JP Here I come!

I am gearing up for a visit to Japan next February, researching all the amazing retail, art, design spaces I am planning to visit. Websites like Shift are getting me super excited, with their Tokyo CIty Guide covering spaces like:


The Diesel Denim Gallery
B1&1F Cocoti, 1-23-16 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo







Utrecht / NOW IDeA
2F Palace Miyuki, 5-3-8 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

"Utrecht, which cleverly introduced the Zine, Little Press and other such artist books to the public, has always been fond of showcasing many books from all over the world that focus on handmade products, simplistically earnest in their approach and embodying quirky novelty."

'When I decided to open the bookshop, I went with the theme of only displaying books by living authors. Obviously, I wanted to introduce not only books but also creators of the books. In that way, it felt like I could work together with the author to achieve something, and I wanted to help them, as much as possible, convey the different types of self-expression they have. We don’t just have books here, but also a cafe, and a gallery. Through introducing a variety of activities, I thought that I could further draw out the charm and enhance the appeal of books,' mentions the shop owner Eguchi.

Pass The Baton Omedsando
B2F Omotesando Hills, 4-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

"April 2010 saw Marunouchi’s popular store Pass The Baton, open their first branch in Omotesando. Building upon their concept of “New Recycling”, the store attempts to reinvent the traditional brick-and-mortar store with their smart and modern retail style. Pass The Baton is brimming with creative energy and excitement, with products limited to their new Omotesando store and NIGO®’s pop up shop “NIGOLDEN STORE” in their premises.

This new store also marks the start of Pass The Batons experiment in opening their Pass Counter to the public. While past contributors to the store were by referral only, this new system allows customers to pass their own ‘batons’ and put up items for consignment as long as they fulfill the store requirements of providing a photograph and profile of themselves."




Shop Samakatado
4-17-1 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

"This store is managed by the Origata Design Institute and is dedicated to the art of origata, traditional packaging used in gift-giving gestures of courtesy since the samurai era... At the end of 2009, an exhibit at the Towada Arts Center showcased the research activities of the Origata Design Institute, uncovering the origins of ‘origata’ and exploring the reasons behind why people want to wrap or bind things in a careful consideration of presentation. The results of that research produced an illustrated book called ‘Neo・Packaging’. It’s a great place to go for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of that specific activity."




Thanks Shift.jp.org, you are super fun helpful time and I will be hitting up your pages for more spots to add to the itinerary!