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Evisu Tailor
In the early '90s, the detail-obsessed founder of Evisu began producing jeans the old-fashioned way, using rescued looms and weaving methods, helping to spawn the Japanese selvedge denim craze. At Evisu Tailor you can choose the pair you want and have the Evisu logo custom-painted on, or discreet denim-wearers can opt to go logoless.
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Frapbois
Frapbois is all the rage among young Japanese fashionistas. Frapbois designs have a free-flowing hippie aesthetic and are worth a look to gauge which way the trend is blowing.
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Fuji-Torii
For more than half a century, this discriminating antique dealer has specialised in providing authentic lacquerware, ceramics, scrolls and ukiyo-e (wood-block prints) to interested buyers. Authenticity is guaranteed and there's a helpful English-speaking staff.
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Gdc
Tucked away on a Daikanyama backstreet, this is an increasingly popular casual wear label under director Kumagai Takashi that focuses on cool T-shirts with provocative designs like its 'Black America' series. Lines include the hip-hop-oriented Raw Fudge and Ventura, as well as outdoorsy Ugly for women.
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Good Day Books
The best selection of used English-language books in Tokyo, with a wide range of paperbacks, hardcovers and magazines.
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Hacknet
This is a bookshop for serious designers, or those who can get high off the fumes of elegant design. Hacknet specialises in cutting-edge design books from across disciplines and around the world. The small, well-lit space is excellent for browsing and the staff is incredibly studiously unobtrusive.
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Haibara
Even Haibara's business cards are made from exquisite paper. Find gorgeous, high-quality washi and tiny treasures such as wallets, hand mirrors and mobile phone accessories made from printed paper in this jewellery box of a paper shop.
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Hakuhinkan Toy Park
This layer cake of a 'toy park' is crammed to every corner with this year's models of character toys, the hottest squawking video games, seas of colourful plastic and the softest plush toys ever invented. Hakuhinkan also harbours child-friendly restaurants and even a theatre.
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Hanae Mori building
In Harajuku, the basement of the Hanae Mori building has more than 30 antique shops hawking everything from over-the-hill kewpie dolls to cloisonné bracelets and antique obi ornaments.
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Hanazono-Jinja Flea Market
A good mix of old and new feature at this market, ranging from antique ceramics to new junk jewellery and used yukata (light cotton summer kimono).
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Hashi Ginza Natsuno
Look out for this narrow shopfront in Ginza if you'd like to add some hashi (chopsticks) to your stash of souvenirs. Ginza Natsuno stocks a staggering array of hashi , from inexpensive, colourful children's sets to hand-carved pairs costing thousands of yen. Lovely chopstick rests, ceramics and decorations fill out every other corner of usable space.
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Hayashi Kimono
This very friendly shop in the dowdy International Arcade under the railway has been selling quality kimono and yukata for over forty years. The former may run about around ¥100 in silk, and the latter (lightweight cotton) half that or even around ¥2800 - many are very colourful and make excellent gifts. Foreigner-friendly sizes are also available.
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Hysteric Glamour
It's actually tongue-in-cheek rather than hysteric glamour, but whatever you want to call it, it's sexy and fun. These designer confections are a good place to start for hip fashion with a Tokyo twist. There's even a toddler line, the ultimate in designer punk for your little rocker.
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Isetan
The grandmother of all depachika food halls.
In addition to its stunning food hall in the basement, Isetan boasts an excellent yukata department as well as several floors of designer goods. Check out the store's I-club, a free service that provides English-speaking staff for visiting shoppers. The membership desk for this service is located on the 7th floor of the Isetan annexe building.
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Issei-Do
An antiquarian bookseller, this one with a wonderful selection of old texts. The 2nd floor has many well-weathered volumes in English.
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Issey Miyake
Before Issey Miyake put Tokyo on the fashion map, Japanese designers were known to copy Western trends after they'd already hit the runway. Miyake's work has changed such conceptions. Check out the A-POC garments - each made from a single piece of fabric.
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Itōya
Nine floors of stationery-shop love await visual-art professionals, as well as paper and paperclip fanatics, at Itōya. There is washi (fine Japanese handmade paper), Italian leather agendas, and even tenugui - beautifully hand-dyed handkerchiefs.
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Japan Sword
One of Tokyo's most famous sellers of samurai swords and weaponry, it sells the genuine article - such as antique sword guards and samurai helmets dating from the Edo period - as well as convincing replicas crafted by hand. Be sure to inquire about export and transport restrictions.
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Japan Traditional Crafts Center
Apart from being a wonderful place to find high-quality souvenirs such as weavings, regional ceramics, washi (handmade paper) and wood work, this centre is a destination in its own right as a showcase for traditional crafts from all over Japan. Temporary exhibitions, demonstrations and classes are held on the 2nd floor.
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Journal Standard
Browsing the corners and surfaces of this hip shop turns up all sorts of items to add style to your wardrobe. Collections here are smart but bohemian, and sizes tend toward the Japanese figure (ie, small). This is also a great place to end a shopping spree, as there's a lovely rooftop café on the 3rd floor.
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Kaiyōdō Hobby Lobby
This is a collector's plastic dream - heroic, sexy figurines from all walks of Japanese science fiction. Look for the Neon Genesis Evangelion statues outside.
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Kamawanu
Looking for a unique, compact present from Japan? Kamawanu specialises in tenugui , dyed cotton cloths that are surprisingly versatile. These beautifully patterned kerchiefs - motifs take in everything from Mt Fuji to musical notes and skeletons - can be used as decorative art, bath towels, scarves or gift wrap.
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Kasūkōbō
This open-air jewellery shop on a raised platform has an old-fashioned feel even while the tattooed dude kneeling behind the display cases exudes the casual air of the modern Ura-Hara denizen. Mostly sculpted silver jewellery with themes of lotuses, dragons and koi (carp), the pieces here are simultaneously fresh and modern.
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Kiddyland
Six floors of appealing products for your children to fall in lust with and which you may still be paying for next year. In fact, you yourself may be seduced by plastic-bobbled barrettes, Pokémon paraphernalia or nostalgia-inducers like Hello Kitty or Ultraman. Claustrophobes should avoid the store on weekends when it teems with teens.
