Tokyo Craft Guide

Welcome to the Saké Puppets Tokyo Craft Guide!  Here you’ll find my (slowly) accumulating list of resources — enjoy!  Have a question?  Send me a note at sakepuppets at gmail dot com.  Thanks!

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Pins on this map: blue = fabric, pink = notions,  yellow = stationary

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View craft shops by type

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View craft shops in a completely random order:

Yuzawaya ユザワヤ — The mother of all craft shops in Japan.

Yuzawaya’s biggest location in Tokyo is near the Kamata JR Station, approximately 20 minutes from Tokyo Station by train.  Here you’ll find 5 buildings of craft-filled goodness.  A breakdown of the different buildings:

• Building 5 – Lingerie, cosmetics, beauty and health care, railroad and plastic models, toys, jigsaw puzzles (3 floors)

• Building 6 – Beads, flowers (real and artificial), handcraft materials and tools, knitting yarns (5 floors).  The second floor is where you’ll find needle felting, amigurumi, needlework and sashiko kits. A gold mine of fabric kawaii to keep you busy for days months.

• Building 7 – Home and office, stationary, artist supplies, drawing tools, frames (3 floors)

• Building 9 – Delivery service office

• Building 10 – Fabric, notions, home furnishings, sewing machines (3 floors).  The first floor is primarily knits, wool, and upscale fabrics including Liberty of London cotton printed in Japan.  On the second floor you’ll find various cottons, lining, and home dec fabrics, and the third floor is notions.  Good to know here – have your fabric cut on each floor and bring it all downstairs to 1F to checkout.  Yeah, it feels a little weird to be walking outside with your bounty, but it’s OK.  Some fabrics have a minimum cut of 50 cm, and some sale fabrics must be purchased by the meter.  Note that not all credit cards are accepted, so be safe and bring cash.

Getting there: Take the JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line to Kamata Station.  I like to take the West Exit, and once outside make a left to walk under the tracks.  Once in daylight again, keep an eye to your right for the sign to Building 10.  (psst, there is a Beard Papa’s cream puff stand under the escalator near the West Exit – worth checking out!)

You can read about a few of my adventures to Yuzawaya here and here. 4-12-8, Nishikamata, Ohta-ku, Tokyo  Tel. 03 (3734) 4141, open 10-8

Yuzawaya’s other locations include Shibuya, Shinjuku (Takashima Times Square 11F), and Kichijoji, though I haven’t yet explored them.  Send me a message if you’d like more info.

Nippori Textile Town

A fabric mecca.  More fabric shops than I can count.  You’ll just have to see it for yourself.  The most popular in the area is Tomato, with five (maybe more?) locations lining the street.  Keep a lookout for Tomato’s discount shop, with bolts priced at 100 yen per meter.  Other shops include notions, yarn, sewing machines, patterns, trim, etc.  Take note, most shops only accept cash and have a minimum cut of 1 meter.

Getting there: Take the JR Yamanote line to Nippori Station.  From the South Exit turn right, following the signs for Nippori Textile Town.  Cross the bridge, go down the stairs, and head straight.  Once you’re on the far side of the big intersection, turn right and walk a few more blocks until you start to see the Fabric Town flags lining the street.

You can read about a bit about one of my trips to Textile Town here.

La Droguerie

La Droguerie in Ometesando is beautiful, no doubt closed! It is was probably the most beautiful craft shop I’ve ever seen, and I have seen many.  Bobbles and buttons are kept in big glass jars on well-lit shelves, and colorful rows of ribbons hang amongst fabric and other notions.

Update: I’ve learned that La Droguerie has moved to the 7th floor of the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro. I’ll post more info after I check it out. In the meantime, feel free to read about the old shop:

La Droguerie is a French chain that sells mainly their own brand of yarns.  I learned later that you are not supposed to rummage through the jars yourself, but rather wait for a salesperson to come over and do it for you.  Whoops.  I totally had my hands in some piles of felt.  It just couldn’t be avoided.  Also, everything was very expensive.  I wanted a tiny bit of some trim that was unpriced, and thought, “How expensive can some trim be, anyway?”  Well, expensive.  Consider yourself warned.

Getting there: Take the subway to either Meiji-jingumae or Omote-sando stations, and walk toward Omotesando Hills.  La Droguerie is located along a side street behind it.

Omotesando LH bldg 1F, 4-13-9, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo  Tel. 03 (5410) 2381, open 11-8

Okadaya オカダヤ Shinjuku

Okadaya is a great craft and fabric shop in the heart of Shinjuku, and a good place to go if you have limited time. Check out both buildings — Don’t be deterred by the lingerie or fake eyelashes on the first floor, head upstairs.

3-23-17 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Loft

Loft is a must for anyone visiting Tokyo.  Stationary, stickers, tape, and pens are on the first level, kitchen and bento goods upstairs, with kitch topping it out on 6F.  Locations can be found in Shibuya and Ikebukuro.

Tokyu Hands

A department store dedicated to the hobby enthusiast.  Craft items include stationary and art supplies, leather, fake floral, electronics… you name it.

Shibuya – 12-18 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Shinjuku – 2F-8F, Times Square Bldg (Takeshimaya), 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Ikebukuro – 1-28-10 Higashi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Marunan Shibuya

Not the cheapest, but you can’t beat the location. From Shibuya crossing, follow the major road to the northwest, and it is on your left side.

2-5-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hobbyra Hobbyre ホブーラホビーレ and Lido Merceria

Hobbyra Hobbyre and Lido Merceria are not just craft stores, but Tokyo shopping at its best — small, well-curated specialty shops for the enthusiast.

Let’s begin with Hobbyra Hobbyre, a French-embroidery-inspired, Liberty-of-London-lover’s paradise.  This shop carries a little bit of a lot of things, but all were of the best quality — beautiful cotton and linen print fabrics, fine yarns and wood knitting needles, sewing patterns and books, needlework supplies, selected tools and notions, and amazing printed embroidery kits.  I mean amazing.  I wanted to leave with a few of each.

The downside to this shop is that it’s a bit expensive.  Fabric was in the 1000-2500 yen per meter range (US$12-$30 per yard), yet I picked up some reasonably-priced sashiko supplies for 200 yen each (US$2.50).  Dan told me later that, while waiting outside, he got a bit nervous when a woman left the shop exclaiming how expensive it all was, because I was still inside, taking my sweet time, certainly doing damage to our bank account.  My words, not his of course.

The crown jewel of the day, maybe my entire week, was the Hello Kitty + Liberty of London limited edition cotton prints.  Both have a dedicated cult following (many of you know about my little Liberty crush), and they’ve combined forces to produce some of the most whimsical and lovely fabric I’ve seen.  I stood there for a while trying to come up with a project idea worth the 3200 yen per meter price tag (almost US$40 per yard), but in the end I decided I couldn’t love Ms. Kitty quite enough.

This sneak-attack photo doesn’t reveal much (photos aren’t typically allowed in craft stores), but the print is of Hello Kitty flitting amongst London Town icons.  (Apparently this collection is only being sold in Japan, so if anyone is interested I’d be willing to go find some and put up a reserved listing in my shop – send me an email to discuss).

I went to Futako-tamagawa in search of Hobbyra Hobbyre, but was delighted to find Lido Merceria just next door.  Where Hobbyra Hobbyre is all things embroidery and French floral, Lido Merceria is German retro-era needlepoint.

Lido Merceria feels more like a curiosity shop than a craft store.  I loved the display case of vintage scissors and tools (yes, those are $85 embroidery snips, for anyone who is counting). With notions, buttons and trim, patches, and upholstery-weight fabric, all in varying degrees of vintage and new, this shop was a treat.

Getting there: Take the Tokyu-Den-Entoshi Line from Shibuya station or the Tokyu-Oimachi Line to Futako-tamagawa station.  Cross through Dogwood Plaza to locate the Takashimaya Shopping Center. Lido Merceria and Hobbyra Hobbyre and on the 5th floor of the South building, across from the Camper shoe store.

Lido Merceria  Tel. 03-6805-6822, open 10-9
Hobbyra Hobbyre  ホビーラホビーレ  Tel. 03-3707-1430, open 10-9

Tamagawa Takashimaya S-C South Building 5F, 3-17-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

〒158-0094 東京都世田谷区玉川3-17-1 玉川高島屋S・C 南館5F

According to their website, Hobbyra Hobbyre can be found in other locations around Japan.  Check store locations on their website for more information.

Kiwa

It took me a while to get around to visiting Kiwa, the bead and DIY jewelry chain. It seemed like an overwhelming place for someone (ahem, me) who doesn’t wear much jewelry, let alone make it.  My mother LOVES bling, so I’m not sure how I missed out on that gene.  It must skip a generation.

Kiwa, as it turns out, is great.  And so is this buck, the shop mascot.

One of my favorite things about craft shops in Japan is that they not only stock supplies, but also kits and displays with lots of ideas for things to make yourself.  Kiwa is no exception.  Some locations even have workshops and cafes in case your crafting fingers can’t wait until they get home.

There was really something for everyone, even a jewelry dunce like me.  Loose beads, kits, hardware, hair accessories, fancy gems and plastic headbands galore.  Photos aren’t generally encouraged in craft shops, but…

… sneaky sneaky cell phone camera …

Personally, I was a fan of the blingy DIY iphone cases:

Maybe I am my mother’s daughter.

Kiwa Omotesando
La Forêt Bldg 3F, 1-11-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Tel. 03-3475-0411
東京都渋谷区神宮前1-11-6

You can find many other locations around Tokyo by checking their webpage.

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This Craft Guide is a work in progress — check back occasionally for updates.  Have suggestions?  Questions? Send me a note at sakepuppets at gmail dot com.  Thanks!

This page has the following sub pages.

• Craft Shops by Type
• Hobbyra Hobbyre & Lido Merceria
• Craft Shops by Region
• Yuzawaya ユザワヤ
• Nippori Textile Town
• La Droguerie
• Okadaya オカダヤ
• Loft
• Tokyu Hands
• Marunan
• & STRIPE
• Kiwa