Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, a town of art, vintage clothing, and gourmet food. Just about 10 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station. This town, served by two lines, the Keio Inokashira Line and the Odakyu Odawara Line, has flourished as a town where young people with high sensitivity have been playing, due to its thriving shopping streets and the crowding of live houses and theaters.
Under the elevated tracks of Shimokitazawa Station, there is a complex facility called "Mikan Shimokita". We will introduce the charm of this spot packed with Japanese-ness and trends, such as vintage clothing stores for ladies and men, multinational gourmet food, trendy bakeries/cafes, and stylish co-working spaces.
※Information as of February 2024
What is 'Mikan Shimokita', a complex facility under the elevated Shimokitazawa Station?
In March 2022, a complex facility called "Mikan Shimokita" opened under the elevated Keio Inokashira Line, with the concept of "an unfinished zone for play and work". It is composed of five blocks from A to E, and about 20 stores such as second-hand clothing stores, restaurants, and bookstores are gathered. There are also offices, beauty salons, and Setagaya Ward library counters. The name comes from "unfinished", not the fruit "mikan". It expresses the desire to "find the universal charm of Shimokitazawa in the intersection of diverse cultures and continuous change, that is, being 'always unfinished', and to encourage new experiments and challenges".
The overview of each block is as follows.
Block A
Second-hand clothing and miscellaneous goods stores, Taiwanese street food restaurant, Korean restaurant, Thai street food restaurant, etc.
Block B
Cafe, office, bicycle parking lot, etc.
Block C
Bicycle parking lot
Block D
Cafes, wine shops, ramen specialty stores, etc.
Block E
Optical shops, beauty salons, library counters, etc.
Find souvenirs and one-of-a-kind items! Recommended vintage and miscellaneous goods stores in Mikan Shimokita
Toyo Department Store Annex 1 "Sukonbu" / Block A
Located in a corner of "Toyo Department Store Annex", where 7 stores such as general stores and second-hand clothing stores gather, is a handmade general store. There are many wooden boxes, which serve as the display and sales space for the artists' accessories. Works of about 500 artists are on display. There are also unique Japanese items, accessories with animal motifs, and nail tips. Some accessory artists visit the store once a week to change their works, so there are always new encounters whenever you visit.
Business hours: 11:00～20:00
Toyo Department Store Annex 2 "3 Biki no Koneko" / A Block
Located in the annex of Toyo Department Store, this shop specializes in women's vintage clothing from Japan. The price range is reasonable, making the vintage items easily accessible. New items arrive daily, so you can always find new vintage pieces. The shop also boasts a wide variety of accessories, with over 2000 items. There is also a section dedicated to unique Japanese items such as kimono overcoats. From Showa retro to the latest trends, the shop carries a wide range of used items from various genres. Why not come and hunt for treasures?
Business hours: 11:00-20:00
Impressive comic book section at "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" / A Block
"TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" offers a variety of lifestyles through a diverse range of books, stationery, and miscellaneous goods. You can read books before purchasing them while holding a cup of coffee. Although it has branches all over Japan, this is the first store in Shimokitazawa. The store has two floors, with the concepts of "play" and "work" as themes. The 2nd floor has a section selling popular books and business books, as well as a "SHARE LOUNGE". The 3rd floor has a wide variety of comic book sections, stocked with Japanese manga and anime-related goods. In addition, they also sell miscellaneous goods from brands related to Shimokitazawa, fashion accessories, household goods, and stationery. The "SHARE LOUNGE" on the 2nd floor is a comfortable space like a lounge where you can relax (1,100 yen per hour). It's also nice that they have ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi, books and magazines, and all-you-can-eat bread, sweets, and drinks. If your purchase amount at "TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE" is 5,000 yen or more, you can get a tax exemption.
Business hours: 9:00 - 22:00
Don't miss the exquisite gourmet spots unique to Shimokitazawa!
"THE STANDARD BAKERS" / A Block
"Bakery & Cafe" based in Tochigi Prefecture. They sell a variety of breads that are filled with a commitment to ingredients and thoughts for producers. They use seasonal ingredients, mainly from Hokkaido, such as wheat and butter, which greatly affect the quality of the finished product. In addition to classic breads such as Hokkaido croissants, pain au chocolat, and raisin bread, they have a diverse lineup including deli breads like teriyaki chicken sandwiches and sweet breads like anko butter sticks. There is also an eat-in space with power supply, so you can use it like a cafe!
Business hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (ends as soon as the bread runs out)
Rakkan (Ramen) / D Block
Starting from a small shop with only 4 seats in Nishi-Azabu, this global ramen shop has expanded to Los Angeles, USA in 2017. Notably, the soup stock is carefully crafted using "Shizuoka Prefecture Yaizu" aromatic dance bonito flakes, "Hokkaido Hidaka" superbly flavored kelp, and "Kyushu" anchovy boiled down in soy sauce, after much trial and error. In addition, only first-class soy sauce made from wooden barrel fermentation by Shibano Soy Sauce Brewing, founded in the first year of Genroku, is used. The toppings for the ramen are also carefully selected for texture and size, with attention not only to taste but also to appearance and aroma. The recommended dish is "Amber ~ Soy Sauce ~" for 980 yen, which uses high-quality soup stock and first-class soy sauce made from wooden barrel fermentation. The "Cheese Gyoza" served on the à la carte menu at night, 3 pieces for 410 yen and 6 pieces for 600 yen, are also popular. There is also "VEGAN SALT RAMEN" for 1,680 yen, which is suitable for vegans. The noodles do not use eggs, but they have a firm texture and umami flavor.
Business hours: 11:00 - 23:00 (Last order 22:30)
BROOKLYN ROASTING COMPANY SHIMOKITAZAWA / B Block
The "BROOKLYN ROASTING COMPANY SHIMOKITAZAWA" is a coffee shop from Brooklyn, New York, and is the first brand to open as a cafe restaurant where you can enjoy meals and drinks. It is the fifth store in Japan. Under the belief that "truly delicious coffee is one that has been nurtured kindly to the earth and people," they provide coffee that also considers environmental protection. They are particular about the place of origin and the farm, and carefully roast the unique coffee selected by the rolling company's smart roaster. The recommended drink is a latte with cute latte art (638 yen). For food, the satisfying "New York Classic Meatball Spaghetti (only during dinner time)" (1,870 yen) is recommended.
Business hours: Morning: 8:00~11:00 (LO.10:45), Lunch: 11:00~14:00 (LO.14:00), Dinner: 17:00~22:00 (LO. Food 21:00, Drink 21:30)
Mikan Shimokita Facility Information
- Address: 2-11-15 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031 and others
- Access: Immediately at Shimokitazawa Station on the Keio Inokashira Line and Odakyu Odawara Line
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