Tokyo Shopping Guide

Aquvii

Many of the tchotchkes at this cozy shop have some sort of twist that makes them extra special: A pair of cute sunglasses turns out to be a vintage collectible; a simple coin purse unzips to reveal a wild lining.
2-16-11 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-3462-5377

Products: Jewelry, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Balcony

The way the feminine clothing—floral tunics, crochet dresses, chiffon tops—is informally draped over armoires and strung along stairway banisters mirrors the casual mood at this homey, bungalow-like spot.
3-18 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-5456-5005

Products: Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique

Colour by Numbers

Within a futuristic, fluorescent-lit space, beautifully tailored pieces from Indie Japanese lines hang from racks made of heart-shaped chain links. The decor details are purposely incongruous: White marble floors mix with tricked-out '80s boom boxes, but somehow it all works.
20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3770-1991

Products: Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique

Elpee Factory

Part gallery, part retail enterprise, this casual, showroom like store is filled with inventive pieces, including angular fabric purses and soft wrap jackets.
2-7-8 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-5728-7181

Products: Women's Clothing, Bags, Beauty
Type of Store: Boutique

Ikuko

Delicate underpinnings with a retro innocence, like Empire-waist gingham nightgowns, rose-print cotton robes, and sheer undies with lacing up the back, are Ikuko's specialty.
11-13 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3463-1098

Products: Denim
Type of Store: Boutique

Kutsushitaya Friends

Socks are a big deal in Japan, from the ultra traditional tabio (split- toe) version, right down to modern styles with imaginative details like heel cutouts and ankle bands. This shop is part of a huge socks-only chain, and its selection is quite extensive.
24-2 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, kutsushitaya.jp

Products: Lingerie/Loungewear
Type of Store: Boutique

Limi Feu

Rising star Limi Yamamoto—the daughter of designer Yohji Yamamoto—is fast building a reputation for her superb twists on everyday classics. Her biggest space is in Daikanyama and has a gorgeously rustic vibe.
7-4 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3463-6324

Products: Women's Clothing, Shoes, Bags
Type of Store: Boutique

Nojess

Girliness is the key at Nojess, where it always feels like springtime: lacy dresses, velvety bed jackets, and bow-accented bags are evergreens.
20-11 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-5728-2751

Products: Lingerie/Loungewear, Women's Clothing, Bags
Type of Store: Boutique

Okura

Here, organic takes on classic Japanese garments are rendered in indigo-dyed fabrics, and the results are stunning in their simplicity. Even cooler: The shop itself is decorated with planks of driftwood salvaged from Tokyo Bay.
20-11 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3461-8511

Products: Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique

Q

Soaring, open, and filled with a glorious blend of lines from Europe (London's Hoxton Boutique, Madrid's Dorotea) and Asia (Hong Kong's Johanna Ho, Tokyo's Shinichiro Arakawa), this boutique is as aesthetically pleasing as it is fun to browse.
1-30-10 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-5456-9117

Products: Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique