Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COSMETICS
Shiseidō
ࢿੜಊ
8-8-3 Ginza, Chūō-ku
T
03 3572
3913,
W
shiseido.co.jp; map p.48.
One of the oldest
cosmetics companies in the world, and the fourth largest
globally, Shiseido was established in Tokyo in 1872. Their
main branch occupies a distinctive red building that also
features a gallery (see p.52) and several places to eat and
drink.
Mon-Sat 11.30am-7.30pm, Sun 11.30am-7pm.
Isehan Honten
ҏຊళ
6-6-20 Minami-Aoyama,
Minato-ku
T
03 5467 3735; map pp.108-109.
Traditional cosmetics are the speciality of Isehan Honten.
Their key product is beni, a sa
ower-based lip colour with
a lustrous green glow in its concentrated form, though it
paints on red; only one percent of the yellow flower's
pigment is red, making it expensive. It's sold in lovely china
pots, and you can learn about its history in the attached
small museum.
Tues-Sun 11am-7pm.
18
DEPARTMENT STORES
Although they're not as popular as they once were, Tokyo's massive
department stores
are likely to have almost
anything you're looking for. They're also more likely to have English-speaking staff and a duty-free service than smaller
shops, though prices tend to be slightly above average. Seasonal sales can offer great bargains.
Ì
Isetan
ҏ୮
3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
T
03
3352 1111,
W
www.isetan.co.jp; Shinjuku-Sanchōme
station; map pp.118-119.
One of the city's best
department stores, with an emphasis on well-designed
local goods and a reputation for promoting up-and-coming
fashion designers. Their annexe, housing men's clothing
and accessories, is particularly chic. The daily opening
ceremony, with all staff bowing as you walk through the
store, is worth attending.
Daily 10am-8pm.
Matsuzakaya
দࡔ
3-29-5 Ueno, Taitō-ku
T
03
3832 1111,
W
www.matsuzakaya.co.jp/ueno; Ueno-
Hirokōji station; map p.61.
This 300-year-old store is
based in Ueno, where its main outlet barely shows its age
thanks to an updated look.
Daily 10am-7.30pm.
Mitsukoshi
ࡾӽ
1-4-1 Nihombashi-Muromachi,
Chūō-ku
T
03 3241 3311; Mitsukoshimae station; map
p.48.
Tokyo's most prestigious and oldest department
store is elegant, spacious and renowned for its high-quality
merchandise. Designer boutiques and more contemporary
fashions are concentrated in the southerly
shin-kan
(“new
building”).
Daily 10am-7pm.
Seibu
1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03 3981 0111; Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
Sprawling department store with a reputation for innova-
tion, especially in its homeware store Loft and clothing and
lifestyle offshoot Parco. There's also a cluster of Seibu, Loft
and Parco stores in Shibuya.
Mon-Sat 10am-9pm, Sun
10am-8pm.
Takashimaya
ߴౡ
2-4-1 Nihombashi, Chūō-ku
T
03 3211 4111; Nihombashi station; map p.48.
Like
Mitsukoshi, Takashimaya has a long and illustrious past,
a great food hall and a very broad range of goods, though
it appeals to decidedly conservative tastes. There's a huge
branch in Shinjuku at Takashimaya Times Square (see map,
pp.118-119).
Daily 10am-8pm.
Tōbu
౦
1-1-25 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03
3981 2211; Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
One of Japan's
largest department stores, Tōbu is mainly of interest for its
excellent basement food halls, and dozens of restaurants in
its Spice section and the Spice 2 annexe.
Daily 10am-8pm.
Tōkyū
౦ٸ
2-24-1 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku
T
03 3477
3111; Shibuya station; map p.115.
Top dog in the
Shibuya department store stakes, with branches all over
the area, particularly around the train station. This main
store specializes in designer fashions and interior goods.
Daily 11am-7pm.
FASHION
The city's epicentre of clothing chic is Omotesandō where dazzlingly designed
boutiques
for famed brands such as Chanel,
Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton vie to outdo each other in extravagance. Alongside you'll also find top
Japanese labels
such
as Issey Miyake and Comme des Garçons while the area's backstreets are prime hunting grounds for fashionistas searching for
up-and-coming designers. Daikanyama, Naka-Meguro and Shimo-Kitazawa are also worth browsing around - the fashion
shops in the last two areas are slightly
cheaper
. Finding clothes that fit is becoming easier as young Japanese are, on average,
substantially bigger than their parents. Shoes, however, are more of a problem, with the range of larger sizes still being pretty
limited. Along with department stores, the ubiquitous ABC-Mart and Ginza's Washington shoe shop are usually your best bet.
Good places to hunt for bargain
footwear
are Shinjuku, especially around Studio Alta, and Ueno's Ameyokochō market.
Arts & Science
6-6-20 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
T
03 3498 1091,
W
arts-science.com; Omotesandō
station; map pp.108-109.
Sonya Park, the Korean-born,
Hawaii-raised owner of this boutique, has a great eye for
what works in fashion. Her collection includes original
pieces alongside such things as sheepskin Scandinavian
army coats and French perfumes.
Daily noon-8pm.
Ì
Bapexclusive
5-5-8 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
T
03 3407 2145,
W
bape.com; Omotesandō station;
map pp.108-109.
A Bathing Ape, the streetwear brand of
