Underground Vibe

A river (canal) runs through this boho-hip quarter of young creatives and trendoid bars n’ cafés. Have your cab drop you at the cnr of Yamate and Komazawa Dori at Bals lifestyle store / 5773 5500 / for furniture, skincare and pooch salon. Trot over the zebra crossing towards Nakameguro station, keeping the underpass on your left. Just before the train bridge turn right and head towards the canal (you’ll walk past yum pizza at Salvatore). Cross the canal bridge and turn left at the barber, taking note of rowdy, hip local izakaya Otaru opp. Keeping the canal on your left, find Vase / 5458 0337 / in an old house for sharp Euro-wear (m/w), then head down the small lane just before Vase for vintage frocks at Tokyo Lampoon / 3780 0076. At the end turn left for edge design digs 1LDK / 5728 7140 / in the grey bldg to the left, also home to a pancake-flipping caff. Exit left and head left back to the river, then turn right and cont. along the nearside bank where you’ll find Carlife / 5784 0932 / for casual w/wear just a 3 min stroll away. Cont. until you reach General Research / 5728 7140 / for street gear and quirky Cow Books / 5459 1747 / cowbooks.jp / selling oddball, out-of-print titles. 2 mins on, you’ll spot pet store Snobbish Babies on the cnr, and to the right of it, exquisite baubles at Géodésique / geodesique.co.jp. Cross over the bridge, then take a left to walk along the return canal path, with the water on the left. Try on nextgen kimono at Kapuki (see Advanced Shop.), and further along spy the neon V for men’s store Vendor / 6452 3072. Next, strike a pause at sweet café Squash Blossom / 6303 4554 / or skip back to the station for Baird Beer Taproom’s / 2/F / 5768 3025 / craft brews and ’zas. Easy peasy Japanesey.