Daikanyama

Daikanyama (代官山) is one of the districts of Tokyo, Japan’s Shibuya ward. Known as a hot spot of shopping for locals, Daikanyama is home to a wide variety of fashionable boutique shops and sidewalk restaurants and cafes. Multiple courtyards are located between restaurants and homes and the low rise buildings give the neighborhood a more subdued classic style than the hyper-modern high rises of Tokyo’s other shopping districts.

Today, shops as diverse as Jean Paul Gaultier, Paul Smith, Vivienne Tam, and Martin Margiela hold court in Daikanyama alongside local designer shops converted out of old homes and vintage clothing shops spilling out onto the sidewalks. Main streets with well known names such as Kyu Yamate Dori and Hachiman Dori are well traveled but side streets and alleys often have just as many if not more shops of their own.

History

After the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1924, one of the many public housing building projects undertaken by the Ministry of Home Affairs was the 232 apartment unit Daikanyama apartments. The building was the focal point for all future architectural developments in the neighborhood, built with the use of earthquake proof concrete designs. The apartment complex was destroyed in 1996 during restructuring of the neighborhood.

In 1967, Fumihiko Maki was commissioned to develop the area that is know Hillside Terrace, a development that now takes up much of the upperside of the station. Lining both sides of Kyuyamate Dori, Hillside Terrace utilizes multiple sleek and variety laden forms of architecture and consists of museums, stores, restaurants and even the Danish embassy.

Daikanyama Shops

Aquvi – A jewelry and gift shop with odd integrations of different designs into common items, including vintage collectibles.

• 2-16-11 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-3462-5377

Balcony– Casual women’s clothing

• 3-18 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-5456-5005

Colour by Numbers – Indie Japanese designer clothing shop produced by the same company as Loveless in Aoyama.

• 20-23 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3770-1991

Elpee Factory – Hybrid of women’s clothing and fashion gallery with emphasis on bags and accessories

• 2-7-8 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-5728-7181

Limi Feu - Boutique from the daughter of Yohji Yamamoto

• 7-4 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3463-6324

Nojess – Women’s clothing with emphasis on light, spring-time style clothing.

• 20-11 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-5728-2751

Okura – Organic clothing mixed with classic Japanese style clothing

• 20-11 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-3461-8511

Q – Multiple lines from throughout Europe and Asia; large selection

• 1-30-10 Ebisu-nishi, Shibuya-ku, 03-5456-9117

Tausche – Berlin street style messenger bags boutique with a large selection of designs.

• 26-2 Sarugaku, 03-6802-7668, http://www.tausche.jp

Tsumori Chisato – Women’s clothing with a playful, Japanese twist

• 11-1 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, 03-5728-3225

External Links

• Lucky Magazine’s Daikanyama City Guide
• Daikanyma Restaurant Listings