Shops and Cafes | Tokyo City Guide

A lovely looking cafe, nestled inside a flower shop. Expect long queues of ladies who lunch. We waited 45 minutes for a seat last time, which sounds extreme, but is pretty standard for Tokyo.

Beams is a well known Japanese fashion brand, offering a mix of cool streetwear, high end brands and homewares. It’s right next to Nakajima, so one of you should check this place out while the other is holding your spot in the line. 

A friend of mine who works in high end digital fashion retail tipped me off about the Blue Blue brand. If you like raw denim and everything indigo, this is a good place to start. I ended up buying a really nice chore jacket from here on my last trip, so I finally look like the designer I was born to be! If you’re in a denim mood, also check out Momotaro Jeans, Kapital Ebisu and Okura Clothing.

Japan has a strong bakery game, and this is one of the best. You may have to queue for over an hour to grab a table for breakfast or lunch. Alternatively use the side entrance to skip the queues and grab take-away. Just remember that it’s not the done thing to eat on the street in Japan, so you may have to take your food to a nearby park or back to your hotel to eat.

Very similar to the UK outpost, this multi-floor designer store has a tonne of great brands, along with a seriously nice cafe and bakery on the top floor. Remember to bring your passport to get your tax back.

This outpost of Tsutaya books is just amazing. In fact it’s regarded by many as the best book shop in the world, so definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. I also recommend the Ivy Place restaurant next door for breakfast. Both open at 7am, so are perfect if you’re awake super early thanks to the jet-lag.

A nice selection of cafes and boutique shops along this Japanese homage to the high-line. I wouldn’t make a dedicated trip here, but it’s a great place to stop for brunch on the way back from Daikanyama T-Site.

Muji is a fantastic Japanese clothing and homeware brand. It’s basically a Japanese version of Ikea. This is their flagship store and it’s bloody brilliant. Just be careful, as last time I was there I spent around $600 without breaking a sweat! The new flagship store opened recently in Ginza, complete with a Muji Hotel and Restaurant. 

There are a few branches of streamer coffee around town. However this one in the Azabu-juan neighbourhood is one of my favourites. It’s set in an old wooden soba shop once frequented by Akira Kurosawa. It’s a lovely place to hang for an hour or two, read a book and soak up the atmosphere. It’s round the corner from Mori Art Museum,  Tsutaya Books, Bricolage bread & co, Gen Yamamoto and Pizza Savoy, and a short walk away from Borderless and PST.  As such it’s a great rest stop for an afternoon of exploring, or a handy meeting point for a night on the town.

This cool collection of traditional shops set in tranquil surroundings on a backstreet of Yanaka has strong Kyoto vibes. Yanaka Beer Hall is a charming place to stop for a beer, while Think Bakery may very well sell the best bread and pastries in Tokyo (which is a strong claim). Just get there early before they sell out.