Shopping - The Rough Guide to Tokyo - page 194

HOMEWARE AND INTERIOR DESIGN
Japan is justly famous for the delicate beauty and practicality of its interior design , particularly the ingenious way it
makes the most of limited space, and for its wabi-sabi sensibility, which finds beauty in imperfection. In Tokyo's top interior
design shops you can find products by legendary designers such as Isamu Noguchi and Yanagi Sori, as well as up-and-
coming and overseas talents.

Cibone B1F Aoyama Bell Commons, 2-14-6 Kita-Aoyama,
Minato-ku T 03 3475 8017, W cibone.com; Gaienmae
station; map pp.108-109. All kinds of furniture and interior
design goods can be purchased at this stylish store, which
has a strong representation of local designers as well as
good books and CD sections. Daily 11am-9pm.
Ì The Cover Nippon 3F Galleria, Tokyo Midtown,
9-7-3 Akasaka, Minato-ku T 03 5413 0658; Roppongi
station; map pp.90-91. One of the best shops on Tokyo
Midtown's interior design floor, The Cover Nippon has a
fantastic selection of Japanese designer goods made by
small, quality manufacturers - everything from cotton
fabric and furniture to lacquerware. Daily 11am-9pm.
Do Claska, 1-3-18 Chūō-chō, Meguro-ku T 03 3719
8124, W claska.com; Meguro station, then bus or taxi;
map pp.100-101. Yet another good reason for heading
to this fab hotel (see p.138) is the chance to check out Do,
its shop and gallery packed with beautiful pieces of
Japanese contemporary design. It's an eclectic mix -
everything from straw hats and fish-shaped soaps to
woven lacquerware boxes and sleek wooden chopsticks.
There's also an online store. Daily 11am-7pm.
Francfranc ϑϥϯϑϥϯ 3-11-13 Minami-Aoyama,
Minato-ku T 03 5413 2511, W francfranc.com; Omote-
sandō station; map pp.108-109. You can get an idea of how
free-spending young and on-trend Japanese like to decorate
their homes at this fun interior design store which offers an
appealing range of colourful, affordable items that wouldn't
look out of place at Ikea. There are several interesting places
to snack here, too, including Aotako where a glass of bubbly
is paired with takoyaki (octopus balls). Daily 11am-10pm.
Hakusan നࢁ Floor G, From First Bldg, 5-3-10 Minami-
Aoyama, Minato-ku T 03 5774 8850; Omotesandō
station; map pp.108-109. Sophisticated, award-winning
porcelain produced at the Kyūshū town of Hasami, near
Nagasaki. Daily 11am-8pm.
J-Period B2F Omotesandō Hills, 4-12-10 Jingūmae,
Shibuya-ku T 03 3599 2031, W j-period.com;
Omotesandō station; map p.113. Stocks the cream of
Japanese-made interior goods, from Noguchi Isamu lamps

to modern takes on lacquerware. Daily 11am-9pm, Sun
until 8pm.
Ì Muji ແҹྑ඼ B1-2F Shinjuku Piccadilly, 3-15-15
Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku T 03 5367 2710; Shinjuku
station; map pp.118-119. One of the newest and biggest
branches of this internationally famous “no-brand” home-
ware, lifestyle and fashion chain. Carries a wide range of
their goods including the classy Muji Labo fashion range,
which you'll also find at their store in Tokyo Midtown (see
p.93). Daily 10am-9pm.
Nippon Form ʹͬΆΜϑΥϧϜ 6F Living Design Centre
Ozone, Shinjuku Park Tower, 3-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku-ku T 03 5322 6620; Tochōmae station; map
pp.118-119. One-stop shop for the best in Japanese
homeware design, including products from the Yanagi range,
and classic modern furniture such as the spoke chair by
Toyoguchi Katsuhei. Daily except Wed 10.30am-7.30pm.
Ì Nuno ͵ͷ B1 Axis, 5-17-1 Roppongi T 03 3582
7997, W nuno.com; Roppongi station; map pp.90-91.
In the basement of the Axis Building (which has several
other good interior design shops), Nuno stocks its own
range of exquisite original fabrics made in Japan, either
sold on their own by the metre or made into clothes,
cushions and other items. Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.
Pass the Baton Brick Square, 2-6-1 Marunouchi,
Chiyoda-ku T 03 6269 9555; Tokyo station; map p.48.
Styling itself a “personal culture marketplace” this curate's
egg of a shop is like a boutique recycling store with
carefully chosen new and old decorative objects as well as
a few fashion items. There's also a branch at Omotesandō
Hills (see p.112). Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun until 8pm.
Ì Tōkyū Hands ౦ٸϋϯζ 12-10 Udagawachō,
Shibuya-ku T 03 5489 5111; Shibuya station; map
p.115. This offshoot of the Tōkyū department store is the
place to head if you're planning home improvements or
have practically any hobby - they stock everything you
could possibly need, from paper, paints and pencils to
backpacks and kayaks. It's also a great place to look for
quirky souvenirs. Other branches across the city. Daily
10am-8pm, except second and third Wed of the month.

18

MUSIC
In an age of digital downloads, Tokyo bucks the trend by sustaining many CD and record shops . The range of music on
offer is impressively eclectic, with a huge range of foreign imports boosting an already mammoth local output of
ephemeral J-pop. Branches of Tower Records offer some of the best prices for imported CDs (typically under ¥2000), while
locally pressed CDs generally start in the region of ¥2300. Shibuya has the city's highest concentration of recorded music
shops: head to the Udagawachō district near Tōkyū Hands to find scores of outlets specializing in hip-hop, house and
techno. The music stores of Shimo-Kitazawa are another good place to root around.