Shopping - Tokyo - page 245

KITCHENWARE & TABLEWARE
In addition to the department stores and housewares and interior-design shops listed
earlier, the best place to shop for items related to cooking and serving is Kappabashi-
dougugai Dori (station: Tawaramachi), popularly known as Kappabashi and Japan's
largest wholesale area for cookware. Approximately 150 specialty stores here sell cook-
ware and everything else restaurants need, including sukiyaki pots, woks, lunchboxes,
pots and pans, aprons, knives, china, lacquerware, rice cookers, plastic food (the kind you
see in restaurant display cases), noren (Japanese curtains) and disposable wooden chop-
sticks in bulk. Although the stores are wholesalers selling mainly to restaurants, you're
welcome to browse and purchase as well. Stores are closed on Sunday but otherwise open
from about 10am to 5pm.
MUSIC
HMV HMV offers five floors of music, from Japanese pop, soul, reggae, rock, and New
Age, to jazz, classical, and opera, with listening stages so that you can hear before you
buy. Open daily 10am to 11pm. 24-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku. & 03/5458-3411. Station:
Shibuya (Hachiko exit, 3 min.). On the street btw. the two Seibu stores.
Tower Records and Books From classical to new releases to Japanese pop and
J-Indie to games to CD-ROMs, it's all here, on six floors. On the seventh floor are
imported books and magazines. Open daily 10am to 11pm. Closed some Mondays.
1-22-14 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku. & 03/3496-3661. Station: Shibuya (Hachiko exit, 5 min.).
PEARLS
Mikimoto, on Chuo Dori not far from Ginza 4-chome Crossing, past Wako department
store ( & 03/3535-4611 ), is Japan's most famous pearl shop. It was founded by Miki-
moto Koichi, who in 1905 produced the world's first good cultured pearl. Open Thurs-
day to Tuesday 11am to 7pm. Otherwise, there's a Mikimoto branch ( & 03/3591-5001 )
in the Imperial Hotel Arcade of the Imperial Hotel (station: Hibiya), where you'll also
find Asahi Shoten ( & 03/3503-2528 ), with a good selection in the modest-to-moderate
price range; and Uyeda Jeweller ( & 03/3503-2587 ), with a wide selection of pearls in
many different price ranges.

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TOYS
Hakuhinkan Toy Park This is one of Tokyo's largest and best toy stores, with four
floors. In addition to the usual dolls, puzzles, stuffed animals, games, and other items,
there's a games arcade on the fourth floor. Open daily 11am to 8pm. 8-8-11 Ginza, Chuo-
ku. & 03/3571-8008. Station: Shimbashi or Ginza (4 min.). On Chuo Dori, near the overhead
expressway.
Kiddy Land Toys, games, puzzles, dolls, action figures, and much more are packed
into this immensely popular shop, usually so crowded with teenagers that it's impossible
to get in the front door. It also has a large selection of gag gifts, including temporary
tattoos and who knows what else. Open Monday to Friday 10:30am to 9pm; Saturday,
Sunday, and holidays 10am to 9pm. Closed the third Tuesday of some months. 6-1-9
Jingumae. & 03/3409-3431. www.kiddyland.co.jp. Station: Meiji-Jingumae (2 min.) or Harajuku
or Omotesando (5 min.). On Omotesando Dori in Harajuku, near Oriental Bazaar.