Tokyo (JP)

[Mizmazzle]

@marco23d thanks man!! I think it will be a cool opportunity to check out some brands I haven’t had a chance to put my hands on before.

[DrPat]

I was in Tokyo in October. The amount of Iron Heart in the Ueno shops is very limited. I think they had 2 models of jeans in the Hinoya shop. This actually surprised me because when I visited 15 years ago they had loads of Iron Heart.

Is your layover in Haneda or Narita? Narita is quite a distance from downtown Tokyo.

The Iron Heart shop is about an hour from the west side of Tokyo (Shinjuku).

The two main areas for denim in Tokyo are Ueno and Harajuku.

[Mizmazzle]

@DrPat thanks for the deets! Our layover is in Haneda. I’m def on the hunt for denim and clothing in the realm we all love. Seems like Ueno might be the best bet for one stop access.

Is this like a shopping district with stores that carry the brands we love? Or the brands we love have their individual shops in this area?

[gouki74]

@Mizmazzle You also have the Ochanimizu district if you want to buy a guitar or any music instrument

[Mizmazzle]

@gouki74 noted!!! I’ll def be on the lookout for record stores!!

[pechelman]

@Mizmazzle there are a couple of brand stores, I think Japan blue has one?, but for the most part each store has a mix of brands generally specializing in different items. Lots of leather stores, military style ones, and then just other American casual, etc. It's a pretty packed and lively area. Harajiku is the place to go for the more brand specific store shopping experience if you want, but it's further away and for a short layover may be less efficient to snag a few items.

The IH selection is pretty slim as drpat notes. I was there a couple weeks before him and saw a few different shirt styles from fresh releases and one of two jean cuts. I didn't recall seeing any IH in harajuku fwiw, but I also wasn't looking too hard.

[Alex]

There is no IH in Harajuku

[Nik]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask and hoping people at the 21st anniversary party can give more advice, but basically, going to Tokyo for two weeks in April, what should we do?

[goosehd]

@Nik Moved your question to this thread. There are some pretty good recommendations already here and I’m sure others will chime in with their experiences.

[jfk1117]

@Nik
Teamlabs
Sushisho masa
Nezu Museum
Day trip or overnight to kamakura/enoshima - R Antiques if you do
Butagami
Bar Benfiddich
Heiwa Doboruku Brewery
Proto ceramics
Shirosaka
Shop till ya drop

[louisbosco]

@Nik could give you some stuff if youre heading for the party?

[Nik]

Thanks @jfk1117 and yes @louisbosco see you at the party will be great to catch up and will appreciate your ideas

[gouki74]

@Nik Funny, it's exactly what we'll do with my wife and son from 14th to 28-29th

[Nik]

Cool @gouki74 we can share information and maybe meet up for a visit to a denim or boot shop

[gouki74]

@Nik could be cool to meet you there yes
We can cross our informations off course, we checked with a travel agency since we won't stay there all the time, we also plan to go to Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.

[Alex]

@Nik said in Tokyo (JP):

Not sure if this is the right place to ask and hoping people at the 21st anniversary party can give more advice, but basically, going to Tokyo for two weeks in April, what should we do?

lots of people at the party will have a load of ideas, myself included

[Nik]

Recommendations for which area to stay in while in Tokyo for the first time? Thinking Shibuya? Would like to be near good food and coffee, art, and of course good clothing shops.

[louisbosco]

@Nik sorry we didn't have a proper conversation.

I've always picked shinawaga as it is a fantastic transit point to either Narita or Haneda airport without having to change trains. There's a couple of hotels opposite the train station which makes it easier lugging luggages about. (Shinagawa Prince)

Recently, I've kinda liked Higashi-Ginza as it makes the subway line there makes it easier to travel east-west between Shibuya/ Harajuku, Nakameguro and Tsukiji. Also conveniently located to the main JR Line of Tokyo station. Stayed there in April this year, at the AC Hotel. However, it would require a changing onto the subway lines depending on which part of japan you are coming from.

Stayed in Shibuya before too but was a little troublesome getting to the hotel. but very centrally located for Shibuya.

if you want good clothing shops, you'll have to stay in Hachioji

[Nik]

Thanks @louisbosco I'll look into all that

[louisbosco]

@Nik The AC might be a little pricey. but I was trying to clock some Marriott nights for my status fast track. hope that gives you a little insight into the area and see the options available.

the Shinagawa price has been a trusty hotel I've stayed at in 2011, 13, 16, 19 and 23. they've shifted buildings since I first stayed in 2011