cute little spaces

As soon as I arrived at the accommodation, I went to a nearby izakaya. The yakitori was really good. Originally, I couldn't eat liver, but I thought, 'Oh, this is liver!' The cooking was so good that it made me wake up. After tasting the beer, I could understand why people sing Japanese beer songs. I was also surprised that you can still smoke indoors. It was nice that there were many places to enjoy moderately lightly near Shimokitazawa, where I was staying.

Shimokitazawa street
Shimokitazawa street
Shimokitazawa street
Shimokitazawa street
串房酔゛ @Shimokitazawa

Shimokitazawa is a small town that can be seen as Japan's Hongdae. The alleys are filled with small, unique shops, so you can enjoy discovering them. As I was walking down the street, the music coming from the underground concert hall seemed to pass near the Hongdae Club Bread.

The accommodation we stayed in was typical. It was strange that the toilet and bathtub were separated, and there was a rapid water heater in the bathtub. In Japan, it is said that there is a consciousness that it is necessary to prepare for the long summer and to endure the winter for a while. That's why they care more about cooling than heating.

It is said that the Japanese prefer to enter each room through a hallway rather than directly looking into the living room from the front door. The hallway is very narrow and the ceiling is low. In Japan, it is said that there is a consciousness that it is necessary to prepare for the long summer and to endure the winter for a while. That's why they care more about cooling than heating.

hostel bedroom
Really small bathroom and water heater

whatever your hand can reach

I thought I was good at making. I was amazed at the various displays of the many shops in Ginza. The quality of the sculptures was high, from small to large. In particular, it was impressive that the exterior of the building was decorated only by high-end brands. Among them, Gucci's cute cat is the most memorable.

Department store season event graphics
trinket store display
shoe store display
A poster in the Ginza subway
Ginza Graphic Gallery
The interior of a church found on the streets of Aoyama
chrome hearts display
dior display
department store display
One of the subway station displays
Thin and tall buildings in Ginza
Bvlgari store in Ginza
Gucci Osteria
Godzilla statue of Toho, a giant media representing Japan

I felt that the sensitivity of not only the exterior of the building but also the interior space was high. I thought that I was trying to convey a 'feel' rather than focusing only on showing a lot of products. It was nice that there wasn't much feeling that any one style was in vogue. I thought that the message and concept itself was considered more important.

Higashiya Ginza
Higashiya Ginza
Higashiya Ginza
department store display
department store display
department store display
boutique shop interior

It was also interesting that there were many old cars. The taxi, which retains its old design, looked incredibly old. Sports cars from the 80s and 90s roaming the streets of Ginza were often seen. In one watch shop, I even saw an old gentleman who seemed familiar with frequent visitors driving home in an old sports car, guided by the clerk.

nice old sports car
An old car parked at a house
Animation, idols, and politics that come to mind when you think of Japan are all in one place

relaxed neighborhood life

I've heard a lot of stories that local power is strong. Shimokitazawa was the place where this charm was most evident. Shimokitazawa has changed a lot recently. Changes began when the underground subway was moved from the ground level. Subway company Odakyu does not build tall buildings, but rather designs spaces that fit the town. As a track village project, three complex cultural spaces were created: Bonus track, reload, and (tefu) loung.

Shimokitazawa Alley
Shimokitazawa street
Shimokitazawa street

Based on valuing the people, shops, and culture rooted in the Shimokitazawa area, Reload without a franchise, a bonus track that holds local events every month, and Terafu Lounge with Mini Theater K2, whose design cost was covered by crowning funding, are unique. It has a full concept.

reload

Reload has a variety of shops, including the 70-year-old Kyoto 'Ogawa Coffee' 2nd store, 'Desk Lab' full of stationery and accessories from Europe, and the flagship of Apoteke Fragrances. You can take a walk as if you were walking on a street with a long structure. At the end of Reload is the popular Mustard Hotel. On the 1st floor, you can find Sidewalk Coffee and the pop-up store of Jazzy Spot, a record shop.

APFR Apoteque Fragrans
sekai class
Mustard Hotel

The Bonus Track is a participatory space that creates a culture together, such as a coworking space and shared kitchen, with a focus on restaurants, general stores, and residential stores. It is said to have borrowed the Nagaya style, which is an old traditional Japanese dwelling style, in which several generations are connected side by side and share an outer wall. The owner of the first floor shop lives on the second floor. We emphasized that it is not just a commercial space, but a place of life in pursuit of Jikjuchi.

bonus track
bonus track
bonus track

Hakko sells fermented foods, Andon serves Akita light meals such as sake, beer and rice balls, Pianola Records sells unique and rare records, and B&B, a small bookstore where you can read books while drinking beer, is full of attractive shops. do.

B&B Bonus Track
B&B Bonus Track

It is said that Tefu Lounge's aim was to become a "street lounge" in the Shimokitazawa neighborhood where people can spend more time in one space. Tehu is an old name for butterfly. It is said to have an impact on society like the butterfly effect. On the ground floor, there is BIO-RAL, an organic food store, and Belleville Roastery, which serves Parisian specialty coffee. There is a cafe, part-time meeting space, and a movie theater on the second floor, and there are offices on the second floor. On the 4th floor there is a kitchen connected to a panoramic terrace.

Tehu Lounge
Local Events near Shimokitazawa Station

According to my own good

In Tokyo, the pursuit of what you think is good was woven into your entire life. Even when making small crafts, they are either extremely simple or extremely detailed. Even when decorating a space, they clearly reveal their own concept. Huge city planning usually has to follow the profit, but there was also a space designed around the residents of the neighborhood. As a member of a Korean startup whose virtues are extreme growth and speed, I was envious of this perspective.

It occurred to me that I would rather visit a space where there are others than to include others in my life. One of the scenes that comes to mind when thinking of Japan is the scene where you stop at your favorite shop after a day's work and complain to the bar owner. I also thought that the reason why various local events can be activated and create a space where people can intersect is because of Japan's moderate individualism. Wouldn't there be a law of total amount in human relations?

Parco Museum
Department store miscellaneous goods display
too strong fashion
Still strong fashion 2
A cute signboard found on the road
flash-like graphics
Legendary Yu-Gi-Oh Duels
breathtaking duel
nice old couple
numerous paper designs
goth loli daughter and father
Extremely developed convenience store food

Top 5 best spots

reload, bonus track, (tefu) lounge

A place where you can best understand Tokyo now. This is the place where the unique lifestyle of Tokyo, which cannot be created with capital alone, is best expressed. Be sure to visit all 3 spots stretching for a long time centered on Shimokitazawa Station.

reload

bonus track

(tefu) lounge

Ginza Graphic Gallery

A gallery where you can see the beauty of Tokyo at once. It was a good composition that anyone can easily understand with a difficult topic. Even without its size, you can easily browse the works of Japanese designers and artists. Subjects and composition change frequently, so there are many opportunities for new discoveries.

Utsuwa no Mise Large text

A small and cozy shop where you could barely find a dish you like after wandering around for a long time. There are many wonderful works of solid and high quality. The bowls bought here will be treasured for the rest of my life.

Katsuyoshi

Best pork cutlet house. It has been in operation for over 20 years and is famous for its unchanging taste. Crispy fried batter and tender, juicy meat are fantastic. You can dine in a calm atmosphere in a classic interior with a sense of history.

HIGASHIYA GINZA

This is a place where you can enjoy Japanese tea properly. We specialize in selling Japanese sweets. If you order the Afternoon Tea Set, you can enjoy a variety of flavors in a reasonable amount. Watching the professional clerk pour tea is a delightful experience. The modern Japanese interior is also a wonderful space

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