New and featured
This small building on a Bakurocho side street looks like it's midway through the process of being demolished, but it's actually home to three cutting-edge contemporary art galleries on its three floors. It's definitely worth stopping by if you're doing a gallery tour of the Bakurocho art district.
Fourth floor: Con_ Gallery (closed Monday through Wednesday.) [Continue reading]
Located on the second floor of a popular pet shop, Coorikuya has a more relaxed atmosphere than your average cat cafe. Unlike places in more touristed neighborhoods like Shibuya or Akihabara, there were only a handful of visitors on a weekday afternoon in spite of the bustling crowds in Nakano Sun Plaza just downstairs.
The cafe occupies a single large rectangular playroom looking out over the...
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Young children who are fascinated by package-delivery services are perhaps the main audience for this rather specialized corporate facility, although professional museum designers and connoisseurs of quirky museums may also find it of interest.
Younger visitors can dress up and pose in delivery uniforms and caps, and then explore the inside of an actual delivery truck. For the more nostalgia...
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Clearly someone with excellent taste has curated the cool merchandise for sale at this stylish little design shop. The eclectic wares are all over the place, with area rugs and clothing, desk lamps and audio equipment, cosmetics and plants all neatly arranged on the shelves and display tables.
The shop is particularly strong in tableware, showcasing the work of artisans producing beautiful...
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We were greeted by loud squawks as we entered the building - just a small taste of the exotic-bird adventure ahead. In spite of the name, this current incarnation of Tori no Iru Cafe (Cafe with Birds) isn't technically a cafe but a pet store - a very immersive pet store. Several dozen parrots and other birds fly freely around the main bird room, ready to meet visitors and entertain with their...
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Illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki's beloved penguin mascot, Suica's Penguin, now has an exclusive character goods shop inside JR Ueno Station. Images of the efficient urban penguin, originally designed to promote prepaid Suica cards from private railway JR East, adorn everything from stationery goods to folding umbrellas. There's a surprisingly wide range of penguin-themed clothing as well as...
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An extensive collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain, covering several dynasties, is at the heart of this century-old museum's holdings. The 6500-item collection also includes swords, tea ceremony utensils, Chinese and Japanese paintings, calligraphy, lacquerware and wood carvings.
Located in the historic Meiji Seimei Kan building in Marunouchi (itself a Tangible Cultural Asset), the...
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This ambitious design museum/gallery has the unusual mission of showcasing commercial, industrial and product design from all 47 Japanese prefectures. Products cover everything from pottery, lacquerware and kitchen utensils to stationery, fabrics, children's toys and even food and drink. Some exhibitions concentrate on one prefecture, while others focus on a particular style of design or...
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Nakagin Capsule Tower, architect Kisho Kurokawa's Metabolist masterpiece, was demolished in 2022, but two of its component capsules have been preserved in this tiny rental gallery. One of them has been restored to its original 1972 splendor, complete with built-in reel-to-reel tape deck and molded-plastic unit bathroom, while the other has been stripped to its skeleton and is used as an...
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This commercial gallery puts on short-term solo and group shows of contemporary Japanese art, from both established artists and newcomers. It moved to the Hikarie complex's Creative Space 8 in June 2023 from Bunkamura (the arts center run by Tokyu department store), and it will remain there until Bunkamura's renovation is complete sometime in 2027. Creative Space 8 is also home to a few other...
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You'll amaze your friends with your deep knowledge of mayonnaise-related facts after a visit to Tokyo's one and only mayonnaise museum, Mayo Terrace. Best-selling condiment brand Kewpie has set up this attractive facility on the former site of their mayonnaise factory, and they've put together a surprisingly entertaining one-hour tour of the museum.
The very interactive tour includes a...
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This traditional tea seller on the edge of Tsukiji is worth a look if you're a fan of architect Kengo Kuma and you're in the neighborhood. Especially if you're in the mood for some green tea. The interior incorporates bamboo umbrellas that extend out onto the sidewalk frontage, blurring the distinction between interior and exterior and welcoming passersby to the cafe inside.
The project was...
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Special Interests
Notable buildings by contemporary architects like Kenzo Tange, Kengo Kuma and Shigeru Ban
Food markets, ramen museums, brewery tours, professional knife stores and regional food shops
Our popular guide to cat, bird and rabbit cafes - now expanded to a site of its own at Animal Cafes.com
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Beyond
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Explorer Kit
Animal sightings
New and featured listings from our sister site Animal Cafes.com.
Rio has a large playroom full of cute puppies, and since the admission charge is incremented in ten-minute intervals, it's easy to just drop in for a quick visit. Maybe because of the cafe's popularity, the pups seem to be...
Conveniently located inside a huge shopping mall close to Okayama's central train station, this branch of the popular cat-cafe chain is bright and airy, looking onto a garden area on the mall's fourth-floor terrace. The...
Small animals like red pandas, prairie dogs, squirrels, wallabies, Humboldt penguins and tropical birds make up most of the residents of this compact city-run zoo, with around thirty animal species in all. Although...
The goal of this second branch of the popular Meguro mini-pig cafe is to create a "Three Little Pigs" picture-book experience, so be prepared. Like their original branch, the shop is set up as a place to play with friendly...
Eating and drinking
The latest food and drink listings from sister sites Bento.com and Craft Beer Bars Japan.
Tototo's pizza wizards turn out some of the most exciting pies in town, backed up by first-rate side dishes and an impressive (and very affordable) wine list. The attractive decor is sleekly minimalist, with a huge open...
Tapas, pintxos snacks and paellas are served with Old World wines and Spanish sherries at Bar Espanol Picar. The six-part tapas platter provides a good mix of flavors to accompany your first glass of wine. It's big enough...
This chic, intimate dining spot serves sophisticated modern Sri Lankan cuisine that's still in touch with its roots. The five-course prix-fixe menu at dinnertime is an excellent way to experience the creations of Hoppers'...
Am Stram Gram's tarts are photogenic and very tasty, made with perfect specimens of fruit. They're ready to take home or eat here at one of the free tables in the lively atrium lobby of Toranomon Hills Station Tower. You...
The leisurely lunch crowd love Pizza da Babbo (Italian for Papa's Pizza) in Ningyocho. On any weekday, the entrance is jammed with strollers as young moms pack the place. And on weekends, it's often fully booked by women...
It's always a pleasure when a famous signature dish lives up to its reputation, and "Eggs Rothko" is worthy of the acclaim. A creation of chef George Weld that was first served at his Brooklyn restaurant Egg, it's part of...
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