SHIMOKITAZAWA, SETAGAYA CITY
Just a few train stops away from Shibuya in Tokyo (take the Chiyoda Line to Yoyogi-uehara before changing to the Odakyu line to get to Shimo-kitazawa station) lies a quiet neighbourhood right in Setagaya
City: Shimokitazawa. Don’t expect the kind of high-street offerings you’ll find in Harajuku or the upscale boutiques of Omotesando here, but this place is a good alternative for shopping if you’re hoping to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s main hotspots. In the last few years, Shimokitazawa has developed into something of a hub for thrifting, with lots of vintage stores sprouting up near the train station. There are also plenty of other gems to discover in the neighbourhood — from a traditional ryokan located in the middle of a park to a Studio Ghibli-themed cafe.
Stay
If it’s your first time in Japan, visiting an onsen is a must. Book yourself a room at the traditional Onsen Ryokan Yuen Bettei Tokyo Daita, nestled in the centre of a park nearby the Inari Shrine and Tolo Coffee and Bakery. The onsen has indoor and outdoor baths, a teahouse and Kappo Tsukikage, a restaurant which serves authentic Japanese fare — everything you need for a quick weekend getaway.
If you’re looking for a more modern alternative, hit up Mustard Hotel Shimokitazawa (they also have a branch in Shibuya) where they have Sidewalk Coffee Roasters, a cafe that serves delicious bagels and coffee. The hotel also has a shochu bar called Kurage, where they play good music.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Virtuosos - JULIANNE MOORE & TILDA SWINTON
Taking a creative risk is easier when you do it together. For these two Oscar winners, a longhoped-for collaboration in The Room Next Door feels meant to be.
Lessons in Love
CARRIE WONG's essential tips to surviving romance in the modern world.
blue for you
THE LATEST BLANCPAIN AND SWATCH COLLABORATION SEES THE BRANDS SHOWING LOVE TO THE WORLD'S LAGOONS.
ELLE - First Look
IT GIRLS HAVE LONG CAPTIVATED THE ZEITGEIST WITH THEIR UNAPOLOGETIC TASTES AND CHARISMA. THIS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE SOME OF THE MOST ERA-DEFINING STYLES AND THE PIONEERS BEHIND THEM-FROM JANE BIRKIN'S je ne sais quoi TO THE maximalism OF GRACE JONES AND COURTNEY LOVE'S Kinderwhore aesthetic.
Better Bed in
Feeling like you want to hide away and hibernate? Here, celebrated author and Women's Prize for Fiction V.V. GANESHANANTHAN reflects on the radical joy of duvet days.
Island Getaway
A slice of tranquil paradise, THE SIRA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in LOMBOK offers a getaway worth every cent.
Fluorescent Adolescent
At the intersection of joyful design and impeccable craftsmanship lies CELINE KWAN'S tongue-in-cheek creations.
Swipe right or Get left
Situationships, and do we really need to put up with them? SHEKINAH LOUIS offers her two cents.
LET'S GET LOUD
If quiet luxury is not for you, fear not. The spring/summer 2025 runways prove that maximalism is back in her main-character era. Early adopter SUSIE LAU explores.
GROUP bonding
Have you u ever wondered what goes on in a kink party? As NATALIA HUANG discovers at her first-ever event, the experience delves beyond the latex surface for a surprisingly introspective journey.
