Shop Japanese Crafts and Design at These Tokyo Midtown Stores

Style Meets People 

A trendy lifestyle brand born in New York, Style Meets People sells original and carefully selected made-in-Japan products with an emphasis on quality and comfort. The shop’s concept is “relaxury,” which, as you can guess, is a play on the words “relaxation” and “luxury.” And that is exactly what it delivers with items ranging from exquisitely designed furniture to original bath and home fragrances with soothing scents. As well as its first-rate products, Style Meets People also occasionally holds pop-up events and art exhibitions, including displays of photography, watercolor and ink-brush paintings, ceramics, glassware and more. 

Fukagawa Seiji 1894 Royal Kiln & Tea 

The venerable Fukagawa Seiji, a company revered for its cobalt blue and transparent white Arita ware, will be celebrating its 130th anniversary next year. Awarded the prestigious grand prize at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, it was appointed the official purveyor to the Japanese imperial family 10 years later. In 2020, the famous brand opened its first-ever gallery and tearoom in Tokyo Midtown. Marrying traditional and modern design, it’s a refined space to view the artistry of Fukagawa Seiji porcelain. In addition to purchasing goods, you can enjoy Japanese-style afternoon tea with limited-edition confectionaries.

The Cover Nippon 

An inviting and sophisticated craft store, The Cover Nippon boasts a wide range of items made in Japan that make for fantastic souvenirs. You’ll find byobu folding screens in various sizes, ceramicware, lacquerware, parquetry crafts and furoshiki cloths for wrapping goods. The shop also stocks seasonal sake from all over Japan and kimono. On top of all that, The Cover Nippon also offers workshops to experience traditional Japanese crafts.

Time & Style Midtown 

Time & Style Midtown transcends the realm of Japanese craftsmanship, producing goods imbued with the interwoven transitions of time and Japan’s seasons. The space itself, which features furniture, curtains, rugs, cushions and other textiles along with contemporary art, is permeated by the delicate sense of Japanese aesthetics and tension. Manufactured by hand by craftspeople at the company’s factory in a forested area of Higashikawa, Hokkaido, Time & Style Midtown’s furniture is constructed with longevity in mind. In addition to providing interior design solutions, the shop also organizes exhibitions of arts and crafts, as well as music events.

Wise・Wise Tools

When it comes to charming handmade Japanese crafts, Wise・Wise Tools is the place to go. A small yet delightful specialty store, it sells both modern and traditional items, including accessories and textiles, plus numerous wooden and ceramic wares such as plates, cups and utensils. The carefully selected items change a few times each year to reflect the seasons. One thing that is guaranteed whenever you go, though, is the high quality of the products on sale. Often a sight to behold, they are beautifully and exquisitely crafted by experienced artisans.

Hashi Choh

An enchanting little store selling traditional Japanese crafts and lacquerware, plus a variety of gadgets, Hashi Choh, as the name suggests, is most famous for its hashi — chopsticks in English. These eating utensils, which have been used in most of East and Southeast Asia for over three millennia, are very popular souvenirs for tourists visiting Japan. While there are plenty of places selling them in Tokyo, for those seeking exceptional chopsticks individually crafted from natural materials, this is the shop to visit. There are also items for specialized uses, such as chopsticks for tofu. 

Itoya

When it comes to stationery in Japan, one company stands head and shoulders above the rest: Itoya. Founded by Katsutaro Ito in Ginza over a century ago, Itoya aims to add extra beauty and comfort to the moments of creativity experienced by its customers. It’s hugely popular with both locals and tourists, whether they consider themselves stationery aficionados or are just looking for souvenirs. The company’s branch store at Tokyo Midtown is smaller than the huge flagship shop in Ginza, but you’ll still find plenty of gems there, including many products with original designs, such as writing utensils, notebooks and greeting cards.

Nihonbashi Kiya 

A historic cutlery store founded in 1792, Nihonbashi Kiya produces some of the sharpest knives in Japan. Professional and aspiring chefs, as well as those who enjoy cooking at home, are drawn to the brand’s high-quality tools. The Tokyo Midtown store opened in 2016, and its interior is as sleek and stylish as its products. As well as knives, you can purchase nail clippers, pots, cutting boards and more. 

Hida 

One of the oldest and most well-known wood furniture companies in Japan, Hida Sangyo (originally called Chuo Mokko) was founded in 1920 in Hida Takayama, a town with a woodworking tradition dating back more than 1,300 years. The company’s interiors store in Tokyo Midtown sells wooden furniture with a sense of warmth that would suit any home. From dining chairs and tables to television stands, sofas and interior goods, it’s a brand that has long been praised for its superior craftsmanship.  

In addition to the stores featured here, there are plenty of other shops well worth a visit on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown. You’ll find stores selling a variety of goods related to interiors and design, including Hotel Like Interior, Flagship 212 Kitchen Store, Tenerita, Hishiya Calen Blosso, Idée Shop/Idée Café Parc and Faber-Castell.

For more things to do, check out the Tokyo Midtown official website.