I just found these photos I took in Nihonbashi a long while ago so I thought I'd do a quick guide to Nihonbashi, one of the main areas in central Tokyo that has deep historical background.
This is where all the merchants and artisans came from all over Japan to start businesses in the Edo period, Mitsukoshi's original business started here in 1673 and they opened their first department store in Japan here in Nihonbashi in the 1930s. Takashimaya opened their first store in Tokyo in this area too, both the Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya stores in Nihonbashi are considered really special today.
You can find numbers of lovely traditional shops in this area, all sorts of specialty stores that have been running businesses for 200 years or even longer (we call these stores "shinise" 老舗).
My favourite hoji-cha comes from
MORINOEN of Nihonbashi and is a "shinise" tea store, it always smells so beautiful when you pass this store as they roast tea in there all the time! They have the best selection of Hoji-cha and you can try all the different types, if you go in summer time you can taste the delicious hoji-cha ice cream too!
A washi dealer
HAIBARA is another of my recommendations in this area where you can find the most amazing selection of best quality washi papers and crafted washi items. I did a sponsor post for HAIBARA on my shop blog last year
here)
Just about a few shops down from HAIBARA right behind TAKASHIMAYA there is this lovely restaurant called
TAMAI, who specialises in anago (salt water eels) cuisine. If you love unagi, you will looooove this restaurant!
Last but not least, here is this incredible book store called
MORIOKA SHOTEN in Kayabacho, which is about 10 minute walk from Nihonbashi. They sell vintage art books and also hosts some interesting exhibitions. I LOVE THIS STORE SO MUCH is about all I can say. (I wish I had taken some photos of this shop to show you!)
It's in this retro vintage building called Daini Inoue Building that has many interesting galleries and artists studios as tenants. (I think this would be much more like Nicholas Building of Melbourne which I learned about from lovely
Michelle who came to visit my shop the other day!)
Doing this post made me want to go to Nihonbashi area right now so badly! I hope to go back soon. I must!
