100 best shops in Tokyo

26. The Monocle Shop...

As shop manager Keisuke Imaizumi says, 'This is where Monocle becomes 3D.' It's the perfect way to describe the store, as it's here that lifestyle products and fashion featured in the magazine spill from the page into reality, but it's also an apt description for the overall evolution of the Monocle brand. Since launching in 2007, it has grown into a brand that now encompasses a 24-hour radio station, cafés around the world, and retail stores in London, New York, Toronto, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The Monocle Shop map and opening hours

27. Christopher Nemeth...

One of the most iconic stores in the Omotesando/Harajuku area, this highly conceptual space shows off pieces by the late fashion designer and artist Christopher Nemeth. His clothes are also currently available at Dover Street Market London/Ginza, Trading Museum Comme des Garçons Paris/Tokyo, and Comme des Garçons Chelsea. Christopher Nemeth map and opening hours

28. Nico...

Perfect for late-night shopping, Nico is open till 11pm on weekdays. It’s just a few minutes from Kichijoji Station and sells on-trend yet eclectic secondhand clothing from Europe and the US. It also has a branch called Bank in Sangenjaya. Nico map and opening hours

29. Toro...

Take the battered old lift to the third floor of a multi-tenant building, where you’ll find this cosy slice of store that dates all the way back to 1993. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in reputation – widely regarded as the daddy of Shibuya vintage clothing shops, its carefully chosen, on-trend selections make most of its competitors look like the jumped-up thrift stores they really are. Toro specialises in decent quality vintage clothing from the US and Europe, for both men and women, and also does original remakes. The prices are a little steep, but the staff are friendly and the clothing full of character. Its sister shop, Otoe in Harajuku, is also worth a visit. Toro map and opening hours

30. Negla…

Negla is a charmingly haphazard junk shop with an eye for ageing but attractive bric a brac. The building itself is not easily identifiable, but you’ll know when you’ve arrived as much of what’s on sale spills out onto the forecourt. It’s hard to say what the shop specialises in (antiquated crates, shelves, bottles, lamps, corner tables); file it under ‘assorted household items from bygone days’. Negla map and opening hours

31. 7x7...

This select store for men, founded by Junya Kawakami, is a favourite among fashion industry peeps who enjoy picking up customised items here. Its clothes and goods are sourced from San Francisco and presented in a minimalist environment (although the bathroom, which you must see, is the complete opposite). 7x7 map and opening hours

32. Daikanyama Tsutaya Books...

In a perfect world, all bookshops would be like this. Tokyo's Klein Dytham Architecture won an award at the World Architecture Festival for their work on Daikanyama T-Site, which is spread across three interlinked buildings adorned with lattices of interlocking Ts. The centre is dominated by rental chain Tsutaya, whose selections here include a range of English-language titles, art books, antique tomes and magazine back issues. There are also music and DVD sections, and if you're looking to enjoy some vintage periodicals and cocktails in a sophisticated setting, it's hard to beat the upstairs Anjin lounge. Daikanyama Tsutaya Books map and opening hours

33. Postalco...

Steeped in the atmosphere of a bygone era, Postalco is proof that good taste never goes out of style. This classy stationery and accessory shop started life in Brooklyn, New York in 2000, and did a lengthy stint in Kyobashi before relocating to its current home in Shibuya at the end of 2012. If you still prefer paper to iPads, you're probably going to appreciate their fabric and calfskin legal envelopes, notebooks with starch-pressed cotton covers, and travel bags that are sturdy enough to carry a stack of hardbacks. Postalco map and opening hours

34. Kakimori...

You might find yourself falling in love with the art of writing again after a visit to this specialist stationery shop. Kakimori’s range of pens, inks and letter sets are chosen on the basis of how comfortable they are to use, and customers are welcome to try out the fountain pens in store. Best of all are the made-to-order notebooks, prepared in five to 10 minutes, with an infinitely customisable selection of covers, paper and bindings available. Kakimori map and opening hours

35. Papier Labo...

The ultimate destination for paper sniffers, i.e. people who love paper. Satisfying all your letter-writing, letterpress and paper-related desires, this Sendagaya shop accepts customised orders for anything you may want printed. Papier Labo map and opening hours

36. 1LDK Apartments...

1LDK Apartments is the lifestyle-oriented branch of 1LDK, the popular Nakameguro clothing store that draws an aesthetic comparison with Muji. Offering clothes, food and homeware, the store consists of three main sectors: 1LDK Me for a highly wearable selection of women’s and men’s clothing; Taste and Sense food section for casual café fare by morning, then restaurant and bar service from noon to evening; and Edited/Found Store for books and interior goods. 1LDK Apartments map and opening hours

37. Today's Special Jiyugaoka...

Launched in March 2012, Today’s Special is the brainchild of popular Tokyo lifestyle brand Cibone and primarily stocks food, but they also have a wide range of household goods, clothes and healthcare products. The third-floor café, Today’s Table, sells seasonal dishes for hungry shoppers. There’s another branch of the store inside Shibuya Hikarie, just in front of Shibuya Station. Today's Special Jiyugaoka map and opening hours

38. Best Packing Store...

Packing doesn’t have to be a soul-sucking chore. Turn it into something infinitely more pleasurable by picking up fun and stylish travel essentials from Best Packing Store, which sells all kinds of interesting accessories and comfort clothing for those on the move. Popular brands include Lorinza for bags, Postalco for wallets, folders and notebooks, and Porter Classic for worldly menswear. Best Packing Store map and opening hours

39. Biotop...

The idea here was to create a shopping space within a natural, living ecosystem. Launched in 2010, Biotop takes care of your fashion, food and lifestyle needs, while even offering natural cosmetics and a plant nursery. Stock up on emerging and familiar global fashion labels such as Carven and Hyke, and then grab a healthy lunch at the rustic Irving Place café upstairs, from where you get a good view of the designer treehouse outside. Biotop map and opening hours

40. The Conran Shop Shinjuku...

Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, The Conran Shop Shinjuku is one of the leading interior design stores in Tokyo offering classic, vintage and contemporary furnishings. If your wallet can take the heat, you could pretty much kit your whole home out here, and pick up a few bits of stationery and skincare products while you’re at it. The Conran Shop Shinjuku map and opening hours

41. Black Brick...

Black Brick presents a wide selection of fashion, stationery, household items, plants and beauty products. Look out for Weck’s glass jars, Lodge’s cast iron cookware and Institut Karité’s world-famous shaving soap. Find the store just behind Yodobashi Camera, near Kichijoji Station. Black Brick map and opening hours

42. Natural Mart...

Struggling to find natural and organic products in Tokyo? This small Hiroo grocery store stocks a range of organic produce, from fresh fruit and vegetables to imported vegetarian readymeals, beauty products and natural pet food. Vegans, diabetics, raw-food enthusiasts and health fanatics will be delighted to find products like cacao powder, coconut oil, agave syrup, grain coffee, wheat-free pasta and so much more. Natural Mart map and opening hours

43. Mujirushi Ryohin Shibuya Seibu...

Imagine a place where all is calm and beautifully designed with clean lines and a neutral palette. This is Muji. It stocks everything from home and office accessories to toys, crafts and even a range of skincare. A recent revamp saw it reopening in November 2013 and this branch now also features a delicatessen, Café & Meal Muji, which offers some much-needed respite from the madding Shibuya crowds. Mujirushi Ryohin Shibuya Seibu map and opening hours

44. Natural House Aoyama...

Another must-visit for organic-product seekers, Natural House is located on Aoyama-dori near Omotesando crossing. Not only does it stock organic vegetables, fresh fish, cosmetics and books, it also has a delicatessen where you can grab a seat for a quick lunch. Natural House Aoyama map and opening hours

45. Tokyo Cultuart by Beams...

Produced by leading Japanese retailer Beams, this third-floor store takes its name from a mixture of the words ‘culture’, ‘cult’ and ‘art’. It caters to the world’s extreme ‘otaku’ (subculture geeks), offering an assortment of ultra-collectible figurines, art, gadgets, books and more, all of which are based on Japanese culture. Tokyo Cultuart by Beams map and opening hours

46. Rectohall...

Situated in a quiet part of trendy Ebisu, Rectohall offers minimalist clothing, furniture and other goods, while also functioning as a rental studio for shoots and exhibitions. You’ll find another branch in the basement of Parco Shibuya Part 1. Rectohall map and opening hours

47. Thanko Raremono Shop...

Found on Akihabara's main thoroughfare, this two-storey shop sells about every computer-related gadget imaginable. Adapters, card readers and wearable cameras are some of the more standard wares, while the original USB items are more on the quirky side: how about a fan-equipped necktie or a cat-themed pollen mask? If you're showing a Tokyo newcomer around, this should be a fun place to stop for souvenir shopping. Thanko Raremono Shop map and opening hours

48. Gaotchi...

Popular among foreigners, Gaotchi carries retro toys and character goods that were common in the Showa era. It’s full of collectibles, so if you’re looking for something specific, ask the shop manager for assistance. Gaotchi map and opening hours

49. Nakano Broadway...

Walk down the cathedral-like shotengai (shopping arcade) in Nakano and you’ll reach the covered Broadway section. A popular haunt for Tokyo's otaku community, this five-floor complex contains numerous outlets of Mandarake, specialising in new and second-hand manga; branches of Fujiya Avic, the second-hand CD/DVD/anime store offering rarities and bootlegs; and a large number of shops selling collectable action figures. Most of the geek action is found on the second and third floors, though it's worth exploring the other corners of the building to see what you find. Nakano Broadway map and opening hours

50. 6% Dokidoki...

Even in the middle of Harajuku, Sebastian Masuda's lurid pink boutique stands out. This shrine to the 'shockingly cute' offers an array of accessories and clothing in some truly eye-popping colours. 6% Dokidoki has come a long way since Masuda first opened the shop in 1995: gone are the imported US and Mexican items that used to be its main speciality, replaced by ultra-cute originals. A frequent Kyary Pamyu Pamyu collaborator, Masuda likes to work in shades of vivid yellow, pink and purple, with recurring motifs like hearts, stars, ribbons, unicorns and ice creams. Decorative touches like the illuminated make-up mirrors and carousel horse sitting in the window add to the effect: this is about as kawaii as Tokyo shops get. 6% Dokidoki map and opening hours