Full of independent boutiques and vintage shops, restaurants and cafes along the canal which is lined with cherry blossom trees and beautiful in April (lots of the shops also set up outdoor stalls selling umeshu and other drinks which people sip under the trees). Come here for the afternoon and stroll along the tiny streets heading towards Daikanyama, an equally hip area with yet more independent designer shops and cafes.
There are so many little gems...here are just a few that I found (more info, pics and maps in the Kotori Street Guide to Tokyo coming soon!)
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| Wall mural inside Hanabi |
Aobadai 2-16-11
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
First off Hanabi, a cafe at the top of the canal (take the only exit from Naka Meguro station, cross over Yamate Dori and take the lane to the right of the railway bridge walk straight and you get to the canal. Cross over and turn left, Hanabi is about 10 min walk on the right). Serves great lunch plates with unlimited drink refills, perfect for sitting outside, taking in the river and charging up for a shopping bonanza.
1-17-1 Aodaiba
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
Walking further down from Hanabi you will see a glass fronted and cacti-lined, loft style clothing boutique Carlife, which has a good, alternative selection of clothes (think Jigsaw's younger, cooler sister) and some awesome accessories. The shop interior is pretty interesting too. I love their light fittings and quilted throws.
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| Inside Bonill - picture from Sarah's Loft |
1-15-8 Aobadai
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
Weekdays: 6pm -12am, Weekends 12pm - 12am
Shop come cafe at night, this mint green gem is set in a small wooden building just behind the river. Turn right out of Carlife, then right again and Bonill is on the corner.
SCREAMIN WHEELS SUPERSTORE
1-15-09 Aobadai
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
If you're an 80's child like me and still in love with a BMX, nylon t-shirts and embroidered patches then pop into Screamin Wheels, right next to Bonhill.
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| Pictures from notesfromtokyo.com |
1-15-10 Apbadai
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
Just along from Screamin Wheels and Bonill is Aoya, a Japanese restaurant set in an old house from the Showa-era found at the end of a pebbled path (marked with a tired looking paper lantern). It serves healthy Japanese food and the lunch plates are delicious (and only 1200 yen). Make sure you try the gokoku-mai (5 grain rice) and green tea flavoured cake.
1-14-11 Aobadai
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
Being a sucker for shiny lights and 'arty' books, imagine my delight to find Cow Books - a bookshop packed with rare books from the 60's onwards (English & Japanese) with an LED message display scrolling the walls. They also make coffee and their own branded products.
Aobadai 1-17-5
Meguro-ku
Tokyo 153-0042
If you don't fancy eating a pudding just yet then pick one up from 'the happy pudding shop' Mahakala's hole in the wall glass counter to take home with you. Their yumsome creme caramels in little glass jars are soooo good! Mahakala is just before Cow Books, down from Carlife.
VASE
1-7-7 Kamimeguro
Meguro-ku
Tokyo 153-0051
Continuing along the same side of the Canal, back towards Nakameguro station and you will find Vase on your right. Watch out as this tiny ramshakled white shop is easy to miss! Look out for the tailor's dummy with an oversized mustard bag. Head through the small curtained doorway you'll find some lesser known European labels for men and women.
THE ARMY GYM
1-21-11 Aobadai
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
153-0042
At the end of the canal street is mensware shop The Army Gym by Brit designer Nigel Cadbourn, perfect for the (pricey) rough and ready look. Next stop from here is Daikanyama, but WAIT, before you leave you HAVE to go to the BEST VINTAGE SHOP in Tokyo...
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| Pictures from A Contiuous Lean |
2-25-13 Kamimeguro
Meguro-ku
Tokyo
Well folks I hope you enjoyed a little tour around Nakameguro! If you've got an appetite for more, I'll be sure to write about more areas in Tokyo soon...x