So, shopping is one of my passions. For me there truly is something to the words “Retail Therapy.” It’s fun, it takes your mind off things for a minute, and if things go smoothly, you actually walk away with a reward, i.e., something cool to add to your wardrobe. Find the fault in that!

As I’ve said before, it’s also a great way to get out and enjoy a destination when you’re on the road. Which was exactly the case recently when, at the end of a work trip to Tokyo, I had exactly three hours to power out some shopping before heading back.

If you haven’t been to Tokyo, then you need to. It’s rad. And if you have been, then you know what I mean. But on the shopping front, maybe you have seen what I’ve seen, in that Tokyo has become so much more westernized over the past 10 years. When the Harajuku neighborhood now features a Gap, Forever 21 and H&M, you kind of get a little depressed.

But fear not, there are still a ton of sick shops that are local, and feature amazing stuff you can’t get anywhere else. So with that in mind, here’s a quick rundown of my “3-hour tour,” in case you find yourself there soon…

First, have your taxi drop you off in Aoyama. Aoyama is an upscale quiet neighborhood, featuring a variety of luxury shops (this is where the iconic Prada concept store can be found), local brands and a general serene and cool vibe. Here are my must-hits:

AOYAMA:

- Undercover: (amazing Japanese brand)

- Corso Como: (featuring Comme Des Garcons)

- Hysteric Glamour: (awesome Japanese brand, with 70’s rock n roll feel)

- Sacai: (brand new store, featuring incredible Japanese design)

- Loveless: (a very cool lifestyle store with everything from cool books to clothing and shoes)

After Aoyama, you can walk right down Omote Sando towards Meiji Dori into the iconic neighborhood of Harajuku. Harajuku is the area where Japanese streetwear culture was born. Below are my must-sees in Harajuku:

HARAJUKU:

- Burton Tokyo Store: (obviously amazing, carrying a complete selection of Burton, Analog and Gravis)

- Visvim: (my friend Hiroki Nakamura’s brand; incredible shoes, clothing and accessories. His candles and fragrances are to die for)

- Kiddyland: (iconic Tokyo toy store – it’s like FAO Schwartz, jammed into a tinier space with everything going 100 miles a minute).

- Ji Ji: (A little “yama girl” spot about three blocks down from Burton Tokyo. Cute mountain girl style.)

FYI, that hit list took about 3 hours, and I really covered some ground. And then the only other things I would want to add to this list are the following in the neighboring Shibuya district (home of the Burton Tokyo office):

SHIBUYA:

- Tokyo Hands: (amazing everything store, from bags to arts/crafts, stationery, hardware, furniture, seasonal decorations…everything!)

- G Club Guitar Store: (amazing selection of every guitar you can think of.)

And with that you’ve had a pretty awesome tour of my fave spots. It’s not everything, but it’s a great start. And hey, if you are going to Tokyo soon, hit me up and I can walk you through more of my shopping tour and then some!

And a shoutout to Amanda Wormann for the post-shopping portrait. Tired but happy… J

Sayonara,

AMD.