Tokyu Hands
My other favorite store in Shibuya, (photo from Wikipedia, - I think we were too awed to remember the camera), possibly the coolest store in the world.
I could have easily spent several days in this store and a full day just in the office supply section (we were there for 2 hours). They call themselves the "Creative Life Store" which I think says it all.
There are 25 floors each stocking a different category of goods. These are the categories: Gardening; Travel Supplies; Paints; Lumber; Hardware; Bags; watches, wallets; Party, Costumes, Gadgets and Games; Camping Supplies; Laundry Supplies; cookware; Haircare, Cosmetics; Bathroom decor; Furniture, Bedding; Storage, Organizers; Lighting; Stationary, Office Supply; Wedding supplies, Letter Sets; Art Supplies; Fabric, crafts; gift wrapping; Bicycles; cafe and Restaurant.
But this isn't your average everyday miscellany. The Japanese have a knack for making wacky, creative, and ingenious little gadgets that until you see one you never knew it was missing from your life. They also have a keen eye for design (even if its just to make a pencil sharpener or a clothes hanger). Every thirty seconds Brian and I were saying to each other "Whoa - look at this! This --random thing on the shelf-- is crazy! and "Did you see floor 5A?" "You've got to go up there!"
I'm a pen and notebook junkie (like some of you reading this) and this place is the utopia of pen and paper supplies. To better appreciate the magnitude of this discovery check out this video (not mine) on You Tube of the pen selection at Tokyu Hands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkscpVGMMyA&feature=related
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