Hannah Eklund: your virtual guide through Tokyo
By: xxx Published: d/m/Y
Okay, so Tokyo… The first thing that comes to mind is (marvelous) insane fashion and food for days. But where to go? Where to eat? Where to even start???
Hannah Eklund will tell you all about it in her Tokyo 101.
“Anyway, I can’t say anything else than that Tokyo is the mecca of fashion and design, and food… And everything.”
So, really, I can make this list SO long, but after my first time in Tokyo these are some of the places I always come back to. I should actually thank my boyfriend who took me to Japan for the first time a few years ago, he is the world’s best guide. And a funny story is that he has a Japanese middle name called “Jiro” which means second born son in Japanese. I guess, that’s a story in itself.
Anyway, I can’t say anything else than that Tokyo is the mecca of fashion and design, and food… And everything. There is no other place that I get so inspired by. Walking on the street passing fashionistas (on a completely different level than anywhere else) while geishas also passing by is the everyday life. My fashion-heart is exploding, and I can’t resist wanting to buy the whole Hello Kitty store at the same time as I want all the pink headbands at Prada. Yes, we call it “Japan Disease.”
One thing I recommend is not to only look at the classic high end brands – although the stores are a sick experience in itself architecturally, and that some high end brands have products that are produced for the Japanese market only (ok, it’s hard to resist). The best thing to buy is the Japanese brands. I also recommend buying functional clothing – probably the category that Japan is one of the best in the world to produce. The North Face and Patagonia produce products only for the Japanese market. And last but not least, vintage. The second-hand market in Japan is TOTALLY crazy. A great area to visit for that are Shimokitazawa, and my favorite store Ragtag which are located in different places around Tokyo.
So here is a mini guide, I wish I could write down everything but some places are difficult to find the right addresses for, and some places you actually want to keep for yourself..
Let’s Dora Explora!!
Nezu Museum
6 Chome-5-1 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062
This beautiful garden and museum is located in Aoyama. The building is designed by the famous Japanese architect Kuma Kengo in 2009 and it has the most beautiful garden. I love this place, it is so calm and you can’t really understand that you’re in the middle of a big city when you’re in there!
The National Art Center
7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-8558
There are a lot of good museums around Tokyo but this one is my favorite. The building is very beautiful and they always have incredible exhibitions!
Yaeca Home Store
4 Chome-7-10 Shirokane, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0072
A little bit outside the inner city of Tokyo you will find this hidden place called Yaeca Home Store. Here you will get inspired by the most beautiful high end interior design and Yaeca’s own clothing brand. This is Japanese simplicity in its essence.There are no price tags on anything and in the kitchen, a woman behind glass is making delicious cookies. That’s probably the only thing you can afford… Haha.
Hungry? I got you!
Tonki
1 Chome-1-2 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064
If you are craving the best Tonkatsu you have to go here.
Tonki opened in 1939 and it still looks the same today. It’s easily at the top of my list for places to eat at in Tokyo. It’s always a long que but it’s really worth it!
SUSHI TOKAMI
8-chome-2-10 Ginza Chuo City Tokyo-to
Probably the best sushi and food experience ever. Sushi Tokami in Ginza is a 1-star Michelin restaurant managed by the young Chef Hiroyuki Sato. Go there, and make sure to make a reservation a long time before you’re actually going.
Pelican Café
3-9-11 Kotobuki, Taito-ku, Tokyo
My boyfriend brought me here for breakfast, a little further away from the inner city. It’s always a long queue outside, as usual when it’s a good place in Japan. I don’t think it can be more genuinely Japanese than this. Everything is just perfect in there, and the place is known for it’s perfect bread (yes, it is perfect). A little further down the street you find the bakery, which also constantly has a long queue around the house facade.
Last but absolutely not least… where to shop!?!
Auralee Tokyo
QC cube Minamiaoyama 63 1F 6-3-2, Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Both me and my boyfriend love this Tokyo-based brand that was founded in 2015 by Ryota Iwai. The clothes are made in the most premium materials ever, and are produced entirely in Japan. Everything is always sold out (haha) and the shop is also very Japanese-simple and beautiful.. Yes, you want to buy everything in there. It actually just launched at Nitty Gritty and Très Bien, a bit more expensive though!
PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE
3-17-14 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
This is a must when you’re in Japan. I always go crazy when I’m there and I want my whole wardrobe to be in pleats please clothes. That is actually my best pieces in my wardrobe ever, and the price is 50% cheaper than in Europe.
me ISSEY MIYAKE
4-21-24 Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Some difference from the line Pleats Please with the fabrics and styles. I love their outwear range and the store is designed by Naoto Fukasawa.
H Beauty&Youth
3-14-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
There are more of Beauty and Youth stores around Tokyo but this one is definitely the best. It is a store perfectly mixed with Japanese brands, high end brands, sport, function, sneakers and vintage. In that store I’ve spent several hours…
Comme Des Garçons Ayoama
5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062
The flagship store in Aoyama, which has looked the same since it was built. Yes, this is high-level fashion. In there I go crazy, and I recommend to buy the classic polyester skirts, or get loose on some crazy blouses, or why not a Hello Kitty necklace?
Dover Street Market Ginza
6 Chome-9-5 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
If you like Dover Street Market you have to go there, and while you are there you can have a coffee at the cute Rose Bakery. I don’t want to know how many hours i’ve spent in that house..
Shibuya PARCO
15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-8377
The new shopping mall Parco in Shibuya has a Comme des Garçons Girl shop that is worth a visit. The whole shopping mall is really good and I don’t want to know how many hours I spent there last time.
Wearing ISSEY MIYAKE
@ Dover Street
…
((( I think I speak for us all when I say that Hannah really sells Tokyo (Japan in general) extremely well. Need to go there asap… Just me? Didn’t think so. )))