Central style hubs Ginza and Marunouchi are certainly not short of chic residents (hello, Peninsula!), but among the myriad big-name label stables and top-notch restaurants are some lesser-known jewels not to be missed. Walk this way!
Begin your neighbourhood amble with a stop by Hankyu Men’s department store, where nine floors of international fashion brands, shoes, skincare, luggage and more are dedicated solely to the dapper chaps of Tokyo. Deposit grumpy husbands here if necessary before pushing on.
Next, skip north towards leafy Marunouchi Brick Square, where Pass the Baton is a fantastical world of preloved clothes, accessories, and objects. Think retro Cacharel and Marni summer dresses, Prada and Dior suiting, Pucci sun hats, Chanel berets and delicate vintage perfume vials plus all manner of kitschy accoutrements in between.
No trip to Tokyo is complete without purchasing, or at least perusing, some delightful Japanese paper goods, and nowhere has a more comprehensive offering than centenarian sationer G.Itoya. Whether you’re seeking traditional washi paper, wrapping cloth and calligraphy stocks, or modern office and design supplies, the red paper clip signage is your salvation.
Next, breeze through Rei Kawakubo’s multi-label Dover Street Market. Imported from London and homing razor-sharp global names from Comme to Dries, the DSM edit will have you street ready faster than you can say ‘hai, domo’!
All this retail therapy likely has you drier than a tatami mat, so skip round-the-corner to Mixology Salon for a tipple as only this town could afford. Celebrity drink slinger Shuzo Nagumo specialises in ‘teatails’ – cocktails prepared using high-quality Japanese green tea leaves – available either in tasting flights or tea-riffic signature blends like the gyokuro martini and genmai negroni. Pinkies up.
Finally, we dine. Character-packed and perpetually buzzy Shin Hinomoto is perfectly placed a mere gyoza fling from your hotel, so it would be rude not to stop by to check out Brit proprietor Andy’s gaijin friendly take on market-fresh fish and humble izakaya staples. Convivial, convenient and cash-only!
Originally written by LUXE for PenCities.
Jetting off to the Nippon capital? Don’t forget to pack a copy of the LUXE Tokyo guide…
