actually open early. 

 

03
Curry at Ston.
04
Ramen.

LOW KEY FOOD:

Afuri 

It might be a chain but it's a damn good one. 

Ston

Curry and coffee, sounds like an odd combo but the Japanese seem to nail it. They also have a good beer offering if coffee and curry isn't the combo for you. 

05
The Blind Donkey.
06
Toco natural wine bar.

'We put our feet on the ground, feel the wind, savor the rain, and cook with the changing seasons.'

The Blind Donkey.

WINE, SNACKS & DINNER:

Toco 

Toco is an amazing wine bar with delicious snacks - probably the best meal we had on the last trip to Tokyo so we highly recommend popping in. 

Newport

Falafels and natural wine = perfect combo.

Ahiru

A little natural wine bar. 

Winestand Waltz

Best spot is standing at the bar to drink whatever natural wine are being poured that night. 

The Blind Donkey

Farm to table food that changes with the seasons. 

07
Falafels at Newport.
08
Toco.

SHOPS: 

D47 

Gallery and shop by D&department. 

Tsite

Tsite in Daikanyama is hands down the best bookshop in the world (also opens at 7am). 

Pejite

Is like a little antique Provider Store down a side alley.

Beams

Beams in one of our favourite Japanese stores and is well worth making a browse. 

YAECA

YAECA has a few stores around. They are all beautiful and sell a blend of minimal fashion and home items. 

09
Pejite.
Ragtag

Designer re-sell fashion. Expect to walk in with nothing and walk out with an Issey Miyake ensemble and some archival Comme Des Garcons. 

Nepenthes

Nepenthes is a Japanese owned company that create lots of brands under its umbrella. From the likes of Needles, Engineered Garments, South 2 West 8 (to name a few), their store in Tokyo is place to take home something you won't see anywhere else in the world. 

Dover street Market

DSM is like a fashion museum. It's filled with the worlds best brands and the most avant garde collections. 

Close to Dover street in a place called Hibiya Central Market. On the top floor there's a Graphpaper store + a vintage homewares shop. 

Bullpen Shop

Filled with local and international home goods, this little shop is one of the coolest places we have visited.

Mogi Folk Art

While we are yet to visit Mogi, it's on the top of our list for the next visit.

Harajuku

Cat street in Harajuku is the best shopping. There's one side that is filled with flashing lights and Harajuku Girls, the other side holds home to some of the worlds best brands. It's worth a day trip to spend all your money.

Tomigaya

Tomigaya is one of our favourite suburbs in Shibuya. It has a nice community feel to it and there's lots to explore around here. We would start our day at Path, followed by a little look in the Monocle Store, a peruse around Lost and Found Store, a sandwich at Camel Back, dinner at Newport, followed by a wine at Ahiru.

10
Tea Ceremony.
11
YAECA Homestore.

ACTIVITIES:

Nezu Museum 

A diverse collection of Japanese and Asian premodern art with an amazing Japanese garden out the back.

Aelu

This gallery space has a rotating range of everyday items and art pieces, hosting monthly exhibitions. It is actually a ceramic store set out like a musesum. Aelu may be hard to find but it's worth the visit. 

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi park is a great spot for a morning run or walk. 

Tea Ceremony

Enjoy a tea ceremony at Yakumo Saryo

Koenji

Take a day trip to Koenji and spend the day strolling the vintage shops. 

Kichijoji

Kichijoji is well worth a visit when you are staying in Tokyo, it's a little suburb about 30 mins from Shibuya. It has plenty of things to see and some delicious food and stores (it even has a Margaret Howell cafe).

12
Aelu gallery.
13
Aelu gallery.

Further reading

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